It would be difficult to know when to be present for testimony on your proposal if done that way because sometimes the BOG gets hung up on one proposal for a day or they skip one and come back to it later. I think they should be reminded or should review at least the testimonies of each proposal before they deliberate it. They are supposed to remember the testimonies and take them into account but some get very little attention and others get overwhelmed.

Hi Jacks. Best machine I've ever had. Most important to me is it's not electronic like a Ski-Doo. I can turn the key, pull up the kill switch, and either electric start it or pull start it (rewind starter comes standard). My Expedition LE 600 etec is in the shop right now because there's a bad ground somewhere...no electronics showing up, no recognizing of my DESS, no nothing. We live in such isolation that I cannot have an electrical issue out in the country. That's first and foremost.

2. It's 156" x 20" with inch and 3/8 lugs, I believe. Very needed in the deep snow.

3. It's a 800 clean-fire engine with high, low, neutral, and reverse. Powerful, yet quiet engine. Gets about 11 miles to the gallon so far as I can reckon.

4. It's got Fox rebuildable shocks all around and underneath. Can't feel a thing. Incredible ride! Feels like I'm actually riding a crossover sled, not a wide-track.

5. It's same price as a Ski-Doo Expedition LE. $14,500. That's here in Kotz. Plus they exchanged the small windshield with the tallest, widest one. They exchanged the stock skis for the widest, float skis. They gave me a spare belt and the cover...all for free. The only thing I did buy was the cargo rack. I'm soon to get a two-up seat.

6. The digital gauges are awesome. I can see my engine temp! Usually runs around 110 degrees. This is nice!

7. It comes with a hook hitch attached. They say it can haul 1200 pounds. I had 6 lynx on the back rack and pulled a large load of wood.

I got stuck with it twice...on the same day. It was driver error, really. I was in a deep snow creek with no turn around space. Ahead of me was a little willow island. On each side of the island were deep basins that led all the way to the rocks and running water. So I drove up the left bank. I made the mistake of stopping to look at the rocks before getting all the way out of the tops of the willows. Sure enough, as I began to go, my skis were on the hard-pack, but my track hit an air pocket on top of the willows. Sunk in pretty good. I put my snowshoes on, stomped both sides of the machine as well as the front. Tried just packing snow under the track and going but that didn't work, so I got my 16" Stihl and cut 3 small spruce trees down. I tried grabbing the side of the machine and tipping it over but it was too heavy. So I used one of the spruce trees as a lever, under the machine, right in front of the track. Sure enough, got it to tip enough. Then I put the three trees down where the track was and I tipped it back over on top of them. Put it in low gear and she shot right out.

I got stuck a second time just in a huge area of willows. Again, going too slow, hit a dead air spot and sunk in. Did the same thing as before and got out again. I since take my rope along with some long rope. However, that second time there would be no trees to tie to nearby. I heard one can tie to willows and one end on the lugs in the front of the track and get out, but I haven't done that before. Anyone have any advice in my situations???

When I went to make a trail in the trees the other day, in the deep snow, I put it in low gear, and that made ALL the difference! Can just crawl along. I really like that mode.

The only downfall of this machine, I would say, is the cost of Polaris Gold oil. I can however bring my gallon jugs into the dealership here and have them filled for much less. So that's alright. The other one is the mpg. But hey. I'm telling you...I don't care about a few mpg. This Polaris Titan XC is INCREDIBLE. So much fun too. I am so glad I switched. OH, I guess last but not least, is the track throws snow like nobody's business. If one is pulling a sled, it's a MUST to attach a second flap onto the stock one to keep that down.

I haven't looked at the manual yet. Someone said maybe my XC has a built in GPS in the gauge...idk. I've just been riding. Haven't had time to look at that.

Thanks for the info on the Titan, thinking of getting one

I bought a used 2015 expedition etch with 80 miles this year. Spent a month getting gps and accessories in it. When to use it at cabin and wouldn't start. Took the service about a month to fix bad ground also. Got it from them and was only about a month of season left and decided to just put away till next year.

Great pictures Inupiaq! Our cat numbers are slowly coming back up.

Good Post.
As regards the last part and the BOG relying on the agencies, yes and no. There have been so many boards and so many proposals it is hard to generalize. But sure, sometimes some boards take an agencies' stance on a given topic and sometimes no. I don't think it's a given by any means.
Like I said, good post.

So could you not open and salvage wing meat. Then use the wing?

Jacks, do you know which ground it was and where it is? I'd sure like to get my Etec going by bird hunting time at least.

Well, I pulled my "long line" (8 traps) last weekend. I still have 2 more traps up the Noatak. Now time to flesh and tan the hides. I got another 3 cats on this pull. Also took my son on a rabbit hunting trip. He shot about 15, I reckon. He's right-handed but left-eye dominant...so it's kind of tricky shooting for him.
First cat of my final 3 on the long line. Nice, big male.

Here he is ready for battle.


This is the second cat. Way up the Joshua Tree. I made a snare pole finally. Sure came in handy.


The wind blew my snare down, otherwise I would've had a double at this location. Oh well.


Nice to see tracks at the end of the season. Hopefully they'll still be around next year. I'm really glad I ventured into this new country.
I ended up with around 24 cats this year.


Last cat from the long line. I hung 3 traps on their trees. Took home the rest. Nice medium sized cat here. Lots of skinning, fleshing,
and tanning to do now. I'll pull my 2 traps up the Noatak this week and move on with other subsistence activities. Will keep yawl posted.


My youngest son Tyler using a willow as a shooting stick. He's doing OK but I may have to have him shoot left-handed.

Nice head shots make for quick and easy cleaning.

Those are some nice cats. I'm at 22 lynx for the year. I sold two early on so I need 5 on my last check to get a $2000.00 cheque when I bring them in. My buddy bought a Titan yesterday. I might throw out a line in the mountains for a week or so try and get one more wolverine so I can be King of thda Swamp.

What do you do with your lynx after you tan them?

Good stuff, Inupiaq!
I really liked your Fb post about teaching kids firearm safety, and maybe others here would like it as well!

Inupiaq

This is the way it was told to me but I heard it second hand so not sure if it’s accurate

The ground for thre key fob. Was going to steering post and must of not been good and they ran the ground to the main ground on sled. Took them a while to figure it out. At first they thought bad key fob. As those are known to go. So I also had them make me up 4 extra key fobs as they can go anytime and no way to bypass I guess

Muskrat, I keep about 1/2 for parkas and hats. Sell the other half through the local native craft store and through a friend who has about 500-800 Christians come up from the Lower 48 to do ministry evangelism. That 1/2 all get sold eventually. $100 for kittens. $200 for medium sized ones. $300-$400 for the large, silvery ones.

One time years ago I had them all commercially tanned at Alpha Fur Tanning in Anchorage and I had 4 nice, big ones left to sell. I brought them with me in the China King Buffet restaurant in Anchorage and the Koreans went nuts. Started coming out of the kitchen and throwing out prices. I eventually sold all four for a good price by the time I left. They're serious in their bargaining though! They're pros. I even walked out with my furs at one point to show them I mean business and the owner chased me to my car and finally gave me the price I was looking for. That was cool.

Jacks, thanks. I'll fool around with it a little more. If I can't figure it out I may have to ship it to Nome on Bering Air for Wilderness Ski-Doo to run a diagnostics test and fix it. Costly, but what's a fella to do? Leave it inoperable for the rest of it's life? I really, really, really, wish Ski-Doo can get away from this electronic crap and get back to some basics. They told me they're electronic due to theft...the DESS system, etc. One can't just clip the key switch off, pull start and go. However, there are ways to keep your machine safe besides electronic keys and systems. They make these things called chains and padlocks. For my Polaris Titan, I can have them put a code in. I can start it, press the code #s and it'll drive. Not sure if I want to do that right now, though. We'll see.

Maps this post can find some info

http://www.dootalk.com/forums/topic/7731...-modifications/

If not I would ask on this forums ski doo talk. Pretty knowledgeable guys

Hey Inupiaq, sent you a pm!

It's not showing up Steve.

Well, that does it for me for the season. Took my youngest boy and nephew up the river to pull my short line (2 traps, 2 snares). Picked up 2 more cats. Ended the season with 26. Again, thank you all for your advice on the wing set. Was really a game-changer. Also setting up a snare or two around a trap really helped. Picked up lots of doubles.

Later, as I was helping the boys shoot some bunnies, I saw two cats walking very briskly on the other side of a willow line! Incredible. First time in my life I've seen live, wild lynx. They were like ghosts in the darkness. Trotting almost. I zoomed up ahead where I knew there was a break in the willow line and the young lynx almost caught a bunny. Just a claw short. I wish it would've caught it, I may have had a good shot at both cats. But as it was, it missed and I took a long shot and missed with my .22 magnum. They both walked over the next little raise to the next willow line. I put on my snowshoes lickety-split and took off after them. MISTAKE! Haha. I thought maybe I can catch up to them and tree 'em or if they caught a bunny and were eating it. But as it was they just trucked through them willows and trees. I must've gone a mile through the woods and never did see them buggers. They can flat out move in there! Oh well. Gotta try, right? I'm just glad I'm still young enough to do so. I thought about Huntington's story about tracking marten in his book. Pretty cool to try. I was one sweaty fool when I popped out of the woods a mile upriver.

My 25th cat. A nice one. The biggest one I trapped this year was 37 pounds. Caught a few more above 30.

I love close-up shots. They're so photogenic.


Nice to have the boys along.


I had a snare empty on the way in and forgot all about this snare. Almost walked to the machine. Remembered I had a snare in this location.
Found the snare not where it's supposed to be. I love that feeling!


A very nice sight to see for the very last piece of hardware for the year. Never had a cat eat another cat. There must be enough food for them.


Letting Ty get this cat out. Next year I'll let them set most traps and snares.


A good way to end the season. Thanks for following along, everyone. I MAY look to get some spring beaver. They'll start coming
out of their lairs shortly. Usually when the cranes show up.

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing!!

Hey Inupiaq I got the last lynx of the year tonight but this one had 570 cc and is fan cooled. I won an Arctic Cat Lynx 2000 at the Mad Trapper Rendevous merchandise raffel. Used a $10.00 ticket instead of a trap or snare.

Really great pictures.