26 May 2012, 11:15
577NitroExpressSuccessful Brown Bear Hunt with AKSHOOTER - Posted in the Alaska Forum Also
Forum Folks:I returned from a hunt I have been dreaming about for 20+ years: A Brown Bear hunt in Alaska.
I week ago I lived out a dream, and I have only AKShooter to thank for making it awesome.
I preface my report with a few things. First, I have anew wife, after loosing my former wife from cancer. I have two step daughters, one son with my late wife, and a new seven month old with my new wife. I have two new businesses, both in the restaurant industry. Live, as you would say, is hectic. However, I came across a post from AKShooter offering Brown Bear hunts for a damn fine price. I contacted him, learned, specifics, contacted his references and, after talking with my wife, decided to live out ONE of my hunting dreams. Liana, thank you for supporting me; thank you for taking the burden of life, businesses, and children in my absence! You friggin' rock.
Well, after three short months of planning, my hunt was facing me. Here is what I pts.lanned:
Ten day hunt with AKShooter in Unit 17 on the AK Pen.
Rifle: Win Model 70 "Super Express" in .375 H&H Mag with open sights and a Swarovsky 3 - 10 scope: Open iron sights.
Loads: 300 Grains Barnes TSX bullets.
With demands with the businesses being what they were, I didn't have time to practice as much as I wanted. I knew my .375 drove tacts, but after sighting it in, I knew it was 2" high at 100 yards, and 4" low at 200 yards. Beyond that I would have to adjust.
I left for ANC at 6:00 AM out of Philly on an AA flight, connecting to an Alaskan Airlines flight to ANC. My flight was delayed out of ORD, so I got into ANC later than expected. I checked into the hotel and fell asleep. I had to catch a charter flight to Iliamna at 9:00 the following AM.
My chariot to Lake Iliamna
Once in Iliamna, I took another flight to Nondalton where I was bet by Bob Tracey, an associate of my Guide, Bob Couey. I was told that the winds were too high to fly and I would have to wait a bit. Bob put me up at his cabin in Nondalton until the winds were below 30 knots to fly me into camp. At 8:30 that night, the winds were low enough to fly me into camp.
Bob Tracey's lodge in Nondalton and my transportation into the bush. I called this the flying coffin.
Here is the cabin on Bob Tracey's property where I stayed.
Bob flew me into camp on the north-western side of Lake Iliamna, in Unit 9B where I would be hunting. (The hunting unit was changed due to last minutes logistics. I could have changed it back, but figured I would give it a try - glad I did.)
Accomodations in Unit 9B. Spartan, but better than expected. When booking the hunt, I spoke with my guide, AKShooter at length. He said the camp is "rough", but stated as such in order to keep the cost down. I told him I didn't want or expect First Class Accomodations. It was a perfect setting for what I wanted!
Breakfast the first morning: Sausage patties, bread and hot coffee. Hunting. Perfect for what I wanted.
My side of the tent.
You want hot food? Here you go!
First full day was spent on this hill glassing for Brownies. ALL DAY. 14 Hours that day, in 40degree weather in 30 MPH winds. Froze my ass off!
From this POV, I saw my bear at 8:10 AM on the second day. We estimated him to be about 250 to 280 yards away when I took my first shot. We literally got to our glassing point when I saw a "boulder" on the plain leading to the mountain; it wasn't there before. Bob said, "Bear" just as I saw the "boulder in the field.
I went into the prone position over my back pack, placed the cross hairs over the back of him, trying to mentally comensate for the bullet drop, the angle down range and the wind. I squeezed the trigger.
The gun recoiled.
I heard it launch...
Heard the echo...
Thank a loud THUD.
Bob said I hit it.
I sent 11 more rounds down range over the next 20 minutes of shooting and follow up. I'm not a great shot, but proud that I connected at such a distance with my 375.
