? for people from Alaska

[allaroundhunter]

I have never been to Alaska, but I know that feral dogs in Texas can be vicious. Out on the farm we run across them almost weekly, and no one ever goes out without at least carrying a handgun, if on an ATV or vehicle a shotgun or AR is taken as well.

However, we do not get paid $40 for each one we shoot

 

[Cosmoline]

Alaska is big. Really really big. What's true in one part is not true in another. So generalizations are almost useless.

For the area you're talking about--the Fairbanks area and bases--there's no need to be too bearanoid. There may be other reasons to carry, of course.

Never saw a bear in town even in those days and we lived in Alaska for 10 years altogether.

That's what I hear from the old timers. Used to be the bear were cleared out of towns, but now they're back big time. Black ones in Anchorage are like squirrel. Incredibly thick on the ground. I ran into a pile of five of them at once on the trail just outside of town a few summers back. Not sure how common they are in Fairbanks. But oddly you are more likely to be stumbling over bear in Anchorage than you are in Emmonak. In the bush they still know how to run them off with a "belly ache."

Sometimes, too there are known problem bear. You just have to be aware of the local conditions. Like Caribou said even feral dogs can be a problem locally. Or sometimes during bad winters the wolf packs will start pressing close to town and grab up fido.

Absent really extraordinary circumstances I'd advise NOT to shoot charging moose. They may charge you but they're basically the state's livestock. And everybody ends up getting charged at some point. It's memorable. Actually violent stompings are rare. Just get out of their way. It's part of living here and you don't want to go to prison for poaching a moose.

Overall you just need to keep it in perspective. If you're out and about in the state the WATER is orders of magnitude more dangerous than all the bear put together with wolves riding them into battle. Fall off the boat and you could die at once from the shock of cold. Try to wade across a fast stream using the wrong methods and you could find your legs instantly numb and pushed out from under you. Stand up in a canoe and you could get your head knocked in by a tree branch. Drink a few too many while relaxing, trip and that's it. All these things have happened, some happen every single year like clockwork. About fifty deaths every year with lots more close calls.

 

[Alaska444]

I have seen a lot on the animal control of wild animals in the Anchorage area. They appear to give more rights to the animals than to the people inside the city limits. I find that a bit crazy and dangerous. We ran around the woods and areas at the top of O'Malley road in the mid 1960's and never once considered bears. They just didn't want any part of us. Our back yard was a cleared out area about 75 yards and then nothing but deep, thick woods for miles on end.

Never once in all that time did we ever have a bear visit our yard. Moose, yes, bear no. Any bears in our yard would have been shot on sight and no game warden would have come visiting afterwards.

I believe that Anchorage has created its own bear problem with poor insight into bears and people. Where people live, bears don't belong any longer. Simple as that. Once bears and other animals become habituated to people, they lose all of there fear of us which has been documented as a cause in a large number of bear attacks.

I believe that this is simply the wrong approach to handling wild animals inside the city limits.

 

[Carne Frio]

I live 150 yard north of one of Fort Wainright's fences.
My family has been in the same house since 1973. We
have never seen a bear in our neighborhood during
those 39 years.

Moose, every month or so wander
down the street. Out on the edges of town, people
will sometimes report a bear sighting. It's been over
18 months since the last one and that was about 10
miles north of town.

The dangers of living here have more to do with the
problem boozer or methhead and people who think
that they can drive fast on snow and ice.

And our mosquitos take no prisoners.

 

[Alaska444]

Ha Ha, yes, the mosquitos take no prisoners in Alaska for sure. You can see the entire "herd" coming towards you up there. LOL

 

[shiftyer1]

I don't know what alaska laws are but I assume they are pretty gun friendly. I don't have to worry about too many bears here in central texas, i'll win the lottery before I see one. Although I did almost wreck my truck looking at a camel in a pasture, i've also seen giraffes, zebras and 3 years ago I had the wierdest looking deer in my yard. I'm rambeling.

What i'm getting at is that I carry a .22 rifle and a 30-30 in the truck mostly because I can and also to shoot skunks and other critters coming down the driveway. The 30-30 is for hogs and whatever else. Sometimes I carry a handgun. If I lived in alaska and the laws allowed I would do the same. I probably would adjust my calibers a bit.

 

[caribou]

You can carry "open" or "conceled", no licnese required, as long as you can legally own a pistol,just like Vermont.

If you want and qualify for a machinegun, scilencer or what not, the law says the CLO MUST mandatorily sign off on your form

Non violent Felons off probation may own long arms, but nothing concealable.


FMJ's are Alaskan "Solids", and a lotta bigger Bear guns push shuch out the bore to great effect.

You may hunt with a Muffler "Silencer'.

You may hut 'at night' , but with no electronic enhancement (The Arctic has a winter night a bit more than 3 months long)there is a period of "Twilight/Dusk" each day, but nothing above the horizon. This is where a high power scope can help alot.

When I leave town, or my village, I always carry a Rifle.

 

[allaroundhunter]

When I leave town, or my village, I always carry a Rifle

Do you have a favorite caliber/rifle that you carry, Caribou?

 

[Cosmoline]

I believe that Anchorage has created its own bear problem with poor insight into bears and people. Where people live, bears don't belong any longer. Simple as that. Once bears and other animals become habituated to people, they lose all of there fear of us which has been documented as a cause in a large number of bear attacks.

It's not that bad. There are some maulings around town from time to time, but for the most part we get along. I like having them here. And they don't have any interest in eating us thankfully. The brown bear stick to the salmon streams and have shifted their schedules to do their fishing at night to avoid us. The military tracked a bunch of brownies a few years back and found that many of them roll right on into town along the greenbelts every night, fishing within yards of densely populated neighborhoods. It makes life exciting ;-)

 

[caribou]

I have a favorite Mosin M-39 of Finn make I use for all kinds of hunting, but , maybe a bit more, I have a Romainian .22LR Military bolt action training rifle that is awsome.
In Spring I take a 12 Gauge.

Depends on what im doing that day and more often that not, Ill take both.

Mt Bear pistol is my Rifle, but I am a Hunter by trade, and the Rifles are tools.

Bears have never been a problem, I practise good Bear proof camping, but as for trouble, people and Moose have been far more a problem.

 

[panhead58ak]

I lived in Fairbanks 32 years never had a bear problem ,moose thats a different story. A good friend of mine did shoot a black bear with bow within 2oo yards of the fairgrounds on the northside of town I have shot 2 black bearwithin 20 miles of town while picking blueberries. when I lived on chena hot springs road I killed a black bear from my porch He wasnt to worried by the barking dogs.Black bear were a common problem for most who had cabins on the local rivers I shot 4 myself on the goodpasture river over the years out of town you may get to see one but they are ussually pretty skittish

 

[DM~]

The "Edge" of town is where the Wild starts.

AK is twice the size of Texas, there are, incidently MANY Villages, DM~, where were you?

Alaska is the size of Europe, and the word "Native' is on par with 'European', as there are many distinct tribes/nations here, and like Europe, Germans are NOT French, who are not Polish, ect......

Here, Moose come into town, we dont have to go a mile before weve seen 10, easily, but the catch to that is that 99% of Inupiaq Eskimo (a distincely differing tribe than Y'upik to the south or ChukChi on the Siberian side), do not hunt Moose. Caribou is far too plentyfull, and usefull hides, antler, bones, meat. Moose are kinda 'reserved' for when th emigration doesnt come through this way.
I wish the gov would let us drive tracked vehicles, especcially theirs ......and the Caribou not run off when a motor approches, they must have some dumb Caribou to be in 30-30, .223 range and the vehivcle running.........what happend when you turned them in? Im sure you diidnt cover for 'em......folks here would put a stop to wasting resources pretty quick.

Did it happen? Im sure it did, especcially with young guys who have no guidence.

Is it common, No.

Folks here wont let others waste what they rely on.

The caribou were slottered outside Artic Village, My friend was born/raised in Ft. Yukon...

Did it happen, YES it happened, i saw it myself! Turn them in??? NOW that's a big joke!! Those dead caribou ended up on the runway, and a plane flew in from Ft. Yukon to fly them to Venetie, (out tax dollars at work) as a native told me they wanted some caribou there and none were around.

When i mentioned to the pilot how they got them, he shrugged and said "it happens all the time". Of course, i already knew that from being around other villages... I've seen other things just as bad or worse in other villages too, so i'd say it's more common that you think!

DM

 

[caribou]

Well, DM~, Ive been living Villages for far too long, as do my children and my grand children and have never seen 'slaughters'. When we do see misuse of animals, we TURN THEN INTO THE FnG TROOPER.
Its not common, but there are bad doings out there for sure. When and wherevere it happens, it needs to be stopped.

I, personally, dont aid such doings by keeping quiet, and nobody should, ever, its aiding and abetting in the crime.

Thats how these things become 'Common', so I have no doubts about what you saw, if nothing was done to stop it.

But since the animals ended up at an airport and off to another, Im thinking they were not wasted.
As well, I SERIOUSLY Doubt that any "Tax$$" were spend. Indian Corporate $$, sure, maybe private $$, as I send folks whole Caribou, feasts and Funerals, or just to my relatives.
There is No AK State programs to send Caribou, or any other kinds of meats where they are not, dead or alive.

 

[Cosmoline]

I can't speak to the old days, but waste of game isn't tolerated here anymore for sure. Native or non-native. Some stiff sentences were handed down after that unfortunate Point Hope business. But most of the time the culprits are touristas in over their heads.

Speaking of this thread, there are currently two moose not twenty feet from here walking around downtown eating trees.

 

[algrayjr]

We've been there!

OK Guys! What better way to get the wife to agree to that new sw460! Heck, in my younger days, my lies were just as large!

 

[DM~]

Well, DM~, Ive been living Villages for far too long, as do my children and my grand children and have never seen 'slaughters'. When we do see misuse of animals, we TURN THEN INTO THE FnG TROOPER.
Its not common, but there are bad doings out there for sure. When and wherevere it happens, it needs to be stopped.

I, personally, dont aid such doings by keeping quiet, and nobody should, ever, its aiding and abetting in the crime.

Thats how these things become 'Common', so I have no doubts about what you saw, if nothing was done to stop it.

But since the animals ended up at an airport and off to another, Im thinking they were not wasted.
As well, I SERIOUSLY Doubt that any "Tax$$" were spend. Indian Corporate $$, sure, maybe private $$, as I send folks whole Caribou, feasts and Funerals, or just to my relatives.
There is No AK State programs to send Caribou, or any other kinds of meats where they are not, dead or alive.

As i read this, i'm at a friends house who has the animial planet on the TV. It's about game wardens in Alaska, who went to Point Hope and found a dead moose shot in the shoulder. It was left to rot out on the tundra and no native in Point Hope would even talk to these guys about it, let alone help with the investigation.

I'm glad it's not a problem where YOU live, but i've been in many villages and saw with my own eyes, what goes on in most villages.

The caribou above that were RECOVERED were not wasted, but not all that were shot were recovered! And i knew the guy from Ft. Yukon that flew them out of Artic Village, yes tax dollars paid for the charter.

OK, i told truthfully what i've seen and experienced, and that's all i can do here. I really don't care if you believe it or not.

DM

 

[Cosmoline]

It's about game wardens in Alaska, who went to Point Hope and found a dead moose shot in the shoulder. It was left to rot out on the tundra and no native in Point Hope would even talk to these guys about it, let alone help with the investigation.

A moose in Point Hope that nobody ate? We have game wardens now? Are you sure this isn't something filmed a few years back regarding the waste of caribou at Point Hope? If so, you should note that as I indicated there were charges filed and sentences handed down. So that sort of thing isn't tolerated.

Anyway here's a live moose from outside the office yesterday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btAsW9K43Qw

As you can see she's pretty mellow even with lots of people around. They have a personal space around them and as long as you stay out of that they're usually pretty docile. Of course you have to watch for the signs of irritation too like hackles and lowered head with the ears flat back. This cow and calf are just browsing and ignoring the monkeys. But notice also how the Alaskan who's been chased (me) makes sure to place someone between him and the cow LOL

I'm evil, I know.

 

[caribou]

This is more far scary than a Bear, Moose or man and no gun can stop it.......clik it and be warned.....when these guys home in on you, NOTHING can help, you can run, but youll only die tired....

 

[Alaska444]

Man do I remember those critters when I was a kid. The worst mosquito attack I ever suffered through was up in Nome. The bug dope didn't work, the 20 mph wind didn't help. All I could do was to shut my parka hood over my face and get back to the car. I will never forget the sound of a mosquito right up next to my ear. Whooo boy, you got that right, you can run but you can't hide.

 

[Art Eatman]

Years back, a kid down around Beaumont had a swarm of mosquitoes get after him. He crawled under a washtub for refuge. Danged skeeters poked right on through the tub! He quickly bradded their beaks over with his pocket knife as a hammer. Next thing he knew, they flew off with the washtub!

And now for a true story: Way back before Longboat Key (at Sarasota, Florida) was developed, a guy was kidnapped, robbed, stripped of his clothing and turned loose way up the key. By the time he found a house, several miles south, he was in need of hospitalization because of mosquito bites. Dark night and being bare-footed, he couldn't get through the brush and mangroves to the Gulf.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've heard legends, which Caribou may or may not be able to confirm, about hapless greenhorns up on the tundra being sucked dry by the swarms and actually killed.

 

[wwace]

I on the other hand have plenty of bears where I live in Anchorage, I had a small black on my deck last summer trying to get in the window. The picture below are the three grizzly cubs that were roaming around here last fall, my neighbors Shepard ran right out in the middle of them, I grabbed a shotgun as I could only expect this to end badly when the mother griz appeared but some idiot had killed her but we didn't know that at the time. My neighbor was trying to get his dog away from them, pretty harry for a bit.

 

[Alaska444]

What part of Anchorage is this picture taken? I used to live at the top of O'Malley road a long, long time ago. Looking at satellite pictures of the area, it is now a suburb when in the 1960's we had a few house in a half mile area and nothing else but trees and woods for miles around.

 

[wwace]

What part of Anchorage is this picture taken? I used to live at the top of O'Malley road a long, long time ago. Looking at satellite pictures of the area, it is now a suburb when in the 1960's we had a few house in a half mile area and nothing else but trees and woods for miles around.

Right by Rabbit Creek, south of Upper Omally a mile

 

[Alaska444]

Ah very good, I went to Rabbit Creek elementary for first and second grade.

Beautiful area. Strange how we never saw grizzly there when I was growing up even though it was all woods in the area at that time. Very much out in the boonies for sure. But that was back in the 1960's and a lot has changed. I remember a lot more pine forests at that time.

Thanks for the update.

God bless,