Do any of you know this area very well it is in unit 14... I'm tagging along with another fellow who is in the Army on a sheep hunt... We went down yesterday and looked to find a place to cross the Matanuska river... Needless to say wow we think we found a spot to cross by raft but if things go bad either we bail off the raft or go for one hell of a ride down the Matanuska River, we either survive and have the shit scared out of us or we end up as casualties... We looked at flying in but the one fellow who called back wanted a $1,000 dollars per person and there will be three of us going. So we are very hesistant to call anyone else if that is the going rate... Thanks for any insight you all can provide.

John

Wear your life jackets. The Mat doesnt look that bad but it can be a real deadly river. Alot of sweepers in there, not to mention the temp (which I'm sure you guys have already figured out). Keep a cool head and you will be fine.

Where is carpenter creek at? I've been thinking of doing the same thing but to go look for bear. Theres quite a few decent spots that look promising for a crossing.

We are going to cross about 1/2 mile above where carpenter creek comes into the Matanuska, and hunt on the rigth hand side of it creek... That's what I plan on doing getting a Black bear tag as well... We will be leaving on the 9th and come back on the 15th of August..

Good luck, it does seem a little calmer around the king mountain area.

I'm assuming your gonna use one of the pull outs just south of the king mountain campground to cross? Let me know how it goes. I've been telling myself for years it would be great to bear hunt over there.

Your giving me the itch to get another raft and just do it.

Will do all ways have room for one more it is not my hunt but I'm sure my buddy would be up up for one more... Now I need to find a good 338 win mag... and nice lite one! I will put a muzzle break on it... I found one a ruger 77 with the laminated stock /ss for 450.00 used. But I prefer a synthetic stock one.

I have no idea why you would put a muzzle break on a 338.

I had a Remington M700 Custom KS stainless mountain rifle from the custom shop in 338. It had a muzzle break on it that I thought was necessary when I bought it. It kicked like a fiend, I think stock design and a good pad like the Decel or Kick eeze are better ideas.

You will never get back the hearing you loose by shooting a breaked rifle.

I have a 340 Weatherby Accumark that also came with a break. Good thing is has a replacable knob to screw on the end while the break is in the safe.

I'm assuming your friend drew a sheep permit for that area? It sucks ass as that was one of the last close places for a general sheep hunt. There's another spot that I hunt on other side of the river for sheep but the area receives a bunch of pressure and there ain't that many rams.

Forgot to add, but there is a healthy population of wolves in there as well. You know why? Because there is also a good number of moose back there, but a lot of them hang around on native land (Chickaloon tribe I think).

quote:

Originally posted by Moose-Hunter:
I'm assuming your friend drew a sheep permit for that area? It sucks ass as that was one of the last close places for a general sheep hunt. There's another spot that I hunt on other side of the river for sheep but the area receives a bunch of pressure and there ain't that many rams.

Yes he did draw a tag for the area... I'm surprised there is alot of hunting pressure. Just from seeing what one has to go thru to get to the hunting area... So I'm hoping someone pipes in on how they crossed the river... Also we have heard the natives if they find your raft will cut it up so our plan is to stash it, now if they find it and cut it up we are really screwed and well it will be a long day for us....

Trying to cross the Mat to hunt the other side has proven lethal to hunters in the past. I would not recommend crossing except with an experienced river runner (e.g. Nova). Most sheep hunters into Carpenter Creek either have their own plane, have a friend take them, or call Wiederkehr Air - 907 745-4002. Bill has been flying sheep hunters for prob 30+ years and knows the area so well I don't think he even uses a map. I can only recommend in the strongest terms not to try and float across the Mat on your own....it ain't worth it! Just pony up the $...if you want to play you have to pay. Good luck......P.S. It is possible to get into Carpenter Creek by 4-wheeler!

shphtr shot you a pm...

Theres at least one cable crossing in that area.

got some good intel from shphtr thanks for the help shphtr you have probably saved us a lot heart ache...

Good luck with your hunt. I would recommend that you check out your approach route at least once prior to the start of your actual hunt.

We are heading up today to check it out the saturday heading with 4 wheelers to go further in..

26 Days 'til Sheep !!!! just got back from a fly over in the Brooks and counted 29 legal rams out of about 60 or so spotted, a few monsters too, but we'll see come Aug. 10th. quite warm, and the bugs don't help much. whoevers heading in the mountains...TAKE YOUR HEAD NET !!!!...otherwise you'll be miserable....Good luck, can't wait to see everyones sheep hunt report.....CK