Post by waterboy on Jun 7, 2010 17:11:20 GMT -5
I just got back last week from a wonderful hunting experience with George Faerber in Trapper Creek, AK. Our quarry was Black Bear with handguns. Our party of four did score two bear. My self and cohort came back with no bear. To be honest my friend passed on a bear I would have taken. I too saw the bear and COULD have taken a shot had we sorted out the plan pre-tree stand. It was his turn and It didn't hang around long enough for us to discuss if I could/should shoot in his stead.
But we got "treed" three times on as many occasionis. That is bear on the bait where there was an objection for us coming down at that time. First by two very agitated adolesent Grizzlys. One actually charged us in the stand about 12' off the ground. The guide's .338 Ruger pointed at it and a "STOP BEAR" command halted the drama. It was much worse walking back to the ATV in the dark when it was all over. I was in the back, head and eyes swiveling with pistol drawn! Another instance a HUGE female black came in with two very nervous cubs, obviously smelling Grizzly in the area. We didn't want to share stand space with any of her party either. Finally on another stand location, a young Grizzly came in on our bait spoiling any blackie action dispite our yells and three very lound firearm reports. He hardly gave us any attention at all before eating half a 50# sack of grease seasoned horse sweet feed.
But it was FUN! I got to hunt with the new FA 2008 Single shot in .375 Win. caliber. It felt very small in my hands with Grizzly so numerous. It's lazer like accuracy was comforting up in the stand anticipating the showing of Mr. Blackie. In fact I preferred the warm feel of my .51 cal. 5-shot Custom Ruger walking out of the alders in the dim light. But the FA 2008 is so easy to hit with, anyone from novice to expert (which is certainly not me) will be instilled with confidence after shooting one. My load was a 220 gr. Hornady JFP at 1900 fps. using H322.
The weather was so warm going in (70-75 deg.) then dropping to the 38-42 deg. range after twilight. Mr Faerber was totally professional and personable, a very worthy guide and host. Basically it was a week long "Bear School" more than worth the cost alone. The scenery was great and McKinley was visible about 90%+ of the time we were there right out our front window.
I feel very blessed to have gone and wanted to share the thoughts with fellows of my same ilk.
But we got "treed" three times on as many occasionis. That is bear on the bait where there was an objection for us coming down at that time. First by two very agitated adolesent Grizzlys. One actually charged us in the stand about 12' off the ground. The guide's .338 Ruger pointed at it and a "STOP BEAR" command halted the drama. It was much worse walking back to the ATV in the dark when it was all over. I was in the back, head and eyes swiveling with pistol drawn! Another instance a HUGE female black came in with two very nervous cubs, obviously smelling Grizzly in the area. We didn't want to share stand space with any of her party either. Finally on another stand location, a young Grizzly came in on our bait spoiling any blackie action dispite our yells and three very lound firearm reports. He hardly gave us any attention at all before eating half a 50# sack of grease seasoned horse sweet feed.
But it was FUN! I got to hunt with the new FA 2008 Single shot in .375 Win. caliber. It felt very small in my hands with Grizzly so numerous. It's lazer like accuracy was comforting up in the stand anticipating the showing of Mr. Blackie. In fact I preferred the warm feel of my .51 cal. 5-shot Custom Ruger walking out of the alders in the dim light. But the FA 2008 is so easy to hit with, anyone from novice to expert (which is certainly not me) will be instilled with confidence after shooting one. My load was a 220 gr. Hornady JFP at 1900 fps. using H322.
The weather was so warm going in (70-75 deg.) then dropping to the 38-42 deg. range after twilight. Mr Faerber was totally professional and personable, a very worthy guide and host. Basically it was a week long "Bear School" more than worth the cost alone. The scenery was great and McKinley was visible about 90%+ of the time we were there right out our front window.
I feel very blessed to have gone and wanted to share the thoughts with fellows of my same ilk.
