#Guided Caribou Hunts In Alaska

[joesottolano]

Which American Locations Make the Best Hunting Trips? Where to Go Next

Hunting in the United States offers a rich and varied experience, with a range of landscapes and wildlife for both novice and seasoned hunters. Whether you’re after big game like elk and moose or small game like pheasants and waterfowl, the country offers some of the most rewarding spots for hunting. From the towering Rockies to the dense forests of the Southeast, here’s a guide to the top hunting destinations in the U.S. for planning your next adventure.

Montana: A Hunter’s Paradise

Montana is one of the top states for hunting in the U.S., known for its vast wilderness areas and diverse wildlife. The state is a haven for big game hunters, offering some of the best opportunities to hunt elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and bighorn sheep. The rugged terrain of the Rockies, combined with the state’s expansive public lands, makes Montana an ideal spot for those seeking a challenging and scenic hunting experience.

In particular, the Missouri Breaks and the Bob Marshall Wilderness are among the most popular areas for elk hunting. While hunting in Montana requires a license and proper tags, it is often viewed as a dream destination for serious hunters. The state’s broad range of species ensures that no matter what game you’re pursuing, there’s a spot for you.

Alaska: The Ultimate Frontier

For the more adventurous hunter, Alaska provides some of the most remote and untamed hunting landscapes in the country. The state is renowned for its opportunities to hunt big game species, including moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and the iconic Alaskan brown bear.

Hunting in Alaska requires careful preparation due to its remote locations and challenging weather conditions. For many, this is part of the appeal—there’s nothing quite like trekking through the Alaskan wilderness in pursuit of massive game. The Alaska Range and the Tongass National Forest are top spots for hunting, and guided hunts are a popular option for those new to the area or hunting in extreme conditions.

Alaska’s expansive public lands make it easier for hunters to access prime spots, but it’s essential to plan meticulously, including securing the necessary permits and understanding the local regulations.

Texas: A Hunting State Like No Other

Texas is famous for its private ranches, offering hunters unique opportunities to pursue game in a controlled environment. While much of the state’s hunting occurs on private lands, it’s known for exotic species such as axis deer and aoudad sheep in addition to native species like white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and feral hogs.

South Texas, in particular, is renowned for its white-tailed deer hunting, with many hunters flocking to the region for some of the biggest trophy bucks in the country. For hunters interested in bird hunting, Texas also offers incredible opportunities for hunting dove, quail, and waterfowl. Whether you're after big game or small game, Texas offers a wide variety of species to hunt year-round.

Colorado: High-Altitude Hunting Adventures

Colorado is one of the premier hunting destinations in the U.S., especially for those in search of elk. With its expansive public lands, including national forests and wilderness areas, the state offers ample opportunity to hunt elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.

The Colorado Rockies provide stunning backdrops for your hunting adventure, and the state's large elk population ensures that you have a good chance of success. Archery, rifle, and muzzleloader hunting are all popular options in Colorado, and the season typically begins in late summer and runs through the fall.

The San Juan National Forest and the White River National Forest are prime hunting areas, known for their vast expanses and rich wildlife. If you're a first-time hunter in Colorado, hiring a guide can be beneficial to navigate the challenging terrain and maximize your chances of success.

Wisconsin: A Deer Hunter’s Dream

Wisconsin is a top destination for those looking to hunt whitetail deer, with a thriving deer population and a long-standing hunting tradition. The state offers a variety of habitats, from dense forests to rolling farmlands, making it an ideal location for deer hunting.

The Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin is especially popular, known for its trophy-size deer and picturesque landscape. Additionally, Wisconsin offers plenty of public lands for hunting, making it accessible for both resident and non-resident hunters.

Beyond deer, Wisconsin is also a great destination for waterfowl hunters. The state’s numerous lakes and wetlands make it a prime spot for hunting ducks and geese during the fall migration season.

Idaho: Untouched Wilderness for Big Game Hunters

Idaho offers some of the most rugged and remote hunting experiences in the U.S. Its vast wilderness areas and diverse ecosystems make it a haven for big game hunters. Elk, mule deer, mountain lions, and black bears are all common game in Idaho, with hunting opportunities available on both public and private lands.

The Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area are top spots for hunting in Idaho. The state also offers over-the-counter tags for some species, making it a relatively accessible destination for out-of-state hunters.

Hunters in Idaho can expect challenging terrain, but the reward is often worth it. The state’s low population density means that you’ll often have large areas of wilderness to yourself, providing a truly immersive hunting experience.

South Dakota: Pheasant Hunting Capital

If you’re looking for an excellent upland bird hunting experience, South Dakota is the place to be. The state is famous for its pheasant hunting, drawing hunters from all over the country each fall. The rolling prairies and farmlands provide the perfect habitat for pheasants, and South Dakota’s well-managed hunting regulations ensure healthy bird populations year after year.

In addition to pheasants, South Dakota also offers opportunities to hunt other game birds like grouse and partridge. Many hunters flock to the eastern part of the state, where large numbers of birds can be found in the fields and wetlands.

Hunting in South Dakota is a tradition passed down through generations, and the state offers numerous lodges and guided hunts to ensure a successful and enjoyable experience.

Maine: New England’s Hidden Gem

Maine may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of hunting destinations, but it offers some of the best opportunities for hunting in New England. The state is known for its moose hunting, with the annual moose lottery drawing thousands of hopeful hunters from across the country.

In addition to moose, Maine also offers excellent hunting opportunities for black bears, whitetail deer, and small game like snowshoe hares and ruffed grouse. The vast North Woods region is one of the top spots for hunting in Maine, offering dense forests and remote wilderness areas.

Hunting in Maine can be challenging due to the state’s dense forests, but the rewards are plentiful. The state’s wildlife populations are well-managed, and hunting seasons are designed to maintain healthy populations of game species.

Wyoming: Pronghorn Antelope and More

Wyoming is one of the best destinations in the U.S. for hunting pronghorn antelope, with more pronghorn than people in the state. The vast open plains of Wyoming provide the perfect habitat for these speedy animals, and hunters flock to the state each year for the opportunity to harvest a trophy.

In addition to pronghorn, Wyoming is also known for its elk and mule deer hunting. The state’s rugged mountains and expansive wilderness areas make it a prime spot for big game hunters. Areas like the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Bighorn Mountains offer excellent hunting opportunities, and Wyoming’s wildlife management practices ensure healthy game populations.

Wyoming also offers over-the-counter tags for many species, making it an accessible destination for hunters who may not have drawn a tag in other states.

The U.S. offers an incredible diversity of hunting experiences, from the remote wilderness of Alaska to the rolling prairies of South Dakota. Whether you’re after big game like elk and moose or small game like pheasants and waterfowl, there’s a destination for you. When planning your next hunting trip, consider the unique landscapes, wildlife, and regulations of each state to ensure a successful and memorable adventure.

[inspiringvacationstours]

Top 5 Must-See Attractions on Your Alaskan Adventure Tours

Alaska, the Last Frontier, beckons adventurers from around the globe with its pristine wilderness, towering mountains, and abundant wildlife. Embarking on Alaska Tours offers an unforgettable experience, immersing you in the raw beauty and untamed landscapes of this remote wonderland. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a wildlife lover, or an adrenaline junkie, there's something for everyone in Alaska.

Here, we'll guide you through the top five must-see attractions that should be on every traveller's itinerary when exploring Alaska through tours.

Witness the Grandeur of Denali National Park

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is North America's tallest mountain and the centrepiece of Denali National Park. Towering over 20,000 feet, Denali is a sight to behold.

Tours Alaska often include visits to the park, where you can explore scenic viewpoints, hike through the taiga forest, and learn about the park's diverse flora and fauna. You might even spot bears, caribou, and Dall sheep on your adventure!

Cruise Through the Majestic Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park, home to over 40 glaciers, stunning fjords, and towering mountains, is a paradise for nature lovers.

Tours that include a cruise through this park offer breathtaking vistas of tidewater glaciers calving into the turquoise waters, spotting whales and other marine life, and exploring hidden coves and waterfalls.

Go Wildlife Watching in Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its stunning glaciers, towering mountains, and abundant wildlife.

Tours Alaska to this park often include boat trips where you can witness glaciers calving into the bay, spot whales, bears, seals, and various seabirds. Keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales breaching and orcas hunting salmon!

Explore the Vibrant City of Juneau, Alaska's Capital

Juneau, Alaska's capital city, is a unique blend of urban life and natural beauty. Tours often make a stop in Juneau, allowing you to explore the historic downtown area, visit the Alaska State Museum to learn about the state's rich history and culture, and take a scenic tram ride up Mount Roberts for panoramic city views.

Don't miss the chance to try some fresh, locally-caught seafood at the harbour!

Immerse Yourself in the History and Culture of Skagway

Skagway, a former gold rush town, is a living piece of history. Tours Alaska that includes Skagway often take you on a journey through the town's gold rush past, showcasing historic buildings, shops, and saloons.

You can also ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, a narrow-gauge scenic railway offering stunning views of the mountains and valleys.

Making the Most of Your Alaskan Adventure

These are just a few of the many incredible attractions you can experience on Alaska tours. When choosing your tour, consider your interests, fitness level, and travel style. Be sure to book your tours in advance, especially during peak season, to secure your spot.

Remember, Alaska is a vast state with diverse landscapes and experiences. With so much to see and do, tours Alaska offer the perfect way to explore the Last Frontier and create lasting memories. So, pack your bags, embrace your sense of adventure, and get ready to be amazed by the beauty of Alaska!

Source: Top 5 Must-See Attractions on Your Alaskan Adventure Tours

[casspurrjoybell-17]

HEART'S REDEMPTION - CHAPTER 17

*Warning: Adult Content*

Rockbridge, Alaska, is barely a town. 

Located northwest of Fairbanks, it lies alongside a small river. 

There is a gas station, a general store, a post office, a rail yard, a couple of churches and graveyards and not much else. 

As they pass it’s borders, a sign informs them that the population is 324. 

If what Ian Foley’s contact told him was true, then a good percentage of that number are Shifters.

Following the direction he had been given, Ian drives a few more miles past it’s far edge before turning down an unpaved road marked only with a stack of caribou antlers, arranged in a macabre sculpture. 

He followers this dirt track for about three miles through a wild country of scrubby meadow, groves of aspens and forest of slender spruce. 

Rounding the bend at the base of a hill, their destination comes to view. 

It’s a group of small cabins clustered loosely around a larger lodge-like structure, all spread out along the edge of a small, natural lake.

Ian Foley’s contact, Ms Inez Walker, told him that her Clan manages this place. 

It’s a hunting lodge, where people come from all over and pay money to be taken on guided tours. 

Ian wishes it was somewhere else but he supposes business options are limited this far into the middle of nowhere. 

He parks his truck in front of the lodge, alongside a few other vehicles, in a broad, level area of hard, packed earth.

Getting out he stretches and takes a deep breathe of cold, fresh air. 

After two weeks of driving, at least seven hours a day, in a truck with two other dudes, fresh air is something he’s never appreciated more. 

Sam Asato and Carlos Martinez follow his lead, Sam yawing widely and rubbing his sleep from his eyes. 

Ian notices that Carlos looks grumpy, for some reason. 

He and Sam haven’t been getting along well, the last few days, leaving Ian feeling a little like a dad with two bickering kids.

Secretly, Ian has always wanted children but these two young adults, make him glad he doesn’t have any. 

With companions in tow, Ian Foley mounts the wide wooden steps to a large porch that wraps around the sides of the building. 

The wood is weathered and cracked and the boards are slightly uneven. 

Sam catches the toe of his shoe on a raised nail and trips, jostling Carlos who shoves him away with an admonition to watch were he is going.

Inez Walker had make it sound like the hunting lodge was doing well but whatever money the Shifters are taking in, it seems like they’re not using it on repairs. 

The front door is simple and unadorned fixed with a carved wooden handle and since a hand-printed sign leaning against the wall says to ‘come right in’ Ian pulls it open and steps through. 

While the outside of the lodge has given Ian an impression of a ruin in disrepair, the inside is anything but. 

The lodges’s main hall is huge, dimly lit and packed with arrangement of tables, chairs and couches, all currently empty but obviously intended to create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere. 

Exposed rafters add to the rustic vibe and a huge double-sided stone fireplace occupies the middle of the room.

In keeping with the hunting lodge theme, mounted animal heads line the walls and furs lie upon the floor. 

The lodge’s decor reminds Ian of his dad’s little hunting cabin and he suppresses a rush of bad memories. 

It was the last place he had seen George Foley alive. 

He shakes off that thought, eyeing the reminders of death with distaste. 

George Foley was an avid hunter but his son never had the stomach for it.

‘I have no problem with people hunting for food, I figure they are more in touch with reality than some who have only ever see meat wrapped in plastic but never could I understand why someone would want to kill for sport.’ 

‘I guess I am too much of a bear not to see things from the non-human perspective.’

At one end of the hall, a grey-haired woman sits behind a high counter, flipping through a hunting magazine. 

She looks up as Ian walks towards her.

‘You got a reservation?’ she asks.

She has shining black eyes in a weathered face that still bears the remnants of beauty and a keen appraising gaze.

‘No. No, I don’t,’ he says. 

‘I’m actually...’

She cuts him off with a raise of a hand.

‘Sorry, we don’t take bookings without reservation, during hunting season.’

‘Sorry but I am not here to hunt. My name is Ian Foley and I was told to come here by Inez Walker. Is she around?’

The badge on the lady's shirt says ‘Maria’ so Ian is pretty sure he’s not taking to Inez already. 

A suspicious look crosses her face and she glances behind Ian where Sam and Carlos stand, admiring a chandelier made of deer antlers.

‘Ian Foley, huh? We thought you were coming alone.’

‘I was,’ Ian says with an apologetic smile.

‘Hmm. Well you better come along with me then.’

She drops the magazine on the counter, sets out a little sign that says ‘be right back’ obviously intended for all the swarms of customers that Ian doesn’t see and leads the way towards a door that opens onto the back porch. 

Ian follows her and Sam and Carlos trail behind. 

They descend a few steps to the ground and then head towards another building set back in the trees. 

This one looks like a simple, mid-sized house. 

‘Maria’ takes them around the back to where two men are busy gutting a pair of waterfowl.

‘Oy. Jack, Elliot. We have guests,’ she says

The men look up from their bloody task and meet them with hostile stares. 

One of the men has mid-toned skin and black hair and looks like he might be Native American. 

The other man is paler with straight, shoulder-length, dirty-blond hair. 

Both appear to be about Ian’s age or older and have rough, strongly masculine features.

‘Guests, huh?’ the black haired man asks, dark eyes darting between the three of them. 

‘I thought we didn’t have any bookings this week.’

‘We don’t.’ she says. 

‘This is Ian Foley and his friends.’

The two men share a glance and then look at the woman as if waiting for instructions.

‘He said Inez invited him,’ she adds.

As one, the men draw pistols from somewhere, faster than Ian can follow and aim them at Sam and Carlos. 

Acting on instinct, Ian shoves Sam behind him and raises his hands.

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the fuck?’ Ian asks. 

‘Inez is expecting me. I swear.’ 

‘Expecting you,’ Maria corrects. 

‘Not them.’

She nods between Sam and Carlos.

‘Now, if you are who you claim to be, you can prove it, right? So prove it.’

‘You want me to Shift? Now.’

‘If you don’t want my boys putting holes in your friends, then yes, I want you to show mw what you are.’

‘Okay. Okay. Just a minute.’

Ian strips out of his shirt, kicks off his shoes and removes his belt and jeans.

‘I’ve already ruined one set of clothes by ‘Shifting’ without undressing first and I don’t want to loose another.’ 

‘Not to mention it hurts like hell.’

Once Ian is naked, he takes a deep breath and ‘Shifts’. 

Not all ‘Shifters’ can ‘Shift’ as well as he can. 

Some have to meditate or do some special ritual and some just have to be in the right frame of mind. 

It’s always been easy for Ian Foley, something that fees right and natural and he does it quick and seamlessly from man to bear. 

Standing before the grey-haired woman on all fours, his head almost level with hers, he digs his claws into the soft dirt beneath his feet. 

Then he turns to the men holding guns and lets out an angry puff of breath. 

They stare back at Ian, seemingly impressed and after a moment he shifts back to a man and stands up.

“Well, I do apologize,’ Maria says, looking Ian up and down with an appreciative glance. 

‘It seems like you are one of us, after all. As for your friends, if you vouch for them, we will accept them, for now. Do you give me your word that they can be trusted.’

Ian looks over at Sam and Carlos. 

He’s know them for mere weeks.

‘Sam basically tricked me into a demonic contract and Carlos broke my collarbone with a wrench and yet I do trust them.’ 

‘Maybe I am a fool but I’ll let them prove it if I am.’

‘They are with me,’ he says. 

‘I give you my word.’

Maria nods to Jack and Elliot and they lower their guns.

‘I apologize for the poor welcome,’ she says. 

‘We have had a spate of bad luck lately and it’s put us on edge.’

‘Yeah. If you call people getting murdered, bad luck,’ the black haired man said.

‘Jack, we don’t know if they were murdered. Not yet, anyway.’ Maria says.

‘It’s a hunter, Maria,’ the blonde-haired man ‘Elliot, Ian presumes’ says 

‘It’s got to be. How many times do we have to say it?’

‘We don’t know that,’ Maria snaps. 

‘Until we do, we be careful, that’s all. Do you understand?’

Ian looks between the three of them, confused and on edge. This is not the welcoming he had expected.

“Where is Inez? Ian asks. 

‘I would like to speak with her.’

Maria casts Ian a glance.

‘We all would, darling. She’s missing. Been missing about a week now, give or take. The last four Bear-folk that went missing, turned up dead or never turned up at all. We are hoping it will turn out different this time but...’ 

She shakes her head. 

‘Well, maybe you can help us with that, you seem to have a talent, if nothing else.’

Ian looks over at Sam and Carlos. 

Carlos looks like he ready to bolt into the nearest hole and Sam looks worried and confused.

‘I don’t blame them.’ 

‘I think we are all feeling a little similar.’

‘This was suppose to be a refuge, not a place to be met with violence and paranoia, justified or not.’ 

‘Still I can’t give up, not after coming so far.’ 

‘This is where I feel I am suppose to be.’ 

‘Where I can find all the answers to all the questions that plague my heart.’ 

‘I have to at least try.’

‘Just tell me what to do,’ Ian says.

‘That a’ boy.’ 

Maria smiles. 

‘Welcome to Bear’s Blood Lodge, Ian Foley. Welcome home.’  

[hunt-nation]

This reindeer, also known as caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic, boreal, tundra, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. We, Hunt-Nation provides the best outfitter for Guided Caribou Hunts In Alaska. You can go through our website for more information about this hunt.

[signorformica]

Radiant owl, by Kenojuak Ashevak (b.1927 Canada, Ikirasaqa, Northwest Territories; d.2013), pioneer of modern Inuit art (Yes! The Inuit people also warn you, folks: the owls are not what they seem!) • via Bibliothèque Infernale on FB

Inuit (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people') are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada and Alaska.

Inuit mythology and Shamanism among Eskimo peoples can be seen as based on animist principles.

“Some Inuit (including Alaska Natives) believed that the spirits of their ancestors could be seen in the aurora borealis. Long winter months of waiting for caribou herds or sitting near breathing holes hunting seals gave birth to stories of mysterious and sudden appearance of ghosts and fantastic creatures. Some Inuit looked into the aurora borealis, or northern lights, to find images of their family and friends dancing in the next life. However, some Inuit believed that the lights were more sinister and if you whistled at them, they would come down and cut off your head. This tale is still told to children today. For others they were invisible giants, the souls of animals, a guide to hunting and as a spirit for the angakkuq to help with healing.” (Wiki)

[sciencespies]

First Wolverine Family Makes a Home in Mount Rainier National Park in 100 Years

https://sciencespies.com/news/first-wolverine-family-makes-a-home-in-mount-rainier-national-park-in-100-years/

First Wolverine Family Makes a Home in Mount Rainier National Park in 100 Years

A mama wolverine and her two kits have made a home in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, the park announced last week. The trio were spotted on wildlife cameras set up by the Cascades Carnivore Project, Kelsie Smith reports for CNN.

Although wolverines are common in Canada and Alaska, unregulated trapping in the 19th and early 20th centuries severely reduced their population further south, Michele Debczak writes for Mental Floss. Now, scientists estimate that between 300 and 1,000 of them remain in the contiguous United States.

The animals are the largest members of the weasel family, and look like miniature bears with long tails and a fluffy ruff. But they’re elusive. Mount Rainier National Park staff suspected wolverines had moved into the park in 2018. They set up cameras to study the local wolverines, which the park’s wildlife experts could identify by their unique white markings.

This summer, they spotted the nursing mother, who was named Joni by the Cascades Carnivore Project. That’s a good sign for the species and for the park.

“It’s really, really exciting,” Mount Rainier National Park superintendent Chip Jenkins says in a statement. “It tells us something about the condition of the park—that when we have such large-ranging carnivores present on the landscape that we’re doing a good job of managing our wilderness.”

Wolverines are solitary critters that need a lot of space to themselves. In 600 square miles of high-quality habitat, there might be about six wolverines on average, Anna Patrick reports for the Seattle Times. They’re carnivorous and normally hunt small mammals like rabbits and rodents. But if a larger animal like a caribou is sick or injured, a wolverine might attack it, according to National Geographic.

A female wolverine photographed in Mount Rainier National Park. Individual wolverines can be identified by their unique white markings.

(Courtesy of NPS/Cascades Carnivore Project)

They also eat carrion, especially in winter when prey is scarce. The small predator is well adapted to the cold, as its thick, brown coat made it a prime target of trappers in North America. And mother wolverines, like Mount Rainier’s Joni, use snowpack to build their dens.

The park points out that wolverines are losing territory because climate change is reducing the snowpack in their southern range. A family of wolverines hasn’t been seen in Mount Rainier National Park for about 100 years.

“Many species that live at high elevation in the Pacific Northwest, such as the wolverine, are of particular conservation concern due to their unique evolutionary histories and their sensitivity to climate change,” says Jocelyn Akins, founder of the Cascades Carnivore Project, in the statement. “They serve as indicators of future changes that will eventually affect more tolerant species and, as such, make good models for conservation in a changing world.”

Although so few wolverines remain in the U.S., they aren’t currently protected under the Endangered Species Act. Some groups, including the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, began petitioning for the wolverine’s protection 20 years ago, Laura Lundquist reports for the Missoula Current. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has until the end of August to make a decision on the matter.

At the same time, wolverines have been spotted outside of their normal range, including along the Long Beach Peninsula and walking down a road in the rural community of Naselle, Washington, per CNN.

But for the most part, wolverines will avoid people or run away if they encounter a human.

“Backcountry enthusiasts, skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers can help us monitor wolverines and contribute to studying their natural return to the Cascade ecosystem,” park ecologist Tara Chestnut says in the statement.

The Mount Rainier National Park, working with the National Park Fund, created a downloadable carnivore tracking guide to help hikers recognize tracks they encounter in the backcountry.

“Wolverines are solitary animals and despite their reputation for aggressiveness in popular media, they pose no risk to park visitors,” Chestnut adds. “If you are lucky enough to see one in the wild, it will likely flee as soon as it notices you.”

#News

[wrangelloutfitters-blog]

Experience Awesome Wildlife Hunting in Alaska

Want to experience the adrenaline rush while hunting? Well, some of the exciting and beautiful trophies are often found in Alaska. Also, the landscape and weather of this places provides the best experience for any hunter right from novice to expert or veteran.

Hunting in Alaska

Do you know there are unguided hunting done in Alaska? But it is better if you opt for guided moose hunt Alaska if you don’t want to be in trouble. As per the Alaskan law, it is illegal to hunt for muskox, caribou hunts, black bear, polar bear, etc.

When You Can Hunt In Alaska

Now keep in mind that there are certain hunting regulations regarding hunting any animals like dall sheep hunting Alaska. In addition, many of the big game species are bound to make a long migration among the seasonal ranges present in Alaska.

The extensive knowledge that WrangellOutfitters has and the careful planning we follow always helps us in successful hunting. This will be a great once in a lifetime experience for you.

With us, you will be prepared with the details and knowledge with regard to the field dressing as well as meat packaging present in the unguided hunt. Also, you will be even be prepared for the climate and even the encounters too. Such kind of information and preparation will easily provide you with the required and successful experience for Alaska grizzly hunting outfitters hunting.

Big Game Hunting In Alaska

Besides the sheep hunts in Alaska, there are other far exciting and dangerous activities like big game hunting in Alaska. Here your success and safety are directly influenced by the extensive preparations you do.

In addition, by having more details will allow you to be mentally and physically prepared that might be involved in the Alaska hunting. If you take the preparation in the correct and serious manner, you will really enjoy your trip a lot.

Services We Provide

1) Alaska Dall Sheep

2) Alaska Moose Hunt

3) Alaska Grizzly Hunt

Developing  An Everlasting Relationship

We at WrangellOutfitters have spent a lot of years in creating an everlasting relationship with the Alaskan hunting authorities and our customers. This has helped in running our business in a proper and efficient manner.

Due to the resources and experience, our clients are very much and properly taken care of as soon as they are met and even until they are sent back after the hunt. Most importantly, unlike other hunting trip organizers in Alaska, we provide no-hassle and great hunting adventure, even if it involves getting the trophy or meat home.

The bottom line here is that we live and thrive in hunting. Our passion and commitment lie in providing our customers with exciting hunting adventures in Alaska, which they have never imagined about. Want to know more? Simply contact us.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Stone Cross by Marc Cameron

Arlliss Cutter Series #2

Arliss Cutter is intelligent, intriguing, and a bit of  an enigma.  Reading book one of this series I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish a book by this author that was filled with murder, mystery and mayhem AND the same is true for reading the second book because it was 4am before I read the last page and finally headed to bed.

As I read I grew to know more about Alaska and Arliss and I fell in love with Grumpy – the grandfather who raised Arliss. The main case was brutal and so was the encroaching Alaska winter. This could have been just the story of solving a murder and finding people that disappeared but it was so much more.

What I liked:

* Arliss: for reasons mentioned above and also because he is a man I admire and would like to know better. I want him to have a happy future and hope that some of his dreams will come true as the series continues.

* The information learned about a bit of Arliss’s past

* The character guide at the beginning of the book

* Birdie: a Yu’pik woman who suffered greatly and achieved much – I truly admired her.

* Lola: Arliss’s partner – a strong tough woman with a heart of gold

* Sarah: her strength and courage were amazing

* The weaving in of the side stories that enhanced the overall story

* Mim: Arliss’s widowed sister-in-law and her concern fo her children and also for Arliss’s well being

* Arliss’s relationship with his brother’s family

* What I learned about living in remote Alaska, mushing dogs, and how the weather impacts living there.

* Reading about and then googling poke-hand and thread tattooing then cringing when I found out what it was and how there is a resurgence in the art form. I also learned a bit, after googling again, about cut and chisel tattooing used by the Maoris.

* There are so many other things to mention but I really and truly liked it all except for…

What I did not like:

* The bad guys...they were ruthless, evil, despicable no good rotten...just horrible

* Having to wait till the next book is written so I can find out what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

In a remote Alaskan village, Deputy US Marshal Arliss Cutter searches for a stone-cold killer amid a hotbed of corruption, lies, and long-buried secrets . . .   Winter comes early to the rural native community of Stone Cross, Alaska—and so does hunting season. Caribou and moose are a major source of food through the long, dark months ahead. But Arliss Cutter has come here for a very different game. A federal judge is receiving death threats and refuses protection. Cutter and his deputy Lola Teariki have been assigned to shadow him on his trip to this icy outland to make sure that he’s safe. But they quickly discover that no one is ever really safe in a place like this. And no one is above suspicion . . .   When Cutter and Lola arrive, the village is already gripped with fear. A young couple has disappeared from their fishing lodge, just eight miles upriver. Their handyman has been found dead, next to a crude drawing of a mysterious symbol. To make matters worse, a dense fog has descended on the region, isolating the town from civilization. With the judge’s life still at risk, and two people still missing, Cutter and Lola have their work cut out for them. But navigating the small-town customs and blood-bound traditions of this close-knit community won’t be easy. When the secrets come out, the deadly hunt is on . . .

[besthuntgear]

Top Hunting Destinations in the United States

Hunting is not just a sport; it's a tradition that connects us with nature, tests our skills, and offers a unique adventure every time. The United States, with its vast and diverse landscapes, offers some of the best hunting grounds in the world. From the rolling hills of Nebraska to the remote wilderness of Alaska, each destination provides hunters with a unique experience. This guide delves into the premier hunting locations across the United States, offering insights into what makes each spot exceptional. Key Takeaways - Nebraska Sandhills offers affordable, D.I.Y. opportunities for mule deer hunting in an ideal habitat. - Northern Saskatchewan is renowned for its remote black bear hunting grounds, where bears often die of old age. - Alberta is a hotspot for hunters seeking trophy-sized, velvet-antlered mule deer through spot-and-stalk hunting. - Winter Hunting in Montana goes beyond the usual, exploring cold-weather hunting opportunities. - Summer Hunting Guide provides insights into what to hunt and where during the warmer months. North America's Premier Hunting Locations Nebraska Sandhills for Mule Deer The Nebraska Sandhills offer an unparalleled hunting experience for those in pursuit of mule deer. This region's vast rolling hills, intertwined with creek bottoms and patches of agriculture, create an ideal habitat for mule deer to thrive. What makes the Sandhills stand out is not just the abundance of game but also the affordability and accessibility for D.I.Y. hunters. The opportunity to stalk a big mule deer buck in such an expansive and beautiful landscape is a dream come true for many. Northern Saskatchewan for Black Bears Northern Saskatchewan is a hidden gem for black bear hunting. This area's vast wilderness, accessible only by boat or plane, is home to black bears that often reach old age, untouched by hunters. The few outfitters who venture into these remote areas offer an exclusive hunting experience, where the chances of encountering a record-book bear are exceptionally high. The thrill of hunting in such a pristine and secluded environment is unmatched. Alberta for Velvet Antlered Mule Deer Alberta is renowned for its mule deer hunting, especially during the season when the deer sport their velvet antlers. The region's landscape is perfect for spot-and-stalk hunting, offering hunters the challenge of getting close to these magnificent animals. The prospect of hunting a three-hundred-plus-pound muley in velvet is a significant draw for bowhunters, making Alberta a top destination for those seeking a trophy. Best Hunting States in America A study by Forbes ranked the best hunting states in America, taking into account a variety of factors such as the diversity of game, quality of the hunting experience, and conservation efforts. While this ranking is subjective, it highlights the rich hunting culture and opportunities available across the country. Rank State Notable Game Why It's Top 1 Montana Elk, Deer, Bear Diverse landscapes offering a wide range of hunting experiences. 2 Wyoming Antelope, Elk, Mule Deer High game density and vast public lands. 3 Alaska Moose, Bear, Caribou Remote and challenging hunting grounds. 4 Idaho Elk, Deer, Bear Over-the-counter tags and vast wilderness areas. 5 Colorado Elk, Mule Deer, Bear Large elk herds and scenic hunting locations. This table showcases the diversity and richness of hunting experiences across the United States, making it a premier destination for hunters worldwide. International Hunting Destinations While the United States offers a vast array of hunting opportunities, hunters often look beyond its borders for unique experiences. European countries, with their rich hunting traditions, offer a different kind of hunt, often focusing on game management and conservation. African safaris, on the other hand, promise an adventure with big game like lions, elephants, and rhinos, providing hunters with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Asia's diverse ecosystems offer unique hunting opportunities, from the Siberian taiga to the jungles of Southeast Asia. Unique Hunting Experiences Winter Hunting in Montana Montana is not just a top hunting destination for its game but also for the unique experience of winter hunting. Beyond the well-known Alaskan winter hunts, Montana offers hunters the chance to track game through snow-covered landscapes, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the hunt. Summer Hunting Guide Summer offers its own set of hunting opportunities, from pronghorn antelope in the West to wild boar in the South. This guide provides hunters with information on what game is in season during the summer months and the best places to find them. Planning Your Hunting Trip When planning a hunting trip, logistics and preparation are key. Understanding the regulations, obtaining the necessary permits, and preparing for the terrain and weather conditions are crucial steps in ensuring a successful and ethical hunt. Hunters should also consider the gear and equipment needed for their specific destination, adapting their kit to suit the environment and game they are pursuing. Gear and Equipment for Different Destinations The right gear and equipment can make a significant difference in the success of your hunt. From the rugged mountains of Alaska to the dense forests of the East Coast, each hunting destination requires a tailored approach to gear. Lightweight, durable clothing, appropriate firearms or bows, and camping equipment for multi-day hunts are just a few considerations hunters must make. Gear and Equipment for Different Destinations Choosing the right gear and equipment is essential for a successful hunt. Here's a quick guide to help you match your gear to your destination: Destination Essential Gear and Equipment Mountainous Areas Lightweight, durable clothing, high-quality boots, backpack with hydration system Forested Regions Camouflage clothing, scent control products, tree stands or ground blinds Open Plains Long-range rifles, binoculars, portable hides for concealment This table highlights the importance of tailoring your equipment to the environment you'll be hunting in. Planning Your Hunting Trip Effective planning is the cornerstone of any successful hunting trip. Consider the following aspects to ensure a smooth experience: - Season and Weather: Research the best times to hunt your chosen game and prepare for the weather conditions you'll encounter. - Licenses and Permits: Ensure you have all necessary licenses and permits well in advance of your trip. - Local Knowledge: Engage with local hunters or guides who can provide invaluable insights into the area and the habits of the game. - Safety Precautions: Always prioritize safety by informing someone of your hunting plan and carrying a first aid kit and communication device. Frequently Asked Questions For beginners, states like Texas and Pennsylvania offer a wealth of resources, guides, and outfitters to help novices get started. These states have a high success rate for deer hunting and provide ample opportunities to learn the ropes in a supportive environment.Preparing for an international hunting trip involves several key steps: - Research and select a reputable outfitter who specializes in the game you wish to hunt. - Understand the legal requirements, including visas, hunting licenses, and importation of firearms. - Prepare physically for the demands of hunting in a different environment, which may include altitude acclimatization and endurance training. - Familiarize yourself with local customs and hunting etiquette to ensure a respectful and ethical hunting experience. Ethical hunting practices are crucial for the conservation of wildlife and habitats. They include: - Hunting legally by following all local, state, and federal regulations. - Practicing fair chase principles, respecting the animal, and avoiding any practices that give the hunter an unfair advantage. - Ensuring a quick and humane kill to minimize the animal's suffering. - Utilizing the game by harvesting and using as much of the animal as possible. Read the full article

[taigas-den]

So I was just informed that one of my husband’s buddies that goes caribou hunting regularly wants to take us both on a guided caribou hunt. We just have to get ourselves up to Alaska. 

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[kristablogs]

Local opposition to Alaska’s Pebble Mine grows as the project reaches the next milestone

Male sockeye salmon are among the prized resources in the proposed site of the Pebble Mine. (Bjorn Dihle/)

Editor’s note: Bjorn Dihle is a lifelong resident of Alaska, and an advocate for Alaska’s wild habitat and natural resources. You can find him on Instagram and Facebook.

This story originally featured on Outdoor Life.

Today, a host of conservation and news organizations received via the U.S. Postal Service the final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska. This paves the way for the federal permit the controversial mine needs in order to proceed, which will likely be issued within 30 days now that the final Environmental Impact Statement has been released. With the current political atmosphere, the Pebble Partnership is now in position to bulldoze through the final state and local permits required to start development in the wild country of the Alaska Peninsula, where a fully realized mining district would likely spell the death of Bristol Bay and its incredible sockeye salmon runs, the largest on the planet.

Many Alaskans, myself included, have strong ties to the area and its incredible natural resources. In a recent poll, 62 percent of Alaskans said they’re opposed to Pebble. Former governor Jay Hammond and former senator Ted Stevens (both Republicans and likely the most influential Alaskan politicians in recent history) strongly opposed the mine. Many believe you can either have salmon or you can have the Pebble Mine, but you can’t have both.

And many Alaskan outdoorsmen and women have good memories from hunting and fishing the area. My dad had taken me and my two brothers on a caribou hunt there when we were teenagers. I remembered a blond grizzly rising from the brush and glowering as a herd of caribou flooded across the hilly tundra north of Lake Iliamna. My younger brother and I knelt, watching two big bear cubs appear. We’d just about gotten within rifle range of a group of massive white-maned bulls but, now, with the bears nearby, we weren’t eager to push our luck. We backtracked to our dad without firing a shot. A few hours later, we lay on the tundra as hundreds of caribou filed by us only 40 yards away. Twenty years have passed since that once-in-a-lifetime hunt, but the memories of thousands of caribou moving across the tundra and red salmon filling the waterways of that big wild country remain crisp to this day.

I hadn’t heard of Pebble Mine back then, nor did I realize that we were hunting atop the proposed mine’s deposit of gold, copper, and molybdenum. A few years after that hunt, geologists announced the deposit to be the world’s largest untapped resource of gold and copper, and estimated its worth at $500 billion. The idea of a mine in that location was met with staunch opposition in Alaska. And for good reason—the region has the world’s largest run of sockeye salmon, which is vital for the area’s mostly Native population and the $1.5 billion commercial fishery that supports 14,500 jobs and an array of other industries, including guiding sport anglers, hunters, and bear watchers.

Alannah Hurley, a Yup’ik resident of Bristol Bay and the executive director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay, testified before Congress that “Pebble’s proposal to build a mine at the heart of our watershed has been a dark cloud over Bristol Bay for the last 15 years.”

Triston Chaney, a Yup’ik and Athabaskan fisherman, doesn’t mince words when it comes to Pebble. The deposit lies partly beneath the Nushagak River watershed, which has sustained his people for generations.

“We don’t like Pebble. We don’t want it,” Chaney says. “They couldn’t have picked a worse spot to dig a big hole. This could damage our whole livelihood. Life here revolves around fish and if that went away…”

A moose hunter returning to camp on a lake on the Alaska Peninsula. (Bjorn Dihle/)

For Melanie Brown, a Yup’ik and Inupiat commercial fisherwoman, salmon connects her to her culture.

“Bristol Bay would become a desolate place without salmon,” Brown says. “Salmon don’t just nourish the people; they nourish the land. It’s sad to think that could be disrupted. The disappearance of salmon has happened all over the world. My hope is our collective consciousness can keep projects like Pebble from destroying places like Bristol Bay.”

During the Obama administration, Pebble was blocked from moving forward. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a three-year peer-reviewed scientific study that concluded a mine “would result in complete loss of fish habitat due to elimination, de-watering, and fragmentation of streams, wetlands, and other aquatic resources” in a significant portion of the region and that “these loses would be irreversible.”

The EPA invoked the Clean Water Act, potential investors fled, and Pebble appeared to be dead. During the beginning of Trump’s administration, the EPA agreed the environmental risks were too great and announced they would block the mine from going forward.

That all changed in May 2017, when Scott Pruitt, the recently appointed director of the EPA, met with Tom Collier, a veteran D.C. lobbyist and the CEO of the Pebble Partnership. A few hours after Pruitt and Collier’s meeting, the EPA announced it was rescinding its plans to protect Bristol Bay. In late 2017, the Pebble Partnership filed for a mining permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Collier, who stands to get a $12.5 million bonus if he gets Pebble permitted within four years, came forward with the idea of applying for a smaller mine that would operate for 20 years and only recover a small percentage of the deposit. There would be less environmental degradation, Collier pointed out, than the original 78-year mine plan. The “small” mine would still be massive. Its industrial footprint would cover hundreds of miles of the Alaska Peninsula with hundreds of miles of roads, toxic-sludge-filled lakes, power plants, deep water ports, and a natural gas line.

Some critics also argue that Collier’s 20-year mine isn’t economically feasible. Richard Borden, who has three decades working in the mining industry and once was a permitting expert for Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest mining corporation, predicted Collier’s model for Pebble would lose billions of dollars. The Pebble Partnership needs investors to build all the infrastructure and those folks wouldn’t want to commit to a 20-year mine. Still, Collier pushed on, claiming the mine would make a profit and not negatively impact the salmon and people of the region. After the Corps of Engineers released its draft Environmental Impact Statement in late February 2019, the Department of the Interior concluded the report relied on “subjective, and unsupported claims” from the Pebble Partnership and was “so inadequate that it precludes meaningful analysis.” Some locals say that the Corps of Engineers was in collusion with the Pebble Partnership, or, at the very least, under the sway of the current political atmosphere while forgoing any legitimate scientific process.

Alannah Hurley put it simply: “The Corps has made it clear that our people, science, and fact do not matter in this process.”

Since applying for a permit in 2017, the Pebble Partnership had led the public to believe it was planning a transportation route to the mine called the “southern route.” On May 22, 2020, on the eve of the Corps of Engineers releasing its final review and decision on whether to issue Pebble the primary federal permit it needs, the Corps of Engineers announced it was changing its preferred transportation route for the mine to the “northern route.” The northern route is the only transportation route able to accommodate the 78-year mine plan, which is economically feasible and would likely attract investors. The “northern route” would cross land owned by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), Pedro Bay Corp, and Igiugig Village Council; all three entities have made clear that their land will not be available to accommodate the mine.

An Alaska Peninsula brown bear chomps down on a sockeye salmon. (Drew Hamilton/)

Dan Cheyette, BBNC Vice President of Lands, said in a press release, “There are numerous problems with the northern transportation route. It has not been vetted and scrutinized by both the public and cooperating agencies on the same level as other transportation routes. It crosses lands that are not and will not be available for the purpose of building Pebble Mine. And most importantly, it is a clear sign that PLP has no plans to stop at its current 20-year mine plan.”

On June 18, Collier announced the Pebble Partnership will pay at least $3 million in dividends to residents of Bristol Bay who register. As the mine becomes more profitable, Collier claims, dividends will increase. Alannah Hurley called Collier’s dividends a “false promise” and “predatory and shameless.”

Tia Shoemaker, a brown bear and moose hunting guide who grew up on a remote homestead on the Alaska Peninsula, is calling B.S.

“Pebble is telling potential investors this will be a multi-generational mine, while telling the public this will be a 20-year mine plan,” she says.

Shoemaker’s hunch that the Pebble Partnership’s proposal is smoke and mirrors is shared by many who oppose the mine. Drew Hamilton, a bear viewing guide on the Alaska Peninsula—bear viewing brings in an estimated annual $34 million annually—agrees. Hamilton works tirelessly raising awareness of how Pebble threatens the greatest population of brown bears left in North America.

“By applying for a permit for a 20-year mine that won’t pay the bills, they are either lying or stupid, and I don’t think they are stupid. It is just red flag after red flag and our politicians’ commitment to the sham ‘process’ has gone beyond reasonable, to the point that they are just wasting our time and resources,” Hamilton says.

The battle for Bristol Bay isn’t over yet. With enough public support, the EPA could still veto the mine under the authority of the Clean Water Act, as it has before. But barring that, or big changes in national and state politics, Pebble Mine will eventually become a reality. I had this in the back of my mind when my brothers and I took my dad to the Alaska Peninsula for a moose hunt last September, in honor of his 70th birthday. King Salmon was buzzing with anglers, hunters, and bear viewers who’d come from all over the world to experience the region’s incredible fish and wildlife opportunities.

We glassed the country for days, looking out on miles of tundra and giant glacier-covered volcanoes, waiting for a bull to appear. I thought about how, during our caribou hunt 20 years prior, I believed Alaska would stay wild forever. I believed the streams would always be full of salmon and that there would always be places to make that hunt of a lifetime. I know now that isn’t the case. I was wondering if Bristol Bay’s natural wonders would still exist in the decades to come when two massive bulls appeared out of the tundra and snapped me back to the present. We grunted and racked brush, mimicking a rival bull. The moose steadily came our way, aggressively shaking their antlers—a true picture of the wild.

[hunt-nation]

Unguided Caribou Hunting Alaska | HuntNation

Caribou, which are known as Reindeer in North America is a deer species with a circumpolar distribution. They are quite native in both arctic and non-arctic. For Unguided Caribou Hunting Alaska you can our finest and professional outfitters at hunt-nation.

[scootoaster]

Local opposition to Alaska’s Pebble Mine grows as the project reaches the next milestone

Male sockeye salmon are among the prized resources in the proposed site of the Pebble Mine. (Bjorn Dihle/)

Editor’s note: Bjorn Dihle is a lifelong resident of Alaska, and an advocate for Alaska’s wild habitat and natural resources. You can find him on Instagram and Facebook.

This story originally featured on Outdoor Life.

Today, a host of conservation and news organizations received via the U.S. Postal Service the final Environmental Impact Statement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska. This paves the way for the federal permit the controversial mine needs in order to proceed, which will likely be issued within 30 days now that the final Environmental Impact Statement has been released. With the current political atmosphere, the Pebble Partnership is now in position to bulldoze through the final state and local permits required to start development in the wild country of the Alaska Peninsula, where a fully realized mining district would likely spell the death of Bristol Bay and its incredible sockeye salmon runs, the largest on the planet.

Many Alaskans, myself included, have strong ties to the area and its incredible natural resources. In a recent poll, 62 percent of Alaskans said they’re opposed to Pebble. Former governor Jay Hammond and former senator Ted Stevens (both Republicans and likely the most influential Alaskan politicians in recent history) strongly opposed the mine. Many believe you can either have salmon or you can have the Pebble Mine, but you can’t have both.

And many Alaskan outdoorsmen and women have good memories from hunting and fishing the area. My dad had taken me and my two brothers on a caribou hunt there when we were teenagers. I remembered a blond grizzly rising from the brush and glowering as a herd of caribou flooded across the hilly tundra north of Lake Iliamna. My younger brother and I knelt, watching two big bear cubs appear. We��d just about gotten within rifle range of a group of massive white-maned bulls but, now, with the bears nearby, we weren’t eager to push our luck. We backtracked to our dad without firing a shot. A few hours later, we lay on the tundra as hundreds of caribou filed by us only 40 yards away. Twenty years have passed since that once-in-a-lifetime hunt, but the memories of thousands of caribou moving across the tundra and red salmon filling the waterways of that big wild country remain crisp to this day.

I hadn’t heard of Pebble Mine back then, nor did I realize that we were hunting atop the proposed mine’s deposit of gold, copper, and molybdenum. A few years after that hunt, geologists announced the deposit to be the world’s largest untapped resource of gold and copper, and estimated its worth at $500 billion. The idea of a mine in that location was met with staunch opposition in Alaska. And for good reason—the region has the world’s largest run of sockeye salmon, which is vital for the area’s mostly Native population and the $1.5 billion commercial fishery that supports 14,500 jobs and an array of other industries, including guiding sport anglers, hunters, and bear watchers.

Alannah Hurley, a Yup’ik resident of Bristol Bay and the executive director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay, testified before Congress that “Pebble’s proposal to build a mine at the heart of our watershed has been a dark cloud over Bristol Bay for the last 15 years.”

Triston Chaney, a Yup’ik and Athabaskan fisherman, doesn’t mince words when it comes to Pebble. The deposit lies partly beneath the Nushagak River watershed, which has sustained his people for generations.

“We don’t like Pebble. We don’t want it,” Chaney says. “They couldn’t have picked a worse spot to dig a big hole. This could damage our whole livelihood. Life here revolves around fish and if that went away…”

A moose hunter returning to camp on a lake on the Alaska Peninsula. (Bjorn Dihle/)

For Melanie Brown, a Yup’ik and Inupiat commercial fisherwoman, salmon connects her to her culture.

“Bristol Bay would become a desolate place without salmon,” Brown says. “Salmon don’t just nourish the people; they nourish the land. It’s sad to think that could be disrupted. The disappearance of salmon has happened all over the world. My hope is our collective consciousness can keep projects like Pebble from destroying places like Bristol Bay.”

During the Obama administration, Pebble was blocked from moving forward. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a three-year peer-reviewed scientific study that concluded a mine “would result in complete loss of fish habitat due to elimination, de-watering, and fragmentation of streams, wetlands, and other aquatic resources” in a significant portion of the region and that “these loses would be irreversible.”

The EPA invoked the Clean Water Act, potential investors fled, and Pebble appeared to be dead. During the beginning of Trump’s administration, the EPA agreed the environmental risks were too great and announced they would block the mine from going forward.

That all changed in May 2017, when Scott Pruitt, the recently appointed director of the EPA, met with Tom Collier, a veteran D.C. lobbyist and the CEO of the Pebble Partnership. A few hours after Pruitt and Collier’s meeting, the EPA announced it was rescinding its plans to protect Bristol Bay. In late 2017, the Pebble Partnership filed for a mining permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Collier, who stands to get a $12.5 million bonus if he gets Pebble permitted within four years, came forward with the idea of applying for a smaller mine that would operate for 20 years and only recover a small percentage of the deposit. There would be less environmental degradation, Collier pointed out, than the original 78-year mine plan. The “small” mine would still be massive. Its industrial footprint would cover hundreds of miles of the Alaska Peninsula with hundreds of miles of roads, toxic-sludge-filled lakes, power plants, deep water ports, and a natural gas line.

Some critics also argue that Collier’s 20-year mine isn’t economically feasible. Richard Borden, who has three decades working in the mining industry and once was a permitting expert for Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest mining corporation, predicted Collier’s model for Pebble would lose billions of dollars. The Pebble Partnership needs investors to build all the infrastructure and those folks wouldn’t want to commit to a 20-year mine. Still, Collier pushed on, claiming the mine would make a profit and not negatively impact the salmon and people of the region. After the Corps of Engineers released its draft Environmental Impact Statement in late February 2019, the Department of the Interior concluded the report relied on “subjective, and unsupported claims” from the Pebble Partnership and was “so inadequate that it precludes meaningful analysis.” Some locals say that the Corps of Engineers was in collusion with the Pebble Partnership, or, at the very least, under the sway of the current political atmosphere while forgoing any legitimate scientific process.

Alannah Hurley put it simply: “The Corps has made it clear that our people, science, and fact do not matter in this process.”

Since applying for a permit in 2017, the Pebble Partnership had led the public to believe it was planning a transportation route to the mine called the “southern route.” On May 22, 2020, on the eve of the Corps of Engineers releasing its final review and decision on whether to issue Pebble the primary federal permit it needs, the Corps of Engineers announced it was changing its preferred transportation route for the mine to the “northern route.” The northern route is the only transportation route able to accommodate the 78-year mine plan, which is economically feasible and would likely attract investors. The “northern route” would cross land owned by the Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), Pedro Bay Corp, and Igiugig Village Council; all three entities have made clear that their land will not be available to accommodate the mine.

An Alaska Peninsula brown bear chomps down on a sockeye salmon. (Drew Hamilton/)

Dan Cheyette, BBNC Vice President of Lands, said in a press release, “There are numerous problems with the northern transportation route. It has not been vetted and scrutinized by both the public and cooperating agencies on the same level as other transportation routes. It crosses lands that are not and will not be available for the purpose of building Pebble Mine. And most importantly, it is a clear sign that PLP has no plans to stop at its current 20-year mine plan.”

On June 18, Collier announced the Pebble Partnership will pay at least $3 million in dividends to residents of Bristol Bay who register. As the mine becomes more profitable, Collier claims, dividends will increase. Alannah Hurley called Collier’s dividends a “false promise” and “predatory and shameless.”

Tia Shoemaker, a brown bear and moose hunting guide who grew up on a remote homestead on the Alaska Peninsula, is calling B.S.

“Pebble is telling potential investors this will be a multi-generational mine, while telling the public this will be a 20-year mine plan,” she says.

Shoemaker’s hunch that the Pebble Partnership’s proposal is smoke and mirrors is shared by many who oppose the mine. Drew Hamilton, a bear viewing guide on the Alaska Peninsula—bear viewing brings in an estimated annual $34 million annually—agrees. Hamilton works tirelessly raising awareness of how Pebble threatens the greatest population of brown bears left in North America.

“By applying for a permit for a 20-year mine that won’t pay the bills, they are either lying or stupid, and I don’t think they are stupid. It is just red flag after red flag and our politicians’ commitment to the sham ‘process’ has gone beyond reasonable, to the point that they are just wasting our time and resources,” Hamilton says.

The battle for Bristol Bay isn’t over yet. With enough public support, the EPA could still veto the mine under the authority of the Clean Water Act, as it has before. But barring that, or big changes in national and state politics, Pebble Mine will eventually become a reality. I had this in the back of my mind when my brothers and I took my dad to the Alaska Peninsula for a moose hunt last September, in honor of his 70th birthday. King Salmon was buzzing with anglers, hunters, and bear viewers who’d come from all over the world to experience the region’s incredible fish and wildlife opportunities.

We glassed the country for days, looking out on miles of tundra and giant glacier-covered volcanoes, waiting for a bull to appear. I thought about how, during our caribou hunt 20 years prior, I believed Alaska would stay wild forever. I believed the streams would always be full of salmon and that there would always be places to make that hunt of a lifetime. I know now that isn’t the case. I was wondering if Bristol Bay’s natural wonders would still exist in the decades to come when two massive bulls appeared out of the tundra and snapped me back to the present. We grunted and racked brush, mimicking a rival bull. The moose steadily came our way, aggressively shaking their antlers—a true picture of the wild.

[bigkype]

Arctic Alaska Part 1

Arctic Alaska Part 1

Recently I had the opportunity to help out with some guided hunts North of the Arctic Circle here in Alaska. Targeting caribou, wolves and brown bear. Based out of Kotzebue, we would shuttle hunters out into the tundra with a Cessna 180, 206 and a Super Cub. Often times hunters were flown out to gravel bar staging areas where the larger planes had enough room to land and then shuttled one at a…

[jacewilliams1]

White knuckle scud running

I know, I know – scud running is a no-no. Still, if you fly the Alaska bush, it sometimes seems as though it has become a way of life. During my time at it, we had precious few navigational aids, other than standard radio band broadcasting stations – Alaska’s many low-wattage village radios – and a limited number of LF radio ranges. We couldn’t file flight plans because there were no communication facilities of any kind at our destination points with which to close out the flight plans. Contact flying and ADF needles were our fare. So, please cut me just a little slack for admitting to the following experience.

It was a beautiful sunny Tuesday when we boarded my Cessna 180, N3140C, at South Lake Tahoe, California. Three of us were headed back to Alaska for a spring brown bear hunting trip. The date was May 4, 1965, now a long, long time ago. I had planned to follow the inside, overland route through Canada to Anchorage, where we’d license up, get the appropriate big game tags, and fill out our list of the necessary supplies and grub. I had chosen the inland route because following the offshore overwater route offers precious few beaches suitable for landings.

One hour and 17 minutes after takeoff from the airport at South Lake Tahoe, we slipped into Alturas, California, for coffee and pie; and then it was off for another one plus 37 to Redmond, Oregon, for a fuel stop and to check the weather ahead. From there, it was another one plus 27 to Troutdale, where we had to replace the cylinder head temperature thermocouple; and then another easy two hours into Port Angeles, Washington, where we would stay overnight with Al and Anne Goerg. Al was easily the world’s most famous and capable pioneer handgun hunter.

The Inside Passage is more forgiving than the coastal route, but it’s hardly flat terrain.

Al and I had hunted together back in 1961. It was then that I had guided him to both the world’s largest moose and the world’s largest caribou ever taken with handguns. For those interested in calibers, the former was taken with a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk Ruger, while the caribou was taken with a Remington .221 Fireball. Those hunts were featured in Al’s book, Pioneering Handgun Hunting, as well as in several prominent hunting and firearms periodicals. Al and I had more recently scheduled a handgun brown bear trip for later in May of 1965.

The following morning, it was off to Vancouver, then the river trench to Williams Lake, and on to Prince George, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and thence to Northway, Alaska, where we would have to clear U.S. Customs. From there it was another short flight – only two hours – through Gulkana to Anchorage. The entire trip had taken 22.8 flying hours, all of it in bright sunshine. It had certainly been unusual weather for that route.

After a comfortable night in Anchorage, we found that the weather had gone south on us, and we did our shopping under a pretty scabby overcast which was loaded with the light rain and snow that is typical Anchorage weather for that time of year.

The following day, we made it on down the west side of Cook Inlet to Chinitna Bay, where we would stay in a friend’s fishing cabin, as it was still too early for the salmon seasons and the cabin wouldn’t be in use by the owner.

The weather was definitely unfriendly. The angry wind-driven bay waters were pounding the beach, our cabin, and our little airplane, at that time tied firmly to some large boulders and nearby spruce trees.

The lakes were still frozen solid. Al Goerg’s planned hunt, commissioned by a popular outdoor magazine, was to include the handgun taking of a brown bear on the fishing streams, complete with photos. That wasn’t in the cards, given the horrid weather and with the mantle of winter still shrouding the earth there. Besides, it was really much too early in the year for the salmon runs.

I made a flight back to Anchorage – picking up a little airframe rime ice on the way – to telephone Al and suggest a fall season trip, almost guaranteed to fill all his requirements. Al wouldn’t hear of it, and said he’d still make the spring trip. If need be, he would charter a Super Cub pilot from his home town in Port Angeles for the trip. I begged Al to not consider a trip into the Alaska bush with an out-of-state pilot, but he was adamant.

Well, Al did make that trip, and he flew with a stateside pilot named Pennington. It was the last flight for either of them. Outdoor Life magazine later published a very long article about that sad trip. It had been several years before the Super Cub’s wreckage had been spotted by a fishing boat far below the crash site. The plane had already been stripped by bush pirates. The accident site was just a mile over the ridge from our old hunting 1961 camp.

Our own 1965 hunt was an absolute failure, largely due to the weather, and on a scabby Monday morning, May 31st, we lit out from Chinitna Bay headed back to Anchorage. Two days later, we lifted off from Merrill Field, said goodbye to my hometown, and headed northeast for Northway – to pick up on some pie, coffee, and fuel of course – thence, to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, two hours ahead, for Canadian Customs clearance and additional fuel.

The weather had cleared somewhat between Northway and Whitehorse, and we departed Whitehorse under sunny skies. We were climbing through nine thousand looking for ten when the 230-hp Continental engine suddenly went deathly silent. The Cessna was fully loaded, of course, and we had left the comfortable Alcan Highway for a more direct route to Watson Lake, BC. Emergency landing spots were somewhere between zero and none at all as I quickly scanned the panel for a clue to the loud silence. In only two or three seconds, the engine came back to purring life. Perhaps only a bead of water in the latest fuel load? Who knew? Back to Whitehorse to have a look for the reason for the engine burble? Nope.

Watson Lake, a lonely outpost for fuel.

Two hours later, Watson Lake didn’t look very good, but we landed and refueled there, immediately departing, and now looking for Fort St. John, another two hours and forty-five minutes ahead.

The weather continued to deteriorate as the ceiling forced us out of ten for much lower altitudes, only a few hundred feet finally. Still, it was comfortably flyable, and we plunged ahead, fat, dumb, and as happy as clams before the clambake. By now, visibility had us relying for the most part on our ADF, still strong and steady, locked solidly on the St. John LF transmitter.

We had passed a small airstrip about halfway between Watson Lake and Fort St. John. I gave them a call asking for the weather ahead. It wasn’t encouraging. I told them that, if the weather worsened, we might be back for a precautionary landing there. I was told in no uncertain terms that the muddy little dirt field was closed to all traffic, and that we wouldn’t be welcome there. Running a bit short of patience by then, I reminded him that we were flying a very capable Cessna 180, that I was an Alaska bush pilot, and that if he heard our airplane returning, it would wise for him to not be standing in the middle of his muddy little runway.

We were soon relying almost completely on the ADF, and were constantly skirting around the many hills that kept popping up just ahead of us. The tops of all these hills were concealed in the overcast.

We were now flying at about 30 feet above the tree-filled earth. I began hearing Fort St. John in my David Clarks. They were trying to raise us on their VHF frequency. I could receive but not transmit from our low altitude and with the many hills surrounding us. I knew from the broadcasts I was hearing that a pair of Okanagan helicopters were even then warming up for the anticipated search for our little airplane, now presumed down in the Canadian bush. Man, this was getting embarrassing. An Alaska bush pilot down in the bush? You gotta be kidding!

I’ve no idea how many hours I’d spent at this sort of flying, since it was sometimes a given when flying the Alaska back country. Still, this was not particularly familiar country, even though I’d made the same trip several times before. I was certainly red-faced at the thought of those huge helicopters warming up on the Fort St. John blacktop.

I was finally able to get a transmission through to Fort St. John at about the same time the airport came into view just ahead and slightly right of the nose of our Cessna. I called off the anticipated search, asked for and received the clearance to land, and overflew the airport. As I began the teardrop 180 degree turn to enter the left downwind traffic, I lost sight of the airport again in all that snow and low cloud cover. A few seconds later, I again found the airport and the rest is academic.

From Williams Lake to Penticton, we made an honest ground speed of 174 mph. That meant a tailwind of around 50 mph, an appreciated boost for us.

The only other concern we had on our return to Lake Tahoe was at Redmond, Oregon, where the crosswinds at their little airport were truly sobering. I had quite a conversation with the guy on the ground. I wanted to land almost anywhere except on the active runway. He wasn’t having any of that, so I gave up on my requests for a landing that made sense to me but clearly not to him. Redmond didn’t have a control tower, and I knew that the man behind the voice coming through my David Clarks couldn’t see us. I just picked out a convenient turnoff from the runway and landed on a taxiway turnoff and directly into the very strong wind. He never knew the difference. We topped the tanks and at last lit out on our last leg to South Lake Tahoe. All in all, the trip had been fun, even though our bear hunting had been a washout.

The post White knuckle scud running appeared first on Air Facts Journal.

from Engineering Blog https://airfactsjournal.com/2019/06/white-knuckle-scud-running/

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