Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/06/1209:27 PM
Well went out grouse hunting the other day, and stopped by a little creek that I noticed was full of spawning silvers, follwed it a little ways and, lo and behold it opened up onto a lake with two lodges on it. I love unexpectedly finding new trapping locations. and whats great is it's between two other spots I'll be trapping. C'mon, November 10th!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/07/1212:50 AM
Looks like we have a few grouse around this year also. Shot four up on the trapline the other day. Took the breasts out and fried them up. Cut the wings off to dry spread out for attractants at sets. The rest of the parts are frozen and will be to try in some of my marten boxes. Going to try a few different things this year. Have always used only beaver meat.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/07/1203:45 AM
Never played with an 85 but they look real tall, I would be worried they would grab to high..It seems like someone here tryed them for cats and didn't like them cause of that but I can't remember? Must be getting old
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/07/1204:00 AM
That's what I thought, they have a pretty dang tall jaw. I may just have to set the pans light to try and avoid a real high catch. I do really like there dogless pan setup though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/07/1204:51 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadian crowd! We are celebrating in our house... can't wait to have dinner!
And Happy Birthday Scott!
Thank you ak. We are having our turkey day (glazed ham)tomorrow rather than Monday. Monday it is back up to the trapline to fix up more sets, cut wood, etc.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/07/1211:23 PM
Finally talked my daughter into going to check traps today.I should take lady luck more often the smile says it all,glad it wasn't to far of a pack to truck,gotta love easy beaver LOL
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1203:11 AM
Originally Posted By: trapper ron
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadian crowd! We are celebrating in our house... can't wait to have dinner!
And Happy Birthday Scott!
Thank you ak. We are having our turkey day (glazed ham)tomorrow rather than Monday. Monday it is back up to the trapline to fix up more sets, cut wood, etc.
We had ours last night, wife is working next couple of days. Turkey, salt meat, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, savory stuffing, candied baby carrots, cranberry sauce, rolls, and lots of desert! OMG was it ever good! Turkey sandwiches for a few days too... Get to do it all over again next month, lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1204:30 PM
Triplets are pretty common and even quads once in a while. Not unusual to see the big family groups with one year olds, but by the second year it's usually down to one or two cubs. Tasty morsels for the big boars.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1204:32 PM
PawPincher: Must of been the year of threes as we had three sows here with triplets. Must be getting close to sleepy time as we are down to just a couple bears.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1204:37 PM
They stay active here until late Nov early Dec. The last of the silver run doesn't dry up until well into Dec and sometimes lasts into early Jan. Makes things interesting for a while!
hup... good eye, they were right across the street.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/09/1206:37 AM
Fog here all day but the wind and seas came down. Went out and caught some lingcod and rockfish for the freezer. Need to go fill a goat tag but it's been pretty hard to get a weather window open long enough to get up high and hunt.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/09/1203:02 PM
27 degrees here this morn. The 4 days of rain finally subsided. Not used to that in October. I suppose the rivers will freeze high now and we'll get to play on the big hollow ice again this winter. It's an un-nerving hum when yer traveling up the river with a 4 foot hollow under the ice, just wondering when it's going to drop out from under ya. Here's a couple pics for those who don't get to play on these hollows and tank traps. It's nice when you can see the fall outs and drop offs. It sucks when the wind covers them up with powder. That gives a whole new meaning to the word "whoops" in the trail.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/09/1204:22 PM
Everything is so saturated here that a little bit of rain makes the water level come up in a matter of hours. Our beaver traps were set perfect on Sunday afternoon, by last night, they were under water.
Howler, we deal with the same thing on parts of our 'line too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/09/1211:08 PM
Ya got a 50/50 chance of getting wet Scott, most of the time it isn't very deep. Sometimes in the spring if ya get some good overflow, it will fill up the entire channel. Yer cruising along in 2 to 5 inches of overflow and all of the sudden it's comming over the windshield when you drive into one of those fallouts. For some reason I don't take pics of those times, pre-occupied I guess. Makes life on the trapline a little exciting.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/09/1211:15 PM
Originally Posted By: AKHowler
Ya got a 50/50 chance of getting wet Scott, most of the time it isn't very deep. Sometimes in the spring if ya get some good overflow, it will fill up the entire channel. Yer cruising along in 2 to 5 inches of overflow and all of the sudden it's comming over the windshield when you drive into one of those fallouts. For some reason I don't take pics of those times, pre-occupied I guess. Makes life on the trapline a little exciting.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/10/1201:19 AM
Well after chasing a beaver around my daughter went with me and she says"Dad lets go over there and try it" What do I have to lose right?Went to check and there it was just wish she could of come to check but school got in the way. The bigger one of the two she made her own set.It has kinda cool looking feet.I know there is beaver out there with white on them.Would of been cool if he would of had it in his fur to.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/10/1203:04 AM
AKHowler I was thinking of that picture you put up last year just the other day!
Okie I'm disappointed you aren't telling the WHOLE story, like how she totally out trapped and then schooled you on the fine art of water trapping! I hear rumor she is going to put the smack down on you during kitty season! Congrats on the critters and for making memories for those youngsters!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/11/1204:28 PM
Feeling pretty lucky! Got the all clear from the doc for my broken scaphoid. One piece of bone still floating around but it's too small to do anything about. Doc showed me the original CT scan. The top of the bone had shattered into about a half dozen pieces he called 'bone gravel'. Pieces too small to fix surgically. Fortunately they held their relative positions and fused. Eleven weeks of aggravation and missed opportunities, but it could have been worse!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/11/1205:11 PM
that piece of bone floating around should "dissolve" and go away.....
like when i took the chunk off my shin bone, it was floating around...and the dr said that it would be "dissolved". and an xray later on showed that it had...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/11/1206:30 PM
Yep, it's only 1 mm so it shouldn't last long. The weather here sucks and has sucked for about a week and a half. Goat season is ticking away. Could have hiked up above the fog Monday or Tuesday but was leery about it lifting up into the tops. Temps and dew point identical, humidity 97 to 100%.
............................. Temp.......Wind Ch....Dew pt.....Humidity Pillar Mountain, Kodiak, AK..40.7 °F....33 °F.....40 °F......100%....North at 22.8 mph 0.00 in / hr 1204 ft 30 sec ago Normal
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1202:05 AM
I got out and shot a couple grouse this last weekend. Ended up getting two and missed one. All i have is a pellet gun since i'm staying at the dorms so i couldn't get a close enough shot on the miss.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1205:28 PM
I went up the weekend before last with a weather forecast of 20% chance of snow showers. Visibility was great until I got up to the goat zone. As soon as I sat down to glass, snow squalls moved in (and stayed), and the visibility went to a few hundred yards. Then it started to thunder and lightning so I had to go. Burned a lot of energy just to get there so the next day when it was nice out I was too worn out to try it again. I've been waiting for a weather window ever since. The older I get the less I want to hunt goats.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1205:35 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
I went up the weekend before last with a weather forecast of 20% chance of snow showers. Visibility was great until I got up to the goat zone. As soon as I sat down to glass, snow squalls moved in (and stayed), and the visibility went to a few hundred yards. Then it started to thunder and lightning so I had to go. Burned a lot of energy just to get there so the next day when it was nice out I was too worn out to try it again. I've been waiting for a weather window ever since. The older I get the less I want to hunt goats.
Hopefully the weather improves in the next week, at least a little. I'm coming down to try to fill a goat tag AND a bear tag.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1205:55 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
The older I get the less I want to hunt goats.
That is because testosterone levels drop so much...
but they have something for that.
It's called sheep hunting.... Ask Northway about hunting in sneakers and shorts
HA HA! Goats are easy! Just a "little" heavier to pack down! I don't think I've ever sheep hunted with cots, etc. and shot sheep from the tent like you did on your FLY to the top goat hunt!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1206:12 PM
Oh here we go again...lol! Nice billy Watarrat! I've shot a few but I'm a slow learner. The next one will probably be my last... then I'll take up sheep hunting...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1206:24 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Oh here we go again...lol! Nice billy Watarrat! I've shot a few but I'm a slow learner. The next one will probably be my last... then I'll take up sheep hunting...
Nice akpawpincher! Hup's been telling you too many stories. All my goat trips were day trips, even though one did get into the night!!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/12/1207:04 PM
LOL! I've never really hunted the hard park, so wouldn't know what that is! I will be starting to though. No goats on our side of the hard park either. The goats in land are too small to hunt. Southeast goats are the real deal!
Geographical difference??
But you would get your PCE credits for electricity!!! HA HA HA!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/13/1202:32 AM
First snow here today. Then turned to rain, of course. Nothing stuck on the deck, but the stuff did stick at around the 200 foot level. Pretty early, for here.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/14/1205:41 AM
Tried to go grayling fishing today but the small river I went up was running slush ice and getting thicker as I went.
we ended up turning back and made it back home and I pulled the boat up on the beach and called it my last boat ride...now it can snow
On a side note yesterday I saw a huge flock of snow geese headed south not all the high but still higer than gun range if had they been just a bit lower I might of grabbed the shotgun and tried a few pot shots out in the front yard
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/14/1206:09 AM
I haven't seen geese since the first week of september...I also went for a boat ride today, went and pulled pops two white fish nets. Few females, 8 males, 3 small pike, and two coho females. Tomorrow i will pull out the boat. Hurry up and freeze over. Haha nearing the season and i am not even close to being ready...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/14/1206:17 AM
I'm a wuss, so unless it warms up I may be done beaver trapping. Got a hankering for otter fur though, maybe chop some ice and hope for either otter or beaver.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1204:16 AM
Went out on one last boat ride here, snow on the ground at the house. Headed abit south for some Silvers. Lots of fish and a few good ones. Lots of ice flowing on the rivers around here.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1205:36 AM
Last boat ride for me yesterday. I had ice building on the boat from the spray on the way home. We saw hundreds of mallards (tempting), but it was too windy to go back. Instead, we chopped and wired 45 pieces of beaver for wolverine buckets and stuffed onion sacks for marten bait.
Today we made 75 pounds of swan/goose sausage and watched the Packers win!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1205:13 PM
Calling for a couple of inches of snow here tonight... but that probably doesn't mean anything. The weather forecast yesterday was 100% chance of rain... and it was beautiful. Lousy @$$ weather people. I could do a better job sitting on the john.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1205:38 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Calling for a couple of inches of snow here tonight... but that probably doesn't mean anything. The weather forecast yesterday was 100% chance of rain... and it was beautiful. Lousy @$$ weather people. I could do a better job sitting on the john.
Well it would be a good day to take those whale parts back to where you "found" them..... I bet that spot will be a fox haven this winter.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1206:05 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Calling for a couple of inches of snow here tonight... but that probably doesn't mean anything. The weather forecast yesterday was 100% chance of rain... and it was beautiful. Lousy @$$ weather people. I could do a better job sitting on the john.
Well it would be a good day to take those whale parts back to where you "found" them..... I bet that spot will be a fox haven this winter.
You dont want anythng to do with fox that have been dining on whale...trust me on this one..lol
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1207:42 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Calling for a couple of inches of snow here tonight... but that probably doesn't mean anything. The weather forecast yesterday was 100% chance of rain... and it was beautiful. Lousy @$$ weather people. I could do a better job sitting on the john.
Well it would be a good day to take those whale parts back to where you "found" them..... I bet that spot will be a fox haven this winter.
We are in full blizzard mode here,, swageing .358 bullets to .356 for the old 9x57 Mauser and swageing .366 Hornady 286 gr down to .358 for the Norma Magnum. We have a net out for suckers to put in the garden and to cook for the dogs, the boss says it gets picked today storm or not. Hauling out propane tanks as our supplier is no more!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1208:55 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
Well it would be a good day to take those whale parts back to where you "found" them..... I bet that spot will be a fox haven this winter.
Yeah, I'm wondering if they didn't have a camera set up. The warning in the paper sounded ominous lol! Luckily I know better and with gas @ 4.55 a gallon I'm not about to drive a hundred miles to get in trouble... I can do that closer to home. And X2 on what Jeff said. They stink bad enough when they are eating liquid salmon. Snow showers here but a nice day so far. Wind is supposed to pick up later. May make it into the hills tomorrow or Wednesday.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/16/1203:37 PM
WaterRat: I went through that also. $200 to refill a 100 pounder locally. Better stop posting those kind of photos or people will think its not all hunting, trapping and fishing in the bush.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/16/1204:59 PM
$285 for a 100lb bottle with a return and a $190 charter one way for a 10min flight from McG. Glad my kids have left the nest, only go through 2 bottles a yr now.
Scouting today, hunting goats tomorrow. Windchill @ 1200 ft is 8 F today (probably 0 up a little higher). Winds are supposed to come down later and the weather reasonable for a few days. Nice here in the house with the wood stove lit!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/16/1205:26 PM
We can purchase propane at Pile Bay for $145 but it entails a 10 hr boat ride,We charged the lodges $25 a bottle and managed to fill some of ours and fuel the boat in return for wrestling 170lb bottles for a couple of days. We have a small wind turbine and a couple of solar panels now so our fuel bill has dropped considerably! Gas is $8.25 in Kokhankok and $6.55 in Pile Bay,,we use the Honda's for running traps whenever it's possible these days.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/16/1210:20 PM
Found my goat today. I sure hope he is in the area tomorrow. Spiking in in the morning. It will take about three hours to get close enough to go after him- if/when I find him again. Watched him for a couple of hours but the wind switched and he headed over the top of some real nasty stuff to get out of it. He is pretty safe where he's at so I'll just have to get lucky.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/17/1207:28 AM
I get 3 days off of work and the weather is pretty crappy, a lot of snow and low visibility. I did manage to take 1 shot at a ram that was quite a ways off, maybe if I had a spotter I would have shot a few more times. I also seen one wolf running around about 1 mile away from where I was at, man Im getting excited for my favorite time of the year. Tomorrow Im going to go and look for the ram again, he looked to be a full curl easy. More snow tomorrow, time to bust out the snowmachine.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/17/1210:09 AM
Hey nunamiut, somthing you may want to try next year, get your .300 threaded and put a quality muzzle brake on it, I never really thought about them until this year and all I have to say is wow, it cuts recoil and muzzle jump down to nothing, in turn I can spot my own shot at 200yd on up. It makes adjustment a lot faster not having to wait for a spotter to give you a call.
Speaking of dobbins lures, I just got some "skunky backbreaker" I'm going to try for cats and marten this year, it must be some impressive stuff if it comes packed in dirt to hold the smell down
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/18/1202:37 AM
I filled up the heating fuel drum today 207 gallons cost $1,16.54 ...so how many of you guys want to move out here and get in on some of this good hunting,trapping and fishing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/18/1202:50 AM
Originally Posted By: AKscott
Speaking of dobbins lures, I just got some "skunky backbreaker" I'm going to try for cats and marten this year, it must be some impressive stuff if it comes packed in dirt to hold the smell down
That skunky Backbreaker is my number one! snow on the ground at my house tonight!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/18/1202:53 AM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
I filled up the heating fuel drum today 207 gallons cost $1,16.54 ...so how many of you guys want to move out here and get in on some of this good hunting,trapping and fishing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/18/1204:13 AM
$7.85 gallon at the pump for unlead, and i think $7.50 Gallon for heating oil. Firewood sells for $300.00 a cord. 1 quart Castol oil is 8-9 dollars. 100 pound bottle of propane is $190.00 each. Got it all done beside the bulk unlead fuel for trapping season...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/18/1206:30 PM
Holy Cross is not real moose hunter friendly if you know what I mean..or at least they werent when they kicked everyone off the corp lands back in the early 90s.
they are now in the process of trying to close up the Paridise sanctuary on the Innoko.
Thats a pretty cool sequence of that young eagle Bob.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1201:51 AM
Snow conditions are getting better by the day! Not enough snow for snowmachines, too much snow for the argo. The last three days Ive been riding around on the argo and getting stuck with it left and right. Tracks for the tires might be in my sights for next early winter. I did spot a nice bunch of caribou bulls not too far from town. I got within 25 yards at one point and watched them eat while I was burried in the snow staying as still as possible. I managed to shoot one bull after he spotted my glasses at 30 yards and the rest of the bunch ran off. I followed over the hill and shot 2 more long range with my .300 win mag. Wheres my bow when I need it the most? At home hanging. No luck with the ram, here in a week or 2 Im going to go out with the snowmachine, I guess I better order a new set of ski's ahead of time, the rocks really chew them up around here.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1205:22 AM
$5.75 a gallon for diesel here, $6.20 a gallon for unleaded. 100# bottle of propane $209 with return bottle and $295 for a non-return bottle.
Came home a while ago from the High School Volleyball games. Two volleyball teams made it here today; McGrath and Holy Cross. Was a great start for the season of Volleyball here at Russian Mission. Weather permitting tomorrow two other teams are coming for the meet. Looking forward towards another day of volleyball action
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1207:44 AM
These two crossed in front of the house yesterday morning Took down our electric fence because it was touching snow drifts in a couple spots and a hour after we finished this sow showed up with her two cubs.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1207:55 AM
got a good recipe for them bunnies? Love bowhunting them, so far I havent found a good way to cookem!!! Buddies got a hare dumpling recipe I've tried to get for years, so far no luck.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1204:39 PM
Originally Posted By: akmarten907
$5.75 a gallon for diesel here, $6.20 a gallon for unleaded. 100# bottle of propane $209 with return bottle and $295 for a non-return bottle.
Came home a while ago from the High School Volleyball games. Two volleyball teams made it here today; McGrath and Holy Cross. Was a great start for the season of Volleyball here at Russian Mission. Weather permitting tomorrow two other teams are coming for the meet. Looking forward towards another day of volleyball action
You guys get any snow there in the last week? Was up at Kako Retreat Center with a bunch of guys from our church last week cutting fire wood & it was supposed to get nasty after we left Saturday morning. It was blowing pretty good when we left. Northern lights were sure nice Friday night.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/19/1210:15 PM
Originally Posted By: Tradbow1
got a good recipe for them bunnies? Love bowhunting them, so far I havent found a good way to cookem!!! Buddies got a hare dumpling recipe I've tried to get for years, so far no luck.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1203:01 AM
Originally Posted By: lbtrapper
Originally Posted By: Tradbow1
got a good recipe for them bunnies? Love bowhunting them, so far I havent found a good way to cookem!!! Buddies got a hare dumpling recipe I've tried to get for years, so far no luck.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1205:03 AM
Yes we eat them and have a small comercial fishery for them at a buck a lb..they taste kind of like sardines (to me anyway)
They are very rich and oily and usualy cooked baked or fried.
you can try them yourself..they serve them smoked with a sweet sesame sauce in sushi bars or even at Carrs or safeway in the sushi section also at Sagaya.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1206:02 AM
Saw the other day that Sportsman's was selling them in their bait freezer. They do make really good burbot bait the few times I've tried it in the past. It's been quite awhile since I've been able to get any and I don't think I'm willing to pay what they wanted for lampreys at SW. If I remember correctly they wanted 7.99 for less than a whole eel. I'm assuming these are from the Yukon as the company marketing them was based in Anchorage.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1206:32 AM
Man are we getting ripped off at a buck a pound!..lol
not sure where they are getting them but I have a freshwater permit and will sell them all they want.
It is usualy hit or miss we have to fish them right as the Yukon is freezing up during the running ice or right after it stops and freezes..its a short window when they go past here,and we cant travel to go find them since the ice is not safe yet.
The burbot or Lushfish (like we call them )are fat with Eels during the run so I imagine they would make good bait.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1207:10 AM
Always thought that eeling looked interesting. And wet and cold too at times I'm sure. What does the business end of the rake look like? I assume that's what you're using. Isn't it just spikes/nails punched through a piece of wood?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1207:35 AM
Yes it is very cold buisness but you get a work out swinging the eel stick so warm up fast,its hard work.
And yes if you look close you can see the nails..they are finishing nails with the heads clipped off at an angle and sharpend I made that stick myself my buddy is using it.
you swing the stick back and forth across the current and if you are in eels you will impale a couple every stroke or two.
For the comercial fishery we cant use the stick,we use dipnets, they tend to freeze up so we have to build a fire to thaw it from time to time we can get a half a dipnet full per dip when they are thick and get a pickup load in a few hours.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1208:07 AM
Originally Posted By: Vance in AK
Originally Posted By: akmarten907
$5.75 a gallon for diesel here, $6.20 a gallon for unleaded. 100# bottle of propane $209 with return bottle and $295 for a non-return bottle.
Came home a while ago from the High School Volleyball games. Two volleyball teams made it here today; McGrath and Holy Cross. Was a great start for the season of Volleyball here at Russian Mission. Weather permitting tomorrow two other teams are coming for the meet. Looking forward towards another day of volleyball action
You guys get any snow there in the last week? Was up at Kako Retreat Center with a bunch of guys from our church last week cutting fire wood & it was supposed to get nasty after we left Saturday morning. It was blowing pretty good when we left. Northern lights were sure nice Friday night.
Vance, we haven't had any accumulation of snow here. Nearly two weeks ago it snowed here then just melted as soon as it came. Yes those northern lights were amazing! They were dancing all over the place, there seemed to be a Halo that formed for quite sometime too towards midnight. I couldn't imagine flying in a plane on a windy day, let alone with gusts of 50mph. I tend to get plane sick if I stay in a small plane longer than two hours
Day two of the volleyball events here at Russian Mission. Teams are; Holy Cross/Grayling, McGrath, Mountain Village and Emmonak. Talk about excitement Day three starts at 9:30am Saturday.
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
The Yukon river here is running ice today...should be eels soon I hope.
Jeff, there is more ice heading down your way. Ice really started flowing down just a couple of days ago. I have got to build me a new "eel stick" soon. Those eels are tasty when baked, and I do agree they do taste like sardines for some odd reason
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1204:36 PM
GOOD MORNING , ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
White17: Looking a bit chilly in McGrath this Morning!!! Do you have your snow shovel and Rock Salt ready ?? Got the Snow Blower all tuned up and ready to go ??
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1205:25 PM
Thanks Nick..it seams a little early for thick Ice running but it could be I am just not ready yet.. and Go Strivers
TJ- I think a trap would work I have never seen anyone try one but I dont see why it wouldnt..one problem might be the running ice might grind it into the mud,or take it away or another thing is you might not be able to lift it back up on the ice if it gets plugged with eels ...it would be heavy.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1209:40 PM
You guys get any snow there in the last week? Was up at Kako Retreat Center with a bunch of guys from our church last week cutting fire wood & it was supposed to get nasty after we left Saturday morning. It was blowing pretty good when we left. Northern lights were sure nice Friday night. [/quote]
Vance, we haven't had any accumulation of snow here. Nearly two weeks ago it snowed here then just melted as soon as it came. Yes those northern lights were amazing! They were dancing all over the place, there seemed to be a Halo that formed for quite sometime too towards midnight. I couldn't imagine flying in a plane on a windy day, let alone with gusts of 50mph. I tend to get plane sick if I stay in a small plane longer than two hours
Day two of the volleyball events here at Russian Mission. Teams are; Holy Cross/Grayling, McGrath, Mountain Village and Emmonak. Talk about excitement Day three starts at 9:30am Saturday.
[quote=yukonjeff]
Glad it's not piling up on you guys yet. Yeah takeoff at Kako was interesting. Nice gusting tail,cross wind. Fueled in Aniak, also strong crosswind. Interesting in the Caravan. Tournaments like that are a ball (no pun intended) no matter where you are, & the more sparce entertainment is the more fun the tournament! I'm not ready for winter here in Kenai yet, Still have 3 boats (friends 23' Bayliner, father in laws Koffler sled, my junk drift boat)in the yard to put away, 2 one man pontoon boats to put away, 2 snowmachines & a snow blower to get running, a couple of spare (junk) cars to move, & about 6 more cord of wood to cut. Oh yeah, I need to get stuff ready for my meager trapline & we are supposed to have a permit opening for brown bear starting the 25th. Just remembered I also need to the yearly maintainance on the generator. Oh yeah, & change the balljoints & brakes on the truck argh... 2" of snow in the yard but supposed to be cool & clear for almost 2 weeks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/20/1211:59 PM
Vance was Dave and Vera there? Good friends of mine. Great people there. I used to teach in Russian Mission and spend a fair bit of time there. I used to trap the kako valley for marten years ago.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1201:28 AM
Well, I survived another Kodiak goat hunt! The view from camp... Spike camp The goats like this stuff... The billy was at the top of the brown slide when I found him, exited stage left. Shot my goat on the right side of the mountain around the corner from the rocky bluff (far right). Dead goat... (head was too bloody for decent pics) Loaded in the sled and ready for the long haul out... Friggin back trackin bear! Couldn't find my stash though...lol! Another old billy goat. Ready for halloween! Frozen mirror...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1202:10 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Vance was Dave and Vera there? Good friends of mine. Great people there. I used to teach in Russian Mission and spend a fair bit of time there. I used to trap the kako valley for marten years ago.
Yup they are both still there & doing pretty well. Hard to slow them down! It was Vera's b-day (80?) while we were there & she was making meals for the whole crew. She had hearing implants last spring that helped her out a bit, but not a lot. Dave's son Jonathan was there with his new bride (got married last spring). Don't know if Bill & Brenda Johnson were there last time you were in the area but they are still there too (been there 2yrs full time now I believe).
Cool that yopu used to trap there. We had to take a 4wheeler down to the landing one day & I noticed quite a few leaning poles set up. At least one was fairly elaborate in the way it was done.. Leaning pole was notched to set on top of a cut off pole that has semi-pointed. Usualy I've just seen guys wire or nail the leaning pole to a tree or brace it over a branch. Beautiful country. Last year we were there late in the month & there was fresh snow each night. Nice wolf track right down the runway one morning. Would love to spend some time playing up there. A little different than the Kenai area...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1203:05 AM
Thanks Vance, Scott. He would have had to have gotten real lucky to find it. I had it wrapped in my bivey tent which is impermeable, then buried in the snow below an outcropping which had 25 to 35 mph mph winds whistling over it and into the great blue beyond. But you can bet I was at port arms as I approached... lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1203:37 AM
It was hard work for sure but it was a blast! Goat is very good, some of the best game flavor wise there is... but most of them are tough. Great rare to med rare, in a stew, or as a burger. I brought out one shoulder bone in, to slow BBQ in the oven. Cooked on 180 for about eight to 10 hours covered with BBQ sauce, sliced onions and bacon strips... usually comes out fork tender.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1204:35 AM
Vance that runway at Kako is kind of hairy and down hill.. I spent the better part of a winter there about 15 yrs ago drywalling one of the houses and spray textured the lodge there.
It is a pretty place I was also able to trap and ended up catching a wolf down at the end of the road by the lake..Dave flew over it when I was on my way to check traps that morning and saw them eating something on the river...it turned out to be my wolf and the pack was dining on it
Not much left when I got to it but a bare skull with my snare attached to one vertabre.
At the time Dave was trapping Marten along the road he had some pole sets he could check on a drive by, (might of been the ones you seen) I used to bring his marten back for him when I made my run.
Glad to hear they are still there and doing good..he taught me how to pan for gold and Grant taught me how to fly while I was working there I have fond memories of the people and place.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1204:43 AM
Awesome pics akpaw, one of my favorite places in the world to hunt. Kodiak is a bowhunters paridise. Haven't been down in a couple years. Heard the deer took some punishment with last years winter.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1206:23 AM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Vance that runway at Kako is kind of hairy and down hill.. I spent the better part of a winter there about 15 yrs ago drywalling one of the houses and spray textured the lodge there.
It is a pretty place I was also able to trap and ended up catching a wolf down at the end of the road by the lake..Dave flew over it when I was on my way to check traps that morning and saw them eating something on the river...it turned out to be my wolf and the pack was dining on it
Not much left when I got to it but a bare skull with my snare attached to one vertabre.
At the time Dave was trapping Marten along the road he had some pole sets he could check on a drive by, (might of been the ones you seen) I used to bring his marten back for him when I made my run.
Glad to hear they are still there and doing good..he taught me how to pan for gold and Grant taught me how to fly while I was working there I have fond memories of the people and place.
When ever you go back tell them Jeff said Hi.
Jeff, Dave knows I trap a little so he's told me about your wolf. A couple of times! Told me again just last week We have gone up two years in a row & are hoping to make it an annual thing, so when he mentions it again next year I will remember to pass on your greetings. That is an interseting runway with the dogleg in it. When we left this time the wind was cross/tailwind from the Northwest. Our pilot was holding full right rudder & still had to tap the right brake a couple of times to stay near the center of the strip. That big vertical stabilizer on the Caravan grabs a lot of air!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1207:00 AM
Well I am glad he still remembers that..lol if you ever get a chance to go in the winter its a trappers paradise wolves wolverine and marten better than what I have here anyway.
And we were going in with in a 172 and that was scary I cant imagine going in with a caravan! Dave had a 180 so he was ok..perhaps they upgraded that strip since I have been there last.
Grant Funk was living there then and he shot a wolf right outside the house.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1207:45 AM
Originally Posted By: AKHowler
Awesome pics akpaw, one of my favorite places in the world to hunt. Kodiak is a bowhunters paridise. Haven't been down in a couple years. Heard the deer took some punishment with last years winter.
Yep, the deer got whacked pretty hard, especially on this end of the island, I did see a nice forky on the way in Wednesday, and quite a few tracks near where I shot the goat. It will take a couple of mild winters for them to bounce back good. I'm deer hunting next week and into the first week of muzzleloader season. Should be able to find something.
And yes Jeff... the bears are a pain sometimes, but it adds a little element of adventure...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1204:15 PM
. [/quote]
Yep, the deer got whacked pretty hard, especially on this end of the island, [/quote] Parts of the south end were bad too. My son counted 16 carcasses in a small area back in June. APP, Many years ago I got to do a late goat hunt at Crown Mt. Unsuccessful. Typical tho- went from clear to white out on top in minutes, then got dark,etc.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1205:38 PM
Originally Posted By: 3 Fingers
. Parts of the south end were bad too. My son counted 16 carcasses in a small area back in June. APP, Many years ago I got to do a late goat hunt at Crown Mt. Unsuccessful. Typical tho- went from clear to white out on top in minutes, then got dark,etc.
I found dozens of carcasses when I started hitting the trails in April. They were laying all over the beaches too. One of my friends has a cabin over at Eagle Harbor. His neighbor had three dead deer under his cabin, crawled in trying to get warm. It's been a tough weather year for goat hunting (and deer too). A lot of folks came in to town to hunt and never got out of the hotel. I would have preferred to go a little earlier myself. That would have given me the opportunity for a couple of trips into different areas. Worked out ok though. I'm a little sore today, but should be good to go for deer in a few days. I worked off 20 pounds prepping for the hunt so I need to keep at it to keep it off.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1210:32 PM
Originally Posted By: Kusko
Awesome akpp. Goat hunting is no joke and with the snow, it just adds to the excitement. So what is worse, the snow or that snot covered green?
!
Good question! The worst is the snow covered snot... lol! Footing was pretty good for the most part. The ground was frozen just enough to give good purchase under the snow. I tried some side hilling and that was treacherous. Never lost control but had a few interesting slips and slides. After that I tried to stick to game trails and safer routes. I'm not ready to make my wife a rich widow just yet... although she already has plans for the insurance money!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/22/1202:21 AM
Nice! I have 9, yes 9!!! goat hunts under my belt without a goat. Mostly weather-related, with a few injuries thrown in. A successful goat hunt has to rank right up there with one of the most difficult achievements in the hunting world. Congratulations.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/22/1202:42 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Originally Posted By: Kusko
Awesome akpp. Goat hunting is no joke and with the snow, it just adds to the excitement. So what is worse, the snow or that snot covered green?
!
Good question! The worst is the snow covered snot... lol! Footing was pretty good for the most part. The ground was frozen just enough to give good purchase under the snow. I tried some side hilling and that was treacherous. Never lost control but had a few interesting slips and slides. After that I tried to stick to game trails and safer routes. I'm not ready to make my wife a rich widow just yet... although she already has plans for the insurance money!
Nice job. You aren't old enough to give up goats and start chasing sheep.
If there was snow when we went, Alaskan would have certainly been killed by a frozen banana peel.
A friend shot a unicorn goat over in old harbor. Saturday
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/22/1203:44 AM
The bear berry plants on the side hills were the worst Their slick little leaves and frozen berries, coupled with the fresh snow on top would have made the sheep hunters curl up in a fecal position. This is the best weather we have had all fall. Not sure how long it will last but I'll take it. I'll bet a lot of goats (and some deer) were taken this week. Had goat burgers for lunch. Really good!
AV, That's a tough lot there! I've been pretty lucky here, but I can sure understand how things can work against you. There is a registration area here that has a ton of goats and high success. The bio's want the herd thinned bad. Let me know if you are interested and I can put you in touch with the bio who does the aerial surveys and has the scoop. He's an avid archery goat hunter as well and likes to help when he can.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/22/1205:52 PM
we've had ice on part of the sound for a week now. last friday we went hunting spotted seals and got 14 total. i have the skins soaking in a hole i made the other night out on the ice. had my fourwheeler out on it last night on it reopening the hole and dunking the skins to try to get the blood out. they are looking good so far. we might have a couple more days to hunt here and then everything gets sent off to the tannery. i'm trying alpha this year after trying sitka tribal last fall big mistake.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1202:11 AM
Nolluk the guys here reported good results with Moyle on their spotted seal skins I think it depended how much oil was left on the skins or batch that they were in with.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1205:56 AM
Man those dang bears! I was fortunate enough to get in on a bear hunt this year but took a 20 gauge to the left forearm 2 weeks ago. Bummer,shes healing up good though and strength is coming back very slowly.. But surely. I need to get back on that big rock we call home. I'll be up for Christmas break Greg, hoping we can work out a lunch or somethin. Chasin a bear around this year AKPP?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1206:14 AM
Wow, what's the story with the 20 gauge? Were you shot? I picked up my tag today (like I do every year) just in case I have to shoot one DLP. If I see a really nice one I might shoot it depending on where it is in relation to the truck...lol! I have a good one on the wall from 20 years ago so I usually just leave 'em alone. Look me up when you head this way and we can meet up at King's Diner or something.
Dang, saw your other post Brad! I'm glad you're getting better, that was bad but could have been a game ender!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1206:56 AM
Long story short, my brother in law put a loaded weapon in the back of my truck. (my biggest no-no) I was in eureka trapping beaver/rats, after we hauled all the critters back to the truck I was taking the guns out of the back. Asked him if it was unloaded and he thought it was.. It was an old single gauge with a hammer that was no good. I was pulling it out, thought it was clear of me but it wasn't. Heard a bang and went into shock immediately. Was loosing quite a bit of blood and was coming in and out of consciousness, I took my flannel off and wrapped it up. Hopped it the truck and my brother in law was peddle to the metal lol. Met an ambulance 40 miles later, hopped in and my arm had no pulse. Was helicoptered into anchorage and went immediately into surgery. Hand movement is poor but hey, is that something to complain about? I have nothing towards my brother, great man. It was 120% my fault and I'll stick to that. Few more inches and we'd have a different story to be telling, if any at all. I'm just happy to be alive, and still trapping, I just baby it. Live and learn, and I can tell you I will never handle a weapon in the same manor again. I won't even have a round in the clip of a weapon till I'm pulling the trigger. Other than that, hasn't changed me a bit. Just happy to be alive and have someone watching over me. I'd share pics but most are very graphic. ( couldn't help but takes pics of it) here's a few that aren't bad.
bb's that aren't ever comin out
I'd like to say I make the best of ever situation, in this case I got a gorgeous view of the big city on the copter ride in.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1207:40 AM
I'm sorry that happened to you. You have a great outlook though and that will help you get better in itself. Looks like the bones stayed pretty much intact but I would imagine the muscle trauma was severe. Glad you're still out trapping and picking up some rats!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1206:33 PM
Okay, this one goes out to the lure makers. I need a good base, any ideas?
I was using Vaseline but it freezes extremely easy and makes it a pain to scoop out. I know I can add glycerine to make it freeze proof, but not sure how much.
Secondly, I'm tired of using gusto and lures I have to scoop out of a jar. Looking for one I can use out of a flip top squirt bottle but have no clue where to even start. It's for marten, asking for someone to point me in the right direction here. Thanks
And thanks HFT, hows the critter sign looking around you? My fox #'s look a bit down.---LB
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1206:42 PM
lb,
I tried farting around with making something that would stay liquid or less paste like.... I used different oils, and glycerine mixtures to figure it out....
the problem was that in order to get anything to work at 0 or below, the ratio had to be so skewed towards the glycerine, mineral oil, that the lure was underpowered....
I also did it with salmon oil... the best I came out with was a 50/50 mix on mineral oil, fish oil.... and it was good down to about 0 as well... below that it thickened up a good bit...it helped, but didn't solve a problem..
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1207:06 PM
Dang, I thought I was onto something with salmon oil. That's mainly what I've been using but I'm having poor success. Have you tried any pure skunk essence? I bought a 1 oz bottle from our trapping supply out here but haven't messed with out much. My main goal is actually trying to get away from a straight skunk lure such as gusto. My k9's turn and burn if they get a wiff.. My lastest has been, amber oil and glycerine with a touch of salmon oil. Fox like it, I got a (rubbing/rolling) responce when I tested some in eureka while trapping water. Just havent seen what it will do in very cold temps, or If anything else will respond to it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1207:11 PM
I'm walking my line out next week, curious to see how the flood affected the area. Here around the house with all the fox that have been seen, I think it will be GOOD. When it gets really cold I use polyglycol and skunk, glycerine doesn't freeze but gets to thick for a squirt bottle.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1201:13 AM
If you don't mind me asking. was the hammer cocked? Or did it slam fire. ie pre- transfer bar. Not sure what you mean by a "bad hammer". I'm sorry to hear it happened but its good to hear you didn't catch the shot with your vitals.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1203:20 AM
Lb, save all your halibut, rockfish and white fleshed fish skins, heads, bones and rot them in a bucket for at least a year. Seal the bucket to keep the flies out. After a year, slowly open the lid, and I mean slowly, then strain the juice through a window screen , add glycol according to your climate down there and funnel it into a clean dish soap bottle. Put it in a gallon ziplock and when your ready just open the bag, pry the snap spout open on a tree, squirt on the pole and close it on a tree, hang a wing and you're good to go. I've got hundreds of marten with this over the years. Tried salmon once and didn't have much luck. Everything seems to like it including wolves. To change it up you can add a little skunk to it, but then the wolves wont have nothing to do with it. Be careful this can be ugly.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1203:34 AM
Originally Posted By: AKscott
If you don't mind me asking. was the hammer cocked? Or did it slam fire. ie pre- transfer bar. Not sure what you mean by a "bad hammer". I'm sorry to hear it happened but its good to hear you didn't catch the shot with your vitals.
Slam fire is what I ment, i made sure the hammer wasnt cocked before i touched it. Ive taken hunters safety twice.. And plan on guest speaking at grouse ridge here in the valley and for fisherman222 over skype. Cant say enough how safe you think you are and never thinking itll happen to youself, it only takes a split second of not thinking and thats it. Hopefully the story and pictures can help inform the youth and anyone else alike. Needless to say i retired the gun after killing many animals and nearly myself. She's mounted on the wall along with my X-rays
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1203:36 AM
Originally Posted By: spotter
Lb, save all your halibut, rockfish and white fleshed fish skins, heads, bones and rot them in a bucket for at least a year. Seal the bucket to keep the flies out. After a year, slowly open the lid, and I mean slowly, then strain the juice through a window screen , add glycol according to your climate down there and funnel it into a clean dish soap bottle. Put it in a gallon ziplock and when your ready just open the bag, pry the snap spout open on a tree, squirt on the pole and close it on a tree, hang a wing and you're good to go. I've got hundreds of marten with this over the years. Tried salmon once and didn't have much luck. Everything seems to like it including wolves. To change it up you can add a little skunk to it, but then the wolves wont have nothing to do with it. Be careful this can be ugly.
Awesome! That's what I've been looking for. Thanks a ton.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1204:49 AM
Glad you're mostly alright, lb!
On a different note, picked up a Newhouse 4 1/2 today, gotta say I'm not man enough to crack that over my knee! Actually not quite enough 'donkey' to set it with my feet either. Thinking a guy has to use clamps to get those boys set. Tried the nail over the spring through the jaw pins trick, but couldn't quite get it. Any tricks?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1205:38 AM
The 4 1/2 Newhouse can be set over your knee, (as well as the #114's), but it one of those things where you have to BELIEVE that you can do it. If there is any doubt,,,,,then you can't! The springs take just about 170-180 lbs each to compress.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1206:35 AM
lb- Dang glad you are alright, i do like the squirty bottles. Saline bottles, mustard bottles, ketchup bottles. I tried it with urines for post sets. I played around with mixtues with glycerine/glycol and could get them down to -25. But i am unsure if it effects my wolf sets. I want to try it on lynx and marten sets. May have to try Spotters Blend.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1206:39 AM
wow lb. Glad your alright. And good of you to help out with for Hunters saftey. It will make an impression on kids. And adults. Thank God! You were not hurt worse. Can't believe you could have anything left with a shot gun at close range. ouch. Heal up buddy!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1207:43 AM
Thanks Yukon and FT.
The bullet didn't get a full connection, when I was pulling it out I was visually aware of where the barrel was and thought it was clear of my arm so when it did fire it only clipped the right side of my left forearm, thank god. Or yes.. I doubt there would have been much left. Ill be getting a nerve graph from my thigh in 3 weeks, my hand should make a full recovery with time. I may not ever have full gripping strength and my pinky will be forever numb. Nothing to complain about though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1203:21 PM
Originally Posted By: spotter
Lb, save all your halibut, rockfish and white fleshed fish skins, heads, bones and rot them in a bucket for at least a year. Seal the bucket to keep the flies out. After a year, slowly open the lid, and I mean slowly, then strain the juice through a window screen , add glycol according to your climate down there and funnel it into a clean dish soap bottle. Put it in a gallon ziplock and when your ready just open the bag, pry the snap spout open on a tree, squirt on the pole and close it on a tree, hang a wing and you're good to go. I've got hundreds of marten with this over the years. Tried salmon once and didn't have much luck. Everything seems to like it including wolves. To change it up you can add a little skunk to it, but then the wolves wont have nothing to do with it. Be careful this can be ugly.
Hey. When we stopped for lunch and you offered me some, I thought you told me that was SOUP, not bait...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1204:08 PM
Been putting away frozen chicken dinners for this winter,(I dont have time to hunt for them while trapping)
I did luck out and a get a grouse (ruffed I asume), although it looks real dark and has a short tail it looks differant then the ones I see in the winter plumage we dont get many here and they are a treat to eat.
I am heading out again this morning need about 6 more to stuff in the cracks in the freezer
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1204:34 PM
Since we dont have any spruce within 20 miles I expect it will taste just fine... I have eaten them before it was long ago though..I bet your right not as good as a ruffy grouse.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1204:45 PM
Jeff, the spruce hen were THICK when we were at Kako. We were working not hunting & only had 1 big gun along for bear so they were safe, but on the one run we made down to the landing & back mid afternoon we saw near 30!
When my 9yr old son & I did our fall camping trip down here this year he got his 1st with his new .410. He was a proud boy! I was a tickled dad
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1204:49 PM
Yes they have a bunch upriver, when we used to go up moose hunting in the old days we ate them alot. since then we dont have any reason to go upriver no more I never see them here on the tundra ...we are over 100 river miles from Kako yet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1205:54 PM
up the koyukuk there were a whole lot of spruce chickens.... there would be 5-10 in camp all day, and in the mornings there were upwards of 20. I also saw a good bit of ruffed grouse there as well...
The tail is the easiest way to tell, there is a good picture of the difference in the hunting regs.
if you are unsure, when you breast it out you will know. A ruffed grouse has a white meat like a chicken, spruce grouse are a dark red.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/24/1210:52 PM
Here's an update on the arm. Healin up quick. Figured I'd show a pic to give you guys an idea. Snapped one while doc was changing my cast this AM. It's crazy how they can sew up such a big open wound. Didn't realize how much an arm could shrink after not using it for 3 weeks.. Enjoy LOL
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1212:14 AM
Lookin good:), hope you get full use back in it. like I said lucky is was the forearm and not something more life threatening , a guy from my highschool shooting team had a similar accident and took a .223 round through his lung and heart, he made a full recovery so with a little time I think that arm will be good as new;)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1201:17 AM
lbtrapper talked to my Alaska hunters safety class today using skype and had my junior high kids full attention. He did a wonderful job and appears to have made a huge impact on my students. Thank you so much lbtrapper, that was pretty stellar of you to agree to do this.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1202:41 AM
Originally Posted By: fishermann222
lbtrapper talked to my Alaska hunters safety class today using skype and had my junior high kids full attention. He did a wonderful job and appears to have made a huge impact on my students. Thank you so much lbtrapper, that was pretty stellar of you to agree to do this.
Thanks for the oppurtunity. I really appreciate it, hopefully tuesday we can make it happen again.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1203:48 AM
Him and a buddy were at home cleaning a rifle and did not follow your basic gun saftey rules, apparently the unloaded rifle was loaded. One guy decided to dry fire the weapon with the barrel in an unsafe direction and the other guy ended up catching the bullet with his chest. And like I said the guy that initiated the accidental discharge was on my high school varsity shooting and should have known the rules more so than your average highschool kid.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1205:54 PM
That wound looks pretty good compared to my buddy here.. he was unjamming is 12 ga and it shot him through the hand and took about half of that including most of his fingers, then it went through his upper arm and bicep muscle through the bone and now the arm and hand is only good for holding his cigerett, not much else.
I hope you heal up 100% I wonder how many sef shootings can be atributed to the single shot [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] hammer...a bunch I bet.
(pull back hammer) its amazing how the filter on here wont let you talk about a gun part that you pull back to shoot
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1206:36 PM
how do you set and under ice net? especially in a river?
I hunted in saskatchewan and they had a net under the ice for fish. it was I would guess about 200 ft long.... with only two holes.... that was mind boggling how they set it that distance...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1206:47 PM
I got my under ice net in from Memphis net and twine. In the next few days ill put my lines under the ice. I chop holes about 6 feet apart and use a long pole with a hook to reach under the ice to a weighted line and pull it the same lenght as the net. The ice ill be using is for smelt and is 112ft long. 112 ft to save $6.00 on hanging service. These nets are sinking also so u don't have to worry about freezing in.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1207:47 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
how do you set and under ice net? especially in a river?
I hunted in saskatchewan and they had a net under the ice for fish. it was I would guess about 200 ft long.... with only two holes.... that was mind boggling how they set it that distance...
We do like Nolluk but chop holes about 10 ft apart and use a long flimsy pole with a short two ft string on one end with a floater or empty whiskey bottle or oil jug tied on, and tie a long line to it and send it through to the next hole, the jug will pop up in the hole and you take off the long line pull the stick and jug back out and tie it on again and send it through to the next hole until you are are at the other end of the holes and then simply tie your net on and pull it under the ice with the line.
When you check it just tie the line on one end and streatch it out on top of the ice and pull your net and fish out one end of the two holes you have left and when done pull the line and the net sets itself under the ice.
The Canadieans do it on a lake on clear ice with no current so they use a self propelled little surf board type thing that is pretty slick but wont work here with our current.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1208:14 PM
We have a barge here today loading construction equipment..this is the latest I have ever seen a barge here, lots of ice running they better hope they can get back out the mouth of the river to the Bering Sea..I wonder if they ever seen Deadliest Catch
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1209:22 PM
Kusko I believe it is a rumor that it didn't make it. According to KYUK the last fuel barge came in on monday and left on tuesday. That is why our price is jumping to 7.06 tomorrow.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1212:11 AM
I've seen where if someplace got a load of fuel earlier, and that load didn't get used up the price will stay the same "low" price compared to a place that got a load more recently at a higher cost. Don't know if that's what happened to you guys Todd.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1212:29 AM
Like AKnative said sometimes they order when its cheaper and get locked in at the cheaper rates like we did here..and sometimes the local corporations gouge their members and mark it up alot.
If is Crowly or another fuel company they gouge year round no matter the price at the time they order.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1201:07 AM
Must of been the local Corp then. there is not any subsidy here or anywhere around here. they can qualify for Energy assistance thats through AVCP if your low income.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1201:35 AM
There is a jig that has two levers each with a rope and as you pull each one after the other it moves the wooden jig along under the ice. You need only cut two holes to set your net. I have only heard of them and never seen one, just passing along the info.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1203:19 AM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
.and sometimes the local corporations gouge their members and mark it up alot. .
When I used to do some of the fuel cost stuff, you would be amazed at the receipts I saw... I was actually working with an attorney general on the gouging....
The cost vs the sales price was astonishing in some places.... I am talking 100% markup.. Lots of 50% markups too... It wasn't always just to the end user, but say to the electric company they might operate or someone else may.... So not only does a resident of the village pay more more fuel than they should, they have to pay more for their electric as well, and everything that had a fuel component....
It was completely absurd, and the AG was getting invoices, and doing a good bit of research into it. I don't recall anything ever happening, I would bet that the village corporations might have squashed it....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1204:09 AM
You are right about that I see the corp buy bulk fuel for $4.50 a gl and resell it for $7.50 and then tax on top of that.
part of the reason is trying to run a Corp office, with a bookeeper insurance and manager plus 3 guys working at the gas station so its hard to split the pie withhout big markup.
but at least it creating some employment for the village... the big fuel companies that come in and sell fuel sell it for even more like the Fuel co in Bethel or Saint Marys...seams greed knows no bounds.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1204:58 AM
We have something here call competition. You can haul your own. You can have it brought in by several different river boat operations. You can have it brought in by several different Snowmachine freighting operations. Or finally you can contact several different air taxi operations. Every time the price starts getting too high another player comes along and lowballs the competition. Ain't the free market grand.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1206:01 AM
Maybe all that free money floating around stifles the free market. If the price was too high you would do without or find another alternative. I think you may be seeing the same problem you have with the AC store. Maybe Hup can explain it. He is the money guy. I am just a hobby economist.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1201:03 PM
Got mice in the crawl space! I doesn't look like they've done much damage yet. It doesn't look like a major infestation from the amount of poop, and I'm not hearing them moving around, but still looks like might be more than a few snap traps will handle. What's the best way to go about getting rid of them? Anybody have experience with poison in a crawl space under the house?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1203:13 PM
No whining here just pointing out the facts of living far away from the big cities.and I am pretty tickled our fuel prices went down to $6.20 gl....besides we cant all be a big money guide like you.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1204:00 PM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Got mice in the crawl space! I doesn't look like they've done much damage yet. It doesn't look like a major infestation from the amount of poop, and I'm not hearing them moving around, but still looks like might be more than a few snap traps will handle. What's the best way to go about getting rid of them? Anybody have experience with poison in a crawl space under the house?
Stuff a cat down there and nail the door shut for a few days.....!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1204:43 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
No whining here just pointing out the facts of living far away from the big cities.and I am pretty tickled our fuel prices went down to $6.20 gl....besides we cant all be a big money guide like you.
I was surprised at the prices along the Yukon... in tanana, there was the store and a native corp fuel place. the store was $6.25 a gallon, the native corp gas was $6 a gallon.
Ruby was cheaper than Galena. Galena was $7.85 at the liquor store place, it was cheaper out at the grocery store, but savings were eroded by having to pay to go out there to save money. Ruby was right around $7.
Dirt, we could work out a fuel delivery partnership. I often go in with room for at least 1 drum in the sled, usually could fit a drum and 2 15's.... Could leave it halfway at big bend....you could take it from there to skwetna. and it would be cheaper gas from anchorage, not from the landing or willow...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1204:55 PM
Originally Posted By: Dirt
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
What about all the "free money" floating around LA, New York, Chicago? why is their free market not stifled?
Do you think it might have something to do with being 450 miles away from the big cities?
BTW LA, NewYork, and Chicago are all expensive places to live and they are 0 miles from the big cities.
I happen to have the study the State did for the geographic differential, comparing COL in rural, bush, southeast and road system.
In the country wide COL the US average is 100, which is the base line..... for example: NYC COL is overall 169.. or 69% higher than the average for the US.. stevens village is at 116 overall.
Now for the Alaska Specific Geo diff....
Anchorage is the base line at 1.00
Mat- su .95 Juneau 1.11 Cordova, valdez 1.05 seward 1.03 kodiak 1.12 aleutian islands 1.49 bristol bay 1.37 bethel 1.53 yukon/kuskokwim 1.16 barrow 1.55 kotzebue/ nome 1.37
Methodology The study involved two primary research tasks, a Household Consumption Survey (HCS) and a Retail Price Survey (RPS). The HCS provided data on the relative importance of various components of the household budget (housing, food, transportation, etc.) and how consumption varies from community to community. The RPS provided data on how the prices for items in the household budget differ between various communities and Anchorage. It is the blend of HCS and RPS data – the combination of consumption differences and price differences – that produces the geographic cost differential.
RETAIL PRICE SURVEY The RPS included 634 retail outlets in 58 communities throughout Alaska, plus numerous providers of various services, including health care, transportation, communications, insurance, and others. Each of the items in a household market basket of approximately 200 goods and services was priced in each community where the item was available.
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION SURVEY The HCS included 2,547 surveys with randomly selected households in 74 communities throughout Alaska. Sample “blocks” were defined for purposes of sample distribution and to ensure sufficient sample sizes in various regions and among communities with common demographic and geographic characteristics.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:16 PM
Well Dirt I found life to be alot sweeter when you are not labled as the "greedy guide" I have seen lodges burned to the ground in these parts and members of the community pretty much blackballed and hated...you live in the land of guides so its no biggy, its a differant story out here....to each his own is right.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:20 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
No whining here just pointing out the facts of living far away from the big cities.and I am pretty tickled our fuel prices went down to $6.20 gl....besides we cant all be a big money guide like you.
I was surprised at the prices along the Yukon... in tanana, there was the store and a native corp fuel place. the store was $6.25 a gallon, the native corp gas was $6 a gallon.
Ruby was cheaper than Galena. Galena was $7.85 at the liquor store place, it was cheaper out at the grocery store, but savings were eroded by having to pay to go out there to save money. Ruby was right around $7.
Dirt, we could work out a fuel delivery partnership. I often go in with room for at least 1 drum in the sled, usually could fit a drum and 2 15's.... Could leave it halfway at big bend....you could take it from there to skwetna. and it would be cheaper gas from anchorage, not from the landing or willow...
Anymore I try to time fuel buys when price is down. Got burned a few years back buying eight drums at $4.46 in July. I was still burning $4.46 in January when the price was down to $2.50 or so. Maybe we can work something out in February or March. I will be making a run in January to drop off marten at Wasilla, and I'll back haul three drums then at whatever the price is delivered to the landing. Thanks for the offer.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:26 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Well Dirt I found life to be alot sweeter when you are not labled as the "greedy guide" I have seen lodges burned to the ground in these parts and members of the community pretty much blackballed and hated...you live in the land of guides so its no biggy, its a differant story out here....to each his own is right.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:33 PM
Originally Posted By: Dirt
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Well Dirt I found life to be alot sweeter when you are not labled as the "greedy guide" I have seen lodges burned to the ground in these parts and members of the community pretty much blackballed and hated...you live in the land of guides so its no biggy, its a differant story out here....to each his own is right.
Sounds like a lot of hate.
Sad too Dirt, as their moose population is so large that the season is open 8 months a year with two moose per person, only one antlered bull during the fall only. Guiding could provide a great income to the villagers. Lots of guys in ANC would pay to come out and have a boat ride to shoot a moose. Not like it would harm the villagers chances of getting a moose like they believe.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:37 PM
Its not sad its a good thing to have a stable moose population and not have to worry about meat.. why let some sky hoes that wont even live here fly in and sell it all off? history tends to repeat itself.
I would not want to show up at my favorite hunting spot and have a guy selling moose there...but thats just me.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:44 PM
At least one guide flying people in up there is accessing areas not even accessible by any other means except cub on tundra tires. Unless your flying a cub I guess your not really going to show up to his spot and find him selling a moose are ya.
So if flying someone in and "selling a moose" makes the person a sky hoe, then I guess we are all snowmachine hoes since we sell our fur we trap.....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:49 PM
I once read an editorial in the ADN by a guy who claimed that all the moose were wiped out by guys from town driving up and down the highway out here road hunting. I'm still looking for this highway.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:53 PM
Yes we know the corp here ran em off a lake that was a important subsistance hunting area near the village a couple years ago he was competing with subsistance hunters, I seen his plane making trip after trip all fall selling moose..if he wants to stay away from the subsistance hunters I doint see a problem..but we went through a 5 year closeure of moose hunting so what?...the sky hoes can come in and sell the moose we saved?
By the way how is your moose populations doing Fish?...how about you Dirt? I dont think you can argue with our success.
And fish if Lynx meat was as important of food source as moose I would be happy to give away the meat or not sell them at all.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1205:56 PM
Ours is coming back nicely, it was not the guides causing the problems here, it was and is a few bad locals poaching the cows whenever they see one that is/was causing the problems.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1206:00 PM
Actually Jeff, for the number of people that live in our area, our moose are doing pretty darn good. We started with 77 moose in a stretch of river that went 200 miles. After 5 years of no hunting, we had 1000 moose.
I'd love to see our area closed for 2 more years and triple the population.
How can the corp through someone off of a lake? It had to be the feds who did it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1206:27 PM
I think what will be the saddest thing in the Lower Yukon is went the winter grounds are so over grazed that the moose die off in huge numbers. The lower yukon is kind of unique. Ocean to the west. Tundra to the North and South. When you have moose laying on the beach in Hooper Bay you have to wonder.
They are moving back up river now and were seeing a big population buildup coming up river. I don't know enough about the biology that surrounds moose winter grounds but I would be willing to bet that at some point were going to see a detrimental affect. They are not allowing such liberal seasons for nothing and nothing they are doing is holding down the numbers. Guiding will never be looked at favorably on by locals on the Lower Yukon. But there is certainly room for it at this point in time. And although people might find some competition I personally guess it would benefit the lower river moose population in the long run.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1206:31 PM
Two years ago I flew from Kotlik to Emmo in March. I have never seen such moose numbers. Miles away from the Bearing Sea. Flying back to Mt Village I saw hardly any. In what is a good moose area. I was rather astonished at what must be building up along the coast with no where to go West, North or South to find new unpopulated area. They are over crowed and I am sure now causing problems on the winter ground grazing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1206:52 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
I think what will be the saddest thing in the Lower Yukon is went the winter grounds are so over grazed that the moose die off in huge numbers. The lower yukon is kind of unique. Ocean to the west. Tundra to the North and South. When you have moose laying on the beach in Hooper Bay you have to wonder.
They are moving back up river now and were seeing a big population buildup coming up river. I don't know enough about the biology that surrounds moose winter grounds but I would be willing to bet that at some point were going to see a detrimental affect. They are not allowing such liberal seasons for nothing and nothing they are doing is holding down the numbers. Guiding will never be looked at favorably on by locals on the Lower Yukon. But there is certainly room for it at this point in time. And although people might find some competition I personally guess it would benefit the lower river moose population in the long run.
I've seen three moose this fall, you guys sure know how to hurt a guy. Darn Highway!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1208:34 PM
We have good numbers of moose here, and would like to keep them... as far as a "die off" thats false. I live here year round and fly around all winter buying fur and travel by snowmachine and boat and have never seen a dead moose other than a wolf kill or a human kill.
It is not "over grazed" we have nothing but willow as far as the eye can see, they eat just fine.
My last word is those that want guides in their hunting area thats fine, I dont have a problem with it...even here as long as I dont have to compete with them for meat...they have planes to look for moose I dont.
Dont force it on areas that DONT want it there are plenty of areas that its welcomed.
And Dirt brought up a good point..where is the guide that I have been seeing doing trip after trip all September but now that its cow only..where is he now? no interest in the meat I guess.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1209:08 PM
I only suggested that there are opportunities for local residents to make some money guiding for an abundant local game population. Not only do you get the meat, you get money.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1209:24 PM
Yes I know and I agree it could bring some oppportunity for a few folks here..but the attitude is that most if not all dont want it ...having no moose to hunt is within recent memory for alot of folks here including me.
Perhaps someday that attitude will change,..but if the day comes when the planes quit flying..I like to have a back up abundant meat source that could make the differance surviving or not.we dont have caribou or much anything else so its pretty important.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1209:31 PM
Kodiak Island Alaska Fishing & Hunting Adventures with Kodiak Combos
About Us Your skipper and guide Jeff Peterson is a US Coast Guard licensed and insured captain, licensed big game transporter, licensed fishing guide, registered migratory bird guide with over twenty 20 years of professional service in the industry. He was born and raised on Kodiak Island in the village of Old Harbor. Growing up on his father's fishing boat and owning his first boat at the age of 13 makes him one of the most experienced charter skippers on the island. A former US Marine, Jeff understands the importance of being on time and providing you with a top notch service.. He resides on the island and works on the waters year-round, giving you unequal fishing results.
I was in the National Guard with Mr. Peterson on Kodiak back in the early 90's. At the time from my memory he was running a small store and video rental business in Old Harbor. I remember him telling me how all his neighbors hated him. Apparently, he didn't let that stop his ambition.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1209:51 PM
Those guys up in St. Mike and Unalakleet have it figured out. They (native and non native) guide the hunters that want one thing, antlers and hides. They get paid to do what they love, make money at it, and get to keep the meat on top of it. They can have their cake and eat it too. Seems like a win/win to me.
Jeff, this is one time when the Feds and the State agree on something. We all know this is RARE. Call them yourself, but, the prediction is....the moose will eat themselves out of house and home.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1210:29 PM
The guys in St Mike and UNK are all for it good for them they must want it then they also have a 5 caribou a day limit and year round hunting plus seals whales and wallrus, crab and all speicies of fish so they could do just fine without moose or anything else for that matter,..not so here.
And what ever the state or feds say I dont see it happining..look at Anchorage they have moose in town coming out their ears, cars ,trains hunters,guids all whacking them and still the populations are more than abundant,
Look at Holy Cross still tons of moose around and always have been and I expect their always will be and we have better browse then them since we dont have spruce here..so I dont buy it. FnG is lobbied by the guiding industry if you dont believe me just ask Dirt he was just there asking to increase the moose take in his GMU
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1210:46 PM
The Board of Game is lobbied by everybody. I wrote a proposal to open the unit to non-resident hunting as is allowed for by regulation when the surplus bull population is above 240 bulls. It was at least at 500 to 600. It made so much sense to open it, they did it despite all the political heat they took and all the opposition.
Jeff I did not go into lobby for it. I have people for that.
Guess what the local Advisory Committee supported it ( No I was not there) and the Mat-Su Advisory Committee opposed it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1210:55 PM
Dirt...I rest my case
I used to hunt an island by Holy Cross it was in the middle of the river that had 2000 moose on it in the fall. I am sure it still has almost that many if not more..no one is overly concerned about it there and seams to be pleny of moose every year.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1211:12 PM
Kusko :
The Corp. enforces no trespassing on Corp. land and allotments - which is their right. But sometimes locals get vocal with those they consider outsiders. The key is to have accurate maps depicting land status, which includes BLM lands. Other important criteria are islands, navigable waters, etc. The Corps all have detailed maps, but are sometimes reluctant to give them out. In the past, there was a sign at the entrance to Layman lake. It said private property - keep out. This sign was not accurate ie: the waters are legal to travel and not all the land around the lake is private. So you need to know your land status.
YJ and I both know a longtime village resident who has guided for years. He tried to involve locals and to help them become guides. To many , he is a pariah. None of us want to give up our piece of heaven. But as long as guides are operating on State and Federal land and moose pops are healthy, the State and Feds can't legally stop them. Just ask the refuge manager regarding that one.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1212:40 AM
Two things Jeff: if closing a moose season fixed your problem then your predator problem was humans. Our predator problem is not humans.
Second: the nutritional health of your moose can be measured, so if you don't want to argue with the biologist about it have them measure the health. Refer GMU20A.
Personally, I would never allow them to have a cow hunt here unless they could prove the moose were suffering from nutritional stress.
I try to make all my decisions, based on what is best for the moose, not me. I don't guide moose hunters and have no desire to.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1201:11 AM
Pipeniner. I just got a call a few days ago from a trapper in the same village where said guide is living,he brought him up in the conversation,and went on a 10 minn rant about how the guy was applying for a liqure licence and how he was the devil himself.
I personaly know the guy and he is the nicest guy you would ever meet, if I got a guided trip someday he would be the guy I would like to go with.
so if they can turn him into the devil they would rake me through the coals for sure.
Today I was loading the last of my wood off the beach and looked and my boat that was sitting on the beach was gone?..I had to go look for it seams the loader operator took it upon himself to get my 24 ft boat up off the beach and blocked up on high ground safe from the spring ice on corporation land where it will sit all winter, I will have to find out who it was and thank them, thats what friends do in the village..its not worth losing that kind of people over money IMO
And Dirt it was human preditation most likely..this is tough country to survive in especialy without food stamps like in the days gone by..we can now shoot Bulls cows and calves take your pick.
Our moose are healthy no doubt about that we have twin and triplet calving rates and they all survive hardly any wolves to speak of and the moose are all hog fat.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1201:16 AM
[quote=Kusko]Actually Jeff, for the number of people that live in our area, our moose are doing pretty darn good. We started with 77 moose in a stretch of river that went 200 miles. After 5 years of no hunting, we had 1000 moose.
I'm pretty sure this is impossible without a lot of dispersal into the area from somewhere else. That would be close to a 70% growth rate per year. The largest growth rate measured in Alaska (THAT I'M AWARE OF) was on the predator free and relatively snow free area of Kalgan Island. It was around 33%.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1202:34 AM
Alright, I'll dive. No sides chosen, either. Yukon, you say you fly all over the area, and have an intimate knowledge of the goings-on of your area, and then state you have no aircraft, but because the guides do, you are at a dis-advantage. I don't get that. You then blame the guides for a lack of harvest opportunity, yet your moose population has expanded incredibly, to the point that you can harvest about anything. The guiding industry is constantly blamed for about everything imagined, yet they, both individually, and as a whole, (APHA), have a huge interest in the health of Alaska's game populations. I can tell you that as a former AC member that has attended every BOG meeting here in south east for the last (more than), a decade, the guides are by far the more conservative representatives at the meetings, and thier proposals reflect such. As for statistics, for those that care, the guided hunting and fishing industry pays WAY more than their fair share, yet only accounts for less than 4% of the effort/harvest. The hunting harvest for treophy bull moose by non's is absolutely insignifigant, to the point of not discussing. Yet the financial contribution to villages and areas that would never see a dime from hunting is considerable. I am by no means minumizing the value of meat in the freezer, but am pointing out the value of another commoditee, the guided hunter or fisherman, that one should also think about. And as an addendum, no, I have never guided any paying client, ever.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1203:49 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Alright, I'll dive. No sides chosen, either. Yukon, you say you fly all over the area, and have an intimate knowledge of the goings-on of your area, and then state you have no aircraft, but because the guides do, you are at a dis-advantage. I don't get that. You then blame the guides for a lack of harvest opportunity, yet your moose population has expanded incredibly, to the point that you can harvest about anything. The guiding industry is constantly blamed for about everything imagined, yet they, both individually, and as a whole, (APHA), have a huge interest in the health of Alaska's game populations. I can tell you that as a former AC member that has attended every BOG meeting here in south east for the last (more than), a decade, the guides are by far the more conservative representatives at the meetings, and thier proposals reflect such. As for statistics, for those that care, the guided hunting and fishing industry pays WAY more than their fair share, yet only accounts for less than 4% of the effort/harvest. The hunting harvest for treophy bull moose by non's is absolutely insignifigant, to the point of not discussing. Yet the financial contribution to villages and areas that would never see a dime from hunting is considerable. I am by no means minumizing the value of meat in the freezer, but am pointing out the value of another commoditee, the guided hunter or fisherman, that one should also think about. And as an addendum, no, I have never guided any paying client, ever.
Yes I can see you have not chosen sides..lol..but I will play.
First off I do fly around alot chartering into villages to buy fur and thats just how we get around out here( no state funded Ferry systom like there) I am not blaming the guiding industry for anything..just dont want to compete with them in my hunting spot. and yes they do have an advantage when they fly around and look for moose with their plane I have seen how they operate.
I cant say what finacial bennifit they have been in this village..so far the guy that brings hunters in the past few years has never dropped a dime out of his plane.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1205:38 AM
My turn? I live in an area with a high caribou population. I work at the airport and see firsthand the operations of guides and transporters. Have you ever seen a dumpster of caribou? 2 pallets of meat stacked 3-4 feet high in 50 degree weather for 3 days? Anyone ever try to give you rotten meat? Ever see a sign "free meat" cause a guy got 5 caribou and a moose but didn't want to pay freight charges back where he came from? Note* he took the antlers! I can go on and on but I know ill be in the minority here because there are guides that will defend themselves and others. Another quick note that happened a few weeks ago the local police were given rotten meat from a client that ended up in a dumpster also. I overheard a cop telling the story at a local store. You might ask why this wasn't brought to troopers attention believe me it was. It makes no sense that all a person has to do is bring the meat to a hub in edible condition. What is done after is a grey area. Ok. Now for the misconception that money is brought into the community. Guides and transporters pick their clients up at Alaska airlines and bring them to their base of operations. They sit on the ramp and wait for the aircraft that takes them to their destination. Tents food water are all provided for. Relax ive seen the everything these guys keep stocked in their buildings and shelters. When clients return they sit on the ramp and gather their belongings to be brought to Alaska airlines to check in. How do I know this? I work at the airport. Where is the money coming into the town? Tickets are bought from Alaska airlines. 4 out of 5 transporters are based in towns other than kotzebue. 1 based in kotzebue has 1 local pilot part time. Guides are not based in kotzebue. Fuel is bought from Crowley. where is the money that is supposedly being brought in? The last gripe I have is about the notion that with an airplane you get out where locals will not be affected by the actions of guides and transporters. Have you ever hunted the migration of caribou? You ever shoot a caribou out of a herd and have the next bunch an hour later take another rout because the herd that you shot one from leaves a scent going in another direction for them to follow? Imagine this.... 5 transporters dropping off a few hundred hunters in the path of these caribou and this not affecting the migration of the herd. Not only hunters but plane traffic all day long. Noatak kotzebue noorvik kiana selawik ambler shungnak and kobuk all rely on this migration for food. Depending on what the caribou do in a year some villages have a tough time getting meat. 2 years ago the migration went a northern route and everyone suffered from locals to guides and transporters. Locals didn't get the meat they needed and the guides and transporters had to burn more fuel to get hunters to the caribou. The moose population took a major hit that fall because people prefer moose over caribou. A friend of mine settled for a moose that fall after not getting caribou and said there were 26 sets of moose antlers up to the place he got a moose. After all we don't eat antlers. Alrighty then. Let the mudslinging begin. Ive put a big bullseye on my chest so grimmer your best shot.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:12 AM
No excuse for wasted meat!!! But I have to wonder if the employees at the airlines get paid and spend their money in kotz or not? If the planes fill up in kotz? Wouldn't that bring money and jobs to the community?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:17 AM
Alaska airlines employees get paid irregardless. We pay 600 plus roundtrip to Anc. Era aviation Bering air and Ryan do not make any money from guides and transporters. We have 11 villages that's where that money comes from. Try again?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:42 AM
This jumped in kind of late. Wrote it this afternoon and after the recent posts. I will reedit this to address some of my feelings on keeping money in the villages. My thought is that locals could gain from providing drop off packages and boat rentals for resident and non. Restricted to certain areas that the villages deem appropriate. Cut down on the competition and give some local employment and harvest some of the excess. Many residents would pay for drop off hunts if the equipment was supplied. It is not guiding. Other guys do this. Not sure of all the legalities but it is a thought.
There will still someday become an issue of carrying capacity. And I bet the lower reaches of the Yukon are getting there. There are far more alder than anything in the lower yukon area. Where are the concentrations of moose in the winter. Specific patchs of willow. You see concentrations of them where ever you fly over the willow patchs near the river bend and disturbed grounds some of the best. There is only so many willow tops to go around. There is always scattered moose. Always will be. But the willow patches take it in the tops in the concentrated areas. Come to Homer and look at what years of overgrazing did to the willow patches in the prime winter areas. Very apparent. Short stubble of a willow with ever available nibble taken off them every year.
The numbers are not there yet in the Mountain Village area and above. But their will come a day in the lower river, if it is not their yet when winter browse will be the deciding factor for a healthy herd. Be different if they had a place to go. Holy Cross moose can migrate up or down as they need. Where does a moose at the mouth of the Yukon go when it needs new habitat. Much like the lynx populations. They have steadily grown for the last 15 years. My theory They also have no where to go. Bearing Sea, Tundra for miles and miles north and South. Or back up river. Plenty of food. Even with low hare numbers our rodent population is such that it could support any predator out there if they got hungry. Doesn't seem to be a boom and bust. Just boom. at least for the last 12 years. No sign of a down turn yet. Trappers seem to be keeping these numbers in check. But moose. Only so many the villagers can take. And yes no dead moose yet showing up to starvation. And certainly not in your area Jeff but I do wonder about the Emmo Kotlik areas. When we might see some of it down the line. Interesting article. Alaska Moose management-Science or Comic book biology As he describes it moose left to fulfill the carrying capacity of an area live on the brink of disaster. It is far better to maintain the herd at 50 to 75 % Thus insuring extra food for those hard winters of cold and deep snow. Little wiggle room on a hard winter with little food. Moose die. Just like other animals. And that might be worth it to the local villagers in view of the alternative, Outside hunting pressure. Hard decisions for both sides. But in the end. There will be dead moose one way or the other. Wolves, people, cold, starvation. What should we manage for. Many sides to that question. And to each his own.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:47 AM
just checked a website 7 day 2 person minimum $3,150.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats three thousand one hundred fifty dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! talk about money for nothing and the caribou for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fyi that's only one trip and these guys fly from morning till dark............. u do the math. late august till beginning of october. money that goes to four other towns i probably cannot say names.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:54 AM
ok... sorry... my bad... i wish there was competition from era or another airline. even the villagers suffer haeing to pay 400 plus for a roundtrip ticket. people in the lower 48 have nothing to complain about compared to us.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:05 AM
Same here its over $600 Round trip and we have to travel 20 miles to catch the jet ERA has us by the short hairs.
And Len I would say you guys need more hunting pressure in Homer if its that browsed like you say perhaps you need to thin them and alow more guiding perhaps a cow/calf hunt
Like I said we have Alot of willow thay also eat cottonwood and summer they eat swamp plants and we have plenty of swamp here.
I also belive all the beaver cutting willow create moose feed because all the young shoots that pop out of the stump the next year the moose love them.
I dont see any dead moose and see no reason to panic about it yet, these moose have hard crusty snow that they can walk on so they are not stuck in one area they use the frozen river and snowmachine trails to travel to differant areas to feed all winter.
That is why we have such a high rate of calf twins and triplets these moose have it made and are fat..no need to call in the airforce yet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:13 AM
I agree. I it is a moose Shangri-La. But wow where will it end up. Summer grounds are never the governing factor for ungulates. I just can't see it not ending in some sort of poor fate at some point. The exponential growth the last 5 years is amazing. 5 more hmm We will see I guess.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1202:51 PM
Originally Posted By: nolluk
My turn? I live in an area with a high caribou population. I work at the airport and see firsthand the operations of guides and transporters. Have you ever seen a dumpster of caribou? 2 pallets of meat stacked 3-4 feet high in 50 degree weather for 3 days? Anyone ever try to give you rotten meat? Ever see a sign "free meat" cause a guy got 5 caribou and a moose but didn't want to pay freight charges back where he came from? Note* he took the antlers! I can go on and on but I know ill be in the minority here because there are guides that will defend themselves and others. Another quick note that happened a few weeks ago the local police were given rotten meat from a client that ended up in a dumpster also. I overheard a cop telling the story at a local store. You might ask why this wasn't brought to troopers attention believe me it was. It makes no sense that all a person has to do is bring the meat to a hub in edible condition. What is done after is a grey area. Ok. Now for the misconception that money is brought into the community. Guides and transporters pick their clients up at Alaska airlines and bring them to their base of operations. They sit on the ramp and wait for the aircraft that takes them to their destination. Tents food water are all provided for. Relax ive seen the everything these guys keep stocked in their buildings and shelters. When clients return they sit on the ramp and gather their belongings to be brought to Alaska airlines to check in. How do I know this? I work at the airport. Where is the money coming into the town? Tickets are bought from Alaska airlines. 4 out of 5 transporters are based in towns other than kotzebue. 1 based in kotzebue has 1 local pilot part time. Guides are not based in kotzebue. Fuel is bought from Crowley. where is the money that is supposedly being brought in? The last gripe I have is about the notion that with an airplane you get out where locals will not be affected by the actions of guides and transporters. Have you ever hunted the migration of caribou? You ever shoot a caribou out of a herd and have the next bunch an hour later take another rout because the herd that you shot one from leaves a scent going in another direction for them to follow? Imagine this.... 5 transporters dropping off a few hundred hunters in the path of these caribou and this not affecting the migration of the herd. Not only hunters but plane traffic all day long. Noatak kotzebue noorvik kiana selawik ambler shungnak and kobuk all rely on this migration for food. Depending on what the caribou do in a year some villages have a tough time getting meat. 2 years ago the migration went a northern route and everyone suffered from locals to guides and transporters. Locals didn't get the meat they needed and the guides and transporters had to burn more fuel to get hunters to the caribou. The moose population took a major hit that fall because people prefer moose over caribou. A friend of mine settled for a moose that fall after not getting caribou and said there were 26 sets of moose antlers up to the place he got a moose. After all we don't eat antlers. Alrighty then. Let the mudslinging begin. Ive put a big bullseye on my chest so grimmer your best shot.
Yep, I have seen this happen. This appears to be the operating procedure of the the big operators and transporters. Smaller and ethical operators make a habit of either using the meat themselves or finding local people ahead of time who want it and do their best to take care of the meat.
Again my suggestion was that the local people run their own operation or work with an ethical operation. Or you can sit around and complain about some non-local people making all the money and wasting the meat. Me I like meat and I like money. Money that I worked my arse off for is even sweeter. A lot like trapping money.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1203:12 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
This jumped in kind of late. Wrote it this afternoon and after the recent posts. I will reedit this to address some of my feelings on keeping money in the villages. My thought is that locals could gain from providing drop off packages and boat rentals for resident and non. Restricted to certain areas that the villages deem appropriate. Cut down on the competition and give some local employment and harvest some of the excess. Many residents would pay for drop off hunts if the equipment was supplied. It is not guiding. Other guys do this. Not sure of all the legalities but it is a thought.
There will still someday become an issue of carrying capacity. And I bet the lower reaches of the Yukon are getting there. There are far more alder than anything in the lower yukon area. Where are the concentrations of moose in the winter. Specific patchs of willow. You see concentrations of them where ever you fly over the willow patchs near the river bend and disturbed grounds some of the best. There is only so many willow tops to go around. There is always scattered moose. Always will be. But the willow patches take it in the tops in the concentrated areas. Come to Homer and look at what years of overgrazing did to the willow patches in the prime winter areas. Very apparent. Short stubble of a willow with ever available nibble taken off them every year.
The numbers are not there yet in the Mountain Village area and above. But their will come a day in the lower river, if it is not their yet when winter browse will be the deciding factor for a healthy herd. Be different if they had a place to go. Holy Cross moose can migrate up or down as they need. Where does a moose at the mouth of the Yukon go when it needs new habitat. Much like the lynx populations. They have steadily grown for the last 15 years. My theory They also have no where to go. Bearing Sea, Tundra for miles and miles north and South. Or back up river. Plenty of food. Even with low hare numbers our rodent population is such that it could support any predator out there if they got hungry. Doesn't seem to be a boom and bust. Just boom. at least for the last 12 years. No sign of a down turn yet. Trappers seem to be keeping these numbers in check. But moose. Only so many the villagers can take. And yes no dead moose yet showing up to starvation. And certainly not in your area Jeff but I do wonder about the Emmo Kotlik areas. When we might see some of it down the line. Interesting article. Alaska Moose management-Science or Comic book biology As he describes it moose left to fulfill the carrying capacity of an area live on the brink of disaster. It is far better to maintain the herd at 50 to 75 % Thus insuring extra food for those hard winters of cold and deep snow. Little wiggle room on a hard winter with little food. Moose die. Just like other animals. And that might be worth it to the local villagers in view of the alternative, Outside hunting pressure. Hard decisions for both sides. But in the end. There will be dead moose one way or the other. Wolves, people, cold, starvation. What should we manage for. Many sides to that question. And to each his own.
There is a lot of misinformation and propaganda mixed in with that biology. Almost all the population objectives in the State have nothing to do with carrying capacity. They are a mix of numbers derived in a haphazard way. Some are way below carrying capacity, some may be well above. Hard to manage for carrying capacity when the only way to find out where that is to achieve it. Carrying capacity is ever changing, so chase that down too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1203:37 PM
In the days we had caribou the sky ho's/airlines departed with everything but the gut piles. Same thing with the moose now. Some of the guides made an honest effort to locally distribute the meat but have also seen that abused. The hubs make some bucks but not much trickle down effect from there to villages in the hunting areas. Don't see anything that will change that as long as money is the driving force.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1203:48 PM
In much of Alaska habitat does not limit ungulate populations. Predation holds many populations at Low Levels. It was human predation that was limiting moose populations in the lower Yukon area. There are many lower 48 trained biologist that can't wrap their heads around this concept. I agree though the moose are healthy and in great shape when the predators kill them.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1204:05 PM
Originally Posted By: Dirt
[quote=Kusko]Actually Jeff, for the number of people that live in our area, our moose are doing pretty darn good. We started with 77 moose in a stretch of river that went 200 miles. After 5 years of no hunting, we had 1000 moose.
I'm pretty sure this is impossible without a lot of dispersal into the area from somewhere else. That would be close to a 70% growth rate per year. The largest growth rate measured in Alaska (THAT I'M AWARE OF) was on the predator free and relatively snow free area of Kalgan Island. It was around 33%.
Ding ding ding....
There are so many moose in the lower Yukon and Togiak that they dispersed over here.
The count of 77 didn't count any tributaries. This was the main Kusko only. The guys around here would poach only the cows. If you peek at the moose circle, you will see what happens when the cows are killed.
I know that guide well too. Here is my case on that. If he can survive up there as a gussak for as long as he has, good for him. Now, being a guide and surviving, unreal. That place can be ROUGH.
One more thing, historically, the lower Yukon didn't have moose. They showed up like our caribou and stayed. People hunted them and nearly wiped them out. They put on a 6 year moratorium and they rebounded like crazy. That herd is growing by 1000 animals per year.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1204:25 PM
Originally Posted By: fishermann222
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
That is why we have such a high rate of calf twins and triplets these moose have it made and are fat..no need to call in the airforce yet.
This rate is falling off as of the last survey done.
I dont buy it ..I still see alot of twins and most survive to be adults since our preditors are few.
The lower Yukon always had moose..just not as many...people forget that this area was the last place to get stores and trading post and goods were unafordable much like they still are today.
You can not buy fresh meat in our store here its frozen only and expensive! and some old range cow from Cali or Seattle..people depend on the meat and needed to eat so moose numbers were low.
since the numbers have increased substantialy I would like to keep them high..screw what some college kid bioligist say..they dont know sqwat like Bob said they screwed it up in his area I would rather they just stay out of this one, along with the sky ho's
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1204:43 PM
Those same college kid biologist were the ones smart enough to put a moratorium on your area. Maybe they saw the potential that your moose population would expand...who knows???
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1204:58 PM
Do you realy think folks with no wildlife officers at all in our area actually quit hunting meat when FnG said you cant eat moose meat no more? are you kidding me?..lol
the population increase was due to moose migrating in from upriver and other areas where wolves and fires were driving them out. plus stores and food stamps and oil money combined with high fish prices (ie $5. a lb some were making 100k a year) that relieved some of the pressure off the moose, as folks could now afford to eat from the stores.
It was not due to some snot nosed Bilogist from Seattle fresh out of college.
Dirt when the economy crashes and no more store bought goods we will see how long your moose last just like the elk, buffalo. the deer and waterfowl in the 48... when folks depended on them for food especialy during the depression
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1205:19 PM
They didnt stop..it was just less pressure and the moose migrated in...just like they are doing now on the Kusko...they are not calving there way to huge increases like you are seeing. they are migrating in..most likely from the Yukon
some folks did stop hunting here and went upriver, where we were promply kicked off the lands and had to hunt here again.
like I said it was a combination of factors... I should be a Bioligist but first I would have to learn how to spell it
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1205:19 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Do you realy think folks with no wildlife officers at all in our area actually quit hunting meat when FnG said you cant eat moose meat no more? are you kidding me?..lol
the population increase was due to moose migrating in from upriver and other areas where wolves and fires were driving them out. plus stores and food stamps and oil money combined with high fish prices (ie $5. a lb some were making 100k a year) that relieved some of the pressure off the moose, as folks could now afford to eat from the stores.
It was not due to some snot nosed Bilogist from Seattle fresh out of college.
Dirt when the economy crashes and no more store bought goods we will see how long your moose last just like the elk, buffalo. the deer and waterfowl in the 48... when folks depended on them for food especialy during the depression
I eat bear, so I'll be O.K. I might even eat a salmon if I have to.
You do realize earlier you claimed that the local community made a sacrifice in order for the moose population to rebound and now you claim no sacrifice was made. You need to clear this up.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1206:30 PM
I hit the lower Yukon. Kotlik in the fall of 1984. I went along with a local guy on his moose hunt. The last year it was open. The next year I believe was the moratorium. There were moose in the lower stretches of the river. Few and far between. I believe the moratorium contributed to the success. Granted people still ate wild game. But I firmly believe that it was the another over riding factor that led to a lot of the success. In the early 90's for some time the caribou population was migrating all the way to Kotlik at times. People from as far as Hooper Bay were traveling to the Lower Yukon and to St Michaels for their meat. Lots of it. easy to get meat. It lasted enough years to allow the moose some reprieve and to gain a critical mass. Which now can not be held back. I hit Mt Village in 1995 and was one of very few people that consistently only hunted below Mt Village only. Moose were very spread out but there. I then moved to PItkas Point for 3 years and Back to Mt Village.
Most everyone was going upriver to hunt still at that time. The population increased on the lower river but from the down river end backwards. 30 mile was a lot better hunting than Clearwater area. Which if they were building from upriver we would have seen the opposite trend in population increases.
There were no appreciable changes from Mt to Pilot that would indicate movement to the lower stretches. I hunted and trapped the areas and my opinion is that they built from the lower river back. And are doing it strongly now. Heck there are moose all along the drainages along the airport from Mt to St Marys now. Clearwater etc. Moose are by the airports in Mt Village. Moose sightings have steadily increased from down to upriver in areas we rarely saw moose. I believe those moose are coming up not down. And it is glory days. But still be willing to bet that there will be areas in the lower river that will reach or are over capacity right now. Wolf heyday when they show up.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:02 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Actually they are there now. And guess there numbers will grow like crazy in the next 5 years. Jeff you need to start pushing the wolf snares!!
What you say Karnak? I see in the future a massive wolf build up and the moose population reduced by two thirds in a ten year period. I visualize Jeff at the Board of Game. Things are getting blurry. I can't believe what I am hearing. It is Jeff asking the Board of Game to send in the sky-hos to kill the wolves wiping out his moose.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:02 PM
The moose are not migrating up from down river...they are just still migrating down river from upriver following the river and hit the ocean and have to stop,I was here the whole time and saw it all and was not stuck indoors teaching I was trapping,hunting and fishing for a living.
we cant set wolf snares because of the moose..not many wolves to catch anyway the snowmachiners catch the few that show up in short order.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:05 PM
Originally Posted By: Dirt
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Actually they are there now. And guess there numbers will grow like crazy in the next 5 years. Jeff you need to start pushing the wolf snares!!
What you say Karnak? I see in the future a massive wolf build up and the moose population reduced by two thirds in a ten year period. I visualize Jeff at the Board of Game. Things are getting blurry. I can't believe what I am hearing. It is Jeff asking the Board of Game to send in the ski-hos to kill the wolves wiping out his moose.
wont happen the boys have open country and fast snowmachines...so far held the populations down to almost none. I am the only sealer in the area and use about 5 wolf tags a year some years less.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:32 PM
Quote:
I was here the whole time and saw it all and was not stuck indoors teaching I was trapping,hunting and fishing for a living.
Right ha ha. I led pretty sheltered life when I lived out there full time. Kind of like Fish and Kusko. We just have no idea what is going on outside those school walls. Cause we don't live it. Whatever. Seems their can't be any discussion without insults here by some.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1207:49 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Quote:
I was here the whole time and saw it all and was not stuck indoors teaching I was trapping,hunting and fishing for a living.
Right ha ha. I led pretty sheltered life when I lived out there full time. Kind of like Fish and Kusko. We just have no idea what is going on outside those school walls. Cause we don't live it. Whatever. Seems their can't be any discussion without insults here by some.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1208:38 PM
No insults intended just stating the facts....but since you brought it up...you were/are living in teacher housing provided a maintance crew who even pumpes your stove oil and hauls your trash with two meals a daya also provided.
While I was living in a one room log cabin with no running water and wood stove only.
again no offense intended the guides on here already dont like me
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1208:43 PM
I just don't know why we waste all that money on radio collaring wildlife when we could just ask people who were there the whole time?
I worked with a university professor and some engineers on a research project which involved the metabolism of a single celled organism. I discovered they didn't know squat, I really didn't know squat and everybody else knew less than squat. Through education I came to understand exactly how complex the natural world around us really is and how limited our understanding really is.
To claim you have a complete understanding of moose population dynamics is completely preposterous...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1208:50 PM
I tell you what.. since you guys know whats best for your populations in your area...you do it with our blessing...just dont tell us what we need to do when you dont live here.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1208:54 PM
GROUP HUG?????????????????????????
dirt. i was not complaining these are merely facts i stated. i don't have time to get a pilots license or a plane or start a business. i have enough on my plate with a full time job, commercial fishing, trapping and doing other subsistence activities. caribou in this region are the main staple of everyones diet. come on up and get into a conversation about caribou. most of the conversation would center around where they are which way they are moving and most important are they fat? no talk about antlers would be heard or antler size or shovels and whatever somebody wants in a trophy. ask how many days a week a family eats caribou?
i always wondered if we got 2-300 locals and went to a transporters homebase area or a guides area and shot as many moose and caribou we could only for antlers what would happen? wouldn't you think the locals would be in an uproar? where is skwentna anyways? you have a good place to camp for 2-300 hunters and enough moose and caribou to feed all the locals when we are done?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1209:24 PM
I am not a trophy hunter and most of the locals are not interested in antlers. I don't particularly understand trophy hunting. That does not stop me from making part of my living from it. We have no caribou, but plenty of bear and a few moose. If you can find the moose we got enough for about 300 successful hunters. However, no cow shooting. People who don't live here have always made the rules we sometimes abide by.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1209:25 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
already dont like me
A disagreement and you think people don't like you? What are we 4 years old? Disagreements are part of life, if everyone agreed life would be pretty boring wouldn't it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1209:32 PM
I have to say I am sorry to let this subject get away..its a pretty heavy topic... the moral of the stoy is some areas welcome guiding and some dont they should take a vote near the village that will be effcted or better yet have the guides stay away from traditional hunting grounds period..out of sight out of mind..dont force it on anyone.
And I in no way wanted to dis any of the good teachers on here I know its a tough job in the villages and they have every right to share in every thing they want..I have a daughter in school myself and support them every chance I get.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1209:49 PM
" And I in no way wanted to dis any of the good teachers on here I know its a tough job in the villages and they have every right to share in every thing they want..I have a daughter in school myself and support them every chance I get."
And some of us even haul our own wood.
Jeff, honestly most of the land is refuge. If I want to hunt refuge land, I think I should be able to without worrying about ticking off the locals. The private land can't be touched. The refuge has been very very tight with allocating permits to any transporters or guides in Unit 18. I tried to float a river up your way a few years ago and the refuge wouldn't allow it.
If you see people on private ground, surely they need to be reported.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1210:31 PM
Its all good.. I didn't hammered like I thought... above someone said life is boring without dissagreements that is so true. Trapping needs to start soon so we have something else to talk about. Good luck to all of you wherever u are. Even you bethel guys. Keep slaying them nasty little reds. Lol
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1210:50 PM
I think you need to differentiate between guides and air taxi/transporters. The transports work on a volume basis and were frowned upon (call that HATED) by the registered/master guides with a passion. The guides would have maybe half dozen assistants working under them providing a quality hunt for a quality animal. While moose hunting, that usually translated into two, two week long hunts in the course of a season. The meat was always taken care of and utilized either by the guide staff or local folks that welcomed the meat. It was always in the guide's best interest to make certain there was a very healthy population of game in the areas that were hunted. The transporters didn't give a rip, they just wanted to haul as many folks as they could to maximize the income potential. Avoidance of wanton waste was the motivating factor in requiring non-resident ALIENS to hire a guide for any big game specie in Alaska. We always utilized villiage based air services and villiage accomodations when weather caused a transportation delay so we did invest $$ in local economies. I have been a registered giude, subsitence user, and biologist. All user groups need to have input in how wildlife is managed for the continued health of the resource, and the benefit of the user groups.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1211:31 PM
I didn't know you were a Biologist. I got a question maybe you can answer. The sheep population where I guide declined during the 90's probably do to predation, but maybe there were habitat issues too. The population appears to be slowly building since implementation of wolf control. The last two years I have noticed that they have been expanding their range. In other words dispersing. Does this mean the sheep are dispersal phenotypes? Meaning the population is currently well below carrying capacity?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/27/1211:56 PM
Jeff I try to learn wildlife biology so I can tell when a Biologist is full of crap. Like Stringham , Sinnot, Van Ballenberge, Habor(Deceased), Del Frate, Farley and others. It's useful.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1212:08 AM
My post secondary education was in wildlife biology. The state of Alaska has a regulation that states that no one working as a biologist for the state can aquire a registered guide license! Professional biologists are basically under a gag order from whatever state they work for and cannot comment on regulations for fear of losing their jobs. I have not worked in the state of Alaska as a biologist because I had preferences as to being able to open my mouth when I wanted to, I wanted to guide, and I am a white boy ivory carver (talk about potential for conflict of interest!). To answer Jeff's question, biologists get their information wherever/however they can and make management decisions based on aquired information. I work in close association with the local biologist here in Oregon, not on a professional basis, but on a respected opinion basis. He knows my education level and respects my hands on opinion due to my experience in the field as a hunter/guide/fisherman/trapper. Dirt, I have kinda been out of the loop about population dynamics in AK for about 15 years now but I know that the Alaska range had fairly serious bout of lumpy jaw in the sheep pop. during the late 80's. Toss a couple deep snow years in with that and the sheep population takes it in the shorts. I don't think it is possible for a sheep population to achieve a level where it threatens the carrying capacity of its habitat. Weather and predation keep them in check. Even in fairly mild winters there is a substantial winter kill. When a population is depressed due to winter kill or disease, predation seriously restricts pop. growth. Given favorable conditions, sheep population grow quite rapidly and will disperse to inhabit a wider range. They don't really migrate but the buggers can travel a looong way for who knows what reasons.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1212:40 AM
newhouse114..... i don't want to throw names out there and get kicked off this forum but i can tell you the three guides off the top of my head. one of which offered me meat that smelled rotten. another gave rotten meat to a friend of mine. the last gave a family a whole nasty stink moose in game bags. he said the game bags were what the smell came from but when they opened it up it was rotten. i wouldn't consider that resource management they could have left the animal alone to reproduce rather than have someone else haul it to the dump. blame the locals for wasting the meat not the guides good solution. i won't even go into the guide that blamed locals for shooting moose 40 miles from the village and when asked why there were no snomachine tracks around he couldn't come up with an answer. he knew exactly where these moose were though and it was spring bear hunting time. go figure. resource management? kill moose to get bears? so the bears don't kill moose?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1201:19 AM
There are unethical people everywhere and I'm sorry, rural people are not exempt from wanton waste. I won't bring it up, but it happened at Point Hope. I don't waste meat and I don't care for anybody, guide, transporter, sport hunter, or subsistence hunter who does.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1201:28 AM
Nolluk, I am not saying that there are no bad apples in the guiding industry. Just like there are bad apples in the native community that abuse the resource. I personally know of several HUNDRED caribou that were killed just for jollies by native youth one year. This happened many years ago and perhaps the problem isn't quite so bad now, but I'm sure it still goes on. The guiding industry needs to police itself and the subsistence users need to do the same. As soon as finger pointing becomes the reason decisions are made, everybody loses. I don't know if the Walker clan is still operating out of Kotz but I know that they "stretched" the rules on a regular basis.
Dirt, The ewes and lambs have a tendency to stay herded up while the bachelor groups of adult and sub adult rams hang together until late September. They seem to wander a lot more, probably trying to find available females that do not have a resident dominant ram. I noticed that the really big rams were often solitary animals that just seemed to appear out of nowhere once the rut got started in late September and October.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1202:42 AM
On a lighter note ..I had Ptarmagin and Spruce chicken for dinner I had to call the Biologist to confirm that it was in fact a spruce hen I grew the tater tots in my garden and just pried them out of the frozen ground a few days ago.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1202:58 AM
newhouse114... you know of the instance in point hope personally? i take it you were part of the investigation? or did you watch the national geographic show and that makes you personally involved? they could not make a determination that there were "several hundred" there was a lot but they didn't have an actual number. i saw the same show does that make me personally involved? truthfully there were a lot of caribou that were wasted and "personally" i thought they should have strung them boys up by the short and curlies.
did you know about the musk ox that were wasted up there by a non native? were you personally involved in that investigation or did they not air that episode on national geographic? i cannot remember the amount he got but there was no excuse for that either.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1203:25 AM
Nolluk, I was not part of any investigation, I saw photographs of the dead caribou taken by an individual that was living in the village when it happened. He was not part of the investigation either, just an individual that made a photo documentation of the occurance. I did not see it on TV. How does my lack of explicit details change in any way what happened. I stated that there are abuses on all sides, commercial users, recreational users, and subsistence users of wildlife resources. Harvest laws should be enforced for all comers. I do not believe that one specific faction is "more" guilty of abuse than any other faction. If your opinion differs, you are entitled to your opinion.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1203:57 AM
This is awesome.... ....
The best part is I didn't start it either..... Lol...
What if the sky ho's (maggots) are transporting other Alaskans who may not have moose in their area?
Is the issue with only non-Alaskans?.... Or is it for everyone not from a village?
I mean, the people in kotz get mad at anchorage people from hunting there and taking "their" caribou. YJs area doesn't like anchorage folk hunting their moose.. Heck I was talking to a guy from bethel about duck hunting there this fall, and he was upset that someone would go out there and shoot "his" ducks, he eats them..... Never heard the people in cooper landing complain about people taking their sockeye from the Russian river Never heard people of Seward or homer complaining about their halibut being caught by the greedy guides and anchorage people...
The butt soreness that goes on in this state is crazy.... The whole this is ours....stay away attitude....... But the minute fuel runs low or a barge can't make it, it is please come fast, hurry here to help us, send money, send fuel, send food, move our town from the erosion... Then once it is over, it is get the eff out and don't come back.... Until the next emergency..
And yet, everyone flies in here and rapes and pillages OUR Costco..........oh the inhumanity....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1204:09 AM
But Huppy, how dare you shop at my Costco? You can come down here and shoot all "my" poo poo ducks you heart desires! On a lighter note felt the earth move this evening. A 7.7 down by Southern BC. Tsunami warnings in effect!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1204:11 AM
They have a Tsunami warnning for you South east guys around Craig also Cape Decision and 85 mi S/E of Sitka and BC going to hit around 9:10 better head to high ground!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1206:21 AM
Dang, I take a couple of days off T man and when I get back it takes 20 minutes to read the wizzing contest posts on one thread... I'll be glad when White gets back and straightens you miscreants out! A few bears getting killed here since the opener. Several are still in town though tearing through the "bear resistant" roll carts like it was a mile long smorgasbord.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1206:26 AM
Quote:
No insults intended just stating the facts....but since you brought it up...you were/are living in teacher housing provided a maintance crew who even pumpes your stove oil and hauls your trash with two meals a daya also provided.
These are facts? Lets at least do the research before you start quoting them.
As in most rental situations is is not typically for renters to maintain the home. Not a lot of choice in that matter. Housing Provided? At a cost! Payed for at the tune of $10,000 a year. But it did give me extra time to spend out side after school and weekends. No choice to live elsewhere. It was part of our contract we had to live in District Housing. Well at least pay for it. But I was thankful we did have decent housing. I didn't and never will fit into the typical teacher mold.
Meals provided? There were very few free meal at the school. We had the choice to eat at the school lunch program if we wanted to pay. I didn't. I went home and ate with my kids at lunch.
I graduated from College with a Fish and Wildlife management degree, Precursor degree to being a biologist. I went on to get a science teaching Cert. I put my self through college trapping and working in a the MSU Biology research lab. So I am not totally in the dark when it comes to offering some opinion. I trapped, hunted and fished the area from Russian Mission to Kotlik for the last 28 years which gives me a good perspective as well. Haven't logged the hours you have but I have put in a good share of time out there. And enough to voice an opinion for sure. Wrong or right. Shouldn't be bashed for it.
Personally I have no desire to see outside guides or transporters come into the area. But feel it would be real cool and add some income to locals if they took it upon themselves to offer the services while holding down the moose numbers to the point where they can sustain themselves in the years to come. It is a honeymoon period right now. More than enough to go around. Funny how those things don't stick around forever. The Lower Yukon is a unique situation as far as dispersal opportunities. I maintain my opinion that more moose are moving up river from the lower reaches at this point than down. 3 other directions don't leave much for options. With the recruitment as it stands on the Lower End how can it not but contribute to expansion outside its boundaries. The Lower River is packed with moose. Where else to they have to go but upriver? Not that it really matters. It was a discussion. And the statement that there has always been moose in the area is not what the elders say. I listened in Russian Mission to the late Natalia Changsak talk about how when she was young there were no moose at all in the area. Only reindeer. She vividly remember the first moose sighting as a young person. New to the country they were.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1206:46 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Quote:
No insults intended just stating the facts....but since you brought it up...you were/are living in teacher housing provided a maintance crew who even pumpes your stove oil and hauls your trash with two meals a daya also provided.
These are facts? Lets at least do the research before you start quoting them.
As in most rental situations is is not typically for renters to maintain the home. Not a lot of choice in that matter. Housing Provided? At a cost! Payed for at the tune of $10,000 a year. But it did give me extra time to spend out side after school and weekends. No choice to live elsewhere. It was part of our contract we had to live in District Housing. Well at least pay for it. But I was thankful we did have decent housing. Not sure what renting and having a full time job has to do with ones ability to make an educated and experiential opinion on wildlife in the area.
Meals provided? There were very few free meal at the school. We had the choice to eat at the school lunch program if we wanted to pay. I didn't. I went home and ate with my kids at lunch.
I graduated from College with a Fish and Wildlife management degree, Precursor degree to being a biologist. I went on to get a science teaching Cert. I put my self through college trapping and working in a the MSU Biology research lab. So I am not totally in the dark when it comes to offering some opinion. I trapped, hunted and fished the area from Russian Mission to Kotlik for the last 28 years which gives me a good perspective as well. Haven't logged the hours you have but I have put in a good share of time out there. And enough to voice an opinion for sure. Wrong or right. Shouldn't be bashed for it.
Personally I have no desire to see outside guides or transporters come into the area. But feel it would be real cool and add some income to locals if they took it upon themselves to offer the services while holding down the moose numbers to the point where they can sustain themselves in the years to come. It is a honeymoon period right now. More than enough to go around. Funny how those things don't stick around forever. The Lower Yukon is a unique situation as far as dispersal opportunities. I maintain my opinion that more moose are moving up river from the lower reaches at this point than down. 3 other directions don't leave much for options. With the recruitment as it stands on the Lower End how can it not but contribute to expansion outside its boundaries. The Lower River is packed with moose. Where else to they have to go but upriver? Not that it really matters. It was a discussion. And the statement that there has always been moose in the area is not what the elders say. I listened in Russian Mission to the late Natalia Changsak talk about how when she was young there were no moose at all in the area. Only reindeer. She vividly remember the first moose sighting as a young person. New to the country they were.
I did have my facts right..you did/do live in teacher housing with a maintanace crew..I never said you didnt pay for your housing.....read my quote.
I did not bash you your just taking it hard.
If you think it would be"Cool" to have locals guiding suggest it to the local Homer AC they might want it but I am pretty sure they dont here at this time anyway since I live here year round I know.
And if you think the moose are coming out of the Bering Sea and migrating up river I would say I am done here thats crazy talk..yes they do have alot of moose because they ran out of land and nowhere farther west to go.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1208:46 AM
Your right the facts were true. Just a few of the details missing from the fact presentation that concerned me. Mostly the part of what the heck it had to do with the discussion. Not a bash? Okay. But I did take it that way. All I am looking for is an adult conversation on what I have observed in the area over the last 28 years.
No where did I say moose are coming out of the Bearing Sea. Please show me my mistake if I have given that impression I was wrong. Please quote that and I will fix it. What I am saying is some of the highest populations density is on the Bearing Sea Coast. As per what I have observed when I flew from Kotlik to Emmo. That is what I visually observed. That is the facts I had to go by for the lower River. Now - however they got there whether through local recruitment or walked 90 miles downriver from the area above Mt Village like you say. And why are so many moose moving down? The numbers were higher in the lower river before they were in the Mountain Village area west. Why did they leave? I am of the opinion that they didn't. They were born there. In the Lower reaches of the Yukon. And have populated to the extent that moose are moving back up river in record numbers.
The fact is the dispersal that is happening has to go back up river and somewhat south for the most part as there are few options other than than that. It is tundra to the south, Water to the West and Tundra to the Northeast. Tundra circled Yellow in the photo. The Moose that are becoming thick in the clearwater drainage I believe come from down river. Not the Andrefsky or areas North of the Yukon Above Mt Village. But that is a guess.
The moose population that is now high around Koozi I would also guess is dispersal from the Lower Yukon area like the 30 mile area. If it was from upriver as you say why did we not see local area populations around Mt Village rise at the same rate we did the lower stretches of the river. Did they run through on a dead run not populate like you would think? I was hunting hard and hiking the areas from Mt To 30 miles just to find a track and successfully harvesting moose when you and others were still going up river to get your moose. I was there and hunting yearly through those build up years. I feel I watched closely the progression of things. Moose populations were higher per square mile in 30 mile (15 miles down river from Mt Village) than in the pastsy slough and Refrigerator slough just miles below Mt Village in the Late 90's Did the moose run through there also to get to the lower river and stop? If they were coming from upriver why was some of the last areas to build a substantial populations, the area from Mountain to PItkas. Heck there are moose regularly seen in that area now on the North side of the river. They were rarely seen before. If they traveled from up river why did we not see populations there in the late 90's. The moose population was high on the lower reaches of the river before it was high in the Mt to Pitkas areas.. Granted it doesn't offer a lot of cover and prone to harvest. But people didn't hunt it much. There were few moose there to hunt like there are now. Now there are moose inhabiting areas along that area like never before. If they were so thick that they had to disperse to the lower river why did we not see the population that we do now. I thought I was seeing the progression correctly. I have no problem changing my stance given some facts. So far I haven't gotten any. But I am now curious to call the biologist to see what his opinion is.
I believe the highest density of population is the red 1. Based on what I saw from a plane two years ago. On a line from Emmo back up river to Mt I saw progressively less moose. Granted there isn't any where else to go but why would we not see just as high a population in between 1 and 2 if the population built from an upriver migration. And why is it that we didn't see strong populations of moose in the outlining areas at 3 if moose were migrating down river. Don't they populate an area and expand as needed due to the density of the population? I will ask, as it is an area I am the least familiar with. Where do you see the densest populations on your Kasunic trap line. The upper or lower reaches. This is one area I am not very familiar with. Did the abundant moose population around Kuzi now populate from the Yukon side or the Kasunic. I believe from the Yukon side. The lower river as well. Starting at 30 mile south as spill over from the 30 mile area. There just isn't habitat for them to populate a corridor from the Kasunic side to Koozi. There is a pile of moose in the whole area. Where do you believe is the dispersal route. The logical area of river from Pitka to Mt is just too thin and has never shown that much concentration. And i have spent a fair bit of time there. Do moose really migrate through very marginal areas in big numbers. I don't know. I have not seen evidence of that. Seems you would be able to track a populations density from one place to another as it builds. From everything I have seen it is one that is moving upriver. I think it is a fun biological discussion. Lets hear the facts based on what you have seen on the grounds Jeff.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1201:29 PM
I am glad to see that a guy can take a break from things here and get himself fixed up prior to trapping season, and the biggest rukus I have seen in a long time take place without the thread having to be removed. My hat is off to all of you keep it up gentlemen it has been an interesting read.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1202:39 PM
Recap: People were complaining about high gas prices. Then someone mentioned a little competition would help and maybe the price was high because it was similar to the AC situation. Then someone is accused of being a RICH guide and not everybody could be one. Then someone asked, "Why?" It appears the answer is because we don't want to. So..... everybody could be a rich guide like me.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1206:18 PM
Quote:
If you think it would be"Cool" to have locals guiding suggest it to the local Homer AC
I think anything to take anybody off welfare in the area would be cool. Always have. You pay them to harvest a local resource. It has been a tremendous help in self esteem and productivity in the area.
Now if QuickPack paid guys to harvest the logs, like they do now, Build two or three nice quality lodges in the outlying areas of the lower river, that get hunted by no body because there are so many moose, and had exclusive rights to the area seems doable. Providing jobs to locals and helping decrease the Federal dole harvesting a resource that is plentiful at this time and in the future provided it is managed. I do see that as cool thing. Done from the inside it would be viewed a lot better than outside guides coming in. There is vast areas of the Lower Yukon that never see a hunter. Just discussion.
I was in Beaver Alaska watching locals there cache in on having outsiders come in. Year round. The money stayed in the Athabaskan village in lodging, food and activity costs. All they were doing was coming to view the subsistence lifestyle. Everyone seem fine with it because it was done from inside the village. They were not harvesting game but it shows that not all villages are bringing in outside people to add to the village income. Beaver lodge tours
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1206:55 PM
Len ..I think its a great idea you should suggest it to the CDQ in Homer..that would help the people get off welfare and food stamps down there..let us know how it goes.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:11 PM
Jeff I know your not against people having jobs and being productive and feeling good about themselves, so is it just that you don't like familytrapper or what gives?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:21 PM
I just dont like people forcing their ideas on people that dont want it..I am not against jobs I started a program that helps anyone make money if they want too..not just a select few.
If Len is so passionate about having guides come in or starting a guide service around here he should go to the tribal meetings in what ever village he is so concerned about and ask the people if they want it.
Perhaps Saint Marys wants it? ..did he ask anybody from there if they wanted it?..or is he just posting his Ideas on a trapping forum? before asking the people who it will effect....what gives is right.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:32 PM
See, I don't see the problem in starting up a transporter business using the local corporation money to get it started. Money earned (minus tips) could be distributed equally among the shareholders.
You guys don't have a problem commercial fishing up there or having people from the Kuskokwim come up there and fish commercially. What's the difference between fish and moose?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:40 PM
Like I said its not up to anyone on this forum. if anyone has a good idea about guiding here dont ask me... I dont own the land here (except under my house.)
If you guys think its a great idea propose it at a tribe or corporation meeting in person perhaps in your own region first.
Surley there are unemployed and homeless in your area that need a job.
I am not the Chief here so if you all want to gang up on me about this your wasting yours and my time.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:45 PM
I don't think we were asking you, we were having a discussion. My gosh, do you ever have a discussion about things that happen anywhere outside the lower yukon?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/28/1207:50 PM
Ok I thought we were beating a dead horse and since your questions were directed at me by name... I though you were..dont let me stop you but I am done...carry on
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1212:03 AM
Jeff just an FYI. Homer doesn't have a CDQ group. They are only located on the West coast with 50 nautical miles of the Bering Seas Shelf. But maybe you know that and were being sarcastic
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1212:39 AM
So on that note... I took my 06 for a walk this morning and put some meat in the freezer. Not a big rack but he was nice and fat and close enough to the road to get out with the sled. One hour to find him and make the shot, 3 1/2 hours to drag it out... lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1212:48 AM
Sweet APP! I am practically pacing in anticipation of a week of deer hunting starting Nov. 17th. Kinda cool, the teenage daughter asked if she could go again. Can't say no to that!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1201:40 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
So on that note... I took my 06 for a walk this morning and put some meat in the freezer. Not a big rack but he was nice and fat and close enough to the road to get out with the sled. One hour to find him and make the shot, 3 1/2 hours to drag it out... lol!
akp those big racks are not that good eating anyway. Well maybe I shouldn't say that yukonjeff probably has a recipe for them.
Looks like a nice little buck for meat in the freezer.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1201:45 AM
The big ones eat just fine. Later in the season it pays to remove the tarsal glands immediately. I know some will disagree but I really can't tell the difference in a doe or buck at the dinner table. But then again I like SPAM.......
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1202:12 AM
Originally Posted By: trapper ron
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
So on that note... I took my 06 for a walk this morning and put some meat in the freezer. Not a big rack but he was nice and fat and close enough to the road to get out with the sled. One hour to find him and make the shot, 3 1/2 hours to drag it out... lol!
akp those big racks are not that good eating anyway. Well maybe I shouldn't say that yukonjeff probably has a recipe for them.
Looks like a nice little buck for meat in the freezer.
The rack is only good for stirring the soup anyway
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1202:12 AM
Originally Posted By: mad_mike
The big ones eat just fine. Later in the season it pays to remove the tarsal glands immediately. I know some will disagree but I really can't tell the difference in a doe or buck at the dinner table. But then again I like SPAM.......
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1203:56 AM
Quote:
I just dont like people forcing their ideas on people that dont want it..I am not against jobs I started a program that helps anyone make money if they want too..not just a select few.
Wow Didn't no I carried such clout. I am forcing the idea on the people of the Lower Yukon. It is a simple discussion. Are you saying we can't discuss in a civil manner something that you don't agree with. Since when do the members of Tman carry such clout in conversation? Did I miss something. Is this where the board of game comes for advice. Oh and the part of trying things in Homer. We already have lost our over populated moose population. Seems someone didn't have the foresight to see what needed to be done in time.
Quote:
If Len is so passionate about having guides come in or starting a guide service around here he should go to the tribal meetings in what ever village he is so concerned about and ask the people if they want it.
Where do you come off with that statement. To the contrary find one place on here that I made that statement. It is not something I want at all. I was thinking out side the box when I stated that I think it is a valid idea to consider for a local entity, (down the road) to build a lodge. Owned, run, and guided by Yupik eskimo. ""Locals"" Maybe even throw in there own plane since there are a number of commercial pilots from the area. Keep all the money local. Never once did I advocate for bringing in out side guides to the area. Since when is an idea of discussion forcing something down anyones throat. I am sure a CDQ company buying fur wasn't exactly in the cards when they first formed but look at the success of that program for the area. Quick pack the CDQ organization is already paying people to harvest logs and building houses. So a lodges and building it is not all that far fetched of a discussion.
Really all I did feel some sincere interest for is the question of moose dispersal on the lower river. I find that intriguing and an interesting topic for discussion. Time to give it all a rest and pack. Be in Anvik and Grayling for the next two weeks. Looking like Elder Trapper interview might be the first thing on the agenda with the students. Looking forward to that.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1205:57 AM
Kusko, I agree with the first two, I would follow them with #3 elk, #4 moose, #5 blacktail, #6 caribou. Maybe I feel that way because the only wild game I've had in the last 15 years has been blacktail and a few elk. I REALLY miss sheep and moose.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1204:40 PM
Originally Posted By: Kusko
Nice AKPP.
I'd put them third on my list of eating up here.
1. Dall Sheep
2. Berry fed black bear
3. black tail
I hope that doesn't start a crap storm!!
barf...
If I could choose what to fill the freezer with it would be.
1. Dirts benjamin franklins 2. some of that grain fed Delta Bison 3. Musk ox 4. moose
That rock mutton is nasty....It might taste great on the side of a mountian, but I can't stand the smell or taste of that sheep meat. I would rather gag down white king instead.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1205:24 PM
No sheep so can't say about it I prefer moose over everything else but certainly enjoy elk, deer and caribou in that order. Like Jeff I have been know to eat and enjoy a lot of the more exotic foods Alaska has to offer. I figured when I came out here 30 yrs ago I better try it all with an open mind as I never knew when I was going to be in the situation of either eating something or going hungry. I have been glad I did as that situation has come up on many occasions. Beaver is great when properly cooked so is porcupine but sorry to say eel pie just sounds bad but I will reserve full judgement until I have the opportunity to try it
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1208:14 PM
. That be Lamprey Pie. Arctic Lamprey. But commonly called eels in the lower Yukon. Oily but good. Not a favorite of mine. On the gun question. I started my son out at age 5 with his own chipmunk 22. Was a great choice as it fit him and he became a dead eye with it. He quickly moved into. 22-250 my brother had an extra stock that I cut short. He harvested his first caribou at age 5 also. A month away from his 6th birthday. At the same time he was shooting a stock shortened 410. At age 8 he shot a full sized 270 harvesting a moose. You can start them young.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/29/1210:55 PM
Ironic you mentioned the Chipmunk F.T. Have a friend who shot thousands of rounds through his as a kid. He just bought his young sons Crickett 22's - ( Crickett.com ) .
Crickett bought out Chipmunk. They still sell Chipmunks , but Cricketts are the big seller. Composite stocks and stainless barrels now. They have " my first rifle " embossed on the stock . Freddies just had them for 130.00 - for any of you interested Dad's for Christmas.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/30/1212:54 AM
Originally Posted By: Kusko
I bought my son the youth Rossi package. .22 long rifle, .410 and .243. It was $330 total. He's six and it's still a little long for him.
The trifecta. The models we sell are 22, 243, 20 ga. They make a matched pair combo that is 22, 410. They are a bit heavy, but real versatile for hunting kids.
I bet one could pickup a cricket or chipmunk cheap on alaskas list...
The nicest youth 22 is made by Thompson center. It is a break action and has finer optics sights instead of the peep sites like on the cricket.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/30/1201:24 AM
Huh, I must say, all contradictions welcome, that my favorite is caribou. Tender as all get out, and such a mild flavor. Granted, every one I took was early August, so can't say past that. I do love the blacktail backstraps and tenderloins, but as a whole, I prefer moose for steaks, roasts, etc. Elk I only get as a gift, and the others pretty much never. As for beaver meat, I have tried it a couple of times, soaked in saltwater for 24 hours, then rinsed, and done as a roast, as well as a BBQ type deal. While I found it edible, it certainly wouldn't rate up there in what I want for dinner tonite. I would rate muskrat above beaver, and actually it is not bad.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/30/1201:43 AM
For me, although we do not have the selection here as you Alaskans, I would rate my preferences as Elk, Bison, Caribou, Moose, White Tail, and Mule Deer if early. Mostly Elk and Moose, the other favorites are a rare treat. The deer would be easy to get just not that fond of them. Of the birds my favorite is Pheasant then Ruffies. The quail here taste great but you need a dozen per person for a meal.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/30/1201:51 AM
Oh,yeah, my favorite bird is definately Hungarian Partige. We used to get them in Eastern Oregon. All dark meat. My Dad preferd chucker, all white meat.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/30/1210:26 PM
He is never away - he is always lurking.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/31/1202:44 PM
Here comes the snow....
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area county, AK Begins: 10/31/2012 14:09 Ends: 11/01/2012 00:00 AKZ206-010000- /X.CON.PAFG.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-121101T0000Z/ NORTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE- INCLUDING...ANAKTUVUK PASS...ATIGUN PASS...GALBRAITH LAKE... SAGWON...FRANKLIN BLUFFS 609 AM AKDT WED OCT 31 2012
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM AKDT THIS AFTERNOON...
* LOCATION...IN PASSES AND NEAR THE BROOKS RANGE.
* SNOW...A STORM TOTAL OF 6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED BY THE TIME IT DIMINISHES THIS AFTERNOON. HEAVIEST AMOUNTS WILL BE IN THE BROOKS RANGE.
* BLOWING SNOW...NORTH WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH WILL CAUSE VISIBILITY TO FALL TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.
* TIMING...HEAVY SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW CONTINUE INTO THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN IMPROVE TONIGHT.
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS. THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE IN ATIGUN PASS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS ONE OR MORE SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS ARE OCCURRING OR EXPECTED.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/02/1205:27 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Winds gusting to 70, rain, seas 22 ft. Must be Friday.
holy cow.... better call FEMA.... declare a disaster ahead of time...... get batteries, head to higher ground, stock plenty of food. prepare for the worst....
oh wait, this isn't for the soft, pink Citidots on the east coast...... never mind, continue about your day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/02/1205:58 PM
It's funny how things work like that Hup.
Up here, wildfires burn, people are annoyed, but other than that, there isn't much drama.
Down states, a wildfire will bring on the National Guard, Pete and his crew, and FEMA.
It still ticks me off to think people stayed after they were told to evacuate.....again!
A few years ago, Goodnews Bay had 100 mph winds and a storm surge that blew boats, fish camps, nets, etc 8 miles up the valley. I don't see any FEMA trailers there.....
Now, I'm not some curmudgeon, and I do feel for those folks out East, but when they are warned, they should get out or deal with it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/02/1206:25 PM
right. Case in point... we had 2 HURRICANES in september....yet no one complained....or even mentioned it on the news outside of here....
Now, i understand that the flooding is a different story....and causes alot of damage and would suck, especially in such filthy places as NYC and NJ.....
But, the people who build thier house right next to the mississippi river, NYC, New Orleans, NJ shore etc should KNOW that this can and will happen.... Yet they all act surprised when it does.... also, the dummies dont get flood insurance and expect someone to pay for it....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/02/1206:48 PM
As this plays out and folks in NYC go without heat and power for a week or more, I have a feeling it gets pretty ugly there. They already have folks pulling guns at gas stations. It is only going to get worse.
Think I screwed 12 new traps up...with heating the - 11/04/1204:25 AM
Well, I know I'm gonna hear it...but, stuck my traps on top of my 55 gl barrel on a rack and heated them to melt the grease off...I swear now, the springs don't seem very strong..they are 1.5 duke's, so, always had long spring....is this what heat does to a spring? is it worth it to replace springs? But, I can push these open pretty easily..
Re: Think I screwed 12 new traps up...with heating the - 11/04/1204:51 AM
No you dont want to do that..heat + springs = weak..most likely will need replacing them if you want strong traps...but if they were Dukes..you could replace the springs cheap I bet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1203:31 AM
SPRING BEAR is the Best! Can't believe that bear is falling so low down the pole!!! I've been making ham's out of my bear, ground sausage with 1/3 moose fat....Tender, tender! Have not gotten a fall blackie yet except for one off the river, but, it was not bad, but no berry bear yet...so, can't compare that!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1204:30 AM
Was out today, and thought i'd try the foxpro and see what'll come in. Had a fox at 150 missed a running shot. So i turned on the caller, the fox returned. While i was aiming at the fox i saw something run into my Scope field of view. Moved over onto it and it was this lynx at 50 yrds running towards me. By the time i went back to the fox he was gone. Was pretty excited to try my set up! What a way to break it in. On the way home a few minutes ago i saw a small lynx on the road. May have some good numbers of them for this season.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1206:30 AM
Thanks guys, yea its a marlin .17 hmr I used 20 grain xtp hornady ammo. Impressed with a minute and a half of callin. haha prolly jus luck lol. Got him in the neck running towards me. May have to keep on callin till we get snow. Kinda early for them yet was pretty brown on the underfur. Got him turned on the board already. But the fox today looked pretty good.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1201:34 AM
Nice Fish222, i love mine also. Accurate as all get out. Only down fall is i need to put tall scope rings lol realized i couldn't get the bolt out yesterday lol.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1205:42 AM
I have and it ain't right. AK has 3 votes. The People's Republic of California has how many?? I vote because its my right, my pride is bigger than that.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1206:13 AM
The electoral college is a system that was thought up many many years ago, because many americans didn't have access to information and because the south had many slaves that could not vote. That should be a clue as to how old and outdated it is. That being said, I still believe we are the most resilient people on earth, and regardless of the outcome of this election, we will prosper. Those that have good moral character and are willing to work hard will perservere.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1206:26 AM
Those people that are living off of welfare checks will never have what you have bud. They'll never have pride in a job well done. They'll never know what it feels like to earn something honestly. I'm pretty sure you know what that feels like, so you're much further ahead in life than most of those people will ever be. Dont sweat it brother, there's someone upstairs watching over you and everyone esle that has faith in Him and themselves.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1206:55 AM
Just an observation…by your standards Canada would be considered a raging socialist country. Check out our standard of living compared to the US both by GNP and happiness quotient, and I'm not talking about just the last few years... just saying.
Hows your financial system, debt load? What could be arguably your greatest president would be called a socialist by todays US standards, do you know who I'm referring too?
I'm not pretending to know about you guys and the world you live in, but from the outside looking in I'd say you're being screwed by corporate America not some low life scamming for food stamps. Canada is happy Obama is in. Good luck.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1206:38 PM
Andy I was up there this weekend relaxing with the wife, that is some pretty country, can you guys trap that? The people that work at the resort say they hear wolves howling at night
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1207:28 PM
Originally Posted By: lbtrapper
Alright I have to ask.. Obama is in, but Romney won popular vote..
So how is it that "the people" choose, when it's based off of electoral votes???
Public education?
One more time. Number one the founding fathers never wanted every person in this country voting. They set up standards and exclusions. It still remains a privilege and not a right.
The President was never intended to be chosen by the people allowed to vote. The President was to be chosen by the States. To be specific Electors appointed by the State legislatures. In order to weigh the population of each State in the equation the number of Electors of each State reflects the States population. The people allowed to vote were only to choose the peoples representative to the House of Representatives. There were reasons for setting up the system this way.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1208:29 PM
Originally Posted By: Kusko
Civics.
Dirt are you saying that people are smart enough now to educationally vote?
People are apparently ignorant. Including me on many things. Direct democracy has it's pitfalls. The biggest is persecution of the minority opinion. Fine examples of democracy are wildlife initiatives passed by Urban voting majorities.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1210:09 PM
Originally Posted By: frozen okie
Andy I was up there this weekend relaxing with the wife, that is some pretty country, can you guys trap that? The people that work at the resort say they hear wolves howling at night
Good looking pup, run rabbits?
That I'm not sure about. It is beautiful country though, that was in mid-september.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1212:00 AM
I believe a guy named Al Gore won the popular vote a few years ago...and then the supreme court gave some one else the sceptor. Careful what you wish for guys. Yes this is civics, not politics. LOL....
BTW, Romney did not win the popular vote anyway...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1205:05 PM
Nice, is that what they mean when they say " stackem like cord wood"?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1205:11 PM
That's it! I need glasses ! I didn't even see the fox until I looked at the picture for the second time. Was wondering why you posted a pic of your wood pile...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1205:18 PM
Originally Posted By: Cougartail
That's it! I need glasses ! I didn't even see the fox until I looked at the picture for the second time. Was wondering why you posted a pic of your wood pile...
I think you still need em Cougartail.... That's a coyote
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1205:29 PM
LOL @ LB
That picture looks like it was taken during the 1970's.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1206:28 PM
Originally Posted By: lbtrapper
Originally Posted By: Cougartail
That's it! I need glasses ! I didn't even see the fox until I looked at the picture for the second time. Was wondering why you posted a pic of your wood pile...
I think you still need em Cougartail.... That's a coyote
I have a set of "readers" on now....and that fox turned into a coyote...wonder what else I've been missing ! lol
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/09/1202:43 AM
Now that's funny stuff! I was/ have been/ still am accused by mad_mike of living in the stone age. He, however, is a supplier of the digital age, and at times, I must admit, he is right to attempt to bring me into this era. However, I tend to fight it all the way.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/10/1210:47 AM
Anyone got a 600 Etech? Just got snow today, so, busted out the manual to my new ski doo WT 600 etech...saw that they recommned XPS synthetic or syn blend....which is the best...and in my old ski doo 550, the manual said I could use the castrol since it had an approved number, whatever that number was...
So, second question...living in the bush, we don't have XPS...can I still run the castrol? Sucks, did not think about buying XPS til we got snow and I'm wanting to run the machine now!...that'll take a week to get here!!!! Saw some other posts about some other oils they have been running....
Guess I don't add oil to the gas anymore, right? The computer does that?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/10/1202:36 PM
Originally Posted By: scotty
Anyone got a 600 Etech? Just got snow today, so, busted out the manual to my new ski doo WT 600 etech...saw that they recommned XPS synthetic or syn blend....which is the best...and in my old ski doo 550, the manual said I could use the castrol since it had an approved number, whatever that number was...
So, second question...living in the bush, we don't have XPS...can I still run the castrol? Sucks, did not think about buying XPS til we got snow and I'm wanting to run the machine now!...that'll take a week to get here!!!! Saw some other posts about some other oils they have been running....
Guess I don't add oil to the gas anymore, right? The computer does that?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/10/1205:33 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
Originally Posted By: scotty
Anyone got a 600 Etech? Just got snow today, so, busted out the manual to my new ski doo WT 600 etech...saw that they recommned XPS synthetic or syn blend....which is the best...and in my old ski doo 550, the manual said I could use the castrol since it had an approved number, whatever that number was...
So, second question...living in the bush, we don't have XPS...can I still run the castrol? Sucks, did not think about buying XPS til we got snow and I'm wanting to run the machine now!...that'll take a week to get here!!!! Saw some other posts about some other oils they have been running....
Guess I don't add oil to the gas anymore, right? The computer does that?
Any other problems with teh 600 etech?
Oh, how is the pull start working in the cold?
Am I really reading that after all these years ?
With the new Etech you best be letting the computer do the job
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/11/1203:15 AM
White17, were you previe to my cursing teh 550??? Man, once you go 600, you'll never go back to a 550!!!!
I had more problems with that anchor than anything I'd ever had! I just think that the 154 in track is way to much for that motor IF,IF your pulling stuff...by it's self, it's fine...but, after blown motors, blown bearings, etc...I had to make the move...We shall see!!!
Anyone had any big problems with the ski doo LT/WT 600 Etech? I wish HONDA made a snow machine! Bet that would pur like the out boards!!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/11/1203:18 AM
White17, might head your way this year for a long weekend at the bar!...we shall see..>I gotta complete the last 1/2 of the Iditarod, done nome to the Solatna bridge...but, we have a guy running the iditarod next year from here, so, might fly the rig down and drive it back up helping him out to Ruby...
But, Oh, is the bunk house open in the winters where the diner is? Love that place!might do it over xmas, we shall see...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/11/1206:25 PM
Scotty. Yeah I think the bunkhouse is open then. Not sure I've ever seen it closed. We probably won't be here at Christmas but try to call anyway just in case. We're in the 'book'.
As far as the 600 goes I understand the horsepower issue. It's the fact that a guy can't work on this Etec stuff. Had a friend here in MCG have a brand new Etec outboard go belly up this summer. Nothing he could do but send it back to town. That was so expensive that the thing is now an anchor. His wasn't the only one in town to go bad.
I think reliance on all this techie stuff is going to bite some folks in the butt if they get into the wrong set of conditions.
Simple has proven superior to complex over centuries.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/11/1207:32 PM
Takotna, no, my ski doo WT/LT flown to Wasilla? then drive it up with a dog team from my village...Not ready for a dog team, still have other things to do!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/11/1207:34 PM
White, it's like I'm danged if I do (550), or danged if I don't (600)..heck, I had to send in my 550 after 2 months or whatever...then the bolts to teh exhaust were loose...then a bearing went out...then I could not do the deep snow (8ft)...so, dang...I'll see where this 600 goes!...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1201:11 AM
I pictured more of a Yoda look vs. the Moses thing... Heavy snow at my pad today. 8" on the ground and it is warming up quickly. Went for a short boat ride looking for deer and found fresh brown bear tracks. Guess I wasn't looking in the right places? I sure envy you guys who are set out as Dec. 1st is taking forever to come.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1202:29 AM
FT, I can sympathize with you on the flying weather. We were lucky to sneak out of Kuskoland yesterday. Had just enough of a break in the weather for our pilot to make through the pass from Anc and get us back in time to catch a flight to Fai. Happy to be able to check traps today.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1207:39 AM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
FT, that must be where people come to for firewood! All the trail leading to one spot.
Not here. But I was wondering the same thing as I flew over the country east of anvik. I know some are otter trails. Going from water point to point. But thinking these must be moose trails. I saw very few moose. There are supposed to be plenty but sure that they are out there. But you see a lot of this out here. But can't say for certain what is making them. I did notice that a lot of spruce islands had these trails going to them. There is a lot otter in the country.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1205:32 PM
I have a pilot friend that flies a Caravan quite a bit, but doesn't trust them in icing conditions. As a matter of fact considers them "scary" in ice. And the one he flies is complete IFR with anti-ice system.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1205:48 PM
Sure they are legal as long as they have the instrumentation and a qualified pilot. So would a cub be under those same conditions.
But I don't like single engine IFR unless it's an emergency. Even more than that I completely mistrust the Caravan. I refuse to get in one.
I know that stretch between Holy Cross and Aniak. Its all flat with no terrain to run into. But there's no horizon either, in those conditions, and the Yukon is behind you, so no river to follow.
All you have is the GPS, ADF etc. None of those will do you any good when that flawed plane quits you.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/12/1205:52 PM
I have to say I was a bit nervous. And kept watching the pilots for cues of being nervous. Was glad when we came down out of it and the land showed again near the airport.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/13/1205:19 AM
Well I convinced myself it was too warm and I needed to check my 12 sets after a 48 hour soak and found these waiting for me Here is the before shot And today And one of my marten sets connected but not what I really wanted this early pretty black on the hide side yet. I was still tickled back foot pad catch had to walk the pole to get in it
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/13/1205:46 AM
Covered some ground today checking out the sign, quite a bit lynx and fox tracks. Not as much rabbit tracks as i hoped to see. We may be on the decline. Made 4 calling stands through out the day. No takers jus some ravens, gray jays and woke up two owls :-) Last week i got a tip on some wolves below town. Decided not to set for them. Folks still hauling firwood there. Bummer should have, around 6 wolves came back and covered the islands below town. I couldn't find if they got a kill. Next time down i'll bring some traps and snares along. Foxpro worked great to -25 below. Bringing my double gun case next time incase i see the wolves around. I tried howling but no response, looks like they passed through late lastnight sometime.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/13/1208:15 PM
Groa, The otter was close but not fully prime. She didn't seem very healthy very skinny for this time of year living all alone in an abandon beaver house looked like she had been holed up there for some time. Smalltime ya she was right at 4 feet off the ground when she hit the pan maybe a tad less. Nice big healthy female. AKnative it is bare ground just a skiff of stuff that was freezing rain at the house but 10 miles out the road it turned to that misty snow stuff and stuck. My other sets closer in were all bare ground. Raining here now so probably snow up there closer to the lake.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/14/1205:11 AM
Wondering what is up with Moyles. No panic, but two bears and a beav that we sent in in May, got a notice that the blackie was done three weeks ago, but no brownie, and no beav?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/14/1207:07 AM
alaska viking, Moyle had a piece of equipment break on there beaver processing line and it took them quite some time to get it fixed all there beaver are late this year. I can't say on the brown bear but know that's why my beaver they got in April just got to 10 days or so ago. I believe they hope to have things caught up soon and be back to turning beaver in around 90-120 days. They are still a whole lot faster than any other place I have tried.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1211:48 PM
I could have emailed or called you, but I wanted to post this bit of information. My taxidermist told me if you plan on ever getting something mounted and it's taxi tanned, you should put it in the freezer. The freezing stops all aging of the tan. FWIW.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/16/1205:13 AM
Important and true kusko. I was also told Taxi's can test the p.h. to see if it is still mountable. I learned this when I sent in a Wolverine for a full life size mount. The hide had been tanned for a year and wanted to tear in a few areas when stretched. It all worked out but I was stretching it so to speak.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/18/1202:48 AM
Yote. Nothing special, just showing his handiwork. Only there a day or two and wore himself out with his antics, would hardly stand up to say hi when I counted coup.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/18/1209:23 AM
Just got back from a deer hunt in PWS a day or two ago,... so am running a week behind in getting underway with my regular trapping this winter. But, since we were out there on the islands when the trapping season opened, I took a few traps along, hoping to pick up a few mink & otters as well as my winter's steak supply,...
Took my Mokai along so I could run around on my own & set a few traps while deer hunting
Dropped a nice little buck right off the bat,...
But it can be a real pain when you hit the beach on a 19' high tide trying to get your boat drug back to the water at low tide,...
No mink where we hunted, but set a half dozen 330's for otters, and did ok with that,...
Only had one day of partly cloudy skies,... and had a nice sunset that evening,...
Ended up with 8 otters in 4 days with 6 traps,...
Everyone always wants big antlers,... but the young does make eating that's 2nd to none,...
Threw the Mokai on the back deck,... then we always have to get our butt's kicked on the way back,... but it's always a fun and good way to get some of the best eating (IMO) and the best bait for trapping,... so now I can get to business,.... [img:gal:2042150a8a7c3891a8]http://www.trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2012/11/full-20421-109659-dscn1260.jpg[/img]
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/18/1211:48 PM
Unit 18b. We busted our humps for five days and only found a couple of does. My dad killed a buck each of the last two years in the area but they were somewhere else this year. Still we had a great time and I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with dad. Saw a bunch of Javelina!
Dad checking out our hunting area... Got any Dam bait?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/19/1203:18 AM
I suffered in Payson for a couple of years, and due to the pathetic draw odds, I put in for the area down by the New Mexico boot heel region for Coues. Got drawn 2-for2. Killed 2-2, as well, and saw lots of mulies. This was back in 2000, and 01. Bird hunting there is unbelievable.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/19/1203:33 AM
Ken, that's Hoover Dam and the new bypass bridge they just built (Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge)
AV, There were quail everywhere in our deer area but we didn't hunt them for fear of messing the place up. Turns out we should have been quail hunting...lol! Next time I hunt mule deer it will be somewhere that has deer...I hope!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/19/1208:39 PM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
I suffered in Payson for a couple of years, and due to the pathetic draw odds, I put in for the area down by the New Mexico boot heel region for Coues. Got drawn 2-for2. Killed 2-2, as well, and saw lots of mulies. This was back in 2000, and 01. Bird hunting there is unbelievable.
I killed a B&C Coues WT in Hildalgo County, NM (near Rodeo, AZ) in the early 90's. Fantastic country with quail hunting (5 species) to die for!
My buck came from a canyon where Geronimo alledgedly camped and I was lucky enough to trip over a couple of shards of pottery and an arrowhead that I am fond of thinking may have been in the grand old Apache's quiver! Of course I left them right there because I know there is some obscure federal reg that says you cannot pick them up!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/20/1205:12 PM
I would guess we were within a 1/4 mile from each other! And I also found an arrowhead, made from white quartz. There is a monument along the road describing the Geronimo ordeal. I probably have a picture somewhere. Those scaled quail sure are fun. And when I was there the doves literally numbered in the tens of thousands.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/20/1210:13 PM
Well, my season has officially started. Most of the dozen or so snares I put out Sunday got buried in a blizzard, two were taken out by bears, two were knocked down by bunnies, and I fell in the creek again. Picked up a nice red though so it wasn't a total loss...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/21/1201:29 AM
LB, That was a slimlock on 1/16 1x19. They are usually DOA but this one didn't wrap up. Probably a good thing because there were bear tracks all around it. You can have every last flake of this snow...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/21/1201:51 AM
Still quite a few out and about? I also like those locks.. Can't wait to try some experimenting with snares while I'm down there for Christmas! Send the snow this way! Can't really trap up here with snowmachines.. Everybody and there uncle is on the road system.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/21/1201:56 AM
Looks like every bear on the R/S is still out and about. Still roaming around town too. Not sure how many have been taken this year but before I left for AZ three booners had been shot on the R/S. Snowing it's butt off right now.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/23/1207:46 PM
amen for dixie..... need to place another order. no swan? a friend was just asking the other day if i had a swan this year and my answer was no. i didn't get any fat ones this spring.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/23/1207:48 PM
I got a call from buddy of mine from upriver in Grayling yesterday...he said the film crew from Yukon Men was in the village and were planning to film the eel Fishery thats about to happen there soon.
He was not real exited about them being there.. I have personaly never seen the show, but I am sure its full of danger
No swan Nolluk...,I didnt get any young swans this fall or would had it instead of the steroid injected sweat shop turkey.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/24/1201:34 AM
Thanks Ron! :-) I have been BUSY! We moved back to the cabin in the woods, built an addition on it, built a chicken coop and put up 2 temp sheds for storage, tore down the other cabin and used it for the addition here, and in the meantime kept sewing fur and cutting firewood...lol We haven't stopped since last winter when we first moved back.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/25/1206:31 PM
Can't wait till monday to go check out the line...kinda anxious and am hopeful on mondays run. I have alot to haul there yet to finish getting it set up.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/25/1207:15 PM
The gizzard, liver and heart are yummy! So is the meat from the necks, even tho there isn't much there.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/26/1204:28 AM
OMG!!
Has anyone read the police report in the Dutch Harbor Telegraph ? Who would have thought that such a small Town would have that many incidents to write about in the local newspaper!!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/27/1201:10 AM
Nice job Matt!
No offshore outings here for a few days.... again...
AKZ171-270600- KODIAK ISLAND- INCLUDING...KODIAK CITY 334 PM AKST MON NOV 26 2012
...MARINE STATEMENT FOR CHINIAK AND MARMOT BAY...
A VESSEL HAS REPORTED 25 FT HARD BREAKING WAVES ALONG THE SHOALS 4 AND A HALF MILES OUTSIDE THE BUOY CHANNEL IN MARMOT BAY. A 25 FT NE SWELL IS PUSHING ACROSS THE 10 FATHOM DEEP SHOALS EAST OF THE BUOY CHANNEL AND BREAKING CAUSING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. A 15 FT SWELL ROLLING UP NARROW STRAIGHT TO OUZINKIE. MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO USE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE AREA. IF THERE ARE ANY REPORTS OR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN KODIAK AT 907 487 4338.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/27/1203:34 AM
Man...they sure loved the "People Eating Tasty Animals" shirts up this way. Kind of didn't know what to make of the ATA shirts, but a few knew why I had them and what it is and bought some.
I was just doing my part. The ATA donated the profits from these items to be put back into the community for trapping related programs/clinics. All I had to do was sell the stuff...and I was a born used cars salesman (including future comb over).
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/27/1204:39 AM
There are lots of rules. I can't remember them all but they are listed somewhere. We are a bit more "loose" on our side (as opposed to the Trap Talk board), however there is a line that a person can't cross. It pays to have a thick skin and a good sense of humor (and it doesn't hurt to have a drinking...ability).
It is a nice family we have here. We piiss and moan, and whine and complain, sometimes pick on the ugly guy (that's Hupurest...you'll see), and sometimes disagree.... but one big group of good people, and a LOT of useful knowledge!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/27/1205:05 AM
Slow day in Kodiak, watched the first offload of the season for the 2012 ADF&G Commercial Sea Lion fishery...I think the cannerys are paying 49 cents a pound this year
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/27/1205:23 AM
Weird...when I was down in Sitka a week ago, I saw this same method for taking a woman home at night from the bars. Even more weird, I think she is the sister of the one in your picture
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/28/1201:00 AM
Slim lock success... This one was wrapped up and dead without a struggle... But the lock that did it was a slim lock that I purchased last year. Tossing out the newer batch as soon my BMI mini's arrive.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/28/1207:23 AM
We just have a lot of them. Most years I get more crosses than reds. Not all of them are pretty though. A lot of them are kind of muddied up in there colors.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/28/1207:46 AM
I must have seen the extreme opposite end of that interesting cross color phase the other day out calling. Was down right goofy looking lol.
Burbot, 1/4 sugar and water cut into chunks dipped in butter....man alive there's little better!
If you think of it, saving a few skins, I dont get many big ones around town anymore...did pick up one biggun a few years back now and threw it out regrettingly (the skin), if you get a few and can skin them without tearing them up I'm thinking of backing a bow with burbot skins. I think it'd look pretty darn cool. it'll be tough though I need them 31"-32"es or so long. be one huge burbot. Wish I was still chartering I threw a ton of ling skins away over the years that would have been perfect!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/28/1208:32 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
I would love to see how you set that net Jeff! I know how you do it, but would love to see it. I haven't eaten burbot yet but it sounds good!
I only set it once a year (except resetting after checking it of course)..I will make a point to video it next time I do set one.
WR they bite the net pretty good all winter, for some reason they are skinny and dont taste good during the summer months they fatten up on eels in the fall and stay fat all winter
And Tradbow that would be a big one not sure we get them that big here but if I do will save it if I can.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/29/1203:22 AM
Weather is again taking a big crap here. north 60 knots, and seas where I need to go, 14 feet. Not as bad as pawpinchers, but way too bad for my 17' skiff. Hating it!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/29/1203:44 AM
We tried getting out of the harbor today had to turn around fairly quick. The sun was out thoe. Beautiful day here. Supposed to come down a little by the weekend.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/29/1204:21 AM
I know I cry about this every year, but the pollock trawl fishery in the western gulf exceeded the king salmon bycatch by 150% this year. 8300 kings that won't make it to market, an Alaskan table, or spawn... and that's just 1 trawl fishery. It's gonna be a bad year for kings again and the future is grim.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/29/1207:15 AM
Originally Posted By: watarrat
Jeff That doesn't include area M (Port Moller) they fish for 4 1/2 months and impact the whole western side of the state!
Ye I did realize that..its a lose lose situation...now I understand how FnG can know ahead of time that the run will be weak.. they see the numbers we dont.
My guess is they will have abservers onboard studying it for the next ten years while we watch our runs collaps.
Sad to see.the worse part is we own a part of that pollok fishery through our CDQ and we cant even do anything to stop it.
GULF TRAWLERS: Numbers may trigger new regulations for boats in pollock fishery.
By The Associated Press
KODIAK -- Pollock boats and other commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Alaska have accidentally caught an estimated 58,336 king salmon this year, a level of bycatch that could trigger restrictions.
In recent years Gulf of Alaska bycatch numbers have lingered around 20,000 fish.
"By far this is the largest (bycatch) we have ever seen," Josh Keaton, a fisheries manager with the National Marine Fisheries Service, told the Kodiak Daily Mirror. "Hopefully it means a lot of kings are out there to be caught and they ran into a big pack of them."
Most of the bycatch came from the trawl pollock fishery in the last month, especially in the western gulf.
Bycatch is a perennial source of conflict between trawlers and people who prize kings -- commercial salmon vessels, subsistence users and sport fishermen.
The bycatch this year was large enough to attract the attention of fishery managers in the Lower 48 because kings accidentally caught in the Gulf of Alaska might be from endangered stocks from the Lower 48.
About 20 boats from King Cove and Sand Point near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula averaged 3.4 king salmon per metric ton of pollock. They picked up an estimated 24,878 fish in 12 days of fishing between Oct. 1 and Oct. 17.
Pollock boats in two regions around Kodiak took in 11,896 kings in October.
Bycatch numbers are estimated using data collected by fisheries observers. Bycatch for boats without observers is projected using observed data.
The 2010 numbers could lead to new restrictions or regulations designed to lower bycatch, but not immediately. Bycatch already was on the agenda in December for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council but the group planned only to consider a new research.
Because this year's bycatch exceeded a limit of 40,000 kings, it triggered conversations about the problem with fishery managers in the Lower 48, said NMFS manager Melanie Brown. King salmon tagged from endangered stocks such as the Upper Willamette and lower Columbia rivers have been found before in the Gulf of Alaska.
Salmon bycatch is difficult to control because the fish are always moving around, but the trawl industry does have technologies to reduce it, said Julie Bonney, director of a groundfish industry group, Groundfish Data Bank.
One option is salmon excluder devices -- openings in trawl nets that let salmon escape. Another approach is avoiding salmon hot spots, but detecting salmon and avoiding them during derby-style fishery is difficult, Bonney said.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/29/1206:30 PM
They are on pace this year to bust the cap for all fisheries in the GOA and it is supposed to trigger a shutdown of all trawl fisheries. We'll see. I'm betting that they don't have the political will to go against the big money. I tried to link to the Kodiak Daily Mirror story but it requires a password. Should show up in the ADN before too long.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/30/1201:31 AM
I went walk about today to make a few sets in some old stomping grounds. I found this... BONUS!!! Some of you will be able to figure out what it is. Lots of bear scat (weeks old) near it, and fresh fox tracks all over.
This is a 'dead' giveaway... (for scale, it's about 4 1/2 ft long)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/30/1206:24 AM
LOL! Some very original thinkers! Part of a whale. The only bone near it was what looks like the oosik but is probably just a small rib. It was oval shaped and not flat like a rib though. The squirrels and other animals were working on it from both ends so it is rounded off. I couldn't set right near the blubber blob due to the eagles still working it but was able to set most of the trails leading in. First check Saturday. I'll let you know!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/30/1207:08 AM
Yeah Jeff, I'm hoping they aren't rolling in it...lol! By the amount of bear scat up in the trees I would say that there was a lot more of it not too too long ago. It's pretty degraded now to mostly skin and doesn't smell all that bad.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/30/1207:29 AM
Hopefully the bears kept them off when it was wet and gooey...I have heard of fox around here living inside of a whale carcase, if they get it in the fur bad they are pretty much worthless.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/30/1211:13 PM
Yep, there was one out on Spruce Cape and another on Chiniak. These remnants weren't real close to either, but the way the tides and winds move stuff around here it's quite possible it's from one of them. I had another slim lock fail today that cost me a cross fox. He left a heck of a catch circle and twisted off. I haven't lost one like that in more than 20 years. Should have been dead. Good news is I had another one (silver)caught which jumped off a cut bank and hung itself soundly. New locks came in the mail today. Time to get busy.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1202:23 AM
Thanks all, she's a beaut. Built up a couple dozen new snares with the BMI mini locks to replace those I already have out with the slim locks. I'll switch them as I go and replace the locks on the others. I don't know if I should send them back to the shop or just pitch 'em. It would be nice to know why they aren't doing the job. I only have a few left of last years and they are set out, but I'll compare when I bring them in.
Happy B-day to your wife Thomas! Yep it's a little chilly, but I like it... it keeps the riff raff in town... lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1203:13 AM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Nice!..Its like some of you guys get to trap in a fox farm
Well technically... kinda... Back in the mid 90's they used to show old movies of Kodiak back 75 or more years ago on the public channel. One of the movies had clips of a fox farmer releasing a bunch of silvers somewhere here. Must have had a market crash or something. Sure made things interesting!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1203:42 AM
hating things here, right now. Opener tommorrow, and calling for north 60 mpyh., with seas to 14', and heavy freezing spray. Pretty much been like that for the last two months.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1203:46 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
hating things here, right now. Opener tommorrow, and calling for north 60 mpyh., with seas to 14', and heavy freezing spray. Pretty much been like that for the last two months.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1203:57 AM
Yeah, it is measured by the wave duration, multiplied by the skiff length, then divided by the stern width, then split by two, then add the GPH of the the bilge pump, multiplied by the discharge hose diameter, and then, for good measure cut it in half.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1204:08 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Yeah, it is measured by the wave duration, multiplied by the skiff length, then divided by the stern width, then split by two, then add the GPH of the the bilge pump, multiplied by the discharge hose diameter, and then, for good measure cut it in half.
LMAO Be safe out there AV if you make it out that is.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1205:57 PM
December 1 Lynx are prime enough for me to start trapping I am heading out this morning with marginal snow cover, but better than none! like some places.
I hope to get my closer line set today and work my way out to the end of my line in the coming week.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1208:19 PM
Anyone actually catching marten this year? Our line is basically a martenless wasteland so far, and a few other people I've talked with seem to be encountering the same. Hoping its just the strange snow conditions and that if the weather breaks they will start moving.
Did pick up this little gal and 19 otter last time out, but not one single marten.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1208:30 PM
Hmm. Didn't actually finish PhD, bailed on that long time ago. Couldn't actually hack it not living up here in the winter regardless of how sweet of a deal grad school on a fellowship was. Just been living in Homer, fishing salmon in summer (well, not that I actually got to fish this summer), deckhanding for other stuff in fall/spring/winter and taking life as it comes.
Was annoyed by 200+ marten checks and 1 single marten, so thought I'd get on here and see how widespread this phenomenon was. Heh. On track for 100 otter season no problem tho, so thats the only saving grace.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1208:37 PM
Well I certainly understand being back here.
That sounds like a pretty grim ratio on the marten. Also a lot of work on the otter. I have heard similar complaints for out toward the valley and north of there. Might be a widespread thing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/01/1210:52 PM
I've caught maybe 1/10 of the marten that I usually catch by December 1st. I assumed it was simply because bears stole my pre-baiting beaver carcasses, though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/02/1209:59 PM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Yeah, it is measured by the wave duration, multiplied by the skiff length, then divided by the stern width, then split by two, then add the GPH of the the bilge pump, multiplied by the discharge hose diameter, and then, for good measure cut it in half.
but it makes for some good surfing....my friends at lena beach said there was 6 crazy surfboarders out there saturday morning...fwiw, juneau would not be my first pick for surfing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/03/1205:59 AM
Weather is a bummer here, still. Went for a look, and blowing like the devil, with huge swells, guessing 14-15 feet, and freezing spray. Same forcast for most of the week. Snow advisory, as well, and had to blow snow twice today. Nice. Just waiting, I guess. 16 degrees most of the day, and for here this time of year, sort of on the cold side, but I see my buddies further north are getting the serious cold. Sorry.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/03/1210:59 PM
Good check today. Big dog and his lady friend. The male weighs 22 lbs, the female 18. Should have them both sold by the end of the day. These were both caught with the replacement BMI mini locks, and both were DOA without much of a fight.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/03/1211:31 PM
Not sure why they would call him names... lol! He has a scar/ rub on his left flank like something took a big bite. Sold him to a taxi already. The female is a poofy, tubby, fluff ball, which makes her legs look short. She'll sell quick too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1202:36 AM
Nope, Just got home again sunday. I plan to head out Wednesday and get some Martin, Mink, and otter sets out.
My wolf gear is no where near ready. I wish it was, I know exactly where I need to set as long as where I planned on going wasn't set by someone else. None of the locals I've talked to think anyone is trapping there, but you never know.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1203:25 AM
Nice reds! Glad you can get out. Yeah, we are still in storm warning system, here. Maybe by this weekend. Who knows. We are now getting a lot of snow, and more on the way. Not shaping up like I'd hoped.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1205:15 AM
Love the tree! I wish this NW would stop soon. my wife is burning all the firewood up trying to keep the house at 80 degrees, what is the matter with 60 degrees inside? Oh well she is the boss of the nest.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1207:14 AM
Here's one that had both hands in the cookie jar. One was buried, one was by three toes. He wasn't going anywhere fast. Plain jane stock offset #3 Bridger.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1204:54 PM
Takotna- I had a p-post about 150 feet from my portage in the middle of a long stretch of slough. Pain to hide on windblown mud bank. There is 6 others with this group. Long story short, i was driving to the portage about 500 yards away. Goggles all fogged up, trying to thaw them on my heater hose. Look up from driving and i see a wolf ahead running. By the time i get my rifle up it go's in the woods. Then i noticed my drag is gone!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/04/1205:19 PM
Takotna, i haven't had much luck using bait sets. Well natural moose kills (didn't find one yet), Jus gonna stick to trail sets, p-posts and detour sets. I do have a snow hole set i wanna try out. I brushed out the wolf i got and saved the hair, add gland lure. Put that into a snow hole set. More for them to investigate the source of the smell. Then have the trap infront. I was thinking about jus making the trail wider where i have these sets. I jus have to find places they are gonna cross frequently.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1212:26 AM
STT-from where i stopped my set is 150 feet away. I saw a wolf up river from where i was sitting. It went in the woods. Then i realized my set was gone. 75 feet to the left the wolf was tangled up. The wolf upriver musta heard me coming and took off. haha i hate goggles fogging. Got the wolf skinned last night and today i boarded it. Not much marten sign on my line so i may jus start running wolf sets in my other area. Jus hoping it pays off. Next weekend i'll head out there and check out the wolf sign.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1206:12 AM
Kinda quiet on here so I'll post this. Hooked up with a coyote, could see the drag marks leaving the trail set and where he had wrapped up briefly a couple times. I walked to where it looked like he was headed, but the track stopped. I backtracked to the last catch circle, no coyote and no trail leaving. I'm thinking 'what the heck' as I walked over, thinking he must have got loose somehow. I crested the small bank and could see the drag and chain, no yote. Turns out he was about under my feet, there was a little cave where the ice had settled and left a shelf. All I could see was nose and eyeballs, just enough to administer the .22 short sleeping pill. He was quite a talker, yapping and barking at me. 'Bout froze my hands getting pics and a little video.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1206:41 AM
STT-Interesting Catch. Ice Cave Yote Trapping. I caught a buncha lynx outtta an Ice Shelf on a creek that the water dropped out. Was pretty cool. Carried a log accross and put snares and put a trap in the farest corner. Then added a bunch of bait inside. Was about 4x4x8 in size. I don't have any pictures was awhile back.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1206:51 AM
Nice Smalltime I hate it when anything gets down a hole alive or dead the retrieve can be tedious at times. Took me three hours last yr to retrieve one otter dead and frozen in about 4 feet down in a hole. I did it over two trips a couple days apart as I was pressed for time the first day
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1207:19 AM
Here's one from the same trail a few days earlier.
Frozen, I tried to post a pic from my iphone to alaskalist a couple weeks ago, wouldn't let me do it from there, some of apple's stupid proprietary stuff. Not sure if it's the same here, haven't tried it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1207:28 AM
Ya I click on the blue arrow, but it won't let me browse, so who knows? You sure seem to be hammering yotes this year, but I also seen alot of yote tracks up north, seen 8-10 while moose hunting this year
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1208:48 AM
Coyotes do weird things and get themselves into situations most other things don't,.. here's one I got last year on a drag that made his way out into the middle of the Copper River,... and finally broke thru a hollow spot & fell down into a water hole & died & was half-frozen into the ice,... what a pain to get him out without damage & without me joining him,.... he was about 2-3 miles from where I caught him,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1209:47 AM
What did you have for a drag WB? Would you mind sharing your process for bedding those longsprings for canines in the snow? I'm still trying to make it work, got the peat moss working decent for coil springs, but man that double longspring can take up some room! But I have more of them than the coils, so I'd like to learn to keep snow from turning into cement around them.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1209:57 AM
I bed longsprings on a large piece of wax paper. One sheet under the trap and one sheet over the trap and under the loose jaw. I wad the wax paper up so it lays better when I use it. The key is to scoop a thin layer of snow with a tool and to set it over the trap without moving it much. If you sprinkle snow or sift it on the trap it will set up hard. Another key is to try and put sets out of wind blown snow. Wind blown snow on a set will set up hard as well. Thats how I try sets with longsprings.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1210:32 AM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
What did you have for a drag WB? Would you mind sharing your process for bedding those longsprings for canines in the snow? I'm still trying to make it work, got the peat moss working decent for coil springs, but man that double longspring can take up some room! But I have more of them than the coils, so I'd like to learn to keep snow from turning into cement around them.
Yep, I use wax paper as well,... I've tried everything,... and I too think wax paper is the best in snow. The drag was about 4 feet long,.. a green willow about 3" in diameter. (red circle) It was my first set out of Chitina, so I use smaller drags there so they get themselves out of sight of any wandering public early in the season. Usually they head right into the brush,.. but this particular one just stayed on the trail for several miles til it got on the river.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1210:40 AM
How long a chain do you use? Do you pre-cut and carry those drags or cut them near the site? I had what I'm hoping was a coyote step in a trap with 5-6 feet of chain and a grapple head strait away from the set into a clearing, tangle up, break loose, tangle up in the brush, break loose, make it's way across the road, tangle up and disappear, probably picked up by somebody in a car or truck on the logging road. Never found drag marks away from the last tangle, area was pretty stomped up. Pretty disappointing; coyote tracks heading to the set, but with moose and people tracks everywhere too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1210:58 AM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
How long a chain do you use? Do you pre-cut and carry those drags or cut them near the site? I had what I'm hoping was a coyote step in a trap with 5-6 feet of chain and a grapple head strait away from the set into a clearing, tangle up, break loose, tangle up in the brush, break loose, make it's way across the road, tangle up and disappear, probably picked up by somebody in a car or truck on the logging road. Never found drag marks away from the last tangle, area was pretty stomped up. Pretty disappointing; coyote tracks heading to the set, but with moose and people tracks everywhere too.
Thanks for sharing WB! Always very informative!
I have 5-6 feet of chain on all my traps,... always best to anchor solid if possible, altho when sets are made where joy riders, etc might travel your trails, then I usually use drags,.. just to get things off the trail. I usually use the same drags each year, and generally cut them nearby the set. The animal doesn't have to get too far either, especially with lynx,... it's amazing sometimes how close they can be to your trail & still people don't see them. If I expect people to run a trail at some point in the winter, I try to make sets along straight-stretches, as people tend to speed up there & are watching the trail more closely the faster they go, and less likely to notice something off to the side. Here's a lynx in the exact same set that the coyote was caught in that went out on the river. The lynx didn't pull the drag loose, and 2 people went right past it & never saw it, because I had a long chain on it, and it was able to hang right off the edge of the bank,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1204:48 PM
Nice Photo's WB! Aknative- I have a couple of them folding military trench shovels. Works great for bedding and covering traps. I crumple the daylights outta waxpaper then reopen it flat. Seems to hide better and no noise. Few twigs under the trap to keep from freeze down.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1206:36 PM
When we took the wolf trapping class here in Bethel, the instructor showed us how he uses a long handled shovel for making wolf sets. He just keeps it clean and uses it to dig out the snow and put snow over the wax paper. It looked really effective for getting at a set w/o have to reach for it so much.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/05/1209:17 PM
Great info guy's! I'm going to try a little pee post snow trapping later in the year. I'll be using drags. Hopefully I won't have anything go more than a few yards. I'm too old to go chasing after a run away!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1212:18 AM
All this cold and no snow has made it impossible to get to my lines hopefully the snow comes this weekend as forecast! To give you an idea as to how bad it is the tundra is brown so I hung Christmas lights on the house today something that hasn't happened in years!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1201:01 AM
Crossing my fingers and praying hard. I have heard our river is froze I can't even get to it to check! Even if we do get snow it is going to be a lumpy ride and with all this cold the otter holes are going to be few and far between for awhile.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1202:57 AM
We don't have enough snow to cover a trap or use a snowmachine here. The stars have been shining, with the moon being fairly bright lately, and the hoarfrost my snares looks like a string of halos at night. The good thing is when it does snow everything is froze up tighter than a drum for a change. Our winter moose season is coming up and that helps us keep track of the wolves for a while. The lynx are starting slow as our country is blanketed with hares so a hot meal is never far away from them. This lynx from last night had a #14 on each paw and the chains were wove together!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1203:54 AM
I was finally able to make it... Hasn't snowed in town yet. It has snowed where I put my trapline!! Got my but handed yo me for not being prepared. I only set 6 marten sets. I was headed out to a river to set for some otters I had seen earlier. Forgot my setters and no rope. What a crappy day.
I did cut some wolf tracks. Very fresh, no snow had accumulated in them and it was snowing good. He came out of the woods onto a logging road I have my line on. No rifle or snowshoes or I might have followed them. Looked like he was following a set of deer tracks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1206:54 AM
I had the opportunity to use a friends Ice pick this year for beaver trapping. It is an ice chippin machine. Wow. Made from spring steel. I know what I am going to be asking Santa Claus for. It is about 3 inches wide and heavier than I would like mine to be. Wears a guy out in a hurry. But oh boy does it go through the ice. Good exercise. I carry a lighter one for much of what I do. Chainsaw a line and clear with the pick. Some pretty thick ice to deal with already.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1207:49 AM
Yukontrapper, two come to mind one the Jiffy ice picks are suppose to be real good another that the guys around here have been getting lately are the Eskimo ones both are made by the same Companies that make the augers
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/06/1203:36 PM
I had a spud a fellow in Port Alsworth made using a grader blade for years. It was heavy and really cut the ice, but it disappeared from the house while I was off hunting spring grizzly on the Upper Stoney in early April. Probably gonna make up a couple in Naknek this summer as the storeboughts are to light.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/07/1207:43 PM
I use a jiffy, but it is a little light. Yukontrapper if the school makes a few over there I would be interested in one I am Right over in Huslia. I will actually be in galena around the 18th of January on a basketball trip.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1205:15 AM
Does anyone Freeze their trap chains in Ice? For setting out in open place. Jus a thought i see alot of critters cross open lakes and down rivers. Been thinking about trying something else. I bought an 1 1/2 Auger bit. Thinkin i'll freeze the chains down about 7 1/2 inches. Bed trap over twigs. basically the same set in the ATA Wolf Book. Any pictures of wolves in these sets. Only problem i can see is the possibility of overflow.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1206:38 AM
It doesn't take much to freeze a chain down. i chip a hole, tie a knot in end of chain and put in hole, pack a bit of snow in hole and pour water until you have saturated snow, keep packing snow and pouring water. A big thermos of hot water can do a chain easy. Be prepared when its time to pull trap though, they are froze down hard!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1208:08 AM
Thanks bushman, do ya prefer short chained or long chained trap when ya freeze em' in? I have quite a few wolf traps i wanna prep for the next time out. I always have a big thermos in the back of my sled. Thanks for the info.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1209:47 PM
Well, the rain is here and all our pretty snow is going fast. Maybe this system will blow up north and give you guys a little trapping snow. WB, looks like you are good to go! Great catches and pic!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1211:04 PM
Sure hope so APP. Be good to get around a little more. What do ya predator call with? I got a foxpro spitfire and only got lucky the first time out. 10 other stands were quiet. Called in rabbit areas, fresh sign, night, morning, and daytime. Called where folks saw critters recently. 30-40 minute stands each time out. Any pointers.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/08/1211:25 PM
I pretty much do the same thing, but not much at night, just once in a while. I have the same caller too. Sometimes I'll call a dozen stands before I get a response and sometimes it's every other stand. So many variables as far as the critters go. I try to get a little elevation over the area and put the caller where I can see it clearly. I set up cross wind from the caller with the best view down wind when possible. Ideal set up for where I hunt... Note: Both of these came in from upwind... go figure!
Caller is center right, wind from left to right, a little elevation over the stand, good cover nearby and dead fox laying by caller. Caller is bottom left 15 yards to left of the spruce tree. Wind here is from right to left, fox came from trees on right and ran in to about 50 yards then turned around and headed out. Stopped about a hundred yards out. Dead. Good day, two in three stands.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1212:41 AM
Good deal Kusko! Fish will be happy too! The pics are from near the end of winter last season (before all the deer died). I like to call when they are hungry...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1203:49 AM
Thanks APP for the pointers, i'll give the elevations stands a try. I have .17 HMR i been using. Gets frustrating when i get skunked but its part of the game though. I bought an XLR 250 red lense light for night hunting but kinda sucks in the cold. Also i mounted an HD camera on my rifle but never had time to get it on there when its time to shoot. Be cool to video alot more often. Thanks and GL calling and trapping.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1204:22 AM
Persistence and patience will pay off! It is discouraging calling day after day with nothing happening, then one day it's like you can't do anything wrong. We can't use lights here which means using moonlight. Kinda spooky sitting in the dark making dying animal sounds...lol! I would like to film some too and picked up a JVC Hi Def camera a couple of weeks ago. It's kind of big to mount so I am going to try it on a tripod. Will be a learning curve there for sure.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1205:02 AM
Yukon my chains are 8' with a couple swivels in line . I've got a few setups where I have a long cable extension on my chains as well where I can't anchor close to my sets.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1205:23 AM
After seeing a post on here, i picked up Contour Roam 1080 camera. I put it on my .17 and .223 jus have to score something with it actually on the rifle. I like that its really compact and fits in a pocket to keep it warm and functioning. Thats really the only time i call at night is in the moonlight. Once the weather warms up i want to try get out some more. I've been out in thirty below and sat for couple stands and held out alright. I want to get out in the far end of my trap line where there is alot of cat sign see if i can score another lynx.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1205:27 AM
Cool Bushman, all my MB 750W's have 10' of chain. I use 1/4" quick links to add or remove chain needed. I am thinking about going with 2' of chains for the ice sets i want to make. I have to skin a red fox tonight once finished i'll bring them in and prep the chaing to 24". Should leave me enough to freeze in the ice and have a little bit of play with. If not a solid short set, they are always on drags.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/09/1208:08 PM
Are there any foxes in the seward area? how far north would i have to go? I'm moving out of the dorms after christmas so i'm bringing my guns back up with me and thought it would be fun to go try and shoot a fox.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/10/1209:15 AM
Jus got in from boiling couple dozen snares, 2-750 wolfers and two 24" chains. Gonna go look around for a place to put the ice chains in. Quick link the 750's to them and set up a couple urine sets. I'll try to take a few pics of them tomorrow. I got in my ice auger bit. Try and put 5-6 links down and freeze them in. Hopefully i see some good sign out there. Thinking about bundling grass, I brushed out a couple wolves, insert down hair into bundle of grass add urine and move on to the next. See if this works on getting them to the set. I know of a few places they cross the slough. Only problem is when overflow decided to freeze it all down under...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/11/1208:44 AM
Well skunked today got a few lynx sets out, and added three wolf sets to the line. Still no marten in my area. Here is a few pictures. We'll see if this will load or not. I really have to learn to program my camera so i won't have to resize pictures so they'll load. Drilled hole, dropped chain in, froze, added trap to chain via quick link. Changed my mind on jus the grass post set. Added trail markers since the wolves here love to chew them up and unrinate on them. So i made basically a trail marker with a touch of grass for eye appeal. I split the top of the stick and added wolf hair/down from the last wolf i brushed out, them add urine to the bottom. Any pointers or suggestions, feel free to chime in. Trying to get new tricks into the wolfin department.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/11/1209:07 PM
I set this yesterday and when I punched the hole the water came boiling out overflowing like mad. That being the case I made the short ride out to it today 6 inches of water flooded all over it the whole creek overflowed then it froze just enough to not hold you up. When I punched the hole open today the water started a whirlpool going down the hole! Gees I love through the ice beaver trapping
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1212:37 AM
AKnative no had my muck boots on Kusko yes baby cottonwood wired to the jaw not the trigger then I put one trigger wire on one side and the other on the other side of the bait I take a lot of my through the ice beaver this way
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1203:38 AM
It's a drag baby... Ok, kinda big for a drag but I did have to drag it over to the set. Nothing bigger around than a pencil to tie off to...no problemo...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1203:39 AM
Otterman Wow going after bait already. How much interest do you find they have on the setup this time of year? What percent of bait sets do you suppose would catch this time of year? Do you have any photos of your setup?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1205:01 AM
FT, I generally do not have a problem getting beaver to go for a bait in Dec. when I chase them through the ice. Now a couple things on that. I am trapping predominately lilly eating pond beaver and in this case one that had spruce in the feed in fact the other house I set has nothing but spruce in the feed pile There is not any brush around for them of any kind. In fact there dam is made of spruce as well. Using cotton wood for bait is the key IMO. It is a simple set up I wire bait between the jaws on the free jaw right up as close to the rivet as I can get with a piece of cotton wood that fits between the jaws. Don't leave it hanging out past the jaws or they will grab at the end and you will have misses. All my 330's have cable on them the cable goes to a tie off above the ice. I use no supports for this set. The beaver tend to grab the trap as a result but when they grab the trap they are also helping to get themselves caught. I see a lot of them with one front leg partially in the trap by the head that leads me to believe this. I will get a picture when I can but the camera is dead and the dang charger is MIA.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1205:11 AM
Thanks otterman. I imagine that cotton wood looks pretty good when they have no bark at all around. Spruce in the feed pile that is a first for me. I used to use poplar in Montana for Beaver candy.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1205:23 AM
I have seen it before but not like the one house where there is nothing but spruce. My first clue to the house being there was I saw 8-10 big spruce 10 inches in diameter or better cut and on the ground with most the branches missing. When I saw the dam I thought that what he used them for then I saw the feed pile. If he moved a half mile or so up stream he would have all the feed he needs. The elders around here have always called the little cotton wood 2 inches in Dia and under beaver candy the ones with nice green bark before it gets scaly
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:39 AM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
akpp, you have quite a color variation on your foxes. Kinda cool wondering what pattern you will snag next.
Yeah that one was pretty different. Mostly silver and black with the red ruff and just a touch of red on the tips of the guard hair on the sides. It's like a box of chocolates... lol!
Jeff, does that count as 'French kissing a moose'?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:40 AM
APP- Dandy little Cross. With the new snow i been seen alot new sign. Went out callin through out the day. 5 stands no action, jus got alot of ravens to come visit, next time. Out on one stand i jus set up, cool down time, turned the caller on. With in minutes i heard barking. i was like what is that??? Waited and listened and the sound got further away... 35 minutes later i pack up to leave. jump on the machine couple hundred yards away was a dog musher that went by with a couple dogs tied on. Haha...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:48 AM
Originally Posted By: 30Otter06
Hey AKpawpincher, i think I saw your truck out and about yesterday. waited around a little but didn't see ya.
Will catch ya next time.. 30Otter06
Sorry I missed you! I made the rounds yesterday looking for fresh sign. Things slowed up a little with the warm up. Didn't really find much. I'm pulling my sets tomorrow until the weather changes.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:51 AM
Originally Posted By: yukontrapper
APP- Dandy little Cross. With the new snow i been seen alot new sign. Went out callin through out the day. 5 stands no action, jus got alot of ravens to come visit, next time. Out on one stand i jus set up, cool down time, turned the caller on. With in minutes i heard barking. i was like what is that??? Waited and listened and the sound got further away... 35 minutes later i pack up to leave. jump on the machine couple hundred yards away was a dog musher that went by with a couple dogs tied on. Haha...
Things are slow here right now (at least for me). I tried two stands while out scouting today and didn't get any response except a bunch of magpies and an energetic red squirrel. I called in a couple of huskies a few years ago. I was several miles off the road. Surprised to say the least!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1207:04 AM
Week or so ago i had Gray Jays landing around the caller, was pretty cool. My buddy got to reds last week. I think or local population is slowing down. Back to work tomorrow. So won't be out till next week or so.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1207:08 AM
Yes the bungie goes into the trigger guard to help avoid the gun slipping out the leather strap on the bungie hook allows for a quick release just grab the strap and pull to unhook. The pipe is bolted on but make sure and use some additional backing I used pieces of the cutout for the scope and a big washer then the nut on the back of the bolt. The carpet lays in protects the gun from the bolts but don't glue it in you want to be able to pull it out to dry after a day like right now with freezing rain. I used an old cork of a king net to plug the end of the pipe a cheap alternative around our house but you could put a plug or cap on too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1207:11 AM
mtbadger sorry no I don't and I no longer have this set up I have all the parts just currently not on a machine. I may mount it on the 340 this winter or the new Expedition. It just didn't work well on the Tundra 550 do to the shape of the cowling but did work well on the Polaris 550RMK
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1205:46 PM
So Thorpe claims that he puts the bait on the bottom loose jaw because the beaver will grab the bait with his front legs and try to swim through the trap. The trigger prongs are together and to one side or the other.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:25 PM
Originally Posted By: Alaskan trapper
Grizz are out up here, just got a picture of one that was shot last weekend north of Fairbanks. Anyone seen them out later
I've found their tracks here every month of the year. It does seem like more of them are staying out late, and staying out longer, than they used to here. Could just seem that way because our population is so much bigger than it used to be though. It's very common though along my trapline to find them still out and still fishing on up until Christmas, and sometimes, depending on the salmon run, on in to January. The sow's and cubs are usually in the den at least by the middle of Nov, and typically it's single bears that stay out late and fish. Just speaking for this area, but Feb is the month of the least activity. I think the ones that come out in Feb and Mar are usually ones that have had their sleep desturbed. I've seen them abandon a den because of recreational snowmachiners "high-marking" right over the den, seen then abandon dens because of seismic blasting, and have seen them shook awake from what I believe was repeated avalanche activity in the canyon they are denned in. Sometimes too they will get flooded out during a chinook if they didn't dig their den right. Anyway, that's just some of the reasons that they might be out wandering around in the snow. The ones that fish the creeks on up until late Dec-early Jan, are in and out of the water where there is open leads, and ice builds on their fur until it interfers with their movement. In this picture taken on Jan 1st a couple years ago you can see the bear was having to swing his back legs out to the side in order to walk, especially on the left side, most likely due to ice build-up making it hard to bend his legs.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/12/1206:48 PM
Kusko, Not sure on the Thrope deal this is just the way I have always done it. I have never been a fan of putting triggers way off to one side. This works for me been doing it longer than I can remember not sure if the beaver are grabbing the bait and swimming through or pulling back guess it don't matter as long as it catches
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1212:24 AM
Kodiak Trifecta today. Too bad the red had bad genetics. I've caught three in three years out of the same spot that were rubbed looking with weak tails. This is an older vixen, so hopefully she is the end of the line. The silver is a stunner though!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1206:12 AM
Originally Posted By: yukontrapper
Very cool looking silver! Haha i jus got hopes of catching a dandy one like that. Great Catch. ya ever call in a cross or silver?
Heck yeah! Lots of crosses and once in a while a silver. It is fairly proportional to what I get trapping. The last silver I called in and killed was two years ago. I've missed a few and had several that I never had a shot opportunity on. That's the way it goes and what keeps it from getting boring. Two crosses from early this year (end of last season)...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1206:29 AM
Dang thats pretty cool! I think i am gonna get set up so i can run to alot of the different willow islands. What sounds are ya using? I have 5 diffrent snowshoe hare sounds on mine. Sonner or later the action will pick up. pretty cool photos!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1207:35 AM
Originally Posted By: yukontrapper
Dang thats pretty cool! I think i am gonna get set up so i can run to alot of the different willow islands. What sounds are ya using? I have 5 diffrent snowshoe hare sounds on mine. Sonner or later the action will pick up. pretty cool photos!
I use mangled mongoose three and woody wood louse mating chirp. Seriously, I sent you a pm...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1209:00 AM
One thing I remember Rick Kinmon saying at the fling about something that worked for him was to interject additional animal calls during the call. Such as an owl. crow , or jay. Said it seemed to decrease their suspicion level. My son has a real hankering to go calling here in Homer. So looks like that could be on the agenda. Makes Christmas shopping a lot easier. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/13/1209:30 AM
Indeed it does FT :-) Good luck to ya guys out calling em' I gave my two brothers poncho overwhites, and a buddy overwhites, old school MP3 caller. Brothers and buddy Checked of the list. I think i am gonna get me a new scope for my .17 HMR. Should make a fine calling rifle once i get a new scope on it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/14/1205:52 AM
Found a tree hugger out there today, had to give him a lift home.
This looks like a huge cat, gotta thaw him a bit and see what I got. Not sure what I'm doing different, but I've snared a few this year, all perfect neck grabs, last year I had them jumping through snares and otherwise getting around them.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/14/1204:39 PM
Yes STT we were based off a tender, makes it nice to have a bunk, shower etc... on those late winter hunts. Congrats on the kitty, I have yet to see any this season I think my areas are rock bottam on the cycle.
Dave that is an Aqua pod, it's a "duck layout boat". My friend and I both have one, very stable and have never rolled one. I've had them stuffed with decoys, gear, and labs in pretty swelly water and never felt unsafe heading in the beach with it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/15/1212:02 AM
I like that Aqua pod too! I was thinking about an inflatable kayak but that has a lot more room and possibilities! Nice cat ST! I wish we had those here. All sets are pulled for awhile. Honey do's and truck maintenance for the next week or so. I'll be back...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/15/1208:52 PM
Grand Soft December Morning -45 out there. Tinkering out in the shed working on a non sparking space heater...Came in for Coffee. Basketball Season began last night. Was an exciting game last night against nome Girls. Another tonight at 5pm. You guys in nome or else where can tune in Via internet
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1205:23 AM
Yukonjeff- Nice Fat Cat! How do ya like the Trailboggan? Terrible Hitches, mine busted so i had one made. My dad had one but in a tight portage it wedged between two trees and tore in half. Mine is going on 4 years and its holding out.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1205:41 AM
It works good for me ... I bought it used off a guy that had three caribou in it and hit a stump and busted out the bow, we riveted another one on it and its been good for about 5 yrs now and I drag it over 50 miles every trip on my line.
And yes the tow bars they come with are junk...my short rope works OK
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1206:10 AM
That cat looks like he recently had a decent meal, wonder what he wanted with your set. Unless you provide them with a nice treat while they wait for you
Is that log your catch pole?
So part of my informal survey, what's the piece chambered in that you carry there?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1206:35 AM
Right on YJ. If i get a chance i'll get some pics of my pieced together hitch for ya. I picked up a sportsmans a cheapy sled last year i been using alot. I want to modify it so i can flatten my trail alot better. Maybe one of these days i'll try to start on it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1206:36 AM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
That cat looks like he recently had a decent meal, wonder what he wanted with your set.Unless you provide them with a nice treat while they wait for you
You know I dont ever use bait.
And yes thats the dance pole it goes everywhere with me on the line.
The armor is just a Winchester 94 22 that shoots S-L-L.R. I had the mag as well but never use it much its mostly for getting dinner I dont like bloody fur in fact I passed up two fox today.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1206:44 AM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
You know I dont ever use bait.
I know you don't, I haven't been able to wean myself off it yet. I've tried a couple of your type of sets, but haven't connected on them yet. Got one spot that is begging for a set like that, on an intersection of sorts. Seen cat tracks there a few times this year, but I haven't set it yet as it is too easy for passersby to screw with. Have a couple sets in that area just off the trail, they haven't connected yet so may have to man up and put the set where it should be. I have a couple old traps I use for places that might get ripped off.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1209:22 PM
I thought we went through this last year with you and fish....once you saw the early sales you changed your minds and decided to send half to nafa and the rest of the picked over late season fox to me
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/17/1209:37 PM
Your perception was that I was sending you "picked over" fox. My idea was to work different markets. The best wild fox in North America come from the Bethel area.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/18/1212:10 AM
I trapped one and bought one that went top lot At FHA in Feb and three in May,.. so I guess we have the best in the world too
The top lot is a funny thing they altrernate between Canada fur and US fur on some species for top lot, so it realy dont mean squat, but I like to brag as much as the next guy..well maby not as much as Kusko
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/18/1208:06 AM
Went from -48 to -4. windy as crap, windchill of -50 to near no wind out there. Hope it holds out. I'd like to get my trails back in. Might be off work tomorrow. Get the trails back in but get most of my sets back working once the christmas break is over. AV- Marten have moved to different zipcode lol. Far from mine. 5 weeks no sign what so ever. Let it soak till they return to the area i suppose.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/18/1204:45 PM
After running on almost no snow so far last night we were suppose to get 2 inches woke up to a pretty good pile of it and it is still coming down. Now if Everets would just get that new snowmachine to me all would be good
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1202:47 AM
Well, trucks in the shop, wife is working, it's a blizzard outside and my dog decided to let himself out of the yard. Been gone several hours now and most likely lost. grrrrrrr.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1203:21 AM
Picked the truck up (shop said it's fixed, we'll see), did a sweep looking for tracks/ dog but the conditions are horrible. Safer to look in the morning. My wife has two jobs...lol! You're right about the woodpile though...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1203:53 AM
Originally Posted By: yukontrapper
Right on bud, Two jobs man she's good. Wood pile must be where she parks so she can get it on the way in :-)
Some of the best ideas come from my trappin' buds! Dog finally figured out where he lived. I spotted him out back lookin' like he was just passing through and chased him down. It's kinda like playing a country and western song backwards... Got my truck back, got my dog back... got my wife... well that part don't fit.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1205:13 AM
Originally Posted By: 30Otter06
Glad you found the dog...its a nasty one tonight,I'm gonna be digging out traps tomorrow
Thanks Thomas. I worry about him getting hit on the road out front. He loves this weather! He's such a rascal. He probes the fence out back constantly trying to find a weak spot where I have a strip of wire fence buried and tied in to the chain link. He pushes until he busts one of the wires and then works on it for as long as it takes to bust enough wires to crawl out from underneath the chain link. Took about two months from his last escape this time. I'm getting better at detecting his escape attempts but this one was hidden down in the back corner under a big salmon berry bush. This snow is gonna drift over everything. I don't have any sets in right now but I feel for you!
Tonight nt_snow Snow and blowing snow...tapering to snow showers after midnight. Visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less...improving after midnight. Snow accumulation up to 3 inches. Lows around 20. Northwest wind 35 to 50 mph. Local gusts to 60 mph.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1205:51 AM
Dang thats some weather! Back to work in the morning, went down the river a ways today, hard packed drifts every 10' or so. Line is buried yet. Gonna be an interesting ride next time i head down there. Glad your Country song got straightened out and the dog found his way back. Luck callin them in when ya get out there.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1205:22 PM
Yeah, weather here isn't any better. Big wind, bigger gusts, and heavy freezing spray. They canceled the ferry today. Don't see that very often. Guess I won't take the skiff out.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1206:41 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Originally Posted By: 30Otter06
Glad you found the dog...its a nasty one tonight,I'm gonna be digging out traps tomorrow
Thanks Thomas. I worry about him getting hit on the road out front. He loves this weather! He's such a rascal. He probes the fence out back constantly trying to find a weak spot where I have a strip of wire fence buried and tied in to the chain link. He pushes until he busts one of the wires and then works on it for as long as it takes to bust enough wires to crawl out from underneath the chain link. Took about two months from his last escape this time. I'm getting better at detecting his escape attempts but this one was hidden down in the back corner under a big salmon berry bush. This snow is gonna drift over everything. I don't have any sets in right now but I feel for you!
Tonight nt_snow Snow and blowing snow...tapering to snow showers after midnight. Visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less...improving after midnight. Snow accumulation up to 3 inches. Lows around 20. Northwest wind 35 to 50 mph. Local gusts to 60 mph.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/19/1207:16 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
Voltage !
He's already wired up like Hannibal Lecter. He has to wear a bark collar in the yard because our house is situated like the stage at an opera theater and all the neighbors have orchestra pit seating. The bark collars have to be positioned high up on the neck to work (unless I shave his neck) and they recommend that no other collars be used lest they cause unwanted stray voltage from contact or vibration. Believe me I've looked into the invisible fences... I even put a cable run for him out back but he kept getting tangled up on everything. I did a full perimeter check again last night and mended his handy work. It will hold him for a little while. What a bugger!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/20/1203:12 AM
Woke up this morning to my smoke house destroyed by a bear, I had stored some salted herring in there for the winter for bait, thought it was late enough in the year that I wouldn't have any problems....guess not, looks like a pretty big boy by the size of his tracks. I fear he is planning on coming back to night to hit the duck pen and eat all my ducks.....oh well they aren't laying eggs right now anyway....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/20/1206:18 AM
I'm noticing bears are staying out later consistently year after year. A friend reported one last week in a boreal mountain complex in northern Alberta where -30 and huge snow has been around for months. In my opinion these are dangerous bears. They either haven't denned because of inadequate fat levels or got up and came put of the den for the same reason. I don't see a climate change angle …I see an increased bear population and density issue. I know some guys who fended off a bear iwith a chainsaw in february at 7000' in the mountains. finally someone pulled out a 303 and shot it, starving.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/21/1204:28 AM
There is a brown that makes his appearance on the line every winter, late november to Dec. People cut his tracks every so often. One of these times i want to take a couple guys and track him down. Be something else! maybe try some fawn in distress calls if i cut his sign fresh. haha get as far away from the foxpro as possible.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1212:26 AM
Yukonjeff- :-) Platter of Deep Fried burbot today. Kids had it gone in no time flat. Next time down river i wanna try some Goose wings in my lynx sets. I'll try your hanging wing Set.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1204:13 AM
Smalltime. A suggestion on a trigger baited coni. Put a nail anchored right behind lower back jaw. All spring momentum will throw the coni forward. Ensuring that on a pull back of the bait the trap will reach out there farther IMO.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1204:20 AM
Alright, could do that. I was thinking that the springs pushing off the notches in the box would thrust the trap forward. More thrust is never a bad thing though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1204:37 AM
You know your probably right. I wasn't thinking of that. Daaa. On my 330 that I put on a leaning pole I want to sink deep into a wolverine. So I do this as the springs are not on anything. Carry on. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1204:40 AM
[quote=smalltimetrapper]Nice cat Jeff.
Here is a yj set, see if it will connect. Set on a single set of tracks that came through last week.
I would lose the small branches in front and mound up a pile of snow and set on top of the mound and use pink flagging on the wing and cover your trap!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1207:42 AM
ADF&G euthanized one in a housing area the day before I saw these. I thought it might have been the same one roaming around until I cut mama's tracks just a few yards up the trail. I looked around a little and saw where they had cut up a steep ridge headed for high country. A guy got mildly mauled by a sow with cubs about a mile from there a few months back while dog walking. They really need to go to bed.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1208:22 PM
Sounds like they got into them good. It looks like the deer fared better there than the rest of the archipelago. We saw about 30 deer and 7 or 8 of those were bucks. We didn't need but a few.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1211:14 PM
I missed out on a Sitka Deer Hunt when i was in High School. Sure wish i woulda woke up to go. Bummer. -45 this mornin again. Guess i'll hang around home again.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/24/1211:40 PM
Yeah, it's a lot of fun. Hard work sometimes though. One of my buds shot one on a steep beach and we had to deal with a hard breaking surf. After getting crushed by a series of three footers and swamped we ended up having to drag the deer, raft, motor, etc... a half mile down the beach to a flatter section to get off of it. Even on a calm day it can be an adventure! Crossing 20 miles of open ocean in the dead of winter to shoot a couple of deer...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/25/1212:11 AM
Sounds like a pretty good adventure! i won't touch another boat till May :-( Our marathon wood hauling when the river go's out and the drift logs are floating by. Can't wait to get out there. Only other time i use a boat is occasional fishin and then moose hunting. i am the interiors worst fisherman haha.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/26/1207:31 PM
I posted this in another thread, but I think the thread got deleted or lost...
Brian, I know what you mean about a long night, lol. This guy fell in the middle of a knee deep glacial river braid...At least he stayed cool (along with my fingers, lol)....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/29/1205:02 PM
quick question on UHMW plastic. what thickness do you guys use up there for your sleds and additions to your snowmobiles? 1/8. 3/16, 1/4? How much does a sheet cost just doing some comparative shopping right now.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/29/1206:21 PM
For sleds - Northern Sled Works uses one quarter inch, high quality, UV resistant. No reason to go thicker, unless you have some custom needs or unusual conditions. For sleds , stay away from the black or recycled, non UV stuff.
Others on here have recently purchased UHMW locally and down South. They will hopefully chime in with prices and venders.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/30/1212:29 AM
Sailing anyone...
Chiniak Bay-Marmot Bay- 400 am akst Sat Dec 29 2012
...Gale Warning through Sunday... .Today...Se wind 35 kt becoming E 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 15 ft. Rain showers in the morning. .Tonight...E wind 35 kt increasing to 45 kt after midnight. Seas 20 ft. Rain. .Sun...Se wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain. .Sun night...S wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. .Mon...Se wind 50 kt. Seas 22 ft. .Tue...Se wind 50 kt. Seas 25 ft. .Wed...Se wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/31/1204:45 AM
One great "lure" is to drain a female lynx after you dispatch her. Well caught a nice female...and I did everything I could. Finally, I turned her back over and she, turned out to be a he.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/31/1206:55 AM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
I've done that a few times, the way cat's plumbing is hooked up it is easy to confuse. Not sure why they are designed to poke out the back like that.
I think it is so they can back it up and spray urine all over everything. I remember a lion at a zoo one time (back when they were in steel cages and not enclosures) turning his back on a bunch of gawkers and letting it rip all over 'em. Glad I was about 20 feet away...lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/31/1208:05 AM
thanks akassassin, I will probably do that, I have been using fish skins and ptarmigan for bait, caught two gulos so far, and one lynx. Have seen less rabbit tracks this year so I hope I will be able to get some, just seen maybe seven rabbits this whole winter so far.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 12/31/1203:01 PM
Has anyone ever tried putting a over sized spring clip or two on the hood of a snow machine to hold a gun? Just trying to come up with a way to mount a gun or carry a gun on the new expedition without covering a air intake or vent up.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/01/1306:08 AM
Originally Posted By: akassassin
Forgot to answer your first two question to me...ya I do know the difference of life and death. There is no comparison to me and an animal. Please don't compare me to an animal I kill and have much respect for. Sorry to irritate you with my advice to help others, but next time be more constructive with answers or advice to better us as trappers instead of going with sarcasm. Be honest if you have branded me and the indigenous of the Lower Yukon. Thanks for the advice, I forgot there was none.
Sometimes it's difficult tell exactly what someone means when you're reading text. So I'm going to assume that's the case here. But let's have no misunderstanding. Neither Family Trapper nor anyone else is "banging on" you for anything and I guarantee you that "indigenous or non-indigenous" crap doesn't fly here. Everyone is the same and will be treated as such.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/01/1306:57 AM
Otterman asked:
"Has anyone ever tried putting a over sized spring clip or two on the hood of a snow machine to hold a gun? Just trying to come up with a way to mount a gun or carry a gun on the new expedition without covering a air intake or vent up."
Here's what I did on my new Expo SE. I used 1/4 x 2" UMHW. First, I One 24" long piece bolted on the cowling. I actually drilled and bolted a 1" x 10" x 3/16" so it forms a "Y". This supports the rear end of my gun boot. I drilled holes at the top of the "Y" to attach nylon loops. For the front end. I used a muffler clamp that fit my bumper. I bolted a foot long piece of UMHW using the muffler clamp bolts. I drilled top and down a few inches. I bolted a loop of 1" nylon strapping to each of these holes. I ran 1" nylon strapping around handlebar post with a quick release. The second half of the quick release went on a 5' piece of strap and run it through the loops at the "Y" , up to the front and through those loops. Very secure and I can still remove top left panel to get at tool kit. If I need to, I can remove the boot in about one minute.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/01/1311:46 PM
Gentlemen, This conversation has taken a terribly wrong turn and is definitely based on a simple misunderstanding... nothing more. I see how FT's comments may have seemed like he was being a smart-alec, but I'm CERTAIN that prejudism wasn't his intent. His history of helping people on and off this forum (in villages and cities alike) speaks for itself. We've all benefited from his advise, and we're all trappers, despite minor differences. We stand on our own two feet, regardless of race, so let's not draw those lines, okay? It would only hurt us all, so please do the right thing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1302:34 AM
:-) Put in alot of miles on the Bravo last few days with the kids! Made a Nose cone insert to keep the snow out. "Cardboard". I am thinking about making a sled jus for wolf sets. Very simple small and light plastic tobogan style sled. Something that i can easily work off of.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1302:41 AM
I make my k9 sets out of my siglin and when snow would get in there it was slick as ice so I bought some of that spray grit in a spray paint can and coated the inside bottom of the sled, no ice skating in the siglin anymore. Gonna put some spray grit on the Bravo running boards this summer as there isn't much there for traction, maybe a few short bolts up through the holes too
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1303:00 AM
Home depot has rubber floor mats( Like the ones the cashers stand on), AKhowler turned me onto them. They fit inside of those sleds, helped with slipping.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1304:01 AM
Now were talkin. It is more than a model. It is the BEST trapping snowmobile out there. ha ha ha. For some. ;0)
The grit might be good for a bit but I think might quickly ice up on at least the left side. Your bolt idea is a good one. We put some small diameter bolts up through the running boards and that helped a lot. YT Mike Johnson out of Fairbanks talked about his set up, at the Fling last year, for wolves and setting out of a sled. If I remember right he said one of the best setups was a 6 inch or so wide under piece and skag that would leave a packed path on the trail that was followed well. He said they would trot right down a narrow trail if it was packed better. Maybe someone else has some info on this technique. It intrigued me but I can't remember it exact enough to add much more than a point for discussion.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1304:49 AM
The idea was to have a track on your machine that had paddles that would leave the snowgo trail roughed up. On the sled in the middle install a flat piece of umhw about six or seven inches wide the length of the sled. The idea is the wolves running your trail will hang in the umhw strip because it's more uncomfortable to run where the paddle had froze the snow into little ridges.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1306:01 AM
OK, another trapping related question. Like a dumb [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot], I stretched a mink on a board without a belly board. Before I rehydrate it and stretch it right, any tips I might use to get it off now? Tried leaving it out in the cold, but no go.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1306:32 AM
I like the idea about a nice flat surface to work with. Make it jus wide enough to work outta. I was thinkin short at first, but when you are putting drags in there ya kinda need lenght. I am thinking 2x6 high with 2x4 cross bracing and a full plastic bottom. Have an action packer up front. Leave the back open so it don't fill up with snow. If i can get away with 8' long by 16-18 inches wide i can make it work. I know Cold Spot feed Co. Sells runners in fairbanks. Maybe 2.5 inch wide by half inch runners on the both edges of the sled. I'd best start gathering materials to make this. Luck trapping in the New year folks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1307:08 AM
FT/ Spotter : Don't know if this is what your talking about - but if you request it, Northern Sled puts a second skeg on your sled for setting number nine's in between. They are app. 10 inches apart and the wolves will run right down the middle.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1308:45 AM
Piper the concept your talking about allows you to run down your trail without setting off the number 9 apparently. But the system Spotter elaborated on is a packed part of the trail that the wolves will follow. YT I don't think you can go wrong with these deals and shipping included. I got two 10 foot 7 inch wide by 3/8 runners from them. They banded them tight and mailed to me. Also a piece 35 by 36 inchs. Very reasonable. I had posted it before. But for those looking for umhw this sure seems to be a place to look.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1309:58 AM
FT- What is the Name of the place, i'd like to call them and get some qoutes on runners and a 18" wide 9' long uhmw. Prefer 1/2 main sheet and 1/2 inch thick runners. I am thinking 2.5 or 3 inch runner. My late gramps used to get the metal cleats off of older snowmachines and save them. You can recess them into the runners and your sled will track every where you go. jus angle both sides of the cleat. recess and use self-tapping screws to attach. Haha i remember seeing an old cleated track somewhere...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1306:57 PM
I think we are talking about the same thing. Or should I say exactly the same but different. The Siglin makes a smooth packed trail with two 10 inch cuts down the center. The nine is set between the cuts and the Wolves walk right in the middle .
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1307:04 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
Originally Posted By: akassassin
Forgot to answer your first two question to me...ya I do know the difference of life and death. There is no comparison to me and an animal. Please don't compare me to an animal I kill and have much respect for. Sorry to irritate you with my advice to help others, but next time be more constructive with answers or advice to better us as trappers instead of going with sarcasm. Be honest if you have branded me and the indigenous of the Lower Yukon. Thanks for the advice, I forgot there was none.
Sometimes it's difficult tell exactly what someone means when you're reading text. So I'm going to assume that's the case here. But let's have no misunderstanding. Neither Family Trapper nor anyone else is "banging on" you for anything and I guarantee you that "indigenous or non-indigenous" crap doesn't fly here. Everyone is the same and will be treated as such.
Mr. akassassin it is good thing you don't guide or they would really be banging on you. Your friend Jeff would probably be the worst one. Here, if you drive a Bravo or guide expect a lot of Banging. God help you if you do both.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1308:02 PM
Sorry Yukon Here is the link. I updated the post above. Forgot to put it in. Not sure what they can mail in half inch. But they were good people to work with.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/02/1308:40 PM
TJ, If you don't want to rehydrate, you can slip the belly stick in about 1/2-way (as far as you're comfortable pushing it). Then just let it set there for several hours (maybe overnight). Take it out after several hours, and slip it in the other side of the animal (first belly, then back or visa versa). Leave it for several hours while the hide stretches, and then try to remove the pelt. If it doesn't work, slip it back in the first side as far as it'll comfortably go. Eventually, the leather will stretch enough that you'll be able to remove it without rehydrating. Make sure the leather is warm first, though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1302:51 AM
Personally, I don't find marten crashes all that funny. Lot of people got it a lot worse than me and their chance of rebounding in a short time frame is probably less than mine do to poor self management and ethical practices.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1302:55 AM
Now we should not find humor in Dirts plight..me being a Lynx trapper I know my day is coming.
For the record we did miss you Dirt..and need the stink stired every now and again
And I dont harbor any hard feeling towards the guides on here they serve a purpose as long as they are not over running my moose hunting area..now Bravo wranglers...thats another story
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1304:03 AM
12 inches of snow and melting. Bumpy and brushy. Mostly pulled to protect the marten. Poor beaver sign. Amazingly,still some Lynx. Two wolf tracks once down by Alexander. Moose hanging in the woods pawing up ferns to eat. Good lowland moose sign SE. Little lowland moose sign NW. Lot of river silt on everything from wind, flood and no snow all of October and the first part of November. If I remember right you would not recognize this place with out at least four or five feet of snow.
Is that what you were looking for?
Funny thing I was reading your dad's moose management report from , I think, '89 just today. Got to go to battle at the BOG in Feb. unfortunately.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1304:19 AM
Perfect!!! Thanks. I did a moose tagging program with him in 88 or 89 there on snowmachines...feel in love with Joe's elan for pushing them out of the alders and willows. Amazing machine.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1306:28 AM
I hear you Dirt on things not being funny! Laughing at the jab, not the fact that the critters are not around. I've seen 1 marten track all season, and that was on the 20th of Nov. Nadda since then.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1306:38 AM
No, no hard feelings for I realize my mistake of questioning a veteran trapper, for that I am truly sorry for stepping on his toes. As with every youngster known in every part of gods green earth we know it all.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/03/1311:40 PM
Wow, the last couple days of posts on this thread were a roller coaster, LOL...
I've been away and busy working on a super secret cloning project in my basement. I'm cloning marten, hides only, as soon as I can do it for less than $100 each, I'm gonna flood the market and flush all you bush trappers out in the open...
(just listen for the distinctive buzzing of bravos drifting up from down river )
Happy New Year to all you guys... welcome akassasin, dont sweat it, we'll forgive you, this time
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/04/1312:07 AM
did 9 miles out of 55 on the line today before the flooded creeks forced me to pull a U turn and head home I can't even get to marten country yet to see if there are any there
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/04/1302:58 AM
The warm weather is not to my liking, losing snow and afraid of exposed wolf sets. Did see a little marten sign out there, so hope to have a couple swinging this weekend.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1304:50 PM
Had a rude awakening last night. Whole house was swaying with a 7.5 rumbler. Seemed to last a long time for a quake. It's pretty weird in total darkness, too!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1305:19 PM
I slept through the quake only to be woken up by family calling to see if I was ok. Haha. At the time, I was thinking who in the heck is calling me at this time of night.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1305:25 PM
Our daughter tells us due to the narrow channel and islands around you in Juneau have nothing to fear from one is this true or is she being fed bad info?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1305:57 PM
I would tend to agree. The "backside" of Douglas Island may be vulnerable, though. While I don't really understand large wave dynamics, I think that for the most part, Juneau is pretty well protected from tsunami damage, it's conceivable that the narrow channels could focus the tide and wave for dramatic results. This is exactly what happens here when the big Northerlies blow. The water gets seriously ugly, and wave period, (the distance between crests) can be very short, indeed.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1305:59 PM
The Good Friday quake produced about a four foot wave in Juneau. That is the largest wave I know of hitting here. I would never say we are 100% safe from being struck by one, just very unlikely.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1306:33 PM
Wave dynamics are more affected by water depth. The wave starts to grow in height and then break when the water depth is one half the wave frequency or period.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/05/1308:14 PM
Stephens Passage and Lynn Canal are aligned nearly perfectly north to south. This fact along with 20 plus feet of tide movement opposing the wind can make for short intervals with tall waves even before they roll through shallower water.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/06/1302:08 AM
i had just walked in to my room and noticed one of my cymbals for my drum set was shaking. and i was thinking "i must have gained some weight seeing as how the cymbals never shake when i run up there stairs". then the whole house started shaking.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/08/1311:50 PM
Well, I'm about as ticked as I can be, mailed a box of marten 15 days ago and the flipping mail plane didn't come for a wk due to severe clear weather got it out of the post office and had the wife hand carry to Anc to mail it on her way to the states, weeeel, I just got it back here today
Called Abbey Greens place and they said if I can get it there by the 14th I'm good, sooooo, just had the kid go get the box back out of the PO and boggey to McG and mail it and hope for the best.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/09/1305:40 PM
Since the marten crash thread is gone, I'll bring this up here. Last time out pulling my last chance marten area I picked up another marten with ( for lack of a better term ) mange. I have caught a few of these the last few years. I don't remember ever catching any marten that looked like this before at least 2007. Maybe this is common elsewhere, if new to your area maybe something is going on.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/09/1306:26 PM
I had one last year, i posted it here with some pics. Can't find it now. It looked like mange, had only the short under growth left, no gaurd hair. Only one like it so far. Was an adult female.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/09/1306:37 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
That thread is still available on one of the other pages. But, how about a picture of your mutant ?
With my temporary MiFi internut, pictures no can do! However, remember last year after Nafa's first auction how everybody was posting their magnificence averages. Well I posted pictures of a couple of these beauties claiming I averaged $50 and all my marten looked like these as a Joke. Would have been right about March 1.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/09/1307:46 PM
No! Just like tundra's; guard hair gone and under fur somewhat matted and patchy. Down on the lower back primarily, though I think I had one that ran all the way up to the shoulders
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1303:12 AM
Yeah the string was for making him wave at the camera.
Kusko: Those pants are more patch than OEM. Same with the coat actually. Barb was trying to make me look like some hippie from Talkeetna with all that stuff.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1304:09 AM
Nice the Yukon Jeff set works I use it on all my sets, to the fact I learned to trap from him. Said it more than once, and say it again thanks Jeff! Hooked ever since cant stop looking at traps and different sets, and waiting for the new trapping year is a drag, at least there's fishing and some good hunting to make it go by faster, and no I don't wanna join the 330 club the bridger#3 club is fine for me all four fingers, thumb twice, the second time I was sick to my stomach from the pain just laid in the snow for a while.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1306:37 AM
All the talk about loading pics from iPhone, had to try it again. Tried a few weeks ago, wouldn't work, then saw where someone said to get rid of the help box. Looks like it was successful.
Snare set for yotes at a bait station, I like these better so I wasn't disappointed.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1306:51 AM
I stuck my hand in one last week, luckily had a glove on and it was only 2 coil. Misremembered where I had bedded the trap, got a reminder. Trying to hurry in fading daylight...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1302:48 PM
aknative that pic is beyond funny it should become our new metis flag , wish i could show that to my friends . i keep looking at it and laughing my wife thinks im drinking .
madmike to bad about your finger but good to see everyone giving you a tough time about it . that means they care , at least thats what my mom always told me when my older sisters would make my life a night mare . also to bad about your coat you should hang it up in the bush for a lynx atractor and to chase off evil spirits from your trapline , dont worry nobody will steal it . my friend one time went down to prince albert and only jacket he had was his old wore out trapping parka in the truck , his wife said she was so embarrased to be in town with him and people kep trying to give him change for a hot cup of coffee . not sure that is a true story but his wife says it is .. all good stuff . enjoy your morning
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1305:02 PM
Good to see your out trapping Ken. That lynx appears to be very clear. Show us a belly picture after boarding and turned.
Years ago those small clear lynx were the top lot at the auction. Early 80's $1795 for top lot. That same year my neighbor trapper Mike Benz had three blue lynx kittens that brought $1200 each. Wonder if we will ever see those days again?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1305:35 PM
Well I had to do something to keep my hand in the game Ron. Yeah it's one of the best colored cats I've seen from this area. Usually they are reddish brown ugly and not worth taking. I'll try to remember to get more pix.
Those prices might be nice but probably would put a lot of people out in the woods again.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/12/1307:48 PM
Originally Posted By: trapper ron
Years ago those small clear lynx were the top lot at the auction. Early 80's $1795 for top lot. lynx kittens that brought $1200 each. Wonder if we will ever see those days again?
Sure we will...right after our lynx crash here again..... like they did when the prices got that high last time..lol
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/13/1306:38 AM
They are indeed an awesome looking animal. Better sold to the taxi market than the auction. The problem is there is nothing to match them with to make a decent lot. Even if you took several blue lynx together they will vary in colour, size and quality. Some very "pretty" wild cross fox and silvers are in the same boat.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1302:01 AM
Spent the day out on the line getting the trails back in place. Wolves were 8 miles up river. So i fixed up some wolf sets see if i can get them to visit longer this time. Jus glad to go get the trail in. About a foot deep, and drifted in places. Trail camera had some pictures, the batteries were dead. Check it out in a few days.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1303:07 AM
Originally Posted By: fishermann222
This weather out here in western AK SUCKS!!!!!!
I couldn't agree more I did 70 miles yesterday in pouring rain !! The only thing good about it is the beaver and otter are both moving well beaver crawling out to find fresh feed and otters just plain running all over. The bad part is I can hardly get to my sets and after the rain last night & today I am washed out till it cools down
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1303:23 AM
Calling for real warm here and possible rain tomorrow, hope not!
Took the wife out today, was one of those days with cat tracks between my sets, wolves in the wrong place, etc, but a least we didn't get skunked. Put in a couple more wolf sets, hope to connect one of these days.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1303:24 AM
It was raining out on the line today. Overflow had the snow machine sounding like an outboard motor. Not what I like at all. Snow is almost nothing and what critter trails we did see, weren't running our trails. Thank god it looks like it is going to get cold here in a day or two. Will probably have to go through and fix all the foot hold sets after all the wet snow freezes hard. Uggg.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1303:26 AM
otterman we did about 110-120 in the pouring rain yesterday also it SUCKED. We didn't even bother to reset most of our footholds. pointless with pouring rain and forecast for temps to drop again.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1303:28 AM
Yukonjeff - that is a beautiful cat. the only one I caught was a youngster too, is that typical? No way that one will sell for what mine did in 1981. My personal high for any fur I ever sold. Over $1,200
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1305:59 PM
+38 and raining, has been for the past three days! Went on my short line yesterday and thought I was water skiing! Close to a foot of standing water in some spots, and of course those spots just happen to be in my trail.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1306:02 PM
Ah man bummer, had about 10" of snow yesterday on the line. Got the trail put in and on the way home it started to rain some. This morning its more rain. Well hope my trails hold out and they'll freeze in good :-) Wanted to go out Pred calling today and pick up a few traps i have hanging up where i used to go to.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1306:57 PM
Up 38 degrees here and been raining since Fri night. A bunch of us spent Sat and Sun in search of a missing snowmachiner. Hard running in 4 or 5 ft of wet snow and over flow, but fortunately he was found Sunday around 1:30 PM. He was lost out in the wind and rain from about 7:00 PM Fri until found Sun, with NO survival gear. He had a rough couple of day's.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/14/1307:17 PM
We've pulled our line and now even have to be carefull travelling on the Lake as the chinooks have opened most of the creeks and springholes. We were lucky to have a good start and are calling it a day with 5 wolves and a dozen lynz! We never got into marten country or out to he area's where most of our fox and coyotes roam. If the weather allows we'll keep a couple of sets going in attempt to catch a monster wolverine that has evaded me for years. Time to start reloading and shooting in preparation of next sheep season.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1302:15 AM
How's it going out there? Traps full? Good here right now, we had a week and a half of mild weather and it really got the critters moving. Looks like we have a little snow and maybe some rain moving in later... it's all good...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1302:44 AM
Lot's of rain, warm, then a tiny bit of wet, heavy. Nothing to bring the critters to the beaches, that's for sure, (other than bears). Turning into a pretty dismal season, here.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1302:57 AM
Rain put most of my traps out of commission, missed a marten and a lynx, triggers froze to pan and never fired. Reset them and added a snare. Going to work on my rig tomorrow, used my sister's rig to check after work today, missed a pack of wolves, fresh tracks about nine fanned out, all pulled together and ran.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1303:43 AM
It's been a weird mild winter here. Last year we had snow up the wazoo and this year practically none. A nice cold snap would be welcome about now. Hope things get better for you guys, it's not over yet!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1303:56 AM
Just had our cold snap here starting a couple days ago, been in the 20s for a few weeks, rained for a few days earlier this week, finally went down to 15 and 20 below yesterday and today. Hopefully we don't receive any more rain. Need to set more for marten and lynx. Hopefully will connect with otters too, have yet to catch them and wolves. I'll probably have to take some time off next week to set out traps. After work the past few days, one of my short trail line I have smelled wolverine and even tasted it in my mouth, at first thought I got one and got excited. Went in and found nothing in my traps but still smelled and tasted it. Yesterday did the same thing. Nothing in my traps though. I figured it either lived close by or it died. Today couldn't smell it. Must have been watching from one of the trees close by.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1304:07 AM
Funny you should say that. I frequently know when I have a fox before I see it if the wind is right. I can smell fox pee from a mile away...lol! Good luck on your wolverine!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/19/1304:20 AM
cool, have gotten three so far, hopefully more will fall to my traps. One got educated, was traveling in a pair and got one of them, the other one say what happened and didn't want to stick it's head in any of my bgs. Could smell a lot of animals, comes in hand when hunting moose, or beluga. Usually smell fur animals too while out the country. Use the smell to locate caribou too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/20/1311:38 PM
Went out yesterday and harvested a cow moose with a friend. Darned if we didn't see a young Brown Bear. He was laying down by the river we were traveling on eating on a gut pile. We drove up to about 40 yards away and he just stood his ground. Snapping his lips. The sat back down and started eating. We got a little closer on machines and he walked off. Pretty cool seeing it. Pretty small bear. Maybe a yearling. Must have gotten water logged in his den in last weeks warm weather.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/21/1309:37 AM
That is nasty looking...lol! At least mine didn't smell that bad. I have caught some good fur this year but several that don't qualify as 'good fur'. I hope Gomer Pyle is looking for donations again this year for his outdoor youth program. I got 'em.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/21/1301:53 PM
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1312:34 AM
Even a mangy mutt looks better than those two Ken!
Picked up some good critters last week or so. Got a few that won't make it in the fur trade though... Three pigosaurases... This red was hit by an eagle and torn up inside. Talon punctures in the back but no serious fur damage.
Very agitated and standing in a mud puddle... He actually cleaned up pretty good.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1312:42 AM
That one actually cleaned up pretty good. Was very agitated and standing in a mud puddle when I got to him. I added a description/ caption to the pic to describe his bad day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1301:49 AM
When they get real muddy I usually rinse them in a creek or under the hose and wring out as much water as I can, then towel dry, comb out and hit them with the air compressor until dry and fluffy. Sometimes when it is too cold out to do that I will just wash the hide in the washing machine and run the spin cycle a few times. Then towel off, comb out and hit with the air compressor. Need to towel off the inside of the hide too when you do it that way.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1302:17 AM
APP- Thanks for the tips. Kids and i went for a ride yesterday and hauled in a couple passengers via sled for my dad. Kids had fun stepping where i step. Haha had to wait for them quite a few times but they had alot of fun yesterday.
Today i went and reopened all my trails, fixed all the lynx sets (couple misses) due to snowed over traps. All the wolf sets were outta commision. Got everything fixed till next check. I did catch a big lynx on a Beaver house in a #4 coilspring, he had enough slack to get his head into a 280 coni in a bucket! Thats a first. Double payback for eating a marten i caught :-)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1302:52 AM
APP- ? for ya. Are ya familiar with Baitsickle's? I made 5 buckets of scrap bait and added a chain to it then filled with water. lol they are in the process of freezing right now. Once i get to the site i'll break the bucket off of the frozen block bait and hang it up about 3' off the ground. Was thinking about hanging them in my choice calling sites. More for a critter attractor/bait. I been out calling quite a few times this season tried mixing up calls also. I always call on fresh sign also. What are your thoughts.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1303:07 AM
Fish222-My furshed is pretty stinking right now. Sat most of september in the buckets. I had to mix them around to get them 3/4 full. Yes they are pretty smelly. I thawed them out a few times this winter. haha gonna find out i guess.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1303:49 AM
YT, yep I have heard of them. Make a nice little morsel for a sleep deprived fuzzy wuzzy. Would be a real good attractor once the magpies start working it. Here this year they would turn rapidly from meatcicles to meatplops.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1304:14 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
YT, yep I have heard of them. Make a nice little morsel for a sleep deprived fuzzy wuzzy. Would be a real good attractor once the magpies start working it. Here this year they would turn rapidly from meatcicles to meatplops.
I do think you are right with the meat plops, lol during the warm spell we got one day at 35 degrees. But for the most part i think i can get it to work for a little while. Otherwise i'll give it a shot in a few days. One of them i'll put it in a really thick area with alot of sign and i'll try hang some snares around it. See if i can pick up any critters with it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1308:43 PM
I may have to build an ark. The creek I needed to cross to do my checks is about 4 1/2 feet above normal today which makes it about chin deep. No thanks. Good mudslide weather.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1309:29 PM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
I may have to build an ark. The creek I needed to cross to do my checks is about 4 1/2 feet above normal today which makes it about chin deep. No thanks. Good mudslide weather.
yeah, now you know how some southeast guys check their traps.......chest waders and snowshoes...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1309:32 PM
awesome catches, brought my nephew out yesterday and set a few traps with him after work, check a few of my traps that are close by. Marten came close, couldn't see the bait, put a bigger piece on and added a flagging tape attached to a piece of rabbit fur. Added more lure on it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1311:00 PM
Good looking coyote for the Interior! Did you end up buying my rope come along? That is the exact situation when you need one, escpecially if you're by yourself!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/22/1311:18 PM
No John, but I do carry one, luckily (knock on wood) since I bought the tundra from Branden I've been on the pulling end of the line instead of the recieving
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/23/1306:08 AM
Well as some of you know my daughter went out this fall with me to check beaver sets and long story short she says to put a trap over there dad and by gollie she smacked a nice beaver. Well finally got her to go out and check the ermine line with me (no marten but lots of dwarf albino gulos this year), so we walked in to a snare set and see where one just missed a snare by a whisker and at another stop see where one does a frozen pan dance on a #4 DLS So she says dad " lets make a set over here" I let her pick the spot and hang a snare or two and Wall Laa!!! Lady Luck strikes again!! HFT you called it see out trapped me in the cats!!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/23/1306:15 AM
Originally Posted By: rosscoak
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
I may have to build an ark. The creek I needed to cross to do my checks is about 4 1/2 feet above normal today which makes it about chin deep. No thanks. Good mudslide weather.
yeah, now you know how some southeast guys check their traps.......chest waders and snowshoes...
Probably how those bigfoot sightings got started....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/23/1306:35 AM
Originally Posted By: yukontrapper
APP- ? for ya. Are ya familiar with Baitsickle's? I made 5 buckets of scrap bait and added a chain to it then filled with water. lol they are in the process of freezing right now. Once i get to the site i'll break the bucket off of the frozen block bait and hang it up about 3' off the ground. Was thinking about hanging them in my choice calling sites. More for a critter attractor/bait. I been out calling quite a few times this season tried mixing up calls also. I always call on fresh sign also. What are your thoughts.
Hey yt, a trick for ya. After that bucket of bait freezes up hard, turn it upside down and run a bit of hot water over the bucket until the wad of bait slides loose. Put a small stone or stick or something in the bottom of the bucket and put the bait wad back in. Because the bucket is slightly tapered it won't stick too bad, a couple whacks and it will slide right out at your set site.
Martenpine, how do you get those yotes to sit up and beg like that?
FO, that looks like a real nice fluffy cat! Gotta get my girls a little more in to it...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/23/1307:03 AM
STT- I'll give it a try thanks, was about to bust my buckets off lol.
Frozen okie- Good Job on the Cat! And i think ya should bring her along more often, seems to be the Luck charm. Mine are already pleading to go the the bear stand this spring :-)
I made a trail on my old line today, alot of cat sign. I am thinking a second line since my new line is pretty slow going. Another chance at more wolves/cats.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/23/1301:23 PM
guys thst frozen bait pail is a great idea im gonna try that , it would make the birds work for it and make lots of noise . when were putting up beavers we keep a rag on hand to wife up any grease and fat after a while they get to greasy and we thru them out then it doned on me that rag stinks like beaver grease so i started taking them into the bush and tying or wire them chest high on trees . if i was smarter i would use red rag and put it in lynx cubby then all the weasles could do is lick it not eat it .....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/24/1304:20 AM
Originally Posted By: martenpine
No John, but I do carry one, luckily (knock on wood) since I bought the tundra from Branden I've been on the pulling end of the line instead of the recieving
Glad to hear it Jody!
...I never checked back to find out...what did that idle/throttle issue turn out to be?...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/25/1312:49 AM
Creek dropped a foot overnight despite a little drizzle and I finally got my checks done. Here's a pic that proves you can't always judge a book by its cover... Drowned rat? Nope Not bad!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/25/1305:48 AM
Thanks! It sure didn't look like much when I got to it. He cleaned up real nice. That's the longest one so far this year by an inch. Weighed 24 lb. My longest ever was 67"... doubt I'll beat that.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1306:20 AM
Pretty cat! I would say that is a little on the high end for a mature male. The fully grown males seem to run between 18 and 20 pounds on the average. It takes a few years for them to really max out. The heaviest female I have weighed was about 21 lbs but they average closer to 15 or 16 lb. I have seen and not killed a few that appeared to be a lot bigger. One cross I called in and never got a shot at a few years ago was enormous. Very tall and very long, coyote size. Finally got to shoot in my modified Ruger 96/.22 mag. Couldn't get into the rifle range so I had to shoot off a rock. Very pleased. I shot 5 types of ammo through it and they all shot good, but the 30 grain Hornady V-max and the 30 grain Federal Sierra HP's essentially shot in the same place and dime size groups at 40 yards. Should be able to get to the range next week to test at 100. The paint job I did on the stock wasn't hard enough so I stripped it down and refinished it dark walnut. Looks good and shoots awesome! And no miss fires... We're cooking with gas now!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1307:57 AM
Ya 22 mag is a accurate round when you get it dialed in. Loved mine when I had it. Made some unbelievable shots. Upgraded to a 204 ruger since. No animal i point at is safe. But the 22 mag you describe is a beauty. Love ruger arms. Also you guys got some big averages for fox that's the biggest I ever seen, ever! For the wire part I learned to use it from another trapper you all know yukonjeff. He showed me the way. Traps wire flagging and wings. I asked the question will it break? I tried my self to yank it off a tree first year I used that trapper wire and never got it off pulled jerked tried it all for about 20 mins so I'm sold you know both feet on the tree and both hands on the trap. Be nice to use cable but trapper wire is fast set up. Just gotta make sure it spins. Jeff got 80 plus one year same set up 14 gauge on bridger #3. Can you take a pic of your cable set up. I'd like to see. Cable yes is strong but how do you secure it with out some sort of tool? With trapper wire just twist 4-6 times and done.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1308:41 AM
Cable is way faster. I'd have to post a picture, but a cable with a double ferrel and a stop is the way to go. You can have the trap and the cable together zip tied and it rides in your tote without becoming a mess. No special tools required. No wire, no mess, no fuss. I think if you catch a wolverine in one of the those traps, it would spin the wire off and be gone.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1309:25 AM
I agree with Kusko,very fast, easy to atach to tree or drag and if it is 8-10' of cable they tangle up pretty fast. Then if you catch something you weren't suspecting you can still hold it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1304:32 PM
IMO, what i use. Works for me. May not be prefered by the next. Adjustable Cable loop with DBL ferule and Two Stops. Works for me. I prefer short cable 3-4 foot and swivel on trap side of cable. Having it stronger, i caught/held a young female wolf in a lynx set with a two coiled #3 bridger with 3'of cable. I don't recommend using two coiled #3 bridgers for wolves, but i am glad i used cable on that set.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1306:08 PM
Nice setup TJ ! the only thing I use wire on is hanging marten bait..other than #9 on wolf snares.
I found that another downside to using wire is that the cut end likes to flip around and take your eye out while you're twisting a long piece. Cable is the only way to go IMO
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1306:47 PM
I went to Alaska Range Trapping Supply last weekend and learned that they have until May to close the store. The Dept of Transportation is going to widen the Parks Hwy north of Wasilla, so they bought Abby's property. Since they just dealt with moving the store a few years ago, they don't want to do it again, and are looking for a buyer. The long and short of it is that if you need any trapping supplies at a reasonable price, you shouldn't wait too long.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/26/1308:03 PM
I have no real wolverine population some wolf but they don't care or worrie about my traps they to busy hunting the crazy moose population we got no worries for loosing a trap to anything big.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/27/1310:31 PM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Your garage looks like a two car storage unit!
I know! My wife is the 'collector' in the family. She needs her own TV show... Something a long the lines of "Hoarders, buried alive". If she had her way she would be a psycho cat lady too... lol!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1302:59 AM
This is what one of those butter balls looks like on the inside... Lot's of work to clean them up. I think a lot of folks here are all gung ho to trap or shoot some until they open them up and see what they have to deal with, and get a good whiff....lol! The spoon is your friend...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1303:11 AM
I knew I should have bought a plow for the atv this year...lol! I don't have any sets out, pulled yesterday... so let 'er rip! A little snow will be a nice change, but it probably won't last long. You get what you were after last week?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1305:48 AM
APP- Dang them critters are eating good! I'll stick to my interior dieting critters. Haven't really caught any really fat critters. Love em' BL-22 Brownings. Have one, really should bring the ole gal back out in the woods. Maybe my son can have it when he gets a little bigger.
Akassain= Nice kitty. Man can't wait till my work week is over i can go check the line, then go recon the old line for critter sign.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1308:05 AM
I hear you about the gloves... I can't wear them and do anything. Never could. Even charter and commercial fishing I have to go bare handed. Unless it is really cold and then I use the deckhand gloves sparingly. Hands get all crampy and useless. No rabies concerns here fortunately but they would smell better at the end of the day...lol! I have used sawdust in the past and it does work good for getting a grip! Since these are all going in to be tanned I have worked out a process that works pretty good. I knife flesh them down pretty clean, split/turn every thing and salt them good. Roll them up a let set over night and then the next day take the spoon to them from head to tail. Re-salt, roll up and let set another 24 then shake that out, rub a little fresh salt in and hang to dry. It takes care of the vast majority of the grease and I don't get any slippage. Labor intensive though... I should charge more! various stages of drying...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1308:14 AM
APP- Dang them critters are eating good! I'll stick to my interior dieting critters. Haven't really caught any really fat critters. Love em' BL-22 Brownings. Have one, really should bring the ole gal back out in the woods. Maybe my son can have it when he gets a little bigger.
Akassain= Nice kitty. Man can't wait till my work week is over i can go check the line, then go recon the old line for critter sign.
Your son will be asking for the rest of the the guns in no time! My boy is 11 got em a moose rife and he now wants to use my 375. They grow up to fast enjoy while you can.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1308:36 AM
Akassain- :-) haha ya got that right, started him with home made bow, now has a compound. Pellet/bb guns now has chipmunk .22 and a single shot 410. I drilled the rules of arms into them. As they are tools and they are dangerous. I maintain saftey rules with them at all times. My daughter and my son are going to join me on the bear stand hunts and moose hunting next fall. They sure do grow up fast though...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/28/1305:49 PM
Originally Posted By: akassassin
Your son will be asking for the rest of the the guns in no time! My boy is 11 got em a moose rife and he now wants to use my 375. They grow up to fast enjoy while you can.
How true it is my two boys apparently have mine all divided up waiting for me to croke I told them by the time I die they will only get 1 each as all the grand kids and great grands will each get one too
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/29/1301:59 AM
Looks like our dump, here. By the way, AKPP, I hear Pillar is rolling rocks at the cars again. Did that while I was there. Also around Gibson Cove, back when the Hakala was there.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/29/1305:21 AM
They congregate out at the Pasagshak River in the fall until the last of the salmon dry up in early to mid January (late coho run) and then they all descend on the town and dump. The pics were taken in the boat channel. Bad light so the pic quality isn't too good. The other day as I drove by cannery row on my way to do my checks there were at least 500 just on the cannery roofs and every tree was full. Pretty cool. AV, I went through the slide area right after the rocks took out the car. They were still cleaning it up. Pretty big rocks, end table size. They came down the middle of the slide and bounced over the retainer wall and landed right in front of some poor young lady... kaboom...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/29/1307:07 AM
Yes, one of the gut trucks that take the scraps to the bio dry plant left the top open briefly and dozens of them piled in. They rescued around thirty and something like thirty more smothered as they piled on top of each other.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/29/1310:47 PM
That is cooool. Was it accessible somehow? Bridge. For a couple hundred bucks you could of brought a pack raft back for some adventure!! Thanks for sharing WB. Entertaining as always. Speaking of entertaining. I am sitting in the Penn Air departure area in Anchorage airport. The flight to Dutch is getting ready to board. Talk about a diverse ethnic experience. Headed to McGrath to check out Barbs Skunk mittens. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1302:51 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
That is cooool. Was it accessible somehow? Bridge. For a couple hundred bucks you could of brought a pack raft back for some adventure!! Thanks for sharing WB. Entertaining as always. Speaking of entertaining. I am sitting in the Penn Air departure area in Anchorage airport. The flight to Dutch is getting ready to board. Talk about a diverse ethnic experience. Headed to McGrath to check out Barbs Skunk mittens. ;0)
Looks like someone has been over there by the looks of the snogo tracks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1304:54 AM
That is classic Alaska there is always something watching. When you got that feeling to look over your shoulder it's there just don't know what most of the time.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1307:36 AM
Yep, I know that I'm being watched more than I know,... as we all are. As far as the "rest of the story" goes,... that lynx was already hand-cuffed,... (as Kusko hinted at, by seeing my trail in the last 2 pictures). At least twice tho in my life, I can remember seeing a lynx like this at a set on the wrong side of the river, and came back later only to have an eaten rabbit in my trap,... so I always have to wonder a little. On this particular trail, I run the river up,.. circumvent a big lake, then cross it just below (to the left) of the first shot,.. then follow a trail thru the woods back. Here's the same cat at the set when I came back later that day after crossing the river. I just shoot right across the open water,... it never freezes here even at -50° or colder. Keeps all the sane people from following my trail,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1307:47 AM
I want to see a remake of that set? Or similar ;0) How do you go about dispatching with that long chain WB. Must make it interesting. Whats your method? Quite a mixed bag of animals there. What kind of milage you getting out of the this ACE.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1308:19 AM
Since you don't pull a sled, how do you tie all those on the snow machine to bring back? That's the pic I want to see, I just vision a stack of dead critters tied on the hood like rednecks do deer.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1310:49 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
I want to see a remake of that set? Or similar ;0) How do you go about dispatching with that long chain WB. Must make it interesting. Whats your method? Quite a mixed bag of animals there. What kind of milage you getting out of the this ACE.
My go-to set for the most part anymore is the pee-post. It works so good for me, is so fast & easy to make, can be made absolutely anywhere, and it catches everything,... what more does a person want? No lures to contaminate me & gear, no bait to pack around & attrack birds & other unwanted stuff, no CD's, flagging, tinsel & other trash to hang up,... everything in that last picture was caught in a pee-post except the marten. I use natural urines from many of the lynx, otherwise I buy meat-fed coyote urine w/glycerine added,... doesn't freeze until close to 0°F. With a few variations, I've turned this set into a killer wolverine set, when all they do is circle & rob baited cubbies & snap traps. Even if I get urine spilled or smell on my gloves, etc,... they're not contaminated like they would be with any other type of lure, etc. Sometimes when I'm setting up a wolf-kill area, I'll rub the bottom of my boots in urine just to be sure I'm not importing any bad smells. I definitely also use other types of sets too, depending on situations,, but my pee-posts make me think at times that I'm almost cheating,... cause they don't stand a chance.
This first picture shows one that is still like I made it,.. the red circle shows where the trap was,... pretty simple,... like every real estate agent says,... "Location,.. location,... location,..."
I just use an old wolf snare w/3 feet of #9 wire as the handle. It's not really an issue with the longer chain,.. if a lynx won't behave or hold still, I just start stepping on the chain to make it shorter & shorter til he's close enough,....
Here's a picture I found from 2005 when I took a couple friends on a line, and they took a snapshot of me putting the necklace on the kittie,... but I took a couple of them with it first,...
And my mileage from the Expo is a little better than the Tundra was,... on good trail conditions, right around the 20mpg mark,.. so I'm happy
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1311:02 AM
Originally Posted By: frozen okie
Since you don't pull a sled, how do you tie all those on the snow machine to bring back? That's the pic I want to see, I just vision a stack of dead critters tied on the hood like rednecks do deer.
Well, you'd be surprised at what I can fit in that box & on a machine without a sled. I've hauled out 4 wolves at one time with some other stuff and no sled. Here's a shot from last year with the same box, but on my Tundra with a 10 lynx-day in it, (9 trapped, 1 snared). This is the exact same box,.. it fit just perfect on the Expo as well. Just last week I carried a lynx, a cross fox, 2 marten & 2 ermine all "up on the dash",.. between my handlebars & the windshield,... couldn't see my gauges, but didn't need to. That's why I make the mods I do to my machines, so I can do that. Of course, if one snares everything and they're all frozen in bizzare shapes, then it's a different story,... then you have to worry about damage as well. There's no doubt that at times a cargo sled would be nice,... but for me & what I do & where I go,... it's usually not worth it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1307:25 PM
Awesome pictures, I will see about check a few of mine after tutoring today, hopefully have something. Got a few traps south of town and north of town that are close. Have a good feeling about the ones that i set south since my cousins and uncles that have trapped over that way have gotten quite a few marten there. Usually alot of sign can be found there. I came across some fresh tracks and have set for them this weekend. Need to try out some different lures. I have used hawbrakers lures but didn't seem to pull them in. So i ordered some blackies sugar babe, hopefully that will work out better. Going to bring my little brother along to after he gets his pin taken out of his arm, was broken during one of his wrestling matches in November. The kid he was wrestling was having difficulty with him so he jumped and land with all his weight on my brothers arm and broke it. My brother spent his money on traps without my parents knowing and were wondering why he ran out of money fast. Here he got a few number ones from the store and boiled them and skimmed the oil out and added some crisco to the pot and boiled them more and stored them outside the house. His pin will be coming out at the beginning of next month so I promised him I would bring him out and let him set. I bought him out last year and let hims set for lynx, got one in his set.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1308:10 PM
CRISCO ?? Now I know you folks that live and trap in the land of the midnite sun are known to be very, very good at improvising, etc. but this is a first for me. Wow!:-)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/30/1308:39 PM
Hi White17, I'va noticed that you are in McGrath AK, I was wondering if you remember me, Katie C. I used to live there, but now I'm here in Anvik with my dad.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1304:00 AM
Wow your brave to walk the chain down like that. I don't get no where near my lynx. I use a 8 foot pole with the lynx necklace. My lines to the trap never exceed 2 feet. That is my max length. I don't like broken legs, still get 1 every now and then though, and i to like no sled but one day maybe ill give in and try it out. Good job on the catches!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1304:10 AM
Originally Posted By: akassassin
Your son will be asking for the rest of the the guns in no time! My boy is 11 got em a moose rife and he now wants to use my 375. They grow up to fast enjoy while you can.
How true it is my two boys apparently have mine all divided up waiting for me to croke I told them by the time I die they will only get 1 each as all the grand kids and great grands will each get one too
Yup the dividing part usually happens fast my younger ones first claim was the 204 the older one the 375 I guess they discuss that kind of stuff alone, and agree!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1309:01 AM
Okay WB standing on the chain would get you within range. All I could envision was the cat racing from one end to another. So I know you have mentioned it before but why the long chains? Is it for the wolverine or do you actually prefer them for lynx also. I like mine short as well but usually are in alders etc and long chains means more broken legs as akassassin referred too. I have never set wide open like that for cats. Do you have luck setting under cover for cats with the pee post set in order to get some snow protection when possible or do their tracks dictate more where you choose to set since it is a pee post without bait? Do you use any stepping sticks at all?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1304:20 PM
I hear Ak Range has been bought out by Boondocks in Eagle River is this correct? If so that will certainly make getting there a bit easier in the future
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1304:41 PM
Originally Posted By: Yukonkatie
Hi White17, I'va noticed that you are in McGrath AK, I was wondering if you remember me, Katie C. I used to live there, but now I'm here in Anvik with my dad.
Heck yeah I do !!
For those who don't know Katie, she is one of the best kids I've known. She is an avid reader and pretty dang smart. I'm sure she will go far in life. Especially once she gets her pilots license.
Hey Katie, you know that Barb is on this forum too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1304:53 PM
Originally Posted By: otterman
I hear Ak Range has been bought out by Boondocks in Eagle River is this correct? If so that will certainly make getting there a bit easier in the future
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 01/31/1306:12 PM
Oh cool, do you know her user name? I'm hoping I can get my pilots license by the time I'm in high school. I never had any idea that so many people I know are on here...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/01/1305:29 AM
Originally Posted By: drasselt
Originally Posted By: otterman
I hear Ak Range has been bought out by Boondocks in Eagle River is this correct? If so that will certainly make getting there a bit easier in the future
I heard the same thing.
As of two weekends ago, Boondocks hadn't bought them out. Apparently Boondocks made an offer, but it wasn't accepted... at least not at that time.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/01/1308:39 AM
Quick question for you guys i was looking at the ATA membership page and wanted to know if the Lifetime membership came with the magazine also or without. I am planning on getting the lifetime but just wanted to make sure about this. Thanks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/01/1312:28 PM
Originally Posted By: tightlywound1
Quick question for you guys i was looking at the ATA membership page and wanted to know if the Lifetime membership came with the magazine also or without. I am planning on getting the lifetime but just wanted to make sure about this. Thanks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/01/1311:54 PM
Jus got in, reopened my trail reset my gear. Pretty uneventful. Some sign. Lots of moose counted 10. Last time was 11. odd no wolf sign on this run. But gear is reset and waiting.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/02/1302:12 AM
Thanks AKN, not a whole lot of sign on this run. Couple cat tracks, no marten sign, and a few fox wandering around. jus have to wait till the wolves come back through. Was thinking about pulling the line on next check and jus concentrate on wolves rest of the year. I still have to go hang my baitsicles where i want to predator call rest of the season. haha i can't wait till geese hunting season :-)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/02/1310:18 AM
For the first time in over 40 years of trapping,... I caught a deer mouse today in a marten box. This is still a little troubling to me,... because this species has never been around here before,... something has caused these guys to expand their range into this area,... and the foundation rule of science is that "every cause has an effect,..."
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1308:18 AM
WB, Some years I'll catch in excess of 200 of those Keen's Deer Mice in my marten sets. Marten here seem to thrive on them, along with the voles, so maybe you'll see a population boom??!!?? You may see more marten fur clipping, and you WILL see more bait theft, if those Deer Mice take off.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1311:57 AM
Originally Posted By: Familytrapper
Hope for you WB your marten population doubles due to the nature of so much more food availability. ;0)
Originally Posted By: trapped4ever
WB, Some years I'll catch in excess of 200 of those Keen's Deer Mice in my marten sets. Marten here seem to thrive on them, along with the voles, so maybe you'll see a population boom??!!?? You may see more marten fur clipping, and you WILL see more bait theft, if those Deer Mice take off.
Yeah, I hope you guys are right. Never seen a new species of anything show up before,... so it's just a little weird I guess. I've seen changes happen in the ocean over the years tho,... and it's not always for the best. But mice are for sure part of the base of the food chain, so as long as they don't bring any new diseases, etc with them, hopefully it will be a positive thing. Now I carefully check every little creature that ocasionally trips a trap,... but still it's mostly the red-backed vole,.. like this one today.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1312:23 PM
A few days ago I had what is normally a routine event turn a little exciting,... but I'll stick with routine, thank-you very much. I pulled up to a wolverine set,... a natural cubby baited with a deer hide, and I had a nice tom lynx in it.
I always take pictures of everything, I can't help it,... I just have to,... but it can get quite expensive, as I've watched everything from mink to wolves pulled out & get away as I'm pulling up to the set/taking pictures, etc. Anyway, this lynx was just sitting there, not moving or doing anything,... and I always look to see how well it's caught,... and as you can see, it was caught by at least 2 toes. 95% of my cats are almost always full-paw catches, but 2 toes on a lynx is fine,... that doesn't worry me, plus he was pretty docile,...
So, I unwrap my choker snare, had just slipped it over his head,... right as he made a lunge out of there,... and he popped right out of the trap!! I never even got to pull on him, he just sprang up & out and he was free!!
So, now I'm hanging onto this big tom lynx, which isn't attached to anything except me,... and he's flying around, going nuts. I swung him around a few times just to keep him away from me, but the snare almost slipped out of my hand doing that,... so, not knowing what else to do, I quickly ran the snare under the front suspension of my snow machine, so I could wedge him under there & pull him tight. Good thing lynx expire quickly & easily,... not sure I would have wanted to drag a live wolverine right into my machine like that,... (I did have this same thing happen once with a wolverine tho,.. but that's another story). He was just one more tug away from freeing himself,... but like they say,... all's well that ends well,....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1301:34 PM
That sounds like a heck of an adventure, but my mind wandered as soon as you said (I did have this same thing happen once with a wolverine tho,.. but that's another story) I just cant help but want to hear that one!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1303:44 PM
Man, to have seen a pic of your expression when the lynx got out of the trap
One time my partner and I drove up to a wolf set after a big snow, could see that we got a dead one and was a bump of snow in the trail, got about 10 ft to the bump when it exploded standing up, shook off and trotted away with the snare around it's neck into the brush and was gone!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/03/1306:47 PM
CC:
Thanks for the link.
I was aware of the threat, but dismissed it as a lower 48 problem ie: people messing around in old cabins contracted the virus and died. A few years ago, I cleaned out an old cabin that was loaded with droppings. I wore a mask and thought about the issue . I don't know if there is a realistic possibly that they could ever go state wide - but it is something to keep in mind.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/04/1306:58 AM
Pole is the ONLY way to go, i will NEVER EVER NEVER EVER take a snare around a lynx's neck and pull again after that one attacked me. I didn't think it was possible for a grown man to scream like a little girl, but with a lynx literally attacking you, I can only imagine what I sounded like.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/04/1307:13 AM
So am I the only one that shoots lynx and coyotes with the .22? If I get a real docile one I thump them and stand on there chest but that has back fired on me a couple times too. A lynx can make short work of a pair of Refrigerwear bibs. Seem easier just to shoot them and get it over, safely from behind cover while holding a backup weapon preferably with the machine running.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/04/1309:07 AM
Howler a 4 foot piece of 16 gauge wire with a simple sip loop on the end of a 4 foot alder is all I use. Didn't worry about keeping it longer than the day or if lost I just made another. Always had what it took. I like wire better than a snare as once the animal limps out you can quickly wind it on a branch and leave hang on is weight to do the rest of the choke hold. Harder to do with cable. You will be surprised at how fast it is. And no blood. I like the pole as it gives me more options when things go bad too.
WB that brought back some good memories. Like you I always am looking first at how it is caught. What happened. The two toes were nearly through and you could not tell?
Once when I was a kid in Montana it happened to my dad and a bobcat. He pulled on the snare and up came an unattached mad kitty. He kept him at bay at arms length but it cost him the front of his Arctic cat parka. ;0) It was pretty shredded up in front. He managed to get to his pistol and finish it. We all laughed when he got home and the stuffing was coming out all over the front of his coat.
I had one caught by a couple toes when I lived in Mt Village. Had my son and another boy with me. They hollered and said it was barely caught. I told them to just hold the 22 on it and shoot if it started fighting or got out. I got there and put my choker on it. Out it came. There happened to be a head high leaning pole right near me and I went up and over the top and put some distance between me and the cat. That was close.
Funny one was getting up to a cat that was snared by the back feet in a 1/16 snare. I was selling to taxidermy market and wanted photos. Actually had the video going also. Was just walking up to it and pop. There it went. My 5 year old daughter, on the video even. "Lynx run away!" Memories some time come with a price. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/04/1311:18 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Howler a 4 foot piece of 16 gauge wire with a simple sip loop on the end of a 4 foot alder is all I use. Didn't worry about keeping it longer than the day or if lost I just made another. Always had what it took. I like wire better than a snare as once the animal limps out you can quickly wind it on a branch and leave hang on is weight to do the rest of the choke hold. Harder to do with cable. You will be surprised at how fast it is. And no blood. I like the pole as it gives me more options when things go bad too.
WB that brought back some good memories. Like you I always am looking first at how it is caught. What happened. The two toes were nearly through and you could not tell?
Once when I was a kid in Montana it happened to my dad and a bobcat. He pulled on the snare and up came an unattached mad kitty. He kept him at bay at arms length but it cost him the front of his Arctic cat parka. ;0) It was pretty shredded up in front. He managed to get to his pistol and finish it. We all laughed when he got home and the stuffing was coming out all over the front of his coat.
I had one caught by a couple toes when I lived in Mt Village. Had my son and another boy with me. They hollered and said it was barely caught. I told them to just hold the 22 on it and shoot if it started fighting or got out. I got there and put my choker on it. Out it came. There happened to be a head high leaning pole right near me and I went up and over the top and put some distance between me and the cat. That was close.
Funny one was getting up to a cat that was snared by the back feet in a 1/16 snare. I was selling to taxidermy market and wanted photos. Actually had the video going also. Was just walking up to it and pop. There it went. My 5 year old daughter, on the video even. "Lynx run away!" Memories some time come with a price. ;0)
Yeah, I guess so,... all I could see is what you can see in the picture. I have no idea how many cats I've choked off over the years that were only caught by one toe, without issue. Once in a while I'll shoot one if it looks marginal,... but I just hate getting blood on stuff. I've even choked a couple cats caught in #1 marten traps,.. altho I wouldn't reccomend that,... I have used poles before, but since I rarely drag a sled around, packing a choker pole is kinda out of the question. Last year or the year before, I had 3 wolverines in one day, and my rifle had jammed itself out of commission, so I had to choke all 3 of them off,.. 2 in the dark,... that can be a rodeo. I think I have a picture or two of the one that got pulled out,... but I think it's on a slide,... in the 70's & 80's I was taking all slides,... but now I have a machine that converts slides/negatives & prints into digital,... so maybe one of these days I'll see if I can find them. I guess I'm not really too worried about a loose cat attacking me,.. if it tried, I think it's not too hard to swing it around & keep it off me,...but again,... I'm not looking for trouble. I would never have tried to choke this thing if I knew it was that close to escaping.
Here's a wolverine I caught earlier this winter that was caught by only 2 toes, but it wasn't doing much, it kept trying to balance on this small log sticking out of the bank, so with rifle in my lap, I still got some good pictures first,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1307:48 AM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
Cool pic, what trap is that? Looks pretty good sized.
Yeah, that one just kept trying to climb up on stuff,... each one has a different temperment, just like everything else. The trap is just a #4 Victor DLS,... nothing special. On the next check I had a nice tom lynx in this set.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1308:14 AM
And speaking of wolverines,... and odd-colored ones in particular,... a couple weeks ago I got one that is colored like none other that I can ever remember. It's actually a rather poor-quality specimen,... dark & not furred too well,... even damaged to some degree. I don't know how many of these things I've caught over the years, but I can't ever remember getting one before that did not have one single white/yellow/orange hair in his neck/chest area. Most taxidermists that I have dealt with have been as interested in those markings as much or more than the diamond. This just looked pretty weird compared to "normal" gulos,...
Even in the set, I could see he had a serious eye wound,... and it was badly infected, which no doubt affected his sight,... which would probably have contributed to his poor condition. I think this was the result of a fight, as I found no porcupine quills in his face when I peeled him.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1310:10 AM
Outstanding WB. I take it that water is relatively shallow. Yowza. I think I can see rocks. Does it make you pucker? A little warm spell might make it interesting. You seem to catch most of your wolverines in foottraps. How many gulos do you get that nibble on their toes? In those long chains do you ever get one that wants a piece of you? And nearly succeeds? ha ha. Do you walk the chain on the ones you choked out? Your reputation is growing by the photo. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1310:27 AM
Great pics WB, beautiful wolverine. Your trail makes mine feel safe. Good luck and be safe. That 4-stroke won't be near as easy to get running after it drowns as the 2-strokes.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1309:35 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Outstanding WB. I take it that water is relatively shallow. Yowza. I think I can see rocks. Does it make you pucker? A little warm spell might make it interesting. You seem to catch most of your wolverines in foottraps. How many gulos do you get that nibble on their toes? In those long chains do you ever get one that wants a piece of you? And nearly succeeds? ha ha. Do you walk the chain on the ones you choked out? Your reputation is growing by the photo. ;0)
Thanks Len,... In the above trail picture, after a warm spell dropped the ice out, I don't go around that point any longer, even tho it might look like I do. I do catch almost all my wolverines in footholds,... I would love to use 330's, but I just can't get too many of them to try & go thru one. Just like you have trouble getting marten to climb. Sometimes they will chew on their frozen toes as they're biting & chewing on the trap,... but more times than not, it's not too bad. You just can't use too big of a trap on wolverines,... if they can easily get under the jaws (like in wolf traps), they'll be damaged every time. But foot-caught wolverine will always be "altered" even when they don't chew,... in the picture of those 2 on the boards,... neither one had damaged themselves by chewing,... but it's very obvious what foot they were both caught on.
I have had a few times over the years with wolverines turning and charging me full-throttle and smacking into the end of the chain when I came up to the set. Those are usually the big, more aggressive males that have only been caught for a couple hours at the most. I don't usually take pictures of those. And no, I don't walk out on the chains with wolverines. If I have to choke off a wolverine or wolf, the hardest part is getting a snare over their heads,.. they both bite at anything that gets close. So, I usually poke & prod them with a stick for a little while at first until they finally stop biting at anything that gets close. But even then, occasionally I'll end up getting my snare stuck on their jaw. Then I have an even greater mess,.. because now I have to take a 2nd snare and run the first one thru it, to be able to get the 2nd one over it's head,... and to do that, I have to tie off the first snare to something to keep it somewhat tight & straight,.. and usually the critter doesn't care for all this fooling around,... that's when I tell myself to carry a back-up pistol from now on,... I can think of 3 different times when I have come up on a wolverine caught in a set & watched him pop out & take off,... 2 of those times I chased them down & got 'em anyways. I have some pictures of those too, somewhere.
The teeth on that "pirate" wolverine were fine,... which would indicate that he probably wasn't all that old.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1309:51 PM
Originally Posted By: Alaskan trapper
Nice wolverine. Do you have any pictures of your sets before having an animal in them?
Not really,... altho I'm sure I have a few somewhere,... but I have more than a few of what they do to sets afterwards,... even in the last couple weeks,...
Here's a couple examples of sets that caught a lynx first, then a wolverine second. The lynx had been caught for a least a few days,.. and hadn't even packed down a full circle yet. Then the next check had a smaller female wolverine that had been caught that night,... less than 12 hours prior,... and was already into the dirt,..
And here's another example. Nice lynx one trip,... then a trip or two later,... and HOLY SMOKES! Looks like the wolverine tried to build an igloo while he was camping here,....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/05/1310:15 PM
Was that bottom picture a back foot catch ?
That pirate is quite the critter. AAArrg !
The ones that amaze me are the ones that look like they are break dancing on the corner. Constantly in motion, and flipping on their backs & lunging. Love it !
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1312:47 AM
Reminds me of when I used to catch badgers in Montana. Wow can they excavate the ground. WB I was a bit confused by this statement.
Quote:
You just can't use too big of a trap on wolverines,... if they can easily get under the jaws (like in wolf traps), they'll be damaged every time.
You say you can't use too big a trap yet if they are big they chew every time. Am I reading it right that- Big is good for catching but bad for damage. So what is the compromise? #9 good for catching, bad for chewing damage. #4 victor not as good for catching, better for doing less foot damage?
Have you ever used a tipup for wolverine? Found out that a man in Holy Cross uses them routinely from what his son said? Be interesting to try and use a #9 on a tipup for wolverine.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1312:54 AM
I believe he means you should NOT use too big a trap because it allows space for them to get their muzzle beneath the jaws.
Just from my limited experience it can have a lot to do with the configuration of the jaws. Some are taller than others even though the trap is nominally the same size. For example...the CDR 750 has more room under the jaws than the MB750. Consequently, IMO, the MB750 is superior in that application.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1301:03 AM
I am sort of surprised that a #4 Victor would be a trap used for wolverine, actually. Though I am sure that my limited sucess with gulo has something to do with that. While I have a few of them, and have used them many, many times over the years for beaver and otter in drowning sets, I never considered them a wolverine trap. Care to comment?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1301:43 AM
I've caught and held more wolverine in a #4 than any other foot trap. Mb750's are good too, but they are a big trap, so trap damage tends to be worse. But we've had this conversation before. I've only ever caught a couple wolverine in foot traps that didn't at least damage their claw tips or tips of the toes. Back foot catch is definetly better than front though. I've only ever caught 2 wolverine in #9's. One was gone and the other was something I wouldn't want to describe on here. Just way to much trap.....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1308:01 AM
Originally Posted By: white17
Was that bottom picture a back foot catch ?
Well,... I will never know,.. he got away. This was a case of the worst timing possible. It was a little longer between checks on this set, because I had frozen my cheeks last time,.. it was around -40°, so I had left this set go. Anyway, this wolverine had to have gotten caught within hours of my last visit because of snow conditions, and because of new snow less than 12 hours from this visit, he had escaped just hours before I arrived now. I suppose that's it's somewhat natural to assume that making a snowpile like this would require both front feet to be digging,.. but I don't think one can determine that. I very seldom catch a wolverine by a hind foot, but I looked at the few pictures of the ones that I have gotten in the last few years, and the snow piles they dig with both front feet vs one is not really different. Snow depth, brush, time in the set, individual temperment, etc all will affect how much a wolverine destroys a set. The fact is,... I really don't have any other pictures of a snow pile at a set quite like what this guy just did,... at least with just this little amount of snow,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1309:11 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Reminds me of when I used to catch badgers in Montana. Wow can they excavate the ground. WB I was a bit confused by this statement.
Quote:
You just can't use too big of a trap on wolverines,... if they can easily get under the jaws (like in wolf traps), they'll be damaged every time.
You say you can't use too big a trap yet if they are big they chew every time. Am I reading it right that- Big is good for catching but bad for damage. So what is the compromise? #9 good for catching, bad for chewing damage. #4 victor not as good for catching, better for doing less foot damage?
Have you ever used a tipup for wolverine? Found out that a man in Holy Cross uses them routinely from what his son said? Be interesting to try and use a #9 on a tipup for wolverine.
Yeah, what I meant was,... more jaw spread is good for getting a better grip,... but more jaw spread is bad for more self-inflicted damage.
When Dean Wilson first bought the #9 trap business from Ted Manning in the 80's, him & I went over the whole process and I helped him re-design the parts jigs so we could make the traps faster than one at a time. And in the process of doing this, we had designed what was going to be the Alaskan #7,... a spittin' image of the #9, only a smaller version with a 7" jawspread,... what we hoped might be the ultimate wolverine trap. The main difference was going to be a double-jaw design,.. where a wolverine had no access to his foot beneath the jaws, as much as is possible to make, yet the lightning speed of the #9, and with enough jawspread that snapped & empty traps was going to be a thing of the past. Well, after after getting prices on all the pieces, plus re-tooling costs, etc., this was going to cost almost as much as a #9,... and we both felt that not too many guys were going to be willing to pay $80-$90 for a wolverine trap, so it never happened.
Once a wolverine is caught, he's gonna be biting at everything,... and I don't think they even realize that they are biting their own toes once they freeze & can't feel anything. So, having a low-height trap where they just can't get their mouth/teeth under the jaws of the trap is what you want to prevent toe damage. Jump traps are good in this way, as the underspring restricts access to their toes, but I hate jumps, and you'll almost always get poor foot holds in jumps (at least that has been my experience). And I agree with the others,... a #9 is guaranteed to have major foot damage every time,... and a toe or two catch with that much offset is a pullout waiting to happen.
IMHO, a good compromise is the biggest jawspread with the smallest access,... and one trap that I have & like quite well on wolverines, is the Victor #3 coilspring. It has a jawspread that is the same width as a #4 DLS, but slightly less height. (See pictures). When set, they are virtually identical in dimensions, but it's the closed dimensions that's important for this discussion. I'd rather have a wolverine by 2 toes in a trap where he can't touch them, than a full-paw catch, but he can get his whole head underneath the jaws. I'm kinda old-school,... my standard trap is still the #4 Victor DLS, because that's what I got even before I was out of school,... back then that was about all there was. I have never owned any of the newer Bridgers, etc, so I might be missing out on something that is better than what I'm using, I don't know.
I would love to try some tip-ups on wolverines,... I think that would be a cool thing, and sometime soon I'm gonna make some. I have had a couple wolverines climb into trees after getting caught, then jump or fall out, and hanging there frozen. I don't know why, but it never dawned on me all these years to try tip-ups,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1309:35 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
I am sort of surprised that a #4 Victor would be a trap used for wolverine, actually. Though I am sure that my limited sucess with gulo has something to do with that. While I have a few of them, and have used them many, many times over the years for beaver and otter in drowning sets, I never considered them a wolverine trap. Care to comment?
Well, I'm sure that a Victor #4 is not the best wolverine trap by any standards, but it surely is adequate. I can only think of one time that I had a wolverine pull the jaws out of one, and it was a brand-new trap, and one jaw was broken, so I think it was a defect. I always carry spare pans & dogs in my parka, as they can & do tear parts off. I don't know what else to say,... I've probably stretched over 100 wolverines with this trap. Years ago, even back in the bounty days, no one cared about toe damage, since all wolverines were used for sewing purposes,.. color & hair length were the main things.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1309:44 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
WB I wish you had the remake of that last set. ;0)
Well,... here's the remake,... that snow pile was as hard as a rock! You had to pound your heel into it just to make a mark. All I could do now was chisel a hole into it & make a baited snow-hole set, but I doubt that it'll catch anything for the rest of the season. It's going to be a royal pain to get my trap off that tree in a couple weeks. This set was originally a pee-post set next to my trail.
Sorry to everyone,... I didn't mean to hog this thread & tie it up with just my stuff,... I guess I should have started a seperate thread for all this,....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1312:16 PM
Conveying useful and helpful information in no way constitutes "hogging a thread!" Bring it on!
Btw, my favorite gulo trap (for all the reasons already related, including preventing under-jaw nibbling) is the 48 Newhouse. The size of a #4; the strength of NH, plus teeth.
The worst problem of course is that they are a hard trap to find to purchase. I've grabbed up just about every one I've come across that was for sale, and still have less than 3 dozen of 'em!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1308:02 PM
Thanks for sharing Wolverine Bait. Great photos. I caught a wolverine a few years ago in a #5 Bridger dls. The jaws were resting on the wrist bone and there was nothing left below that. Definetly way to much space inside the jaws. I had a bunch of those traps from my open water beaver trapping days down south and used it because I know its very powerful. I have some # 4 Victor dls and will try them.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1309:39 PM
Thanks for sharing this adventure for you saying hoggin it's not I hope all you show what's going on in your neck of the woods helps us become more efficient trappers, and me and my family love the pics and stories.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/06/1309:45 PM
I know a guy who has trapped one heck of a lot of wolverine his go to trap is a fully modified Victor #3 coil. The big reason no room to chew as all of his stuff is sold taxidermy. He doesn't use conis and takes 4-8 a year
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1302:17 AM
Quote:
Sorry to everyone,... I didn't mean to hog this thread & tie it up with just my stuff
I can see everyone is mad WB. Outstanding as always. I laughed when I saw the remake as I asked for. Thanks. When are you going to host a WolverineBait slideshow for us trappers with the low hanging tongues? You should put on a slide show at the Fling. Make it a side booth for people to view. Would be a great addition. Wolverine are something we just don't get to see a lot of photos alive in a trap. Do you take much video? I have quite a few of those #3 victors that my buddy base plated and swiveled. I thought they would make a good wolverine trap and now I know. Thanks.
For those of you new to the forum this year I just want to bring up some additional recognition for WB that has already been given. It is this type of sharing and extra effort on WB's part around the state in the past that last year earned him Alaska Trapper of the Year. Thanks Dave for sharing such great photos and information.
Speaking of fling and Wolverine Traps. Last year at the fling a trapper was showing a modification he was making to I believe the SleepyCreek 4.5
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1305:12 AM
Originally Posted By: 92z
What's a fair price in the NH 48's. Found a dozen with chains, drag and the ring on the chain. I think that's how they came.
All the #48 NH I own, or have ever seen came stock with about a 5' chain and ring. Either stamped link, or twist link NH chain and ring, never seen one stock with a drag. Are you sure they are #48's, and not 4 1/2 NH?? Prices vary widely, but within the last 10 years, I've been paying $30-$75 each for #48's, depending upon condition, and of course, asking price I find them unbeatable for an otter foothold.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1308:27 PM
Ok I understand what the short height is needed for the others I stated all have height on em, work good for lynx. I see why the others will work good. Tough mean looking animal to try to hold. Wish I could get 1 someday.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1308:30 PM
How do you cover the long spring trap and still get it to fire in snow ? I had a long spring #4 bridger and it snapped half way and missed the lynx. Sold em all and stuck with the bridger #3 coils.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1308:43 PM
Have any of you guys tried Caven's Violater 7 K-9 lure up here for fox? I bought an ounce of it this week and when I went to the post office I could smell it when I went to the pick up window! The bottle was taped shut, sealed in plastic, wrapped in paper, and boxed. The lady was only too glad to have me pick it up...lol! Not sure if it will be too loud or how they will react. Feedback requested...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/07/1308:55 PM
I tried it year before last. The K9's in my area hate the smell of skunk and will do a 180 when they smell it. Might work in your area though. Be careful, the bears LOVE skunk!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/08/1301:16 AM
I tried to not cover for lynx but they just paw at the jaw and leave, I cover and bam! Next day it was Rollin! Poor sign after the big storms. Hope we have some good weather. I use hair trigger always with light coat of snow or if I think it's gonna harden to much jumbo cupcake cups with light coat of snow.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/08/1307:23 PM
Thanks to those who chimed in on the Violater 7. I left it in the cab yesterday and when I got back in to drive to classes last night I got violated. It has a special place in the back of the truck now. I put a little dab near a couple of brush pile sets I have out so we'll see. I also have some slightly tainted rabbit parts inside the brush piles.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/09/1312:36 AM
Pawpincher, that stuff is hard for us road trapper types to use. Even in the back of the truck you forget it and go into town and sure enough unwanted attention.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/09/1307:11 AM
Yeah he wasn't happy, took a swing at my pole. Right it the cold wind NE wind to see the snowy face. I felt I had to check today cause the storm was just gonna hit, the weekend is shot storm hit already. Was snowing with blowing snow on the way home, tail wind. Was worth it good ride.
need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/09/1307:26 AM
Ok, I have some ammo I want to sell that I inherited but am not sure which 7.62 it is, so Im stuck with it...
I know there are some .39, .54?, etc, but I don't see the markings on the case?
Don't want to open a tin...But have like 4 of the green tins and 2 of the stainless still...IF I did my research right, it looked like 440 rounds of 7.62 x 54...BUT, before I ship them, etc, I'd like someone on here that KNOWS their ammo to help me out!
<a href="http://s138.beta.photobucket.com/user/jssbastiat/media/green762.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/jssbastiat/green762.jpg" border="0" alt="7.62 ammo photo green762.jpg"/></a>
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/09/1307:52 PM
I'm in the bush for those of you wondering why White17 would ask about this....I just flew in 1000 rds of 223 via Era at NO CHARGE cause it was luggage, freaking awesome! IF, i had shipped it via 'freight', i'd had to pay the hazmat fee and per pound fee...or, I could ship them via the barge this june to Fairbanks...So, hopefully will sell to someone in Fairbanks...
You know what we need here in Alaska...an ammunition coop, non=profit!...where we all put our orders together to ship in via barge, screw the gun shops gouging prices! Although Wild West guns in Anch is selling .223 at $425 a thousand!!!! You can call and put down 100 bucks to secure 1000 rds only, no more...it took my order 2 weeks to get in....they will take it to the airlines for a small fee, then you pay the hazmat fee, freight fee, etc...I happen to be down there when it came in so I got lucky!
They also had .40, .45, 762X39 and .44 by the case also!
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/09/1308:46 PM
I asked about 'reloading' supplies and the guy said no...
I'll never again be in this position, period...got my dies pieced mealed, used, from all over the US...got my brass...no powder, lead or primers yet...although a buddy has some he's gonna sell me for my 7mag and 45...But, stuck on the 223 issue as far as powder/lead/primers go...
But, from here on out, I'll have a double set of dies, enough powder/primers/brass/lead to reload 1000 rounds for the next time the fascists' within our government do this crap again! Dept. Homeland Security just purchased 7000 fully auto AR15's and hundred's of millions of more rounds of ammo!
In the last couple years now, DHS has purchased over 2 billion rounds....What do they need this much for? I'm sorry, but are the so called terrorist hitting our domestic soil that hard and often? did the 'under wear bomber' require thousands of rounds to take down? OR, are they cornering the market to raise prices OR, hmmmm, are they preparing for something else involving US citizens??? HEY, that's all I can figure...9/11 did not take one round of ammo, nor the underwear bomber, etc, etc....
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/10/1302:27 AM
Is it difficult to transport powder and ammunition through Canada, I have a friend who lives in AK off and on who will be heading back up this spring. I bet he would haul some stuff up if it wasn't too much of a hassle to get it through Canada.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/10/1303:02 AM
WOW I think they'd put you in jail just for thinking about it. Seriously though I have no idea. The bigger problem is getting it from Anchorage to the outlying areas in a economical manner.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/10/1305:20 PM
Originally Posted By: DT7
Is it difficult to transport powder and ammunition through Canada, I have a friend who lives in AK off and on who will be heading back up this spring. I bet he would haul some stuff up if it wasn't too much of a hassle to get it through Canada.
It is a hassle legally... Last time when I moved up the law was 200 rounds only! Then any more than that you had to pay duty on(tax).. Now im not sure how much that was/is, but the extra hassle might not be worth it. I'm going to have to look into it again soon for specifics myself. If you know anyone who is flying up and has room in their checked bag that's the way to go. The ammo needs to be in the original container or in one of the plastic boxes for reloading. I believe it's about a 14 lb limit, alot more than Canada allows w/o tax!
Powder and primers is a no-no last time I heard for either route taken.... When dealing with any bulk they limit you like this since its explosives.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/10/1306:11 PM
Well I came into town to testify for the BOG meeting. I presented all the non-cherry picked Data that is/was not going to be presented. Nobody was happy. Got the Bum's rush! Your welcome Alaska! Hopefully, I did not waste my time. Now,I will watch as they try to obtain their minimum moose harvest objective on a paper moose population. That will be interesting in the next few years. LOL
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/10/1306:25 PM
Well, all the BOG members are at least aware of the facts. I know the new Area Biologist wasn't going to present them, as he apparently was unaware. The pissing match between me and the Chair caused the Chair to openly admit that the moose Census down south was Bologna. Hopefully, the ruckus I caused will be remembered a week from now when they actually deliberate on issues I testified about. I don't know if my strategy worked. Time will tell. LOL
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/11/1312:16 AM
Well, Ted is one to think about stuff after the meetings, and if it is in fact a righteous cause, I can't imagine a better friend. There are other BOG members that are pretty savvy when it comes to moose and predators, as well. My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that while it won't all go the way the guy on the ground would like it to, right now is one of the best chances we as harvesters have had in a LONG time. As a group, I, personally, am as happy as can be with the current members. As a P.S., I had, what was very important to me, a proposal shot down just last month by this board. I will try again, with different strategy and more data.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/11/1308:35 PM
Looks like a cat WB! Pretty Marten! Had a visitor at my brush pile sets over the weekend (with the Violator 7) Uncovered both piles and ate the bait and set off one trap (a swing and a miss). No snow to tell for sure it was a fox and not a bear. Reset and hopefully I get another crack at it if it was a fox. Only a couple of bears out and about right now. Not much time for trapping right now. Trapper (the dog) had to have his dew claws removed and was neutered at the same time so he needs a puppy sitter for a few weeks so he doesn't hurt himself. Good time just to experiment with a few sets close to the house.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/12/1304:49 AM
I like the duke number 3, use it for lynx, have been using duke number 2s the first few years. Gotten some number fours, found them to be a little too much trap, use them when the snow falls and covers them, I set the 2s on poles and in places where the snow don't pile up from wind. Use number three with cubbies and trail sets. I like the 280 bgs for wolverine, have gotten a couple lynx in them. I have started using snare pens last year and really like them, saw them on the wild north that andrew uses. Use 3/32 snare wire with sure locks, was thinking of getting some cam locks and trying them out. Haven't started setting snares until this weekend, snow had to fall after I set them. probably will have to dig out the snow to make them opperable again. I will probably try getting bridgers when i have more moneys to buy them. I like the way the traps look.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/12/1304:53 AM
Did a line check today and ended up with a mighty ermine in a number one. Some fox sign, some lynx sign out there. No wolf/marten sign. Had a miss on a hanging bait. Bait gone, and trap snapped. Tomorrow i guess i'll go cut portage all day and try get this new loop put in out the cabin. I'll add a few traps out there as far as i went. Hoping to get over this ridgline that is super thick. Gonna ba a long day tomorrow.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/12/1304:58 AM
Bridger 5'S , dukie's 4'S, MB 750W, Vic #1's, 110's, 330's, 14 victor's, odds and ends #3's and 4's for the cat sets. I tend to go bigger in my hanging bait sets in case a gulo visits. A majority of my sets are hanging baits. 1/8th Snares for Wolves. In no particular order.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/13/1301:00 AM
You know my 2 cents for a trapper just starting out and who wants the biggest bang for his or her buck with traps is to buy used. I have been amazed at the money I have saved on buying used traps compared to new. They all catch fur. Some better than others. Bottom line is the more traps you have out there the more fur you bring home. I would rather have a few swing and misses with 200 sets than none with 3 doz.
Cats -Bridger #3 for the price. But I have some #3 victor that are decked out that are very nice. To pricy to buy new. Marten. Conibears I am a 110 duke fan for my pots. Foot traps. Old Blake and Lamb #1 I picked up a duke #0 the other day and was amazed at how weak the spring was compared to traps I have that are 30 years old. I don't have any #0 actually to compare but felt that if I did the duke #0 would be on the weak side.
Beaver 330 any style will do as I trap under water. Bridger, duke. I like to get as many traps as I can for the price. Otter 330 any style. Duke, Bridger are fine if under water.
Everyone has to buy and run what they are comfortable with. For me I had an objective and stuck with that. It seemed to work out okay.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/13/1304:51 AM
#4 coilspring for cats, I use mostly dukes, and have held wolverine in one with only a half paw catch. I use #5 bridgers though in what I figure to be the higher gulo possible zones. Have some MB-750's I am trying for wolves, and I am not sure I like them for that application. They are a good tough trap-but they seem to come through the snow a little slow.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/13/1305:59 AM
Well my turn, I use duke 220 for otter when I can find them, and my favorite #3 bridger os cs for lynx and been trying but no luck yet haven't struck with em bridger #1 long spring for marten. Them little guys must run all over. The #1 look like a burly trap, but I havent seen really any other #1 traps. I am with FT I do need more steel to lay out.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/13/1302:56 PM
Used to fish salmon out of Sand Pt. Len. Have not been there in quite a few years.
Finally made it up into the area I usually trap yesterday just a few days before lynx season closes. Lots of sign just have to get them next year. The ice was never safe to travel until a few days ago since it has been so warm this year. Did find this nice set of sheds right after I saw the old owner. Always find a few antlers up in here. I hope to turn these into a new GPS.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/13/1307:00 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
You know my 2 cents for a trapper just starting out and who wants the biggest bang for his or her buck with traps is to buy used. I have been amazed at the money I have saved on buying used traps compared to new. They all catch fur. Some better than others. Bottom line is the more traps you have out there the more fur you bring home. I would rather have a few swing and misses with 200 sets than none with 3 doz.
Cats -Bridger #3 for the price. But I have some #3 victor that are decked out that are very nice. To pricy to buy new. Marten. Conibears I am a 110 duke fan for my pots. Foot traps. Old Blake and Lamb #1 I picked up a duke #0 the other day and was amazed at how weak the spring was compared to traps I have that are 30 years old. I don't have any #0 actually to compare but felt that if I did the duke #0 would be on the weak side.
Beaver 330 any style will do as I trap under water. Bridger, duke. I like to get as many traps as I can for the price. Otter 330 any style. Duke, Bridger are fine if under water.
Everyone has to buy and run what they are comfortable with. For me I had an objective and stuck with that. It seemed to work out okay.
Boy! I don't know if I could deal with a Partner that may be more frugal (That's "Cheap" for the vocabulary challenged) than me.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/14/1302:29 AM
akassassin next time you come to BET load the plane with them, i know a guy who may pay 5 bucks a pound If they are still brown, and no skull plate attached of course.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/14/1303:21 AM
Wow we got some good piles all what we shot though, I've only found 2 sheds one year when we had no snow but now we have been pounded got a good snow year. Might be hard to stick some of our racks on the plane even if we cut in half. Long points and kinda wide 40-53" widest in the yard is 67" I might be wrong might be wider. I never knew they were worth anything if I had know. I'd take better care too many loose dogs out here chew some of them up. Them are nice sheds though. It is awesome what we trappers get to see. Never know what's gonna happen when we head out.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/14/1304:36 AM
Decoy, that system while not my planned permanent hitch has been that way for three years now. It works fine and has not caused me any problems except when unhooking under water it is not quick and easy like a pintle. The sled is great and for the most part I tow it always. It has saved me from going all the way down through holes in the ice and is nice for hauling extra traps etc. This trip was just a short check and joy ride to look for horn so it is pretty empty. Not much for other extras, a duct taped on summit windshield, chunk of plywood to keep all my junk on the dash, and a plywood saw scabbard permanently attached to the rack.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/15/1302:14 PM
WB, we had a weasle this week that had also tangled with a porky a while back. Had a few on the outside, including one through a front paw, that were easy to see. Was amazed at the ones I didn't see until skinning, including one all the way into his guts and healed in, several under the skin in the front legs, and one small quill in his nasal cavity. Those suckers sure are fearless, but pay a price for a try at a meal.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/16/1303:30 AM
Nice one Jeff!
We just got good news that the FBI arrested a suspect for the double homicide at the CG COMSTA that occurred last year. The guy worked in the same shop as the victims.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/16/1304:46 AM
Jeff, had a cat last week that came to a yj set, stopped 4" short of the trap. It was elevated just slightly, he just didn't step up there. I rearranged a bit, hopefully he comes back.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/16/1306:11 AM
Originally Posted By: akpawpincher
Nice one Jeff!
We just got good news that the FBI arrested a suspect for the double homicide at the CG COMSTA that occurred last year. The guy worked in the same shop as the victims.
Thanks..and I did see that on the news I hope they hang em high.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/16/1308:59 AM
ST you said it stopped 4" from the trap, did you only make a trail up to your trap? If you did its not a YJ set. Look at Jeff's pic again. You can see his trail goes atleast 10 feet past the trap from the angle it don't look far but it is. When the cat makes it there and isn't interested, gonna keep going down the nice packed trail, usually doesn't make it, snap right on top of the mound. I use to make the same mistake cost me a few, not anymore. Can't be lazy to go the extra 10-15 feet past the trap.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/18/1301:24 AM
My set was pretty open, he told me not to fence it too much. The wing was hanging with a trap underneath on a small mound, only subtle guiding. I see the walk through style, I will adjust next time out there. I like trying new things. That set looks good, yj! I see your catch pole in operation there too.
I love the efficiency of snares on lynx, not much disturbance here, just a few sticks out of place.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/18/1301:47 AM
akas,I like the Bridger 3's for cats too, I've got a bunch of them. Here's one in a rebuilt #3. Keep hanging out with yj, you might be able to teach him a thing or two.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/18/1307:43 AM
Oh no I have nothing to teach Jeff, all I do when I trap is what he taught me. 100% of my lynx knowledge for foot traps I got from him. I'm but a simple student that listened carefully, most of the time, trapping my self was one part I didn't hear, but pain will make you remember it all. Lol.
Re: need help identifying 7.62 ammo for sale - 02/18/1307:49 AM
You know I was wondering what is to close for each others lines? Reason I ask I got a guy who knows I got a few lynx, and by mistake he came across my sets and just my luck there was a lynx in it. Now for that sight he saw he has sets above and below me 3-4 miles in both ways of the tree line. What would you guys do? It's been pretty productive for him the last few days, but not for me. In a way by fishing standards he "corked me". This is the cat he saw wish he didn't.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/18/1308:49 AM
Mine, he was coming from the village down river trying to find a smooth trail home and saw a trail goin up the bank, stopped and walked up, there she was. After that he made many sets around me.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/18/1308:54 AM
You could try and talk to him, but that might not make a difference. One thing you could do is just be smarter than him and catch the cats before they get to his sets.....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/18/1307:43 PM
Was hoping to get out today, had to put it off lad is home ill today. near -40 out there anyway. Hold off till tomorrow. Kinda anxious to lure up the sets with pacific call lure.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1304:22 AM
Originally Posted By: akassassin
Oh no I have nothing to teach Jeff, all I do when I trap is what he taught me. 100% of my lynx knowledge for foot traps I got from him. I'm but a simple student that listened carefully, most of the time, trapping my self was one part I didn't hear, but pain will make you remember it all. Lol.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1309:07 AM
Had an awesome trip home today from Sand Point. Barely made it out due to weather. Had to land in King Salmon on the way home to get fuel. Thought I would show you that neck of the woods from 10-15,000 feet. Here is a number of photos in a story form. Not too thrilled about how it came out. http://s85.beta.photobucket.com/user/lfabich/story/10743
Coming into Bristol Bay.
Photo was take some where above where UgashikBob lives. Braided river outside King Salmon
King Salmon
Exit of Lake Iliamna
Thought this photo was cool. Looks like a fish on this lake.
Upper end of Iliamna Lake Looking towards Nehalen. Where trees come down to the lake.
Okay. Otterman what is this. Upper end of the lake. The next few photos show something I can't explain.
Looks like Mars. Frost heaving of some kind?
This looks to be in front of Pedro Bay on the upper end of the lake
Looking towards Port Alsworth.
Some rough country
Ronaround!!! I found you your own little slice of heaven. Might even have some hot springs as the river was open.
West side of cook inlet
Cook inlet. If you look close you will see oil platforms out there in the ocean.
Almost to Anchorage. Mt McKindly in the background.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1301:46 PM
Nice Len ! I really like those odd shapes in those specific pix. Nature rarely does things in lines that are that straight. Fault lines immediately come to mind.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1303:27 PM
Sorry Len but I can't help you I am not familiar with that country at all. Maybe one of the guys who is from Igigaguik that was posting on here last year will chime in. That river you pictured doesn't look like the Ugashik but hard to tell in the winter possibly the one out of Egegik ??? was there a village at the mouth and if so was it on the King Salmon side of the river? That Iliamna Lake country is beautiful lots of wolves, wolverine and other fur I haven't been over there in around 4 yrs. It is expensive unless you take a $1500 charter you have to go ANC then back to Iliamna and it still cost a bunch
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1304:06 PM
I was just guessing that it was about Ugashik at it would have been out the other side of the plane. It is just a shot of ice on Bristol Bay outside the approx location of Ugashik. When we touched down in King Salmon I loaded up the local area maps on my iPhone and had a lot more to go on for the trip. Next time I am going to have google earth and my topo maps loaded. I was like a little kid looking out the window. The right side of the plane would have been cooler but it was still very cool. I really want to find out about the Mars phenomena. Fault line Ken? I believe it is on the lake ice. Or shallow end of Lake Ice. Do they get any tidal fluctuation there? I don't think so but it looks to be from the lake dropping and something forming. Perhaps over some kind of fault lines but they are relatively small. It was pretty darn cool thats for sure. I have looked out a LOT of plane windows in the last 28 years and I have never seen anything like that. Otterman do the villages around iliamna produce many trappers?
Waterrat where are you?? Your on the Lake somewhere? Fill us in.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1304:15 PM
Okay I got home at 8 pm from Sand Point visited with my kids and shopped and am in the airport now at 7:30 am for my flight to St Marys. Sleeping in my bed for at least one night was nice. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1304:47 PM
I couldn't make it out well enough to realize that was on the lake. Maybe just pressure ridges ?
Come to think of it I saw something similar many years ago (there's your cue Kusko). On another large lake when the wind would get really strong during freeze-up, it would actually tear large pieces of young ice out of the water and blow them into berms against stronger ice. It built ridges very similar to those. They were fairly well aligned too because the really strong winds came from the same direction. I'm talking winds between 50-100 mph. I was in a wall tent at the time. Talk about nerve wracking !
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/19/1305:31 PM
I think what White was trying to say was a Labyrinth.....yes, that is what him and Daedalus were helping create many years ago for the King Minos......
Now, the people of Iliamna are attempting to recreate it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/20/1307:20 AM
The Lake has froze and broken up about 5 times this winter. the berms are huge piles of jumbled ice with bad ice in between, we can usually travel from end to end on the ice but this winter only the bays that froze-up early are smooth enough and safe enough to get around on. A great big impassable mess!
Every village has a serious trapper or 2 and a few wanna-be's that catch all the loose dogs. We are far enough away to not have any competition and more available land to trap than we can manage. It started raining about Christmas here and everyone pulled by the 1st of the year,now I may get a few sets out for 3 weeks or so as the animals are almost in my yard. We have over the years taken 3 wolves,3 wolverines, and 6 lynx on the ice in front of our house!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/21/1308:21 AM
Got to talk to a Siberian Yupik trapper today...poor guys get horrible prices for marten, 24 euros. I'll pick his brain more, he wants to check my line with me. My job is awesome!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/22/1303:08 AM
That's what happens in a foreign country. Government makes all the money they can't sell to who they want only the government, they can do black market but risky. Had to talk metric measurements. He was amazed at a coni trap. They can't trap wolverine no traps worth using on them. To weak. He was amazed at the 375 h&h bullets I had in my pocket, he wished he could have a rifle like mine. Stuck with a sks. Pistols illegal for them. I gonna get interviewed by them this week and show a small part of my line. He don't like snowmachines, he rides a reindeer sled. Lotsa stuff we talked about.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/22/1308:36 AM
Hey guys. I did put this in the Trap Shed, but it don't hurt to cover bases. I'm looking to buy a 19 foot Grumman or similar square stern canoe. Already have a motor, just need the boat. PM me if you have one or know somebody who wants to sell one. Willing to drive a bit from Fairbanks, have cash in the bank.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/24/1307:29 AM
Got this big female today. Only after I got home and took a look at her I noticed she has very worn down teeth first time I ever seen that. Must be a very old cat. 4th cat right in this spot this season, 3 on the the same tree.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/26/1306:12 AM
very nice cats, the season ain't so fortunate for me this year on cats, busy with work and tutoring, not enough time to maintain line and set more snares for them. Finally got me some snare wire and supplies to making snares, got to set a bunch this weekend if I don't hunt for caribou.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/26/1307:00 AM
That Fool- Sounds Fun hunting for caribou. I planned a few hunts to drive north couple hundred miles to hunt but it never went through. Buncha buddies go, have fuel/gear haulers and a few riders along. Leave like midnight and do a all night ride north. Hunt the day time. And return the next night. But it never worked out. it would be a fun trip. See if i can make it work one of these years. My line been real slow last 2 months or so. Hoping it picks up sometime. Luck out there.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/27/1305:10 AM
lucky!!! I only have a few days till it closes here. End of february for marten, fox and lynx. Wolf and gulo till end of april i think. We tried to extend the season to middle of march but the game board shot it down. Maybe next board meeting it'll come up again to keep it open longer.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/27/1305:18 AM
Yeah few days! Month isn't long for trapping gonna fly by, then the wait game begins, till next season. I go all out the last month, mating season for lynx.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 02/28/1307:12 AM
Fish I have had it stuck 4 times all pretty similar in depth of snow. I just gotta remember if it is up over the hood I am probably in trouble Not bad for having 2000 miles on it in 2 months .
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/01/1303:52 AM
Thanks ..This sheefish was fresh from the ocean they are just starting to show up and run heaviest right up around breakup in the spring...should be awsome eating, I hope to get more here soon.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/01/1305:01 AM
Had a good day out there today. Got about 6-7 more miles of trails put in today. Found where the wolves went to. Had Gulo sign not far from my sets. Gonna put some sets in for him next time out. Scored a red fox today on the way home. Running neck shot with the .22 mag pistol. Put in another wolf set today. Included a picture of the post i am trying. Want to put in two more next time out. Check out this GEM i found on facebook! Haha if it was for sale i'd buy it!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/01/1307:47 AM
This must have been a really old cat, I know 3 years isn't long trapping but I have never seen wear like this, she was very fat and about 41-42" stretched out on the board.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/01/1306:47 PM
I went out last friday after class and did a little calling for coyotes. Didn't see anything but it was a beautiful day so i figured I would take a few pictures.
This was from my first stand. I had the caller in a little bush in the middle of the picture.
I've been trying to catch a fish through the ice around here with nothing happening. I was thinking of heading down to soldotna tomorrow to fish some of those five line lakes for pike. Anyone been fishing them lately? How are they looking?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/02/1307:01 AM
Originally Posted By: cweg94
I went out last friday after class and did a little calling for coyotes. Didn't see anything but it was a beautiful day so i figured I would take a few pictures.
This was from my first stand. I had the caller in a little bush in the middle of the picture.
I've been trying to catch a fish through the ice around here with nothing happening. I was thinking of heading down to soldotna tomorrow to fish some of those five line lakes for pike. Anyone been fishing them lately? How are they looking?
I don't know anything about fishing that area, but you might ask around at the sporting good stores, I know the Sportsman's here has a full "Bragging Board" and a large "Fishing Report" Board as well. Lots of good information walks in and out of those stores.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/02/1308:44 AM
Jeff, Man that looks Good! Thanks App, how ya been? Well season ended for all furbearer's except wolf and gulo. So i got alot of my main sets for them going. Man i got a 3x9x50 leupold on my .223 Bolt ruger today, would been great for night calling. Well Next season.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/03/1303:47 AM
Akbeaverslayer and I had the pleasure of meeting the infamous "Threadkiller" today at the ISE Show here in Vegas. It's always fun chatting with a trapper and a bio. The Nevada and Idaho Fish and Game were in large numbers at the show!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/03/1302:02 PM
Yes, Vegas. The Show was part of the International Sportsman's Expo tour. We were promoting Alaska Fin and Fur Adventures. Another cool deal was I did a little trading with the President/Owner of Swift Bullets. He wanted an otter, I wanted some A Frames for my .375. He's getting a lynx soon too.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/03/1311:59 PM
Nice pale cat today, kinda got picture happy as the season is winding down. Gotta wait til next year to see this again, unless I get lucky the next few days.
Not a happy camper, this guy was pretty active. The last few have been snared, so I've been missing out on the live action!
On another note, found this wolf kill and set up on it. Like usual, not enough gear to set it up like it should be, but hopefully can snag one or two. The moose is down in the creek. Could see where they ran it and a couple ambushed from the side and nailed him in that creek. Pretty steep banks on both sides.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/05/1309:04 AM
Yeah it was mix snow n rain, I've had battered halibut, good stuff, I bet for breakfast with boiled eggs n syrup would be good. Don't get halibut on a regular. Halibut really good for akutak though!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1312:09 AM
Well the Ol' Blister and I were just out logging. On the way I had to chase a cow and calf off the trail. I knocked a couple large birch and bucked the first one. Next I started bucking the second one when I looked up and here they come. I'm yelling and waving but those tender birch tops were too tempting.
So by now Barb is in the fetal position behind a big spruce and I figured I might as well continue. So here I am bucking one end of the tree as the cow is limbing the other end. We each keep working towards each other until we are about 20 feet apart. She decides she needs to come over and work from the same side I'm on. By this time Barb is screaming like a girl ! FCOL !
Eventually discretion overcame valor and I figured I'd just wait until she finished eating. (not Barb. The other cow) I left the saw right there. I hope she finishes bucking the tree for me.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1312:20 AM
No pix. I have to go back and get the saw so I may take the camera. By that time Barb should be almost to the top of that spruce. I better take the telephoto..
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1302:40 AM
LOL ! Well I went back for round two so I could pick up my saw. As luck would have it she had bedded down and her head was three feet from my saw ! The calf was about six feet behind her. Tomorrow is another day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1304:04 AM
Those moose sure do love to do the limbing. Used to drop the trees this time of year and leave em till spring. The moose got to eat, we got the tree all limbed up.... Good deal for both parties...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1305:53 AM
Originally Posted By: white17
I yelled at the moose for being liberals. Moving in for the free stuff after someone else did all the work.
Maybe the moose federation will send you a snow cat to groom the moose some trails.......I am sure they can launder some more money from the state to do it
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/06/1306:49 AM
Another ACE/22mag combo paying off again. This guy was so screwed, I had time to sit there & take pictures & a short video before even pulling the rifle out of the scabboard. When he finally heard/saw me,... he had no chance of doing anything, except becoming part of the trim trade, and having his mug posted on T-man,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/07/1308:10 AM
I lucked out today, running the akulerak river to check my line, I seen some fresh tracks pass by my first set and was disappointed, I thought well maybe the next set, took off came around the bend, there he was little under 80 yards, the one day I switch out my 204, I took a chance and figured my 15 years behind this trigger should pay off, got em he took flight straight up almost level with the trees! Smack down and looked like a fresh fish in the boat, then the horrible part he bolted in the tree line, I thought he was gone. I parked where his tracks went in and walked up, there he was slouched over and looked back at me then started to hobble away all I saw was a butt and shot em in it he fell for the count. I sat where I could see him but it was taking too long, so I walked back and got my choker. Got back up and he was still breathing, I though dang he's not dead, so I walked slowly to him and he started to growl and hiss, but I had my pistol on him, he didn't get up so I put the choker on him and the rodeo started, bouncing all over, finally he started to black out. Finally I had him. It may be only #10 of the year but I will never forget this day, was awesome. I thought I'd never get a lynx with my pistol, but I did.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/07/1305:28 PM
Nice assassin!
You or your wife's thumbs are thanking you right now for NOT having the .204 along. I can only imagine that .204 blowing a tennis ball sized hole out the back side of a cat. The sewing job would have sucked.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/07/1308:02 PM
Yeah the 204 works good on seals and birds but I dunno the damage it would do to the cat I run hornady vmax 32grain and Berger hollow point vld 40grain, the Berger didn't make it through a small seal head but there was a lot of fat to help explode the bullet. My 204 is a Thompson prohunter 28" heavy barrel with a leupold 3-9x50, I love that rife, extremely accurate, but I'm glad I had my wife's pistol, we had it for 15 years and all my shooting with it payed big time. Ruger Mark II government target model.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/10/1303:03 AM
Wow, hope you shot the bear! Sure did a numer on em, that's a jump trap right? First good pic I see of one, but banged up. I bet the bear had a big bite outta him to, rough in and rough out.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/10/1304:10 PM
I was there, and it DID suck! That wolverine was in that trap when the bear found it. We guess the bear did that to the V14 "removing" the gulo. It was kind enough to leave mm a section of skirt for his troubles.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/11/1306:22 PM
Strange thing happened on the line yesterday. I had a Martin coming in and eating a lynx hindquarter that i had hung about four feet off of the ground from a fallen tree about five inches in diameter. Didnt have a Martin trap with me so i set a #3 up high on the tree. Bagged a lynx. He was hanging by his front paw bouncing around on his back feet. I had heard that you cant catch lynx with tree sets.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/15/1301:36 AM
I've got an out of village construction worker who want to buy a lynx skinned for taxi. I only have a yearling unskinned the rest are all case skinned for the market. Whats a fair price. I told him $200.00
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/15/1306:49 AM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
What's the story there WB? Were you able to back out or did you have a rope-along? Glad you got out!
This happened back in February,... we had about 2 feet of snow in one dump, & it was caving in some of the river ice. I stopped on top of this hump in the river, to look for a min & see if it was safe to continue, when the right side of the snow under my machine just caved in. I couldn't believe the sled didn't roll over upside down in the river, probably with me under it. I know it would have been impossible to keep my Tundra LT from rolling over in this situation. Anyway, I just got my come-along out with some rope & pulled it back up & out of there,... all in a day's fun,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/17/1304:43 AM
I agree he was on his way out when he got snapped. Those little buggers foul my sets frequently, or I see them trying to fend me off of the bait on checks.
called in a black wolf with a wounded rabbit call! - 03/18/1308:09 AM
I called in this black wolf tonight with a rabbit call! I almost left without glassing behind my right side, but felt the wind pickup and blow that way, so figured if anything was coming, it'd be from across the river where the wind was blowing. I had been facing into a small river off the Yukon calling, but nothing. So, for giggles, I stood up as I was leaving and glassed the opposite Yukon river bank 1/2 to 3 miles away, down wind, and bam...there he was less than a mile headed straight at me, but I was worried about the wind, so, let him commit off the trail as he headed towards me and I drove down a lowside of the river to sneak up on him and got him! My first wolf! I think the old ski doo etech really helped out being so quiet!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/18/1304:31 PM
Originally Posted By: KSM_Native15
So we have to turn the mink fur out?
NO !!! Please do not turn wild mink fur out. There is an Alaskan section which were traditionally a fur out mink but the industry prefers all wild mink be handled fur in.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/18/1304:58 PM
Ron I was wondering can you tell me why the industry wants ranch mink fur out and wild mink fur in? I noticed the ranch mink dont have pleated tails and windows cut and all that jazz like they want with wild mink.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/23/1312:16 AM
I have read the Wayne Short books probably ten times a piece. They are by far my favorite books. I have signed copies from Wayne. He lived in the manor in Petersburg and mom got them signed for me for christmas one year. My grandpa was friends with his sons also. Commercial trolling is in my blood. I was in my baby carrier out trolling with dad and grandpa. What would drive most people insane just gets my blood flowing like nothing else. It has been a long year so far being up here without a boat. As soon as i can afford it i'm getting my hand troll license to join my dad and grandpa out there on the water.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/23/1304:35 AM
C4 : Short has a comfortable , enjoyable writing style. Similar to Jim Rearden.
I would imagine you probably enjoyed Albie, and Billy, the sky pilot, and other stories , because it talked about many of your neighbors. Luke Short, a biography - was also good and it wasn't even about S.E.
I think you would like Caldwells books as well. Amazon is free shipping, but if you order from him, you can get them autographed.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/26/1303:51 PM
Finally completed my "grandslam" of Alaska grouse if there is such a thing. I've harvested sooties in SE, Spruce and Ruffed fairly commonly on my trapline, but finally found a sharptail (which was excellent panfried with bacon and onions by the way)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/26/1305:45 PM
Originally Posted By: Kusko
Nice MP. Is it white meat?
Sharptail's are dark meat. Ruffed are the only ones with white meat. We're pretty lucky here as we have a pretty good balance of sharp tails, ruffed, and spruce. Spruce are the most prevalent though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/26/1307:07 PM
Does anybody know why you can't use traps for wolves in April? Seems crazy that the season is open but can't use traps. This time of year seems better for traps, as the warmer temps could spoil a snare caught wolf pretty quick, even with a one week check.
Maybe has to do with dogs and more people being out and about?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 03/26/1307:11 PM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
Does anybody know why you can't use traps for wolves in April? Seems crazy that the season is open but can't use traps. This time of year seems better for traps, as the warmer temps could spoil a snare caught wolf pretty quick, even with a one week check.
Maybe has to do with dogs and more people being out and about?
For you don't catch non targeted animals such as marten, wolverine, marten, eagles and so on.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/04/1310:00 PM
Thats a nice bunch of lynx you had there Sonny and nice put up on them as well.
Good to see you and your boys again this year and we Thank You! for supporting our local economy here on the lower Yukon its good to see some real Yukon men
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1301:37 AM
Thanks to all who appreciate what I do, and thanks Jeff for coming to alakanuk, I enjoy hanging out with you for the brief time we get. Also my boys, they love talking to you as much or more than me. I do what I can for my area, my fellow trappers are happy you came, we all can't wait for the next season, glad Steve "one banger" came over too, took a little nudging but he gave in. Our economy is better after yesterday, the family's behind the trappers are again looking forward to a good spring from their trappers fur sales. Big thanks!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1305:51 AM
Yeah they make nice Henry .22 youth rifles my eldest out grew his now his little brother got it, now when he outgrows it his sister will have it. Stainless steel model, just like daddy's! Won't be long my friend, and he'll be standing tall asking what to do next. They grow fast.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1308:09 PM
New snare coating had five or six wolves this year refuse some snares fingered they could see the locks and moose stops tried painting and dip but would rub off in know time . Was in garage and had a bottle of gun blue and alum black .rub it on and all shine is gone then boiled stayed on . will not rub off just thought I would put it out there if somebody has the same problem as I
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1309:32 PM
We caught lots of wolves this winter but in the spring when the sun was out longer .we Started having more refusals .even had 2 wolverine stop and go around the only thing we could figure out was they were seeing the locks and moose stops . haven't used them yet but we are done for this year. I just read on here all the time about people painting snares and stuff . so thought I would put it out there . I am open to all advise
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1310:37 PM
Team V Still one of the disquise jobs that looked to be a winner to me is this one posted years ago by nooksack. Thought you might want to see it if you hadn't.
Quote:
reply from nooksack MT, I use flat white, and flat black, but just a few spots on the cable. This gives the snare the shadowy look light filtering through the trees makes. I will get a picture up tonight when I get back from work. Takotna, As long as you go easy on the white they still look good when the chinook blows through. Plenty of cable is unpainted, so you have grey, white, and black. Here is a painted snare. I paint them half dozen at a time, rolled up.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/05/1310:58 PM
Thanks FT yes we looked at painting but after boiling most paint came of and the smell of paint we just did not like . We are vere picky about smells .in two years we have harvested 19 wolves we just found the locks and moose stops where the only thing that really stuck out . I just thought it was kinda cool that it dyed them black and it was cheap and easy .put it out for every one to try .i love problem solving
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1312:09 AM
It is the stop I put on the cable so the loop will only close so fare .then I cut the lock so when a moose gets caught it will only close so far around it leg then he will jerk on it till it breaks .it works quite well have yet to have a moose stuck in a snare they just break them and move on but wolves can't
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1301:13 AM
I can see where it might be ok on caribou because I suspect a caribou might have a tough time opening the cut lock the way a moose can. BUT, what do you do if you come upon a caribou in your snare ? Don't think I'd care trying to release one.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1301:47 AM
Well you get sum rope . get it around a leg opposite of the leg that is snared pull it tight .then play Rock Paper Scissors with your trapping partner to who is going in there to cut the snare.cut snare run like [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot].the rope we use is the flat stuff used to pull wire it will not tighten up on it self .then your partner drops the rope it will loosen up right away and fall off shortly . We had to do a large moose once it is nerve racking after that moose stop every thing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1301:56 AM
No trapping partner.
I've never held a moose for more than a few seconds after I started using cut locks. Unless they get the snare around their nose they are usually free immediately.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1302:10 AM
Me and my partner ran different lines but meet up at cabin at night .if one does not come back we now were to look for them.long store short you can always pull it tight and tie it to a tree if available . then cut snare .in my case just go get partner .but we only ever got the one after that moose stops
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1304:21 AM
I know in the lower 48 they have to use them for deer in some places. It seems to make a lot of sense to me. I know that some guys have had a lot of problems with large wolves getting the cut locks pulled through and getting away. That seems to be what I remember from Nooksack and Spec if I remember right. The stop you have on seems allow a pretty large loop. Picture and my imagination may be deceiving. ;0) Larger than what you would think a leg and hoof would need to get out. And not tighten down enough for a good choke out. Are you having them choke down well enough in the setup? What is the final sized loop after tightened up. How come it hasn't been a method mentioned in Alaska Wolf snaring. Has to be some reason against it. But it sure seems to be working for you. That is a respectable number of wolves for sure.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1304:24 AM
About 10 to 11 in makes about a 3.5 circle when closed will put wolf down pretty fast but big enough it fill not cut into moose leg.this year I caught 5 to 6 moose and they were all gone when I got there no blood so I assume they work . All wolves dead on arrival . On a another not has any body used the bridger #5 Alaskan .i know #9 are the way to go .it is getting them that hard just asking. I own 750 to
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1304:46 AM
Yeah snaring animals must be a whole different ball game than trapping them I've never snared anything ever, my 11 year old knows more than me he snares rabbits.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1304:51 AM
Well proof is in the pudding so they say. And I am never too old to learn a new trick. Not that I do anything with wolves, YET. ;0) But I will keep store this info for later use some day. I had the notion to try something similar on lynx snares a few years back. I was tired of feeding fox my snared lynx for dinner so I put out a few snares with stops on them to see if I could keep a snared lynx alive. Never connected on one to find out.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1306:00 AM
Thanks! Good to know. I'm switching all my gear out this year. Going with all BADs on all the fox and yote snares. It ain't the big one's I have to worry about, it's the little guys. I had to have the troopers come out and help me release one this year. Momma was not a happy camper. It all ended well and they went on thier merry way, but after that rodeo, never again! Still toying with the set up for wolves.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1306:25 AM
Wow mixed ways to go for each area. See this is why trapperman is awesome, we get to evolve as efficient trappers fast. This snaring bit I'm paying attention. My mentor shared some same info.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1309:30 PM
Lots of guys have had really bad luck cutting locks. I know several old time wolf trappers very well that have lost MANY wolves due to cut locks and will simply not use them anymore. Sure would be nice to come up with something better. I still haven't found anything that I personally like.
I'm a little confused on snaps comment about caribou. Your cut locks actually release on caribou? I've always figured that a bit wolf caught by the neck would fight a snare every bit as hard or harder than a caribou caught by the neck. Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I've seen caribou that died in their tracks practically. I've also played the caribou release from #9's game, not much fun...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1309:35 PM
I snared one by the antlers one time. Talk about a whirling dervish ! No way to even get close let alone release it. The lock wasn't even close to opening either.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1309:46 PM
That is the reason behind the stops .when a moose our caribou gets caught in one it will not tighten up on there leg and they will kick intel it brakes.when a wolf gets caught it tightens up and takes the play out of the snare .what we have found it takes a jerk or a snap to get it to pop not just a pull.have we lost A wolf yes .one in two years from the lock popping it was a big wolf.but we have saved a ton of caribou and moose . By using this set up .it is not perfect but it works
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1310:51 PM
Akmike I had a bou break a lock and leave several weeks ago. I had another one. And the lock was not cut completely and the wolves had a hot meal. It's easier to deter a moose or caribou for me with snares than traps. I have not lost a wolf yet with a cut lock, knock on wood. My day may come though. I can't count the moose that have got out of a snare. Before I cut the locks it was a different story though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/06/1311:54 PM
Quote:
That is the reason behind the stops .when a moose our caribou gets caught in one it will not tighten up on there leg and they will kick intel it brakes.
Okay now I am totally confused Team V. I thought the moose and caribou slipped out of the snare because it didn't tighten down with the stop on it? Something breaks? What breaks?
Quote:
when a wolf gets caught it tightens up and takes the play out of the snare
What does this mean? Takes the play out? Why does it not choke him out?
Quote:
what we have found it takes a jerk or a snap to get it to pop not just a pull.
What pops. Are we still talking about the stop on the wolf snare. Sorry but either you have changed gears or I am lost on the intentions of the stop on the wolf snare.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/07/1312:55 AM
FT I think what he is saying is that the stop button keeps the cable open, not cinching down on the leg. Once the moose realizes there is something around its foot it kicks or jerks. During that process the cable is still open with wiggle room. After a few hard jerks the cut loc pops. For the wolf when the snare tightens there is no wiggle room, it gets tighter with each pull until it taps out, and that should happen before the loc even comes close to the stop button.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/07/1301:18 AM
Okay I reread things. I was thinking Team V was using only the stop instead of the cut lock. Leaving room for the moose to pull out of the snare not popping a lock. This is only to keep the cable from tightening down so tight that it cuts the skin. Seems like a good idea too. Thanks for the clarification. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/07/1304:12 AM
HFT is correct on hi description .just try to do less damage to a moose by not cutting the skin or by causing the leg to freeze if it can not pop lock.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/07/1305:04 AM
team v. i use bridger #5 alaskan. more affordable and have only lost one wolf with a toe catch and that was my mistake on trap placement. i stick mostly to snaring but have a dozen in the box for [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] posts and occasional trail sets.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1307:26 PM
I've been chasing beavers a bit. This is the biggest one so far, tacked out to 37 x 29. How's that size wise for an interior beav? I know, gotta perfect my board a little more!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1307:52 PM
66 would be about a 40 lb beaver here. Some of mine were still not completely primed up either, normally by March ours are pretty much all white on the flesh side.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1309:21 PM
In my area 66 is on the small side of large. I just got done with the last of the beaver for me this year had to drill holes for most of these only a couple places where they had started crawling out and with the temps back down near 0 this last week none are coming out anymore unless starving
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1309:37 PM
I figured it was 40-45 lb range, didn't weigh it. The others were around 60". Spek are you saying they will be prime right before they get "springy"? I'm fishing in a spring fed stream, nice not dealing with ice!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1309:57 PM
ST, this is the first year I have had where we had so much open water in march. In the past it has always been under ice trapping for me, but this year was all open water trapping. I've always only trap them in March because they are the primest here then. By April they are losing prime. But this year, I don't think they ever did get fully prime here. Most looked about like your's or bluer. But I'm no beaver expert, just what I have seen in this area. I usually just take 15 or 20 per year, just what my wife needs for making hats.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1310:25 PM
Was thinking of making a beaver hat, but someone here told me that beaver gets stiff when it's really cold, unlike some other furs. Anyone have any comment on that?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1310:46 PM
Stiff fur is not true IMO. But if I were to make hats in the future again it would be from otter hands down. Wears much better than beaver. Especially if your some one that wears goggles. Just pulling them off repeatedly will pull your forehead guard hairs out over time. Never see that on otter.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1311:27 PM
Not many otter around here. Got a couple a few years ago and was going to keep them for sewing, but ended up selling them. Oh well, I needed an excuse to try and find more!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1311:31 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Stiff fur is not true IMO. But if I were to make hats in the future again it would be from otter hands down. Wears much better than beaver. Especially if your some one that wears goggles. Just pulling them off repeatedly will pull your forehead guard hairs out over time. Never see that on otter.
I think plucked beaver is in style now, could even shear it before hand and not have to worry about guard hairs.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/08/1311:54 PM
The last hat I made and lost in the Anchorage Airport was a plucked and sheared beaver belly fur for the inside lining and leather out side with the traditional beaver V in front. My next one when I ever get it done is the same except otter fur on the outside front V. Beaver appears too long against the leather IMO. Nothing finer to wear on a cold day in my opinion. Comfort, Warmth, and good looking. My dream is to match it with some otter mukluks as well. On my bucket list. ;0) I have the chrome tanned otter and beaver for the job. Just need the time. LIke Ken all I have ever made and worn were beaver. But when I started making hats for my kids I turned to otter as it was much shorter and they didn't look like they were wearing a football helmet. I really took a liking to it. But was too busy keeping them in cloths to ever get mine done. ;0)
Found this photo of my kids and I years ago putting on a fur fashion show. ;0) My youngest at the time, Libby, in a beaver parka. Jenna (in red) sporting beaver mukluks. Both Jenna and Garrity in Otter hats with plucked beaver insides. And my hat described above with the leather outside and plucked beaver inside. Only way I was able to take my kids out on the line with me for any length of time was to dress them in fur.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1312:22 AM
Land Otter is considered one of the most durable furs in the world with Seal actually being even a bit better but for warmth and softness nothing beats sea otter with sheared beaver a close second. Spek I would be sad if most of my beaver ran in the mid to low sixtys here they tend more to be on the large side of things 66-72 we call them large but that is what I catch the most of. I have a couple every year in the 74-78 inch class but have yet to stretch one 80
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1301:01 AM
Man I wish we could get the natives here interested in taking a pile of sea otters. We are over run with the darn things. That is a fur that I would love to have some day. Maybe they will delist them some day and have a season on them.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1302:03 AM
Otterman, I was happy as a clam until you said that, now I'm all down in the dumps. Lol. You have bigger beaver there sounds like, wonder if it's feed related, genetics, or maybe predation related? Only the very old ones here, with the tough, scarred up hides, ever go over 70 inches. They are pretty rare, which is fine, since my wife doesn't particularly like them for sewing.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1302:09 AM
Spek, I wonder if it is a feed thing or do they get pressure from other people as well as you? I have noticed that the tundra beaver here run slightly smaller than those in the river eating bark rather than lilly roots. They also tend to have more beaver in a house on the river vs the tundra ponds and creeks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1302:18 AM
It's rare for me (ok ok, Barb) to take a beaver under 70" on my line. I attribute that to low pressure from us and low densities of beaver. That's just a guess.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/09/1303:22 AM
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1305:57 PM
my next hat I am going to try something different.
Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole". Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with. that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.
the hat i have now is super warm, but those guard hairs poking in te ear or frosting up on the front are annoying...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1305:59 PM
Originally Posted By: Spek Jones
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1306:33 PM
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
my next hat I am going to try something different.
Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole". Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with. that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.
the hat i have now is super warm, but those guard hairs poking in te ear or frosting up on the front are annoying...
That is why, when I make beaver fur hats, I position the earflaps along the edges, no poking. See, if you'd used me, you'd not have had that problem.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1306:44 PM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
Was thinking of making a beaver hat, but someone here told me that beaver gets stiff when it's really cold, unlike some other furs. Anyone have any comment on that?
I've made a few 100 beaver hats over the years and never had anyone complain of them being stiff. However, that depends on the tanning job!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1308:16 PM
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1308:51 PM
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
Originally Posted By: Spek Jones
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/17/1309:57 PM
Originally Posted By: otterman
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/18/1305:29 AM
Originally Posted By: otterman
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping
If only I could get me some unborn seal skin..... That would be the softest...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/18/1305:48 AM
Hup, I thought of doing that down the back skinning for the same reason you mentioned. Seems it would give you a nice piece of soft stuff to work with.
Bonnie, I may be contacting you when I get stuff back from the tannery! My wife says she would sew one for me, but hasn't done anything with fur yet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/18/1305:59 AM
Quote:
Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole". Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with. that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.
From my experience it isn't needed. I saved my intact bellies for other projects. When I made a hat I cut out mirror images of the belly for the left and right. So you end up working from the middle to get matches anyway. Now if you were going to use two kits for your hat using a whole kits belly per side would be a good ideas. If you try to make the inside flap out of one side of a kits belly you will get too far into the back and the underfur is not nearly so thick. Now if you were going to pluck the belly whole bellie on a large beaver you would have a great piece for one side of a pillow. !!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/18/1307:02 PM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
Hup, I thought of doing that down the back skinning for the same reason you mentioned. Seems it would give you a nice piece of soft stuff to work with.
Bonnie, I may be contacting you when I get stuff back from the tannery! My wife says she would sew one for me, but hasn't done anything with fur yet.
She could attend one of my fur sewing classes too PM me when you're ready!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/18/1307:10 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Now if you were going to use two kits for your hat using a whole kits belly per side would be a good ideas. If you try to make the inside flap out of one side of a kits belly you will get too far into the back and the underfur is not nearly so thick.
FT there is a trick to avoiding that too but I would have to have the fishboss show you as I don't know how to explain it, but getting into the back part of the fur on the short piece that is on the back of your neck isn't that critical and when done right you can make them match
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/19/1307:14 AM
I have always had to use two pieces for my inside. I just sew two peices together and re-shear them if the lengths don't match at the seam. I love how forgiving fur is to sew.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/20/1304:29 AM
Just catching up on my reading and want to back up to the cut locks. Does anyone have a picture of the type of lock and were to make the cut. As far as treating and coloring I just dipped my snares into boiling water with baking soda in it. Seemed to take the glare off, caught 20 in them this year so guess it was good enough. I also use scent eliminator after I make the set I spray it all over. Hardest part of that was keeping it from freezing, had to carry inside my coat some days. The trunk on the Yamaha stays warm enough most days.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/21/1311:20 PM
I went out and pulled the last of my stuff. It was a nice day to be out. A bear hit a couple moose kills from November, I felt a little under gunned as he had been on the trail for a mile.
I caught a little beaver in a 750 wolfer in a castor set. Probably was more to do with a place where they were coming out of the water than the castor, but it worked. The big trap worked well as a drowner for that little guy. Stretched to 47". I got a 40 lb adult, 2 year old, and this one out of this house.
Also saw an otter trail, was surprising how far away from water it was. I wonder how far they over land between sources.
Pretty much wraps up my season. This was by far my best season yet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/21/1311:30 PM
smalltime, I have followed otter trails for as far as 4 miles overland on open tundra while they went from spot to spot looking for a way under the ice. Good way to learn how they think. Here they tend to look around the base of spruce trees for tunnels leading under the ice. I always check out any small cluster of trees along a creek for holes
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/27/1303:26 AM
Al gore is spending his Al Jazera money right now... too busy to shovel your drive way, he said buy a Hummer and you wont need to shovel your driveway..
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/27/1310:19 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
Wow you have open water there already STT !
That water is open all year, we have a lot of springs around here. The Tanana doesn't even freeze over around here. Having the same crappy, not-quite-spring weather here as everyone else!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/28/1305:43 PM
Just back from our convention in Fort St John. The weather really sucked. Dry roads all the way up, then blowing snow and cold for two whole days non stop. Saturday afternoon it cleared up and good roads all the way home.
Our convention was hosted by Fort St John, Fort Nelson, and Dawson Creek trappers. Great convention, they raised enough donations to completely pay for everything, coffee breaks, meals, banquet, and the facilities.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/28/1310:56 PM
I checked it out on the Saturday Ron. I ended up with the 60" woodframe showshoes from the silent auction. Had a good talk with Brian Monroe from McBride, we're kind of trapline neighbors. Make sure you come check out ours in Grimshaw in July.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/29/1304:46 PM
Not to worry AV the snow is working its way to Montana . It's in our forecast for the next couple of days ? The wind is kicking up a bit today with gusts close to 60 mph . Now if it was around 20 or 30 below zero I'd be home sick for Wolf Point ! Allan
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/29/1304:53 PM
Originally Posted By: Bushman
I checked it out on the Saturday Ron. I ended up with the 60" woodframe showshoes from the silent auction. Had a good talk with Brian Monroe from McBride, we're kind of trapline neighbors. Make sure you come check out ours in Grimshaw in July.
Did not look closely at the snowshoes but they looked well made. There were some very nice prizes to be won and great items for the silent auction and the live auction.
Darn wish you would have came and introduced yourself to me. Probably talked to you and know who you are but can not relate to you as Bushman.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/29/1309:33 PM
Originally Posted By: cweg94
are there any spring goose hunts in south central?
You can double check with your local fish and game office, but that being fairly urban I think they only allow waterfowl hunting in the fall. In rural areas you can subsistence hunt in the spring.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 04/30/1304:23 PM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Originally Posted By: cweg94
are there any spring goose hunts in south central?
You can double check with your local fish and game office, but that being fairly urban I think they only allow waterfowl hunting in the fall. In rural areas you can subsistence hunt in the spring.
Thank you I looked into it a little further and you are right. No hunts for me
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/04/1306:21 PM
We had some snow yesterday too. About an inch accumulated and then proceeded to melt. This morning it's freezing, for awhile, and the sun is shining. There's hope! But White's in mourning.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/07/1307:01 AM
Weather is pretty nice here again, and the forecast is for even better. Spent the last couple days on the boat, playing on the water with my brother and his family:
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/07/1304:44 PM
Nice pic Dave On another note I was skinning a beaver out when I can across something stuck in the hide.I couldnt see anything on the fur side but I could feel it with my knife.Am not real sure what its made out of but seems like a calcium stone at first I thought it was a rock or a 22 bullet,but not real sure,but like I said couldnt see anything on the fur side figured I would ask ya'll about it. Maybe from an old fight?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/07/1304:47 PM
AK, WOW, that is a really nice work on that antler.
Interested in the new antler stain you used. Looks so natural. I have antler stain from a taxi supply house but can never get it to come out even close to natural.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/08/1303:17 PM
All things considered I think they are the way to go, for us. We don't want the gas puller at all, for the two reasons you mentioned. This is one model down from their top & it's been going for 7yrs now. I do wish I'd gone one model higher.
It'll pull a decent 3-pot shrimp string or a heavy skate, but sometimes needs a little 'help'.
I can buy their highest level model for around $1400 local so I think they are a decent value.
Don't expect commercial fishing - level power or quality, but for hobby use it's a pretty good unit.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/09/1302:25 PM
Thanks for the info. I operate out of a skiff, but have the electric capabilities on board, so am really thinking it may be the way to go. Just wondering if they can haul a 3'X3' king pot, for example, and speed of line hauling.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/10/1303:02 PM
We get the occasional octopus in crab and shrimp pots, too. Man, you think you got the mother lode as it's coming up with the water resistance they have when spread out in the pot! Only to find a very orange octo and a bunch of carapaces.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/12/1312:28 AM
Now Pete , all you had to do was come down to Mt and buy a few buffalo hunt raffle tickets . To all the doubting Thomas's we had a great time hunting buffalo on the Crow Indian Resevation ! Remember Pete I now have 3 tribal members for grandsons who will be ready to go hunting real soon with grandpa and his buddy ! ( this is my response from page 23 ) Allan
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/12/1302:00 PM
Originally Posted By: Allan Minear
Now Pete , all you had to do was come down to Mt and buy a few buffalo hunt raffle tickets . To all the doubting Thomas's we had a great time hunting buffalo on the Crow Indian Resevation ! Remember Pete I now have 3 tribal members for grandsons who will be ready to go hunting real soon with grandpa and his buddy ! ( this is my response from page 23 ) Allan
I see the honorary tribal member is catching up on his reading.....!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/13/1306:19 AM
Ha Ha Pete , yes I have this is true . I may have a new area to trap a wolf or two this winter around here with a few fast coyotes also maybe some bobcats as well ? The youngest had the boys down by the river as some geese were flying by, London pointed at them and shot them with his finger then turned to his mom and asked where's grandpa to help get them . He turns 3 in June . How was your trip ? Allan
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/13/1307:41 AM
Originally Posted By: Allan Minear
Ha Ha Pete , yes I have this is true . I may have a new area to trap a wolf or two this winter around here with a few fast coyotes also maybe some bobcats as well ? The youngest had the boys down by the river as some geese were flying by, London pointed at them and shot them with his finger then turned to his mom and asked where's grandpa to help get them . He turns 3 in June . How was your trip ? Allan
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/13/1306:51 PM
AK- Beautiful job on that Bou carving. My buddy uses shoe polish to stain his antler carvings back to a natural look. He also did a caribou skull and rack we found in a mountain stream and got the white antlers back to natural looking.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/14/1312:00 AM
I hope your flight is a good one ! Did you have a hipo rib steak for me ? Alvin was ran out of office after the last election down in Crow . However I know the guy who took over his job with the buffalo pasture . I hope to hear back from another ranch that has buffalo as well . I'll keep you in the loop . Allan
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/18/1305:12 AM
Awesome carving!!
Anyone get out to do some spring trapping? Had a great season on rats, my best so far. Pulled 2 days ago, always feels good to end the year on a high note! Take it easy, LB
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/18/1305:24 AM
Way to go LB! I been itching to get after ice out beaver, but the ice ain't out. It started to break up a couple days ago on the Chatanika, but it's still clogged, good.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/18/1303:03 PM
Nice LB sure wish we could trap late rats.Our season closes March 31 with everything else, kinda stupid but until the next cycle I gotta live with it. Have a couple other things I want to change as well so hopefully I can get it done
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/19/1303:23 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Thanks for the info. I operate out of a skiff, but have the electric capabilities on board, so am really thinking it may be the way to go. Just wondering if they can haul a 3'X3' king pot, for example, and speed of line hauling.
Sorry I've been slacking. We use 3x3 pots that weigh around 45 to 50 lbs baited. The puller I have is rated up to 200 lbs. and pulls about as fast as a similar sized hydraulic puller on medium speed. I have an extra battery on board just for the pot hauler and it is good for a bunch of hauls out of 500 ft. The heaviest pot we pulled was probably in the neighborhood of 120-130 pounds and it pulled great. The limiting factor seems to be the davit as much as the puller. I really like the foot switch... works great! I have a Safe-T- Hauler.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 05/19/1310:52 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Thanks for the info. I operate out of a skiff, but have the electric capabilities on board, so am really thinking it may be the way to go. Just wondering if they can haul a 3'X3' king pot, for example, and speed of line hauling.
Allot of guys that only fish 2-400 lobster traps from smaller boats use these. I have used them and they work well.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1306:43 AM
Chitina dip netting is coming up and I just bought an 18 foot Ouachita flat bottom with a 20 inch transom and a 25 horse Go Devil long tail. I'm unsure if this set up is appropriate for dip netting out of at Chitina, what do you guys think?
I might have to cut a part of the transom down to 16 inches for the Go Devil to work right. If this set up is border line as is, would altering the transom take it out of the question?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1307:56 AM
Sorry bud i have no idea. I am still running a 1970 something 35 johnson short shaft on my 14 footer. I was talking to my brother about dipnetting. May try take a break this summer and go check it out. Should be fun.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1308:14 AM
Right on, i have no idea about dipnetting fish. Eigher way it should be interesting. See if the Feds close our king season again. They changed out net size again. So we have to get new nets for another 48 hour opening. If anything i'll jus catch alot of burbot next fall.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1301:43 PM
That's pretty fast water over there. I would think you'd need one guy on the engine at all times while another guy dipped. Maybe there are calm spots or eddies where it would be OK though. I wouldn't cut the transom until you try it though.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1301:47 PM
I watched the "what you need/how to" vids on the fish and game sight, they HIGHLY suggested one person on the wheel at all times. I figure if I give this a shot I'll have to bring someone comfortable in a boat.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1302:05 PM
I have been down there in a boat, and it is not a river you want to screw up on, especially if you head down into the canyon. We tried dipping out of a boat below the bridge but above the canyon, but it was a huge pain due to how fast the water is running. Not like the Kenai where it moves much slower. Oars with oar locks at a minimum, or a second kicker if you have one and can put it on is a good idea. If you are fine running in the canyon, I would suggest just heading down there and tying up to one of the spots off the cliffs and dipping from land in the eddies. Much easier and more successful.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1302:16 PM
Thanks for the input guys. When I get the system put together and on water I'll share pics and maybe that will give you guys with experience on that river a better idea of my equipment.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/07/1310:33 PM
I started dip netting @ Chitina in the '80s & much prefer to do it out of a boat. The current is fast, particularly at high water, but there's no whitewater or big rocks. Its not too hard to oar or pole to shore if your motor quits. I'd think your boat would work fine & there are plenty of good drifts between the bridge & the canyon.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/08/1301:28 AM
I had sent an email to Stu at Stu's Go-Devil about the 20 inch transom, this is what he had to say.
"The higher transom raises the angle of the cavitation plate, over the prop, enough that it will try to push the prop out of the water. To run the motor in this configuration you will have to hold up on the tiller handle. The faster you go the harder it is to keep the prop from popping out of the water. In addition, the higher angle of the drive causes a small decrease in thrust. A trim tab can be bolted or welded to the rear of the cavitation plate and bent up enough to keep the prop in the water, but I found this solution made the prop pop out quite easily and still decreased thrust. Any hook or roughness in the bottom of the boat, near the transom made it even more difficult to hold the prop in the water. My preferred solution is to cut down the transom to 16 inches. I find the center of the transom, from side to side, measure 9 inches out on each side of center then mark a 45 degree angle up to the top of the transom. Using a sawsall I cut out this piece of the transom and cover the exposed surface with new aluminum. On some boats the knee brace from the transom to the floor will also require modification. The best guy in town, that I have found, to do this modification is Karolds welding off Davis Road. If you have some experience working sheet metal and/or welding aluminum you can do it yourself, because it certainly isn't rocket science. Please don't try to run it on a 20 inch transom without, at least, adding the trim tab. It will wear you out trying to keep the prop in the water. That boat/motor combination is an excellent choice and while it won't be fast you will be amazed with the fuel economy and reliability."
The weekend is here so I'll have to wait until Monday to see how much the modification to the transom would cost since I'm not set up to weld aluminum. I do have a little Hobart now, so I'll try putting a trim tab on the cavitation plate and see how it performs like that this weekend.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/13/1302:33 AM
Finally graduated today! I got an Industrial Electrical Technician Certificate. I've got a job lined up at Icicle in Petersburg. can't wait to get home
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/13/1306:55 PM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Chitina dip netting is coming up and I just bought an 18 foot Ouachita flat bottom with a 20 inch transom and a 25 horse Go Devil long tail. I'm unsure if this set up is appropriate for dip netting out of at Chitina, what do you guys think?
I might have to cut a part of the transom down to 16 inches for the Go Devil to work right. If this set up is border line as is, would altering the transom take it out of the question?
Maybe I'm just a sally, but I have been in that river and had boat problems. I thought I was dead. It scared the you know what out of me. Now I just go to valdez and get silvers or take a ATV and dip from shore.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1312:26 AM
Originally Posted By: woodelf
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Chitina dip netting is coming up and I just bought an 18 foot Ouachita flat bottom with a 20 inch transom and a 25 horse Go Devil long tail. I'm unsure if this set up is appropriate for dip netting out of at Chitina, what do you guys think?
I might have to cut a part of the transom down to 16 inches for the Go Devil to work right. If this set up is border line as is, would altering the transom take it out of the question?
Maybe I'm just a sally, but I have been in that river and had boat problems. I thought I was dead. It scared the you know what out of me. Now I just go to valdez and get silvers or take a ATV and dip from shore.
Yeah I'm not putting this in that river.
Putting it in the water this weekend, looking forward to doing some exploring!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1301:39 AM
As the troopers ignorantly informed the wife when I left Willow to come home in a 14' 12 inch high walled flat bottom with 2 inches of freeboard thanks to 300 to 400 pounds of bear bait and my teenage son, "Mam, That boats a coffin!"
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1302:24 AM
Awesome! I like the seat!! Looks classy. Those mud boats can go places most other boats wouldn't dare (except for an airboat). Looks like that boat will be a moose and duck harvesting machine! Have you been out for a ride yet?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1305:17 AM
Originally Posted By: white17
Be sure you disconnect the ATV
Originally Posted By: otterman
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Yeah I'm not putting this in that river.
Glad to see you are getting smarter as you grow up
Thanks for the comments you guys!
I haven't put this set up in the water yet. I bought it with a 1972 75 horse Evinrude jet on it, took it on the river with that to show to people interested in buying the motor. It fowled a plug for the first guy, changed it and it ran like a dream! Almost kept it, but wanted to recoup some of the cost. Taking this set up on Harding Lake this weekend, maybe get a big laker!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1304:49 PM
AKN Sand it down and apply some new fiberglass and matt to the bottom. Good as new. The nice thing about fiberglass boats. Very repairable. Came back to my canoe being borrowed by the village kids one year and left on the beach. Was busted out in 3 places. Bad. It is not as smooth as it once was but it floats. Don't let that hole scare you.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/14/1311:10 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
AKN Sand it down and apply some new fiberglass and matt to the bottom. Good as new. The nice thing about fiberglass boats. Very repairable. Came back to my canoe being borrowed by the village kids one year and left on the beach. Was busted out in 3 places. Bad. It is not as smooth as it once was but it floats. Don't let that hole scare you.
I did repair it last year, guess maybe I should have used more material. I know I can repair it again, but I've already got a replacement cargo canoe and then a flatbottom. This poor thing is old, rotten, and beat. I can just about twist it into a corkscrew. I've gotten more than my money back out of this canoe; my first 2 moose, beaver trapping. It's time for it change it's mode of providing for the family.
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
Who cares if that hole scares Aknative?
It scares his friends that head out to rescue him from time to time!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/15/1304:19 PM
Not sure how many of you live in the Valley, but the first 3 saturdays of each month there is a swap meet at Animal Food Warehouse just a couple miles outside of Palmer. Lots of people have small farm animals like chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and sometimes goats, and lots of animal supplies as well. Often there are other things for sale too - just an FYI for those of you that might want to come and sell or shop.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/18/1302:34 AM
Yep, hot here too, and supposed to get hotter!
Here's how we tried to stay cool this weekend at Harding Lake...and no I had nothing to do with the fire!
Used the boat to haul chairs and coolers out of the launch to the beach. It runs great!
The kid supervising.
Sis trying to put her lifejacket on AFTER jumping in!
Even the kid wanted to take a dip!
Guarding the cooler.
"I'll catch the big laker dad!"
Bulldog/boxer mixes don't swim all that great!
Doberman/labs swim better, even if this one doesn't like it!
Even the Chihuahuas benefited from being thrown from the boat!
No fish caught this trip. We just wanted to get out and get acquainted with the new boat set up. Worked good on the Chena today, won't win any races. Looking forward trying it in the flats!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/18/1308:21 PM
Gee whiz Ken, sounds like you need to make a trip to South Dakota. Temps in the 70s and the walleyes are biting. Headed to the river saturday so you better get a move on!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/21/1306:05 AM
We had a 9 hour commercial fishery opening tonight fish and game let us use a dip net (for realz) I never felt so stupid in all my life, and to add insult to injury we got checked by the Feds.
I wish these King salmon would go extinct here so we could at least make a living off the other fish that there are plenty of here in the river, rather than keep everything closed to save those sorry azz things.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/21/1307:23 AM
Great pics AKN! Yukonjeff- I resorted to more burbot poles at freeze up.Less openings, net size changes every year. I like burbot just as much i guess, and no hook changes. I resorted to other fish last year.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/25/1303:31 PM
Boy, has it been warm here, but good water for a while now. Picked up a few kings, and all the dungies I care to shuck for now. Getting ready to start the smoker next week. Sockeye are in! Oh, also had lightning storms twice in the last week. I know it's common up north and east of here, but rare on the pan handle. I'd only seen it three times prior to these since '85.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/27/1301:06 AM
On our way back to BET today, I could see fires on the ground west of the Alaska Range. Every valley in the Alaska Range has a thick layer of smoke hanging in it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/28/1303:57 PM
The wife bought it down river at a going out of business sale. Took eight guys to drag it out of the silt filled building and load it on a boat trailer. I had to cut the trail wider to move it to the lodge up river. Came back the next day with some broken oars and such for rollers and four guys helped me roll it in my 18' jon boat. 15 mile ride up river and another guy and the wife help me come along it up a lumber ramp into the mini truck. I don't know how it didn't blow the tires off the rims. I get it to the yard, but the yard is still too soft to take it to the house so I build a platform out of 6x6 piling cut offs and a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood and roller that wonder onto it until the yard firms up.
Yesterday the casters we found on ebay that fit this 100 year old beast came in and I replaced the broken ones on the bottom. With the wife's help we were able to roll it on rollers back onto the mini truck.I remove the front stairs. I built some ramps so I could back up to the front deck at a closer level to the deck with the back of the truck. I anchored a rope inside the house through the front door and we were able to use some pulley and rope and straps and rollers to pull it up on the porch.
Now,I have it on the porch (BTW the bugs are eating the crap out of us )laying on its back. I rig a come along and ropes up and over the top to start rolling it upright. A little problem; I got a five foot tall piano on a four foot deck. I have to keep levering the bottom over as I raise it for lack of room. Anyway, it is up right on the porch now. I have to spin a six foot long piano on a four foot deck so I can bring it sideways through door number one. The next stage is rolling this thing through door ways and the house. This is where beaver boards out shine hoops.
To make a long story short, the wife asks me last night why I don't show her any affection?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/28/1304:02 PM
Sounds like fun Dirt! My folks were in the auction business growing up and all us boys got a good share of moving antique pianos around but never any quite that bad
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/28/1308:16 PM
Hope someone knows how to play it with all that effort Dirt. Now my guess is that with all that moving, changes in temp and humidity it needs retuning.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 06/29/1302:31 AM
Got brownies on the bait!
Finally got action on it but gamecam was out of memory. The first tracks that were there looked like black bear, but these guys are keeping them off! Hopefully they lost interest after they emptied the barrel and a blackie can come in.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/01/1307:32 AM
Nice pic! Never had them hit my drums before. I can't wait till august, hopefully open my bait site up. I can take browns now but never had them visit yet.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/01/1311:01 PM
I woulda built a "Piano Shed" down by the riverbank. Just think....the sweet sounds of Mozart wafting back to you from riverside, whilst sitting in your parlor couch drinking a Hamms and dreaming of Bravos..LOL...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1312:51 AM
So I went to buy a new Honda tank from the Boat Shop today and holy smokes! Nearly $130 for a 6 gallon tank! New EPA regs about not venting or leaking fumes into the atmosphere. I was so taken aback by the price I laughed until I cried! Mike at the Boatshop laughed too. He did try to let me down easy by warning me about the price before telling me. I didn't buy it today, but I may go back for a generic tank and put a Honda fitting on it.
Anybody have a Honda tank they want to sell or trade something for? Or even if it ain't Honda I might could make it work.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1301:15 AM
I made a 15 gallon tank out of a plastic drum. It had the standard two bungs on top. I just drilled it and installed regular Merc hardware. A dab of silicon around the base and it works fine. Been using it for many years with no problems. You could do the same with a metal 5 gallon can or a pickle bucket.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1302:10 AM
Temple, They sell kits to do just what White 17 suggest or you can get a kit for the 16 gal black cubes Neqleq here in DLG usually has them if you can't find them in squarbanks call Steve at 842-5558 he ships all the time
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1302:28 AM
Originally Posted By: white17
I made a 15 gallon tank out of a plastic drum. It had the standard two bungs on top. I just drilled it and installed regular Merc hardware. A dab of silicon around the base and it works fine. Been using it for many years with no problems. You could do the same with a metal 5 gallon can or a pickle bucket.
No problems with the plastic degrading? What was in the drum previously?
Just wondering as some say only use gas cans manufactured for that purpose due to differences in plastic?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1303:06 AM
Originally Posted By: white17
I made a 15 gallon tank out of a plastic drum. It had the standard two bungs on top. I just drilled it and installed regular Merc hardware. A dab of silicon around the base and it works fine. Been using it for many years with no problems. You could do the same with a metal 5 gallon can or a pickle bucket.
Did you put the fitting on the bottom of the tank or did it have the "straw" to reach down from the top to the bottom?
Originally Posted By: otterman
Temple, They sell kits to do just what White 17 suggest or you can get a kit for the 16 gal black cubes Neqleq here in DLG usually has them if you can't find them in squarbanks call Steve at 842-5558 he ships all the time
The only tanks I've found in town so far are the new EPA expensive ones. Still a few shops to call tomorrow. Looking on CL now, but I have give this guy a call Todd.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1303:40 AM
You can make a tank or buy any off brand or used. Just put a Honda end on it and your good to go. Don't let Honda rake you over. You only need to worry about the end of the hose. Everything in between that and the gas is up to you. Get creative.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1305:07 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Don't let Honda rake you over.
Since I am listening to some live piano music tonight, I'll be gentle. The man said his benevolent government agency the Environmental Protection Agency was concerned that his gas may pollute the pristine wilderness of Alaska, therefore he must sacrifice his hard earned money for the betterment of the environment and all god's precious creatures. Honda is apparently just as concerned and responding in an ethical and upstanding manner.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1301:47 PM
Originally Posted By: Top Jimmy
Make sure you spill some gas for the EPA gods.
-TJ
Going on a fuel run today. I hope they never come up with a spill proof 55 gallon drum. The gods will be well satisfied today with my two stroke Evinrude.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1302:53 PM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Originally Posted By: white17
I made a 15 gallon tank out of a plastic drum. It had the standard two bungs on top. I just drilled it and installed regular Merc hardware. A dab of silicon around the base and it works fine. Been using it for many years with no problems. You could do the same with a metal 5 gallon can or a pickle bucket.
Did you put the fitting on the bottom of the tank or did it have the "straw" to reach down from the top to the bottom?
Originally Posted By: otterman
Temple, They sell kits to do just what White 17 suggest or you can get a kit for the 16 gal black cubes Neqleq here in DLG usually has them if you can't find them in squarbanks call Steve at 842-5558 he ships all the time
The only tanks I've found in town so far are the new EPA expensive ones. Still a few shops to call tomorrow. Looking on CL now, but I have give this guy a call Todd.
I ran a piece of fuel line from the fitting on top, down to the bottom of the barrel and put a snowmachine pick-up filter on it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1304:12 PM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Originally Posted By: white17
I made a 15 gallon tank out of a plastic drum. It had the standard two bungs on top. I just drilled it and installed regular Merc hardware. A dab of silicon around the base and it works fine. Been using it for many years with no problems. You could do the same with a metal 5 gallon can or a pickle bucket.
Did you put the fitting on the bottom of the tank or did it have the "straw" to reach down from the top to the bottom?
Originally Posted By: otterman
Temple, They sell kits to do just what White 17 suggest or you can get a kit for the 16 gal black cubes Neqleq here in DLG usually has them if you can't find them in squarbanks call Steve at 842-5558 he ships all the time
The only tanks I've found in town so far are the new EPA expensive ones. Still a few shops to call tomorrow. Looking on CL now, but I have give this guy a call Todd.
If you run into problems call me you have our number. If he doesn't have any I still maybe able to help
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1306:17 PM
Thanks a bunch Todd! At worst I'll buy a generic tank and put the Honda fitting on it. Got some shops to check out today, but this won't stop me from taking the family out to the flats this weekend! Been itching to get out here!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1309:40 PM
We had a commercial opener last night and I caught a lost Sockeye must of been heading for the Kusko we don't have them here on the Yukon so I was pretty surprised
The processer would not buy it so I had to keep it I was considering feeding it to the seagulls but will try to jar it with the kings I hope I don't choke to death on the dry old thing when I try to eat it later.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/09/1311:31 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
We had a commercial opener last night and I caught a lost Sockeye must of been heading for the Kusko we don't have them here on the Yukon so I was pretty surprised
The processer would not buy it so I had to keep it I was considering feeding it to the seagulls but will try to jar it with the kings I hope I don't choke to death on the dry old thing when I try to eat it later.
LOL!
Got my tank issue resolved. Found an Attwood tank at Sportsmans, between it and the Moeller/Honda clone I'm still plenty ahead! So much so I didn't feel bad about buying a fuel/water separator at the Boat Shop while I was getting the fitting.
I did look for the 12 and 15 black drums to Frankenstein my own large tank, but they were more expensive than the Attwood 6. Ready to go now!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/11/1303:45 PM
Sockeye are running up the big river here pretty strong right now. More filleting this afternoon, then loading the smokehouse for another years worth of goodness. One load down and about four to go.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/22/1307:29 AM
Originally Posted By: Tradbow1
How's fishing going?
Caught a 200 pounder the other day. Had some cool markings. Black on the white side. About done with my quota. Just the some fillet market left.
Got into some great fishing the other day and put my daughter through the paces. Had fish coming in faster than we could find a place to put them. Picked 3/4 of my gear for 200 lbs and got and additional 1500 lbs on two garbage cans of line. A number of years ago my daughter Libby below coined a term for getting 3 or 4 fish in close proximity as a "Spurt" Today we had a continuous spurt many times. ;0) It was a ball.
Nothing finer than working along side your children.
A little baiting party. My three girls and a friend.
So after a long day of commercial fishing we don't stop. We go fishing. ;0) There is a terminal fishery for reds that you can dip. They stall out up the creek about 100 yards from the ocean in one of two falls. It can be pretty productive. Your allowed 6 each. You can not get to it until about two hours after low tide. If your one of the first ones it can be a lot of fun if the fish have come in. Some times you get 3-4 in a dip if it is good. The reds are small in comparison to he Kenai but the scenery is a lot better. ;0)
Now you know why he is almost 6 foot 8 inches tall.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/23/1311:13 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
What amazes me is not one boat dipping there? Is that taboo.
uh, yes. that is below the "cut off" line for boat dipnetting. basically, you can only dipnet from a boat above the city boat launch.... there are signs for the boundary....
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/23/1311:36 PM
I went down there just to look around one day last week......man what a freaking zoo, like Hup said the boat dipping is up river a ways and that also gets to be a freaking zoo not to mention the boat launch's when everybody is trying to get in and out of the water,I like going out of a boat a lot better and if you time it right you can get all the fish you want in a hurry. But for the most part I just just go catch them on a rod and reel that is a lot of fun when 200 plus thousand come up past ya lots of fun,heck just sitting around drinking a nice cold barley pop and people watching is a blast
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/24/1306:14 AM
Nice pictures Len. I haven't been over there to the falls in a long time. The red's there may be smaller than the Kenai reds, but they are still nice fish, and about twice as big as the little runts in the Kasilof. Looks like you guy's had a fun trip.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/24/1308:43 PM
I dipped the Kenai last week by boat and actually had a blast as it was my first time dip netting. The number of boats was ridiculous but still ended up catching 65 reds and those really are BIG FISH!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/24/1310:32 PM
Mike, you went to Kenai instead of in your back yard down at Chitna? Do they still have the engine restrictions on the river at the lower part where you dipped?
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/25/1306:57 AM
Originally Posted By: Top Jimmy
Mike, you went to Kenai instead of in your back yard down at Chitna? Do they still have the engine restrictions on the river at the lower part where you dipped?
-TJ
Yeah, we were below the bridge, so anything goes down there. Had everything known to man in the river. Guys in ocean boats, thunderjets, etc. I've never dipped in Chitna either so was a learning experience. Will be investing in some dip nets as it was a pretty darn fun way to fish and the girl friend really likes doing it!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/25/1301:40 PM
Sloughtrapper#4 are you paying attention? This is one of those places with all those pesky rules that you want to avoid. This place is so bad you need a lawyer with you to interpret the rules.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 07/25/1303:28 PM
There is a large billboard type sign at the boundary where the 51+hp boats have to stop. But the fishies are all gone so I wouldn't recommend anyone come down this year.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/01/1308:01 AM
Okay this is a first for me. In all my years I have never seen anything like this in Homer. Or anywhere. Maybe it is common elsewhere but odd for these parts. We went up to try our hand at some late season dipping and we came upon this group, herd, pod or what ever a bunch of SEALS are called! Holy cow. With a loose count of bodies I had 103. But certainly over 90. Could have chucked a spear in the middle of them and got one for sure. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/01/1303:44 PM
FT, at about any low tide you can find a pod of from 100 to 150 hauled out on sand bars at the head of the bay. Use to fly over them all the time in the cub. No easy way to ever see them except by air, the river fans out and is too shallow to run by boat, and too many miles of gooey mud to walk out there. Nice pictures, I never could get a decent picture of them out of the airplane, back then all I used for a camera was the throw-away instamatics.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/02/1307:23 AM
Speck I saw a bunch in the river in front of the Bradley Lake terminal this spring bear hunting. The most I ever saw around here. Till now. ;0) Usually it is just one here and there. And more in front of a salmon stream. Well the skates moved on on us today. Made for some tough picking.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/03/1306:33 AM
Any first hand recent info on the Chitina dipnetting? Earlier today the hotline said slow fishing and high water, but we're still taking off in the morning.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/06/1307:51 AM
I've got a recent first hand report; they call it fishing and not catching for a reason!
Rough first day, got my hoop hung up in a snag at O'Brien Creek sweeping the first day, lost 12 feet of handle and the hoop on that tree. Got 6 in the canyon after that with spare equipment. Nearly flipped my 4wheeler over backwards on myself, got my legs run over on the rocks when I bailed, wife and sister nearly shook hands with a sow and her 2 cubs at the cleaning tables, and the kid didn't want to sleep that first night. Luckily, the water level dropped by the morning, swept 1 fish at O'Brien, was able to retrieve my hoop and handles, and caught my limit and most of my supplemental in the canyons.
In the future I won't bother sweeping at O'Brien if it's that high, and climbing up and down the walls of the canyon looking for "the spot" and giving "the spot" time to warm up is worth it.
But it's fishing. They're where they are when they're there.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/11/1303:58 PM
Leaves are already falling off the cottonwoods, here. Fireweed is giving up the ghost as well. Seems awful early to me, but man, have we had a nice summer. A bit too hot, but still, better than the last four.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/12/1306:49 PM
The ones I caught looked good, and they'll taste better. I've never tried silvers in Chitina, and don't think I will. One trip to that river a year is enough!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/12/1310:23 PM
Strange site last weekend on my patrol. A snowshoe hare on the road and he was turning white. All the others we seen were still in there summer apparel. Perhaps he was that colour all summer long.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/14/1304:47 PM
Dirt your competition is not playing fare
------------------------------------------------- Location: Skwentna River
Case number: AK13060358 Type: Unlawful Acts by Big Game Guide, Unlawful Methods of Taking Big Game (Same day airborne) Text: On 08/12/2013, Mat-Su West Wildlife Troopers received a report of an individual harvesting a black bear during a guided hunt the same day he flew into the hunting camp. Wildlife Troopers responded to a hunting camp on the bank of the Skwentna River. Troopers contacted Brian Babenzien, age 26, of Willow and Charles Keeter, age 48, of Wasilla. Babenzien is a licensed assistant guide and Keeter is a licensed class A guide. Troopers also contacted Paul Kovacs, age 54 of Pennsylvania who was the client for the guided hunt. Investigation revealed both Keeter and Babenzien assisted Kovacs in stalking and harvesting a black bear within the same day that Kovacs flew into the camp. Both Keeter and Babenzien were issued misdemeanor summonses for unlawful acts by a big game guide and released at the scene. Kovacs was issued a misdemeanor summons for same day airborne and released at the scene. Author: EGB0 Received Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:14 AM and posted Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:31 AM
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/15/1304:14 AM
I read that they self reported.
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
Dirt your competition is not playing fare
------------------------------------------------- Location: Skwentna River
Case number: AK13060358 Type: Unlawful Acts by Big Game Guide, Unlawful Methods of Taking Big Game (Same day airborne) Text: On 08/12/2013, Mat-Su West Wildlife Troopers received a report of an individual harvesting a black bear during a guided hunt the same day he flew into the hunting camp. Wildlife Troopers responded to a hunting camp on the bank of the Skwentna River. Troopers contacted Brian Babenzien, age 26, of Willow and Charles Keeter, age 48, of Wasilla. Babenzien is a licensed assistant guide and Keeter is a licensed class A guide. Troopers also contacted Paul Kovacs, age 54 of Pennsylvania who was the client for the guided hunt. Investigation revealed both Keeter and Babenzien assisted Kovacs in stalking and harvesting a black bear within the same day that Kovacs flew into the camp. Both Keeter and Babenzien were issued misdemeanor summonses for unlawful acts by a big game guide and released at the scene. Kovacs was issued a misdemeanor summons for same day airborne and released at the scene. Author: EGB0 Received Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:14 AM and posted Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:31 AM
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/17/1301:57 AM
I also heard they did a self turn-in. I'd guess that they figured that since they were in an IM area and you could fly and BAIT the same day airborne, they were OK.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/17/1303:41 PM
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
I also heard they did a self turn-in. I'd guess that they figured that since they were in an IM area and you could fly and BAIT the same day airborne, they were OK.
But that reg would make sense.....!
Apparently, they weren't baiting ( well with a registered bait station ) or they would have been legal.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/21/1312:29 AM
Moose season started today , Sister in law dropped her boys off at the beach and they took off first ones on the river while lighting her smokehouse 5 minutes latter she heard them shoot twice. I guess they tipped over a little 2 1/2 yr old
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/21/1312:41 AM
That's awesome! Starting to get the itch. My wife's uncle is coming up from Michigan this fall, hopefully I'll be able to help him fulfill his Alaskan dream hunt.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/21/1302:47 PM
Good on them! Fresh moose in August sounds pretty good. I see it dropped below freezing in Barrow last night. Cooling down here, but just in the 50's for now. Glad the heat wave is over.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/21/1304:13 PM
Heading to Kotzebue for bou and moose in mid Sept.
Been cloudy and rainy here for awhile, clouds finally moved off the Chugach Mtns., but no snow yet up there...but you can feel it the air...school started today and the State Fair begins today so we are nearing the end of one of the best summers on record.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/21/1306:20 PM
It must be hunting season I see all the guides letting their clients shoot sub legal sheep in the trooper report.
Location: Fleishman Glacier, Swentna Case number: AK13062413 Type: Unlawful Acts by Big Game Guide Text: On 08/18/2013, Mat-Su West Wildlife Troopers received a report of an individual harvesting a sublegal dall sheep. Troopers contacted Travis Kinne who is a registered assistant guide. Investigation revealed on 08/16/2013, Kinne assisted a client during a guided hunt to harvest a sheep which was sublegal. Kinne was issued a misdemeanor summons to appear in the Palmer Court at a later date. Author: EGB0 Received Wednesday, August 21, 2013 8:21 AM and posted Wednesday, August 21, 2013 8:59 AM
Location: Big River Case number: AK13061660 Type: Take sublegal sheep Text: On 08/13/13 at approximately 1558hrs, Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Aniak responded to the Big River valley near the community of Stony River for the report of a sublegal dall sheep ram that was taken by a hunter. Investigation revealed that Douglas Leach, age 58 of Morgantown, WV, had harvested a sublegal dall sheep ram earlier that morning while on a guided hunt. Leach was issued a summons with a mandatory court date in Aniak District Court on 08/28/13 at 0915 hrs. Author: TDA0
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/22/1307:05 PM
Dirt your wildlife is taking a beating
Location: Skwentna Case Number: AK13059666 Type: Take Bull Caribou During Closed Season Text: On 8-17-13, Mat-Su West Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to appear in court to David A. Shearer, age 45, of Fort Mitchell, Kentucky for shooting and killing a bull caribou during closed season. A court date has been set in the Palmer District Court. Author: JEL2 Received Thursday, August 22, 2013 6:22 AM and posted Thursday, August 22, 2013 6:57 AM
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/23/1307:00 AM
I think that Surveyors Exchange rents them. They are behind the Yamaha dealer off of college rd. I'd recommend getting a phone that uses the Iridium satellite network. They also sell the good flagging tape that remains somewhat usable in below freezing temps.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/23/1309:40 AM
When are you headed downriver? Are you headed to the same river that we bumped into each other at the boat launch at this spring or will you be using your surface drive elsewhere? Might be in the area helping a friend finish up a cabin. Maybe we'll cross paths.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/23/1309:59 AM
Plan to use the square stern freighter canoe with a small long tail in the same area. Wife's uncle lands the night of September 6th, we're heading out the next morning.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/24/1302:20 AM
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Wife wants me to rent a satellite phone for moose hunting this year. Any tips on a good place to rent one in Fairbanks?
Surveyors' Exchange. In Aurora, tucked in behind Bill Larry's snowmachine/ATV place. Turn across from the Fairgrounds and go south a few yards. It's on the right.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/26/1305:48 PM
I found this washed up by where I park my boat yesterday right before we went out on a commercial opener for salmon. not sure what it is but don't look like anything that grows around here.
I am wondering if Yukontrapper can chime in if knows anyone that might of grew a tropical plan there in Galena and got flooded and washed down here since we have a banana tree growing in the house here.
it does have tentacles or roots not sure what to call them.
not sure weather to hatch it or take the potato peeler out and make soup
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/26/1307:37 PM
Yup Lilly pad root, the beaver on the flats down here pretty much make there living off them instead of bark. Some wont even go after a green pole for bait as a result
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/27/1311:41 PM
Originally Posted By: yukonjeff
I found this washed up by where I park my boat yesterday right before we went out on a commercial opener for salmon. not sure what it is but don't look like anything that grows around here.
I am wondering if Yukontrapper can chime in if knows anyone that might of grew a tropical plan there in Galena and got flooded and washed down here since we have a banana tree growing in the house here.
it does have tentacles or roots not sure what to call them.
not sure weather to hatch it or take the potato peeler out and make soup
No idea yukonjeff, Pretty cool looking though. Maybe try some with some deepfried burbot! As for the flood we had. Two house's are finished in the family and 3 more to go. I since resigned from my full time job so i got some big plans this coming trapping season.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/28/1304:39 AM
Thanks YJ, had a small bull moose behind the house yesterday. Bit to small. Picked up the tags for my Son. Gonna be nice to get some moose meat back on the menu. Have a great fall season. I haven't seen much geese around these parts yet. But hoping to try get a few.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/28/1301:05 PM
Wow!!! Didn't know they grew these this far North!!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/29/1302:45 AM
Can't wait to read, even got my glasses cleaned for this one.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/29/1302:58 PM
Oh, I know what happened!!
White17 & Ol'Blister went out into the deep woods of Alaska in search of the rare, elusive, mighty BIRCH BURL!! After a long flight , they landed on a remote abandoned airstrip. Ol' Blister unloaded the old DeHavilland in record speed! White17 set up his spotting scope scanning the hillside for Burls, while Ol' Blister set about breaking a trail through the thick woods. "
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/29/1302:58 PM
Thought maybe they were hosting another training school session......
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/30/1304:49 PM
Back from commercial ....
After white17 finished off his Wendy's Triple Deluxe Burger with all the fixings, he decided to take a well needed rest from working the Spotting Scope. White17 was sound asleep in his Adirondack chair, when he was suddenly woken up by the sound of Ol'Blister charging through the woods. "What happened?" Said white17. Ol'Blister half out of breath said " Can you skin Grizz?" All of a sudden, there was a tremendous roar as a huge Grizzly Bear came running down the newly cleared trail...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/31/1303:41 AM
Amazing landing. One thing I take from this story:
And he raved about the "absolutely mind-boggling" DeLorme inReach SE that let him text a quick message -- "ENGINE FAILURE. ALL OK" -- and then tracked his movements, sending geographic points to his wife, Debbie, as she monitored his progress across the tundra.
The DeLorme is like the Spot only it can hook up with your cell phone and you text both ways. It uses Iridium satellite as opposed to the Spot which uses Global Star and does not have two way text. I am going to get one of these for safety.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 08/31/1304:59 AM
Ron...the inreach is an awesome tool. You wont be disappointed. I rarely go out on adventures without mine. have had it for almost a year. kinda cool gettin a text from your wife asking to pick up a gallon of milk when you are out there off the grid.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/01/1303:04 PM
Been a couple of them in the last week that didn't come out so well. W17, did you know the folks in the plane that crashed just southeast of McGrath yesterday? One dead, one critical.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/05/1303:32 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Been a couple of them in the last week that didn't come out so well. W17, did you know the folks in the plane that crashed just southeast of McGrath yesterday? One dead, one critical.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/05/1303:24 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Been a couple of them in the last week that didn't come out so well. W17, did you know the folks in the plane that crashed just southeast of McGrath yesterday? One dead, one critical.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/07/1312:20 AM
I get alot more joy watching the kids get after the critters, its fun, but I still like to get after them also, he was bragging about it, then the ol' man had to walk up the dang hill and show him how its done LOL both are our first bou's
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/07/1301:08 AM
Looking good Okie !
222. Well heck I left here to go to the saw bones and have some tests. While waiting in town I planned to do some work while I had some down time waiting for other stuff. Soon as I got online my network card died so i couldn't contact the folks I needed to send digital engineering drawings to. Then Barb realized she couldn't remember the password to retrieve voice mail off the cell phone. Meanwhile, people are leaving messages. Important messages.
Next day friends from Wisconsin show up and we start an extensive road trip. After a few days around the state we head for Dawson. One of my favorite places. We pass through Chicken and witness the federal thugs practicing tyranny. On to the Canadian border. While at the crossing the agent and I have a disagreement about his manners concerning my sun glasses but not his. His mom obviously never talked to him about double standards or common courtesy. I was however, pleased (on some level) that I had left my 45 with Pete in Delta.
As we descend the slope to the Yukon at Dawson, we pull onto the ferry and the brakes go out. The Ol' Blister is driving so I'm trying to decide whether to ride it out or bail over the side. I was worrying for nothing. Barb was a teamster and drove Euclids on the north slope back during the Pleistocene so she managed to get it stopped before the swan dive off the front of the ferry.
On the other shore we locate a mechanic who can fix the brakes but of course the parts have to come from Whitehorse...and it's friday. So they say they can't get the thing fixed until tuesday. I suggest that they fly the parts from Whitehorse and they look at me like I have two heads. But they did it and first thing Monday they installed the parts and we were on the way. But..........in the meantime I figure I can get to the library and use a computer to get caught up on work emails, and hopefully find a machine I can stick a thumb drive into. Alas, the library is closed for three days to celebrate "Discovery Days" in Dawson. So more time for things to go awry. Meanwhile, the project I am running in Holy Cross is in crisis and they can't reach me. No cell signal either.
Not to be outdone, Barb now realizes that all the hotel reservations she has made for the trip back need to be changed. She manages to do that but it's a hassle. Almost everything is full. Our friends also need to change their plane reservations because we are now three days behind schedule. They take care of that with no hassle. After all, who wants to go to Wisconsin ?
Now Barb tries to change our plane reservations. Not a chance. Every hunter in North America is trying to get to McGrath. All flights are full for a week and just to make sure, Penair cancelled one flight. So we end up camping in Anchorage for 7 days before we can get home.
I finally did find a network card for my 12 year old laptop and got the phone working. Put out most of the fires in Holy Cross and caught up on my sleep.
Did I mention that there were only three dry days between 8/12 and 9/4 ? We still had a good time with old friends and saw some amazing stuff.
If anyone has not been to Dawson it's a trip worth making. The Top of the World Highway has some cool scenery and the historical Dredge #4 in Dawson is worth the trip all by itself.
Be sure to take a camera...........and sun glasses.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/14/1307:18 PM
Just got off the water, man! What a season it was! Feels good to be back on dry land. I'll be staying the winter here in kodiak, I just invested in my first boat. 24' On a steal of a deal, pretty excited to give it a go this winter hunting and running a trapline. Got it in the water last night, and got plans to do some trolling tomorrow. I'll be sure to take pics! Hope everyone's doin well and had a good summer. Here's a few from the summer
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/15/1305:10 PM
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
May be old news, but I see Alaskan and Huperest got their mug shots in the current Hunt Alaska magazine.
I've heard this a few times now, and have no clue about it. Haven't seen it or anything. [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] celebrity status...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/18/1311:55 PM
Read this morning that as of October 1st they are closing the Mushers Hall. Does anyone know what that will do for the upcoming meetings for the ATA? I was looking forward to my first one.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/20/1308:43 AM
congrats on the shark lb! they are beyond a doubt the best catch in this state! Their's nothing like having one inches from your feet on a swim step asking your self wth was I thinking grinning from ear to ear, thought my clients never understood it ha!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/20/1303:43 PM
Got about 1/4in of snow on the ground. Yesterday morning had 1/4in of ice on a creek i cross. Let it began. Haha i guess i have to find a moose first. All 3 snowmachines are dead yet. One made it to fairbanks yamaha dealer. Two are getting gutted soon, then over hauled. Bravo Sold to fund getting the others fixed. Got alot of new trapping gear a few weeks back. Have to get the trapshed cleaned out. Its a mess...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/20/1306:04 PM
Ya this snow has me giddy as a schoolgirl waiting to lay steel!!! Been cutting new trail and getting all my stuff together, thinking about taking a few beaver for bait and one for the roaster since they're thicker than rats in NYC.........
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/25/1301:06 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Originally Posted By: Aknative
Don't forget FT downgraded to a superwide! There was pics somewhere of him pulling it out of a snow drift it "wasn't" stuck in with a rope-along!
Ya but what you didn't see and what I did experience was all the times I didn't get stuck!! Time and a place for everything. ;0)
I've seen a few videos though, when I finally upgrade as well I'll have to give those machines a hard look! It'll be some time, but right now it looks like a 4 way tie between the Yamaha Venture MP, the Yamaha VK wide track, the Ski Doo Expedition, and Ski wide or super wide...so really I have no idea, but plenty more time to think about it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/26/1306:53 AM
Just finishing the Redneck Austrian tour. We visited the Rotax factory, Hitler's birthplace, Sawmills, Caves, and of course, finally Arnold Schwarzenegger's first gym. Very cultural.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/27/1302:17 AM
Well i best revise my thoughts on fixing my Venture Lite. Estimated cost to repair, $6,900. Haha i best jus go with a new sled. Best start looking for something. I still have to tear down my 440Lt's. I have a new motor and Seat for one already, but have to rebuild the other Lt. Oh well win some lose some.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/27/1307:21 AM
Thanks for the comeback Dirt. I was thinking the same thing. Last new machine I bought was a bravo 8 years ago. A hold over model for $2800. ;0) Before that it was a Indy supertrack in 1989. ;0)
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 09/30/1304:40 PM
After a broken outboard and a tow home on Saturday, my son and I set some "in town" beaver traps. He was so excited to check them this morning that his sister found him on the couch with a pop tart in his hand at 3am. My daughter says, "get back to bed, it's not morning, it's still the middle of the night!"
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/01/1303:41 AM
Took advantage of my day off and built me a quick skinning shack. Used the deck as the base, came together pretty quick with a helpin hand from the old man. Managed to also salvage a window and door from our latest job site
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1304:49 AM
Got to workin on my 440 lt's last couple days. 2.5 inches of mud covered snowmachines. inside and out. Got them pressure washed out real good and tore apart. Wd'ed everything, went through 4 cans so far on two sled. 6 gallons of mix gas washing everything. Flushed the motors out, actually didn't have rust in the case on them. One carb worked and the other is locked tight. Going to put new carbs/cables on both. Pistons and cylinders look great. Going to rebuiled both motors anyway so i am off to a good start on them. Things are looking up so far. Biggest thing is new seat foam to find. Good luck with the up coming season.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1305:43 AM
Man that sounds rough YT! My parents are town, Pop's helping me do maintenance on the machines. Man, twice my lifetime of tinkering sure helps pull stuff apart!
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/08/1306:26 PM
It has been breezy, onto thing at 90 as far as I have seen yet. Maybe 50 or so.... The way the wind blew, it raked my yard for me.. One big pile along the fence...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/15/1311:35 PM
Deer season opened on the island today. Got out there and sat in the truck for half an hour waiting for it to get light. I was only in the muskeg for about 10 minutes and saw this guy. Dropped him at about 60 yards.
With all the brownies on showing up on the island, I sure felt a lot safer having my new .460 with me while boning him out.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/21/1304:55 PM
Kusko mine took 4 months a month longer than normal but when you can take those and turn it into this All of which is heading to Fairbanks for AFN This week it is kinda nice finally gonna get paid for all my hard work and her hard work running a needle and thread as it is all hand sewn
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/22/1307:52 PM
DIRT!!! Don't give her no darn ideas! She always wanted to learn how to play and so far after 32 yrs I have managed to avoid the whole piano thingy. Besides her fingers are a bit too sore right now to play even if she knew how. I need her to heal up and so she can get ready for the Juneau Christmas Bazaar
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/23/1312:10 AM
I have offered but it is all about traditional methods, she was taught you don't sew fur with a machine so thats the way she does it. Along with a few other little things, like things are put together in a very particular order. Others may do it differently but this is the way we do it . Who am I to mess with that after 32 yrs I know when the boss has spoken to shut up and say nothing or just walk away
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1306:02 PM
I just got to tell you guys suicide has ripped our village apart this week, my daughters 30 yr old boy friend shot himself in front of her tue morning while my grandson slept, an elder died a wk before him, my other best friend that was only 45 had a heart attack right after he got his moose cut up with his 14 yr old son next to him and I had to bring the son back up river to show me where the body was to retrieve him, two other elders died a few months before him, all friends and family, we are like in shock here for a village of less then fifty now, and to top it off my wife's uncle and my old school buddy has terminal cancer. Suicide of my grandsons dad has thrown me for a loop and I'll always wonder why from a guy that smiled so much and would do anything for anyone and not want anything in return, I taught him to hunt and trap and worked every job together that came up, we were very close, I never saw it coming and am sure booze played a large part, this is so hard guys, keep us all in a prayer.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1306:13 PM
Darn Clint. That is a real tough break, for your grandson, your daughter, you, the family and village. Very sorry to hear this. The village of Takotna and you will be in my thoughts and prayers today.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1306:13 PM
Takotna, I will be praying for you & your family along with the village, & will have the church I pastor doing the same. My heart really goes out for you guys. My condolences for your family. My PM box is always open...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/25/1311:51 PM
Very sorry to hear Takotna. Clint pull your family together in these tough times, better days will follow ahead. We will say a prayer for you and your family from our household.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1312:47 AM
Thanks guys, it was a rough night and morning, took my grandson out and got a couple chickens for dinner a little while ago, feeling better just getting it out, again, thanks.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1303:46 PM
Takatnu, thoughts to your family.
On a different note.... 1:30 am I got up to tinkle...... Tinkling and I hear a big ol boom... Neighbors garbage can? Must be windy again.... Look out window, and nope.... Not windy.... Fat little 3 yr old or so grizzly, arse over tea kettle in my trash...... Mmmmmm, poopy baby diapers...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 10/26/1311:53 PM
God bless all in your village,sorry for your loss takotna. Here on the coastal communities of the James Bay,suicide amongst younger folk is a big concern.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1304:46 AM
Well, I decided last week to make some double-jaw traps for wolverines this winter,... hoping to keep their mouths out of places it doesn't belong,... these are #4 Herters. If they work as planned, there will a bunch more either later on, or by next year at the latest.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1304:58 AM
whats the jaw spread on those traps? do you feel the two coil and the twistlink chain is strong enough to hold a wolverine? I've been upgrading to the MB650's and MB750's this year and although I haven't used them yet they are one heck of a stout trap..........
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1306:08 AM
Hmm my guess is chain and two more coils are coming? Dang that is a cool up grade. What does it do to a trap jaw when welding it like that? I take it the jaws are not tempered? Or they would loose strength from the welding. Great idea. The added jaw would seem to lessen the area for foot placement. If they step on the newly added steel would it not have more of a tendency to throw their foot out? I can see an advantage once they were in it. But wonder about any neg repercussions regarding the added jaw in terms of it lifting their foot up when it closes. Great experiment. Keep us posted.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1307:00 AM
Originally Posted By: Birchcreekkid
whats the jaw spread on those traps? do you feel the two coil and the twistlink chain is strong enough to hold a wolverine? I've been upgrading to the MB650's and MB750's this year and although I haven't used them yet they are one heck of a stout trap..........
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Hmm my guess is chain and two more coils are coming? Dang that is a cool up grade. What does it do to a trap jaw when welding it like that? I take it the jaws are not tempered? Or they would loose strength from the welding. Great idea. The added jaw would seem to lessen the area for foot placement. If they step on the newly added steel would it not have more of a tendency to throw their foot out? I can see an advantage once they were in it. But wonder about any neg repercussions regarding the added jaw in terms of it lifting their foot up when it closes. Great experiment. Keep us posted.
The jaw spread on these is about 6¾", but they are so strong that I can barely set one by hand,... and getting a wolverine out when the trap is covered in ice, etc, plus having a frozen paw stuck to the jaws can make it a tough ordeal to remove. Putting 4 coils on this trap would self-destroy it,... not only would it be impossible to set by hand, but even as it is, the dogs get bent up from the tension of the jaw under it when set. I have a few that have broken the jaws from dry-firing when snapped at a set from unknown reasons, but I don't remember anything ever escaping from broken jaws. I have no idea how many wolverines I've caught in my life, but I can't remember ever having a wolverine break good 2/0 tenso chain either,... I think if it would happen even rarely, I wouldn't be using it,... but maybe in deep snow country, wolverines don't hammer on chains like they might on firm hard ground,... mine just seem to dig & dig non-stop. Now after running these quiet 4-strokes, I have come up on wolverines more than once in sets, that have been sleeping,... something I had never seen before,.. and didn't think they ever did once caught.
FT, I don't think that an inner jaw is going to throw a foot out of a trap more than the outer jaw does on it's own. It seems to me that as the jaw is coming up, that the outer jaw is what will be riding up on the foot, and once the jaws are half-closed, that the foot wouldn't be touching the inner jaw anymore, but I could be wrong. The thing I was worried about, is if the foot is stepping on the outer/inner jaws now, and he won't fire the trap, whereas if the inner jaw wasn't there, the foot would be on the outer jaw and the pan. I made the inner jaws out of broken jaws from old broken traps. I think I just have to be sure that the trap fires when the pan is still slightly above the inner jaws. That's why I only made a half-dozen of these to try first,.. usually if something can go wrong, it will. The welding did nothing to destroy any temper,.. these jaws have no temper in them,... if anything they are stronger now, as no wolverine or wolf can bend these and pull them out of the base. But, like most things in life,.. things are not always like they seem at first,... so I will keep updates on how this seems to work.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1304:40 PM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
They close at the same time. Wouldn't the outer Jaw. Which has to travel further have to be traveling faster?
Correct. But due to the angle of the closing radius the inside jaw will contact any object inside the jaws first.
I may be wrong, but I think you'll end up with a lot of just toe catches with that set up. If part of the foot is on an inside jaw it will either come up with the jaw or the trap will flip sideways as it closes, and catch at an angle across part of the foot. So I guess I'd have some reservations about doing that. But thats just my take on it. Maybe it will work better than what I think it will.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1305:53 PM
so spek, perhaps the solution isnt in the new inner jaw being flush with the regular jaw.... rather if the purpose is to minimize the chewing, then the new lamination could be on the outside of the trap.
Perhaps that may eliminate some of your concerns and mitigate the chewing as intended.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1306:12 PM
Years ago I had a dozen #4 Herters. I did catch a couple of wolves in them after some modifications. The jaws were easily pulled out so a spot of weld on the outer hinge tips kept them in place. Also I swiveled them under the center of the trap. They do have a good sized jaw spread.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/05/1308:17 PM
I've been looking for some springs and levers to revive some #4 Herters I have that were used as otter traps when I lived in SE, but am having a hard time finding a match. The salt really did a number on them, as well as the pans but the jaws and bases are still good.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1302:55 AM
Is #6 toast already? As for the extra jaw inhibiting the wolverine's habit of chewing, I wonder if just a smaller trap, with equal strength, might be fine? I am by no means an expert on gulo, but it seems that others MUCH more experienced at catching them than I have done quite well with less iron.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1302:56 AM
Wolverinebait, It seems to me and maybe I am missing something that by adding the inner bars you would pinch the foot in between the inner most jaws keeping the outer set of jaws farther apart allowing the foot to be yanked outward and ending up with toes between the outer jaws or pulled completely out as there is not much area other than where you have left clearance for the dog for a foot to come to rest below the outer jaws.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1304:32 AM
Wow. Good point Nooksack. I had not thought of that. Granted the foot thickness will increase as you go up but be interesting to see paw in one to check the different scenarios that could happen. One of the most revealing things I ever witnessed was snapping a lynx trap in a two coiled #4 montgomery back at the shop years ago, followed by a good jerk.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1303:01 PM
Originally Posted By: trapper ron
Checking back we are overdue for The Almighty Alaskan Thread #7. Mr. White17 ????
We could start a new one. In the past this thread has become unstable when it got this large. Maybe we should archive it so as not to risk the rest of the forum.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1303:15 PM
Paul mentioned that we are moving the server soon. I know nothing of the process, but does it increase the risk of crashing or thrashing anything with this large of a file? Just a computer-illiterate question.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1303:53 PM
It's possible. I think the problem is mostly from the pictures that take up so much space. But at the same time I think we could lose the thread just as easily from the archives as from the active page. Might be best to not rock the boat while the server change is in progress.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1304:23 PM
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/06/1306:17 PM
Originally Posted By: white17
It's possible. I think the problem is mostly from the pictures that take up so much space. But at the same time I think we could lose the thread just as easily from the archives as from the active page. Might be best to not rock the boat while the server change is in progress.
Yes Ken it might be wise to wait until all the server juggling is done before archiving #6.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/07/1306:08 PM
Originally Posted By: Wolverinebait
Well, I decided last week to make some double-jaw traps for wolverines this winter,... hoping to keep their mouths out of places it doesn't belong,... these are #4 Herters. If they work as planned, there will a bunch more either later on, or by next year at the latest.
]
I think it will work. It's an idea that has been talked about for a long time and I am glad to see somebody actually try it.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1307:51 AM
Originally Posted By: drasselt
I think it will work. It's an idea that has been talked about for a long time and I am glad to see somebody actually try it.
I think it will too. I'm not going to try and over-analyze this,... all I know is it works good on smaller traps. I have a bunch of little #1 double-jaw Diamonds & Triumphs, and altho it's not generally needed for marten, mink will sometimes pretend they are a micro-wolverine, and start biting on things they shouldn't and escape,... and I know these traps have helped prevent that many times, and saved many mink for me. I don't remember finding traps snapped at sets using these because the inner jaw kicked the paw out. I had kinda stopped using the Herter's #4 for wolverines, just because virtually every one would end up with foot damage,... and I hate that, plus that can be $100 less per hide sometimes. An almost 7" jawspread is just too much space to play in, for a wolverine who is trying to bite his way out of his predicament . Anyway, if all I do is end up with snapped traps,... at least I haven't hurt anything,... and a hungry wolverine will come back if the groceries are tasty enough. Nothing ventured, nothing gained they say,...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/08/1303:10 PM
WB,
Have always thought maybe just a tab or two off the jaws on the outside of the jaw (underside when set), kind of like on the MB650's or MB750's would work too. Just enough to keep them from getting their mouth under the jaws, but not a full bar that goes across. I still think what you have will work just fine and am interested to see it this winter as I am sure you will get to put them to the test a few times.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/09/1301:45 AM
WB Remember the guy that modified these at the fling two years ago. I think it was a sleepy creek. Did it for the same reason you are. Be interesting to get his feedback.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/10/1301:20 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Why can't you do photos. You have before?
Internut has slowly been dying here. Recent pictures posted were from town and Europe. No, I'm not going for the free internut. I cause enough trouble without posting pictures anyway.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1303:35 AM
had to cut up 4 downed trees in the three miles from my house to the rich hwy this morning they finally plowed our road good this afternoon and we were only out of power for 12 hours not to bad considering some of the stories we were hearing while in town
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1306:35 AM
Still no power out at my place. Not too big of a deal though, as I've got a generator going. If I ever get to build a house from the ground up I'd like to set-up the electric so that one could power the house or portions of it with a generator. I imagine it wouldn't be that hard to do? Unfortunately, my water system is all hard wired in, so back to dry cabin living for me. At least I've got juice going to the heat tape and water tank. Wouldn't want that to freeze at this time of the year. Also, I'm guessing that many of my wolf and fox snares will need to be fixed and adjusted this weekend. At least there is enough snow to deploy the #9s in blind trail sets now.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1307:52 AM
bairdi, you can power portions of your system by putting two male plugs on an extension cord. Plug one end into the gen set the other into an outlet. Switch all of your breakers off except for the one you are plugged into and which ever one you want to use. Also shut the main breaker off on the meter loop. Of course you need to have the appropriate sized generator depending on what you want to power.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1301:44 PM
Thanks for the tip nooksack. Been wondering that myself, but everything I read says not to do that. I figured if the main and all breakers are off and the. Just open the breaker to the outside outlet and want want to power on and it would be good. Big thing is to keep the main off was my thought.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1303:35 PM
TJ, I have done this several times mostly to run the lights and outlets in the garage with out noticing any problems. It could very well not be a good idea and someone here can probably tell us why.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1303:42 PM
I know that the big thing is with the main and having it open. If main power comes on it can blow up your generator. Also, with the main open you can back charge the main when someone is working on it and kill them. But with the main off, as is required for hooking up a generator to a home, then it should work as you are only energizing your house panel. My only concern is blowing something in the house wiring.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1304:37 PM
You have a transformer up on a pole or down on the ground on a pad. Open circuit equals no current. No current equals no voltage.
A lineman can correct me if I'm wrong, but when working on down lines they are supposed to ground both sides so that Joe Q Public doesn't kill them with backfeed.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1304:50 PM
Sounds like you Fbks area guys could use some Honda 2000s and chainsaws.....my buddy is thinkinnof flying up there to helpout his parents. El La espanol Nina came on an off year?? Stay safe up there.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1306:28 PM
I'm a lineman. The problem is 110v going back through a transformer comes out 7200v. You cannot trust a breaker to be open. You need a double throw switch or if your utility company allows a visual opening.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/15/1311:40 PM
Success! Figured the problem. House panel has 240 into it. Two hot and one ground. For 240, one has two hot wires to the breaker. For 120, just one. The panel has some 120 breakers on one hot wire and some on the other. Loop I plugged into the generator was not the one with the furnace. Broke out the Fluke and figured out some on the other loop and plugged the generator into that loop. Now my issue is that I either have heat or water from the well, not both.
What I need is a generator with 240 and could hard wire that into the panel and be good Just opening up the breakers I need and have everything covered.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/16/1312:04 AM
talk to the electrician who is going to fix your line about wiring the panel for a generator. I think you need a disconnect switch between the panel and the line in. then a place to plug your generator into the panel. you then would just flick on or off what breakers you wanted powered...
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/16/1312:46 AM
Originally Posted By: Top Jimmy
What I need is a generator with 240 and could hard wire that into the panel and be good Just opening up the breakers I need and have everything covered.
-TJ
Or two generators TJ, one for each side of the panel.
Very good advice Hup. It is best to do it with proper procedure so someone does not get hurt, or ruin something in the electrical circuit.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/17/1312:46 AM
Day 3 almost over and now direct hook up. Seems that not only did it take out the line but fubarred the meter as well. Waiting for a new meter and drop to get hooked up. Upside is I got four more trees dropped and plent of fire wood for the next couple of years.
Honda 2000 is the best thing I have bought in a while. House is warm and I just got my first shower in 4 days with hot water. Now all I need is my cable hooked back up so I can use the internet like an adult instead of on my phone.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/17/1304:58 AM
So you waited 4 days for a shower, or took several cold ones waitng on power? Any way, 4 days is nada. I will tell on myself and admit that while fishing, I once went 10! Was beyond my control, and only was even near any one at night in the focsile,(sp?), catching a few precious ZZZ'z. The benefits of being a skiff man, way back in the day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/17/1306:16 AM
Same. Been 2 weeks + before, putting on all clean clothes/thermals/underwear brush your teeth comb your hair feel like a new man who needs a shower. Winter hunting/trapping camps. 4 days is nothing, normal fishing shower schedule at best on a boat without an onboard shower.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/17/1306:16 AM
If you hook a generator to your power panel there has to be a transfer switch, either automatic or manual.
Everything and everyone is protected...! Wiring generator direct to your panel can send power through the line to the transformer and electrocute the lineman...!
If your smoke detectors are hard wired with battery backup make sure the batteries are good.
Check all the cords you use in a power out have good grounds. Ground your generator.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 - 11/18/1305:32 AM
Originally Posted By: Oh Snap
If you hook a generator to your power panel there has to be a transfer switch, either automatic or manual.
Also, your transfer switch must switch the neutral if the neutral on the generator is bonded to the frame. This is common on portable generators but not a rule of thumb. Neutral to ground is only allowed at one point in your electrical system.