quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Confidently estimating a bear's squared size to within an inch at 240 yards, eh? Impressive! But then it's pretty easy when there's nothing to measure at the end of the day...

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
As a master guide, would you stake your reputation that you could estimate the size of a broadside bear to within an inch at a distance of 240 yards? Just curious.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Moran:
Mr Lowe,

You booked a 12 day 9,500 spring brown bear hunt and we hunted 23 days. I also wanted you to harvested a brown bear that’s why I gave you 11 extra days. I really cannot see why you’re so bitter.
Yes, I thought $9500 was a smokin' deal for 12 days with the possibility of taking 2 brown bears and one black bear. One animal killed would have been good. I had $1300 in three licenses. I did the extra 11 days since you offered and I wasn't giving up. You owed me a flight since weather prevented you flying to scout bear activity before I arrived in Kenai. I paid 50% of the other flights to move the camp another location that you wanted to try for those 11 days. Then when it was time to square up with the air service you tried to have me pay for the whole bill.

My solo operation and is somewhat hard to jockey clients around, to accommodate others. I told you my fall was busy and I’ll see what I could do for you. I could work you into a 6 day hunt. Sorry, but that was really the best I could do.
Actually you never mentioned how many days we would hunt in September. You just told me we would camp on a lake that had fish and bears so I'd get a chance at a fall Brown bear. I told you I would pay for all the flight time and expenses (food and such) for this second trip. Then you chose just to ignore my voicemails and emails and text messages to set up the hunt.

BTW I do remember that big brown bear, honest 9’8-9’9’ that walked by broadside at 240 yds, that was your bear. I can still see that image as it was yesterday. Pisses me off!
Rich is also off on his stated distance. He didn't have a rangefinder, I did. The bear was at 550 yards when he walked through the narrow clearing. He did not stop. We were below the top of the alders when he yelled at me to "shoot, shoot!" There was no shot presented yet he is still angry about me not taking what he says was a shot.

Mr Lowe I am truly sorry you think I’m unprofessional, after 25 years of military service, I find it hard to believe.
Thanks for your service in the Air Force but that has no bearing on your guiding ability.

I hope one day you kill a monster brown.
Every story you told had a "big bear, MONSTER BEAR". Man I got tired hearing that phrase.

quote:

Originally posted by Fourtyonesix:
I have seen guides off by over a foot. I would not narrow a bear down to a inch size range.

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Originally posted by dogcat:
I have been hosed twice in Alaska and once in Canada and once in the USA. Issue was over-promising and not delivering. I did research. I used an agent. I called references. All three checked out but were way less than expected or promised.

It happens in Africa, but I see less of it as I know the operators there better than in North America. Plus, I check them out on AR as well.

All in all, I believe the guides/PH's in Africa are far more skilled than in the US or Canada. They do it full time and know their craft. A Zimbabwe trained PH has 2 to 4 years as an apprentice, then must be examined and recommended before he can be a PH.

In the Yukon, all you need is a one day First Aid card and an outfitter that lists you as a "guide" on his list of guides. There are no other qualifications. I was shocked when I learned this after my disaster in the Yukon last fall. I have had the same issue twice in Alaska.

So, do you homework and then do it again. Hopefully you won't get cheated or misled. On my disaster in the Yukon, I acted on a recommendation from one of the top sheep hunters in the USA. But, the experience had been 5 or more years ago and not recent. Recent hunters have been less successful in the area I was placed in. All in all, I was lied to and misled.

Comparing Africa and North America is hard as the terms of engagement are different, expectations are different and the type of experience is different. I prefer Africa to North America but will likely do North America hunts again - just not many.

From my experience, the bear hunts are the hardest to judge. I have done 3 bear hunts and killed one small black bear. On the other two, we never saw anything to pursue. I was misled on one and the other was just wrong place wrong time. However, the cost of any bear hunt is equal to a real nice hunt in Africa for a lot less agony. That said, I am going bear hunting again in May on a boat hunt. This should be be good hunt, but we shall see.

If you really want to roll the dice, go to Russia.....

quote:

Originally posted by 2th doc:
The more I read about North American guided hunts anywhere the less I want to take a chance with any outfittter I personally have not used in the past. Most are over priced camping trips with guides whom are partimers during hunting season. Yes there are good outfits even great outfits to be found but to lay out $10,000-$25000 on the "hopes" of finding a good one by the references he supplied is not worth the risk for most. For $15000 I can go to Africa and have a GRAND trip for plains game.

quote:

Originally posted by deadibob:
There is no comparison between hunting Africa and Alaska. I would dare say anyone disappointed in coming home empty handed on an Alaska hunt or any other hunt for that matter doesn't have a true understanding of what hunting is and what it entails. There is always the possibility of coming home empty handed and sometimes the trophy is just getting back unscathed. These folks would be better off golfing.

It continually amazes me how many people call themselves hunters, yet can't do anything on their own short of sitting in a whitetail blind. These are the guys who've never done anything without a guide holding their hand and expect that guide to do everything short of wiping their ass.

quote:

Originally posted by deadibob:
There is no comparison between hunting Africa and Alaska. I would dare say anyone disappointed in coming home empty handed on an Alaska hunt or any other hunt for that matter doesn't have a true understanding of what hunting is and what it entails. There is always the possibility of coming home empty handed and sometimes the trophy is just getting back unscathed. These folks would be better off golfing.

It continually amazes me how many people call themselves hunters, yet can't do anything on their own short of sitting in a whitetail blind. These are the guys who've never done anything without a guide holding their hand and expect that guide to do everything short of wiping their ass.

quote:

Originally posted by deadibob:
There is no comparison between hunting Africa and Alaska. I would dare say anyone disappointed in coming home empty handed on an Alaska hunt or any other hunt for that matter doesn't have a true understanding of what hunting is and what it entails. There is always the possibility of coming home empty handed and sometimes the trophy is just getting back unscathed. These folks would be better off golfing.

It continually amazes me how many people call themselves hunters, yet can't do anything on their own short of sitting in a whitetail blind. These are the guys who've never done anything without a guide holding their hand and expect that guide to do everything short of wiping their ass.

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Originally posted by jhaney:
I would just like to add some biological facts to our discussion. A healthy population for moose in the Yukon is about 150 moose per 1000 square km. A normal sex ratio is 60/40 split between cows to bulls. So in 1000 sq km there would be about 60 bulls ranging in age from 2 to 12 or 14 years old with many fewer old bulls compared to young bulls.
Don't get me wrong, I love hunting in the wilds of Africa, but when I have African outfitter friends come to the Yukon and B.C. to hunt they can't believe the overall scarcity of game. It just is a nature of the beast.
You might consider hunts where you are able to cover a greater amount of territory as opposed to hunting in one spot on a lake.
I hope this helps to understand some of the difficulties faced by hunters in Canada.



Jim

quote:

Originally posted by deadibob:
There is no comparison between hunting Africa and Alaska. I would dare say anyone disappointed in coming home empty handed on an Alaska hunt or any other hunt for that matter doesn't have a true understanding of what hunting is and what it entails. There is always the possibility of coming home empty handed and sometimes the trophy is just getting back unscathed. These folks would be better off golfing.

It continually amazes me how many people call themselves hunters, yet can't do anything on their own short of sitting in a whitetail blind. These are the guys who've never done anything without a guide holding their hand and expect that guide to do everything short of wiping their ass.

quote:

Originally posted by jhaney:
I would just like to add some biological facts to our discussion. A healthy population for moose in the Yukon is about 150 moose per 1000 square km. A normal sex ratio is 60/40 split between cows to bulls. So in 1000 sq km there would be about 60 bulls ranging in age from 2 to 12 or 14 years old with many fewer old bulls compared to young bulls.
Don't get me wrong, I love hunting in the wilds of Africa, but when I have African outfitter friends come to the Yukon and B.C. to hunt they can't believe the overall scarcity of game. It just is a nature of the beast.
You might consider hunts where you are able to cover a greater amount of territory as opposed to hunting in one spot on a lake.
I hope this helps to understand some of the difficulties faced by hunters in Canada.



Jim

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
There are few comparisons between African and North American hunts.
Unless you are hunting the CAR or Congo you are not likely to find as much true, uninhabited wilderness as you can in Canada or Alaska.
A livable wage for camp help in Zimbabwe or Mozambique might be a few dollars per day, while in Alaska it is a few hundred dollars per day !
And as many have pointed out, the game populations in regions of Africa are as dense as the best whitetail deer areas and are simply staggering to Alaskans.

And when lower 48 hunters, who have also hunted SOuth African game ranches, ask me why they should hunt in Alaska because things are much cheaper in "Africa" I tell them, because there are no big bears or moose or Dall sheep in Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
There are few comparisons between African and North American hunts.
Unless you are hunting the CAR or Congo you are not likely to find as much true, uninhabited wilderness as you can in Canada or Alaska.
A livable wage for camp help in Zimbabwe or Mozambique might be a few dollars per day, while in Alaska it is a few hundred dollars per day !
And as many have pointed out, the game populations in regions of Africa are as dense as the best whitetail deer areas and are simply staggering to Alaskans.

And when lower 48 hunters, who have also hunted SOuth African game ranches, ask me why they should hunt in Alaska because things are much cheaper in "Africa" I tell them, because there are no big bears or moose or Dall sheep in Africa.

Whether a sportsman or no, there's so much to see or experience here. One can see and sort of participate in a salmon run. Experience Mt Mckinley. Get on your hands and knees and eyeball some tundra Aldo Leopold style. Sit under a goose or crane migration, see a moose give birth to a calf.
I sat 400 yards away and watch a bear stalk and jump a small caribou.

I think everyone should experience AK.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
The North American hunting anthem: "You should have been here last week/month/year". Always sung at the end of the hunt. Upfront, the videos show hunters "whacking and stacking" to quote Uncle Ted. I have never seen a video or a website where the outfitter says "you many not even see a moose/bear/whatever, let alone shoot one".