Did anyone see the Jim Shockey show on TV about a hunt for some monster caribou/reindeer on an island in the Aleutians? Seemed like an interesting and tough hunt. Anyone know any details?

There was an article about it a couple issues back in the NRA's American Hunter magazine.

If what he said on the show about having exclusive outfitting rights is true I would hate to see what that hunt would cost a guy.

Here you go:

http://www.jimshockey.com/Alaskan-Reindeer/

Definitely not a bargain hunt!

A friend tells me Reindeer are a domesticated version of caribou. Could you see fences or a barn in any of the pictures?

Rich

I am not criticizing him for the price of the hunt. He has every capitalists dream, a monopoly.

I didn’t see any fences, they have supposedly been free ranging there since 1914. According to the show the difference between reindeer and caribou is defined by their continent of origin. Reindeer being from Asia and caribou from North America.

ISS,
This was wild country, located 1000 miles west of Anchorage. No houses, no roads, no nothing - just wide open country.

The caribou/reindeer had been transplanted there in 1914 by some Russians and have "gone to seed" so to speak. He said on the show that there 6000 animals on that particular island.

It's an island, no need for fences when the animals can't get that far away.

So long as the weather cooperates, I really don't think anyone will find it a tough hunt. And yes, due to travel expenses, it is an expensive way to go after bou.

The toughest thing about that hunt is being prepared for weather delays, and the possibility of not being able to hunt, due to weather.

I have hunted the island and assume Jim will be basing from the village and running out on 4 wheelers. the destination is difficult and expensive to reach and I thought Jim's prediction of someone killing a 600 pt + REINDEER a bit of a stretch

Ross,

It is a hunt for the guy who has shot everything and is casting about for a different expereince. As Phil said it costs a small fortune to get to the island and it is hard to imagine how bad the weather really is. Those pictures of Shockey in the sun might have taken a month to get.

Mark

I assume we are talking about Adak?

If yes, it looks like I will be there in early Oct. to finally give it a try. I have been watching and waiting for 5 years for the right time to go.
I fully expect to shoot better than a 400 + Caribou.

I agree 600 Pts. to be a stretch.

cz,

Nope...Umnak Island/Nikolski. They're reindeer(introduced by the Russians), I believe. Adak is another matter. Pretty sure they're caribou. Like Umnak, they're transplants.

Jeff

I´d sure like to see a 600 pts trophy.

quote:

Originally posted by akjeff:
cz,

Nope...Umnak Island/Nikolski. They're reindeer(introduced by the Russians), I believe. Adak is another matter. Pretty sure they're caribou. Like Umnak, they're transplants.

Jeff

Check, one is Caribou, the other Reindeer.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Ross,

It is a hunt for the guy who has shot everything and is casting about for a different expereince. As Phil said it costs a small fortune to get to the island and it is hard to imagine how bad the weather really is. Those pictures of Shockey in the sun might have taken a month to get.

Mark

That is what I thought. The weather was too good to be true in the TV show.

Back when I was first beginning my Navy career, one of the places I really wanted to have for a duty station was on Adak Island. I really wanted to be there for the caribou hunting and salmon fishing. Sadly, when Russia folded up, they closed the base.

I also really wanted to get stationed on Midway Atoll for the fishing and Holylocke, scotland because I like the way the girls talk. Never got billeted to either of them either. Sometimes, things just don't work out the way you want. The bases closed and my Navy career took off on a different path.

Did anyone else catch in the news last week that the wind was gusting to 178mph at the Coast Guard station on Attu?

Just how much lead should you use on a 100yd shot with your muzzleloader, Jim?

I'd suggested ducking if shooting into a 178mph wind, seems there's a chance the bullet could boomerang around and getcha

Then again, anyone foolhardy tough enough to go hunting in 178mph winds could likely shrug off most forms of small arms fire :O

quote:

Originally posted by Omnivorous_Bob:
Did anyone else catch in the news last week that the wind was gusting to 178mph at the Coast Guard station on Attu?

Just how much lead should you use on a 100yd shot with your muzzleloader, Jim?

In the Lower 48 that would be a force 5? hurricane

I had a co-worker that worked on an oil spill near Dutch one year(Summer bay spill....1998 I think). They had a partially filled 40 foot freezer van get blown UP hill about 200 yeards during one storm....I don;t want to live somewhere that you have to cable down your conex boxes/freezer vans!!!!