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BOWUNTR's Alaskan Adventure

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BOWUNTR

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Joined
Sep 29, 2005
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301
Location
Prescott, Az
This trip started back in December when I booked with the flight service for a DIY caribou drop hunt for two. I asked several different hardcore buddies to go and they all declined. I decided to ask a buddy at work, Jason, if he wanted to go. He was up for the challenge. Jason was an accomplished rifle hunter. I talked him in to buying my Guardian and giving bowhunting a try with the option of bringing his rifle. I showed Jason how to shoot and we joined the Oranco Club to get in some practice. Jason decided to leave the rifle at home.

Our departure day came quick. We flew to Anchorage and picked up our rental car. I talked the guy into upgrading from our Ford Escort. Our gear barely fit in this Dodge station wagon. Here's Jason with our ride and an interesting Alaskan road sign.

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We went to Barney's Sport Chalet, Wal Wart and the grocery store to stock up on the essentials for our eight days in the bush. Then, dinner at the famous Humpy's Ale House.

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We drove 350 miles through some of the most scenic country I've ever seen. Our destination was the town of Tok (toke), near the Yukon border. We had a full day to gear up before we left the following morning. Several trips to the local merchants for last minute stuff. Then to a gravel pit to make sure our bows were on and we were ready to roll. The following morning we were treated to a 120 mile flight into the Alaskan bush in a Piper Supercub. My first flight in a cub. Bad ass... The weather was perfect.

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We set up a modest camp...

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Then we hit the field to look for some of these. Saw hundreds. We couldn't hunt til the following morning. Look but don't touch! This beauty walked by me at 40 yards.

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The first night we hit the sack and woke up to low clouds and rain. Just before we walked into the field I called my wife on the sat phone. She told me that my mother had a stroke and was in ICU. Before the phone disconnected, she told me that my mom was doing good, which was a relief. There would be no planes flying today, I'd call back in the morning. I told Jason the news and told him that we had to "get it done" so we could get out of there. Jason is a great guy and told me that he would do whatever we had to.

Conditions were miserable. We set up an ambush spot on some bulls and it didn't work out. We moved to a different area trying to keep an eye on a herd that was on the opposite hill. The fog rolled in and we took a nap in the rain. Thank God for our great rain gear. I awoke to Jason saying "Holy sh!t, they're right there". The herd of mostly bulls were coming up our side. We hurried and positioned ourselves on the hill above them. I saw antlers and told Jason to sit down. We sat down and waited for them to walk below us. The biggest bull was in the lead and I took the shot. A little far back but he was dead in less than 200 yards. When we walked up to him I sh!t my pants. Not because of his antlers, but because of his body. This bull has 150 pounds on the bull I shot last year. Time to get to work...

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As we were sitting there taking pics we had a sow and cub walk by at 100 yards. The sow was pissed. She was woofing and popping her jaws. After taking some more pics we saw a herd of caribou moving across the valley from us. I put the spotter on them and told Jason to get his ass over there and shoot the biggest one that looks like a whitetail. Jason hauled ass over there, climbed the mountain and shot the biggest bull. Holy crap! Two bulls down. SWEEET.

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That day will be one of the most memorable days I've ever had hunting. When Jason signaled me that his bull was down I grabbed my pack and started over to him. Jasons bull is a pig! We took photos and field dressed the bull. We hiked backed to my bull and boned him out. The hike back to camp was mostly downhill. Loved every step. We were pumped and had planned on going back up the mountain that night to get Jasons bull but decided that wouldn't be a good idea, dealing with it in the dark. We celebrated with some Crown and Mountain House. I slept like a baby.

The weather was worse the next morning. It was kinda hairy walking up on Jasons bull in the fog. No bears. We got his bull off the mountain just as the ceiling was lifting. Late that afternoon we got pulled out of the bush and started making our way home. The trip home was an adventure in itself. Ed F

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When we arrived back in Tok and got our gear situated, it was late. We decided to stay at a local motel/liquor store.

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How cool is this... rolling through town like a couple idiots!! Actually we got a lot of positive comments on our rig.

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Getting all this stuff and meat on a plane... I panicked... We definately had someone looking out for us because everything went very smooth and timely thanks to some great people at Alaska Airlines. We were able to get all our gear, meat and antlers back home for less than $200. Un fricken real, to those of you that know. Check out the size of that box. We looked really stupid driving in to the terminal with that box.

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Finally, with one hour to spare, time for a few Alaskan brews for the ride home.

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I was able to get home to help take care of my mother. She is doing good and had a mild stroke with now known permenant disabilities. Thank you God. Next year it's a giant moose.... Ed F
 
AWESOME!!! That's something I really want to do. Congrats on a succesful Alaskan hunt done on your own. Those bulls are beauties. Glad everything turned out okay for you mom also. Thanks for sharing.
 
Hunt Talk IS 40 mile country.

Congrats on the fine Bou and glad ma is doing good. Good story.
 
Ed, glad to hear that your mom is doing well.

You guys flat got it done! Thanks for the great photos. You'll have to share with me sometime how you got all of that home so cheaply. I'm hoping to have that dilemma to deal with in the next couple of years.
 
Looks like an awesome trip and a great story to go along with all the pictures.
 
Way to make the best of an unfortunate situation.
Glad to hear your mom's doing alright.
 
Congratulation! Perfect hunt in spite of the troubles at home. Glad to hear your mother is fine.

I agree about the good folks at Alaska Airlines. In August I brought home 3 48qt. coolers of caribou meat for $60.
 
Great looking time. Congrats on a couple nice bulls with the bows.
 
Ed,
Glad to hear your mother is doing better.
Wish I had recognized you at the hunter office, I thought you were still out-in fact both Ernesto and I stood inside talking about you while you were outside!
That's 2 really nice bulls and in just a few hours to boot-congratulations!
 
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