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Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? #6119288
01/09/18 11:36 AM
01/09/18 11:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
Oreamnos Offline OP
trapper
Oreamnos  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
I have a job opportunity for one year in either Juneau or Sitka. I've been to Juneau in the winter once for a few days but never Sitka. Again, I'd only be there for one year so sadly I would not have resident status so no brown bear hunting or anything like that. Just the opportunities open to a non-res. If you could pick one of those (as a non-resident) to move to which would it be and why?

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119331
01/09/18 12:10 PM
01/09/18 12:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,513
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
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Posts: 5,513
juneau, alaska
The fishing near Sitka is FAR better than the Juneau area. Sitka is much smaller than Juneau. No idea about trapping opportunity in Sitka, if you were to spring for a n.r. licence.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119367
01/09/18 12:29 PM
01/09/18 12:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,126
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
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Alaska and Washington State
Even though Sitka is on the outer coast, there are more protected little waterways around there that you could easily and safely access with a little skiff. The water around Juneau is pretty exposed.

I've never been to Sitka in the winter, but I would imagine the temperatures are warmer there in the winter than in Juneau.

I think you'll be able to do more in Sitka, and find that the things you'd like to do will be closer and easier to do than in Juneau, along with a lot less people.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119418
01/09/18 01:39 PM
01/09/18 01:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,102
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
martenpine Offline
trapper
martenpine  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,102
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
I lived in Sitka for 20 years, graduated from college there, worked as a fishing and assistant hunting guide, and trapped Baranof area. I have been to most communities in SE.
IMO Sitka way better than Juneau. If you have any questions about the area feel free to PM me.


When there is shot in the air, there is hope.
When in doubt, throttle out!
ATA, NTA, NATCA, ITA
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119438
01/09/18 02:03 PM
01/09/18 02:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
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piperniner Offline
trapper
piperniner  Offline
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Posts: 1,336
Alaska
Much depends on your age, interests, income, marital status, etc.

With work and only having a year, your time will be limited. Lots of rain in both places and you are land locked without a boat.

Juneau has more people if you are single, more trails, entertainment/activities and over all options. Both are expensive - Sitka is more quaint, slower pace and less stress.

Either place would be a good experience, but a big factor in the choice is your personality. Whatever choice you make, get out and experience all the area has to offer, you may never be back.

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119575
01/09/18 04:06 PM
01/09/18 04:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,979
Alaska
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Hupurest Offline
"Andy S wannabe"
Hupurest  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,979
Alaska
Its a tough choice. If your wife is fine with a smaller town and less amenities, then, Sitka, hands down.

lots of good advice here...

first thing: get a skiff or make friends with someone that has a boat.


Originally Posted By: Malukchuk
I'll take wolves over idiots any day.
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119638
01/09/18 05:15 PM
01/09/18 05:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Sitka, Sitka Sitka......did I say Sitka??? I know a real savvy outdoorsman, trapper there that could help you out locally PM me if you want his contact info.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119670
01/09/18 05:53 PM
01/09/18 05:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,126
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
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Alaska and Washington State
Think of if this way; both towns are on the edge of the water with mountains behind the town. Each town has only two roads out of town; one road runs north and one road runs south along the water few miles out of town.

Juneau has a population of about 34,000, Sitka has a population of about 9,000. So, do you want to share the two roads out of town with 34,000 people, or 9,000 people? Just one other thing to consider.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6119692
01/09/18 06:18 PM
01/09/18 06:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,513
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
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Posts: 5,513
juneau, alaska
Well, nearly every trail here has trapping restrictions, for what it's worth.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120139
01/10/18 02:15 AM
01/10/18 02:15 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
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KenaiKid Offline
trapper
KenaiKid  Offline
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Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
Can you tell, we’re VERY proud of our capital?? laugh

Juneau is probably the most liberal town, by capita, in Alaska. AV hinted at that. He could tell you much more about it, but it’s not limited to just trapping restrictions. Sitka would be a no-brainer decision for me.


Originally Posted by Dirt
Originally Posted by Rat Masterson
Boco couldn't catch a cold.

But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120214
01/10/18 08:15 AM
01/10/18 08:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,658
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline
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Gulo  Offline
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Idaho, Lemhi County
I lived in Sitka for 5 years (1998-2003). No way would I live in Juneau; not my kind of town. With that said, someone should note the downsides of Sitka (I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic). Sitka is on an island. On Baranof and Chichagof Islands, you have basically three species of furbearers to trap. Otters, marten, mink. Period. The protected water north of town is relatively crowded with trappers. If you have a big boat and like big water, there are still some good trapping areas to the south, but it is not protected water. On the other hand, you have Juneau, on the mainland. You have otter, marten, mink readily available. You also have limited areas relatively close with possibilities of fisher, wolves, coyotes, wolverine, red fox, beaver, and, potentially, lynx.

Jack


Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: KenaiKid] #6120267
01/10/18 09:52 AM
01/10/18 09:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
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Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Originally Posted By: KenaiKid
Can you tell, we’re VERY proud of our capital?? laugh

Juneau is probably the most liberal town, by capita, in Alaska.


Sitka is not exactly the world wide headquarters of the John Birch Society and I think Breitbart News is banned from the library there...!

Pete

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120470
01/10/18 02:34 PM
01/10/18 02:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,561
western alaska
Malukchuk Offline
trapper
Malukchuk  Offline
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Posts: 2,561
western alaska
Sitka has a nice brewery. Get yourself a skiff they are also deer to hunt on different islands.


Water is good for two things, Floating Ships and making Beer.
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Pete in Frbks] #6120498
01/10/18 03:05 PM
01/10/18 03:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,658
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline
"On The Other Hand"
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Idaho, Lemhi County
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks


Sitka is not exactly the world wide headquarters of the John Birch Society and I think Breitbart News is banned from the library there...!

Pete


Boy-Howdy, Pete. Sitka (and most of SE Alaska, in my opinion), is a bit too far to the left for my tastes. I always fit in better in Sleetmute or Takotna.

Jack


Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120518
01/10/18 03:30 PM
01/10/18 03:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
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piperniner Offline
trapper
piperniner  Offline
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Alaska
On the other hand - does anybody fit in Sleetmute - better or otherwise ?

As for you J - ignore all the noise and flip a coin. It's doubtful you will be doing much trapping anyway, when you figure all the variables.

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120712
01/10/18 07:02 PM
01/10/18 07:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
Oreamnos Offline OP
trapper
Oreamnos  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
I was leaning toward Sitka before and I definitely am now ha. Thanks for the helpful replies! I know neither of these places are "wilderness" but I figured if anyone knows the lay of it up there you all would.

I'll look into a skiff but I don't know how to navigate coastal waters. Maybe after I've gone out some with other folks and learn a bit. I have some connections that could get me out on big water for fishing. As far as trapping goes I don't count on doing much if any. I'd love to catch a marten or two just for the experience but we'll see how it plays out. My main focus would probably be fishing and hiking. I've looked into reserving a forest service cabin and paying for a flight charter in and out to do some hunting or fishing. Plenty of options there if I'm willing to pay the price.

One question about Sitka: How are the freshwater fly fishing opportunities?

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120749
01/10/18 07:44 PM
01/10/18 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,126
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,126
Alaska and Washington State
I don't know anything about the fly fishing opportunities there, but I don't know why you couldn't fly fish for anything that you might find in the creeks around Sitka, I don't know about stealhead, but you shouldn't have trouble finding cutthroat, dollies and various salmon species depending on the time of year.

Don't be intimidated by taking a skiff out on the saltwater, just take it a step at a time. One of the main things you want to always consider is the tides; not just that the water level goes up and down four times a day (you will get your skiff stuck on the beach on an outgoing tide, but it will only happen once), but you also have to keep in mind the direction and speed of the current. When the current goes the opposite direction of even a slight wind it can cause the waves to stack up really quickly.

One thing you don't want to catch is "get-home-itis", that will kill you faster than just about anything. In addition to a personal locator beacon (PLB), and a VHF radio, you always want to have on your skiff a small tarp and some line to construct a quick shelter on the beach. The time will arise when the prudent thing to do is to pull your skiff up on the beach and wait-out the weather. Many times all you have to do is wait for the tide to change direction, which happens every five and a half hours or so.

Don't worry, you'll figure it out pretty fast. You're going to have a great year.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120777
01/10/18 08:05 PM
01/10/18 08:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
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piperniner Offline
trapper
piperniner  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
Paying the price is key, everything is expensive - especially Air charters, so use those boat connections. Harris Air is a flight option and there are a few pilots that cater to stream fisherman if you venture out a bit further.

Steelhead fly fishing - season dependent and mostly by air - plus some Dollies and lake trout.

I suspect you will be happy with your choice - have fun.

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6120876
01/10/18 09:23 PM
01/10/18 09:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,513
juneau, alaska
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2007
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juneau, alaska
Gulo, less than 10 fisher ever taken in the Juneau area. I only know of 2 fox, and a handful of lynx, in 30 years.
The rest is accurate.


Made it almost 3 years without censor!

Re: Sitka or Juneau: Which would you move to? [Re: Oreamnos] #6121290
01/11/18 09:27 AM
01/11/18 09:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,658
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline
"On The Other Hand"
Gulo  Offline
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Idaho, Lemhi County
AV, that's why I said "possibilities of fisher, wolves, coyotes" etc. On the ABC Islands, a trapper doesn't even have those possibilities.


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