Archived Posts » 60,546,157
Alaska Moose hunt being planned....
3/3/2010 10:09:57 PM
Having never done anything but whitetail hunting here in VA, I am looking for new gear and advice. I will be camping with 4 other guys (2 from Anchorage, 3 from VA) in the area we are hunting. They have 4wd Ranger vehicles, but I imagine we will still need to haul out the meat.
Pack: External frame style or internal frame style? Are the Cabela's branded packs good enough?
Knife/Saw: I plan to bring more than 1 knife, but what I use here for deer will probably be to small for a moose. I also don't have a bone saw yet, so need to buy one of those.
Handgun: take the .44 mag Ruger or the 10mm Glock for backup/protection? Something tells me 15 shots is better than 6 if I end up needing it.
I need to buy a tent, but I think we are all sleeping in our own tents w/ our gear, so I figure a 1.5 man tent is plenty. Waterproof dome tent sounds fine.
What else?
Pack: External frame style or internal frame style? Are the Cabela's branded packs good enough?
Knife/Saw: I plan to bring more than 1 knife, but what I use here for deer will probably be to small for a moose. I also don't have a bone saw yet, so need to buy one of those.
Handgun: take the .44 mag Ruger or the 10mm Glock for backup/protection? Something tells me 15 shots is better than 6 if I end up needing it.
I need to buy a tent, but I think we are all sleeping in our own tents w/ our gear, so I figure a 1.5 man tent is plenty. Waterproof dome tent sounds fine.
What else?
3/3/2010 11:56:25 PM
BUG dope lots of it.
Moose call.
44mag with hot loads is enough.
All you need is a knife to butcher a moose but a saw can come in handy.
Moose call.
44mag with hot loads is enough.
All you need is a knife to butcher a moose but a saw can come in handy.
3/4/2010 12:16:40 AM
Originally Posted By 05LowRider:
Having never done anything but whitetail hunting here in VA, I am looking for new gear and advice. I will be camping with 4 other guys (2 from Anchorage, 3 from VA) in the area we are hunting. They have 4wd Ranger vehicles, but I imagine we will still need to haul out the meat.
Pack: External frame style or internal frame style? Are the Cabela's branded packs good enough? With an external, it's easier to lose the pack, and strap on bagged moose portions. Most of Cabelas are Chinese, so caveat emptor.
Knife/Saw: I plan to bring more than 1 knife, but what I use here for deer will probably be to small for a moose. I also don't have a bone saw yet, so need to buy one of those. A Wyoming field saw breaks down nice and compact, and a small sharpening stone will come in handy.
Handgun: take the .44 mag Ruger or the 10mm Glock for backup/protection? Something tells me 15 shots is better than 6 if I end up needing it. .44 mag with good loads is the better choice, imho.
I need to buy a tent, but I think we are all sleeping in our own tents w/ our gear, so I figure a 1.5 man tent is plenty. Waterproof dome tent sounds fine. A thermarest or similar ground pad is good.
What else?
As stated above, bug dope, that's something you don't want to run out of.
Having never done anything but whitetail hunting here in VA, I am looking for new gear and advice. I will be camping with 4 other guys (2 from Anchorage, 3 from VA) in the area we are hunting. They have 4wd Ranger vehicles, but I imagine we will still need to haul out the meat.
Pack: External frame style or internal frame style? Are the Cabela's branded packs good enough? With an external, it's easier to lose the pack, and strap on bagged moose portions. Most of Cabelas are Chinese, so caveat emptor.
Knife/Saw: I plan to bring more than 1 knife, but what I use here for deer will probably be to small for a moose. I also don't have a bone saw yet, so need to buy one of those. A Wyoming field saw breaks down nice and compact, and a small sharpening stone will come in handy.
Handgun: take the .44 mag Ruger or the 10mm Glock for backup/protection? Something tells me 15 shots is better than 6 if I end up needing it. .44 mag with good loads is the better choice, imho.
I need to buy a tent, but I think we are all sleeping in our own tents w/ our gear, so I figure a 1.5 man tent is plenty. Waterproof dome tent sounds fine. A thermarest or similar ground pad is good.
What else?
As stated above, bug dope, that's something you don't want to run out of.
3/4/2010 12:28:06 AM
External frame......, unless.................. Check the reg book to see if you can bone out your moose on the spot, ..........when we did 15 years ago you could bone out the carcass on the spot, we just carried a huge wad of 1 and 2 gallon ziplocks to put the meat in............ but check carefully for the units rules............. I believe the some of the regs have changed. No sense to carry out the bones if you don't have too!
We bone'em out on the spot then scattered and "cached' the ziploc bags of meat over fairly large area, so if a bear came in while we were hauling out a load, at least we wouldn't loose the whole damn thing.
Even if you could not bone it out, I would still try to separate the quarters and the head to the limit the terrain allowed............so a bear coming in and claiming a "piece" would not have the whole thing.
Knife size is the same, don't need anything different, just a sharpening system to keep the edge......... I carried a blade "exchanger" type knife with 1 handle and several blades.....and different styles. Weight quickly becomes an issue (we did not have any transport.... strictly backpack)
Since then.........in addition to my regular style knives... I've started using a folding pocket type "razor blade" knife......... with a "roofing or carpet" hook bade in it ....(and carry spares of both styles straight and hook)........ to take the place of a "gut hook" style knife.
Use it to gut with and do the long slits up the legs and ring the head and legs, cutting through the hair from the outside is what dulls your knife blade the quickest.
I left my pistols at home........... same weight issues, ...............my thinking was my rifle was vastly more powerful and easier to get good hits with..........and hell if you're in the bush you got it in hand anyhow, (if you're smart).......... I saw 3 griz on my first trip and 5 griz on my second.............. with no problems at all!
I did not carry a pistol to hunt Africa either......while hunting and shooting Cape Buff, Leopard, and Elephant, with lion running all over the area too..!!
We bone'em out on the spot then scattered and "cached' the ziploc bags of meat over fairly large area, so if a bear came in while we were hauling out a load, at least we wouldn't loose the whole damn thing.
Even if you could not bone it out, I would still try to separate the quarters and the head to the limit the terrain allowed............so a bear coming in and claiming a "piece" would not have the whole thing.
Knife size is the same, don't need anything different, just a sharpening system to keep the edge......... I carried a blade "exchanger" type knife with 1 handle and several blades.....and different styles. Weight quickly becomes an issue (we did not have any transport.... strictly backpack)
Since then.........in addition to my regular style knives... I've started using a folding pocket type "razor blade" knife......... with a "roofing or carpet" hook bade in it ....(and carry spares of both styles straight and hook)........ to take the place of a "gut hook" style knife.
Use it to gut with and do the long slits up the legs and ring the head and legs, cutting through the hair from the outside is what dulls your knife blade the quickest.
I left my pistols at home........... same weight issues, ...............my thinking was my rifle was vastly more powerful and easier to get good hits with..........and hell if you're in the bush you got it in hand anyhow, (if you're smart).......... I saw 3 griz on my first trip and 5 griz on my second.............. with no problems at all!
I did not carry a pistol to hunt Africa either......while hunting and shooting Cape Buff, Leopard, and Elephant, with lion running all over the area too..!!
3/4/2010 1:19:28 AM
State changed the rules so nobody can bone out the meat do to all the spoilage and waste that was going on.
Meat goes bad faster when boned out.
There are bug suits and head netting that work pretty well.
Have fun!!
Meat goes bad faster when boned out.
There are bug suits and head netting that work pretty well.
Have fun!!
3/4/2010 1:47:56 PM
Thanks folks...keep the advice coming...
As for the packs...since Cabela's are probably Chinese...who makes decent affordable American packs?
As for the packs...since Cabela's are probably Chinese...who makes decent affordable American packs?
3/5/2010 12:52:33 AM
I've used this pack for about nine years for hunting. It's packed out many pounds of moose. It's made in the U.S.A.
I don't recall the cost, but it's not cheap, that much I do recall. It comes as a pack frame, I had the bag made elswhere. You can fit a pack to it for what you need, rope, game bags, knives, etc.
The link below is the place where I got it, it's not on their site. For the frame alone, you'll have to call for a price. The center patch which you can partially see says "Frontier Gear of Alaska"
The store is in Anchorage, and the frame will be fit to you if you purchase it.
http://www.barneyssports.com/
I don't recall the cost, but it's not cheap, that much I do recall. It comes as a pack frame, I had the bag made elswhere. You can fit a pack to it for what you need, rope, game bags, knives, etc.
The link below is the place where I got it, it's not on their site. For the frame alone, you'll have to call for a price. The center patch which you can partially see says "Frontier Gear of Alaska"
The store is in Anchorage, and the frame will be fit to you if you purchase it.
http://www.barneyssports.com/
3/5/2010 1:05:48 AM
Depending where you are going a sled will help if you want to drag parts of the moose out.
We have used it and also a fish tote with ropes hooked to it.
It really helps if there are a bunch of people with bad backs.
We have used it and also a fish tote with ropes hooked to it.
It really helps if there are a bunch of people with bad backs.
5/9/2010 1:37:43 AM
末-Head net, can't emphasize this enough, hell take two
末-bug dope with deet in it
末-44 mag - I carry an airweight S&W 44mag with Hard Cast lead bullets in a Guide's Choice leather chest holster. I don't notice it's there as the weight is next to nothing, and the holster is perfect with a backpack, among other great features. If you don't reload get buffalo bore or corbon HC lead.
Dave Johnston's Guide Choice Holster
末-Good pair of well broken in boots.
末-Don't skimp on good rain gear. Don't get slicker stuff, get the quiet material, but get really good rain gear. Something that breathes well also. Wet is cold, and cold is bad.
末-GPS - I use a mid range small handheld garmin with maps for the area I'll be in.
末-A way to hang or secure your food in some way.
末-I'll post more as I think of it, I'm getting ready to type up my hunting list as I am going on a trip next week. Maybe I can email it to you.
末-ETA
末- I have a gerber bone saw although I don't think you really need it. You can score the bone and then break it. I got a buddy who has an elk farm up here and he does the entire thing with nothing but a utility knife. And damn is he fast.
末-Most alaskans seem to think that Barney's External Frame Packs are the best made. A large number of the hunters and guides I know up here use them. Here is a forum thing on barney's versus cabela's if you are interested
link left cold - https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2262779/1
More later
oh and you can get alot of local information through a local forum here. Go to the hunting section and just read some stuff. Great guys with a wealth of AK hunting knowledge
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/index.php
Just copy and paste the above website addresses
末-bug dope with deet in it
末-44 mag - I carry an airweight S&W 44mag with Hard Cast lead bullets in a Guide's Choice leather chest holster. I don't notice it's there as the weight is next to nothing, and the holster is perfect with a backpack, among other great features. If you don't reload get buffalo bore or corbon HC lead.
Dave Johnston's Guide Choice Holster
末-Good pair of well broken in boots.
末-Don't skimp on good rain gear. Don't get slicker stuff, get the quiet material, but get really good rain gear. Something that breathes well also. Wet is cold, and cold is bad.
末-GPS - I use a mid range small handheld garmin with maps for the area I'll be in.
末-A way to hang or secure your food in some way.
末-I'll post more as I think of it, I'm getting ready to type up my hunting list as I am going on a trip next week. Maybe I can email it to you.
末-ETA
末- I have a gerber bone saw although I don't think you really need it. You can score the bone and then break it. I got a buddy who has an elk farm up here and he does the entire thing with nothing but a utility knife. And damn is he fast.
末-Most alaskans seem to think that Barney's External Frame Packs are the best made. A large number of the hunters and guides I know up here use them. Here is a forum thing on barney's versus cabela's if you are interested
link left cold - https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2262779/1
More later
oh and you can get alot of local information through a local forum here. Go to the hunting section and just read some stuff. Great guys with a wealth of AK hunting knowledge
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/index.php
Just copy and paste the above website addresses
8/21/2010 2:01:52 PM
for knife the havalon piranta is awesome check it out supersharp and if the blade dulls just remove the blade replace and keep going. many skin and bone out with one blade though
for pistol which is lighter and which are you more proficient with?
for tents get one with a large vestibule and at least a 2 man if a tent gets destroyed and the weather is like its been all summer in southcentral AK it would suck to be stuck outside because everyone brought a solo tent
external pack frame metal not plastic
for pistol which is lighter and which are you more proficient with?
for tents get one with a large vestibule and at least a 2 man if a tent gets destroyed and the weather is like its been all summer in southcentral AK it would suck to be stuck outside because everyone brought a solo tent
external pack frame metal not plastic
9/1/2010 4:16:39 AM
A thermacell is a great piece of kit, had mine for about 6 years, and it's great for keeping the bugs at bay. I hate field dressing a critter while covered in bug dope. Pistol is an option, can you afford the weight? Good broken in boots, quality rain gear, and wool or fleece outer wear. The outdoor edge grizz-saw is good to go, I've been using one for the last 9 or 10 years. Good Luck!
