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Offline Matt in AK

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« on: May 09, 2003, 12:34:15 PM »
Another AWESOME day in Alaska!!!  I drove to the Kenai for black bears.  I didn't find any blackies but saw Dall Sheep, moose, a porcupine...and my first ever Brown Bear :grin: .  He was way up on a hillside walking around in a clearing eating grass I suppose (kind of far away -- me with binocs and my spotting scope at home).  He disappeared for a bit into his den and then came out again but stayed in the clearing, eating and laying down.  I watched him for a half-hour or so.  This may not be a big deal for your sourdoughs but it was incredible for me.

Not sure but I think I'll go out again tomorrow for blackies and see if I can see the Brown Bear again...with my spotting scope this time.
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Offline DennisB

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2003, 05:46:38 PM »
Matt:

Impressive to watch, huh?  If ya get a chance, stop along Silvertip Creek (shortly after topping out coming up the long draw up from Turnagain Arm, and before the Hope cutoff) and glass that long hogback to the north.  I used to see goats, moose, and bear up there.  Also fun to be there in the spring and watch the avalanches as the hillside thawed.
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Dennis In Ft Worth

Offline Matt in AK

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2003, 08:20:08 PM »
Dennis,
I'll be sure to do that tomorrow.  Thanks.  Tell the truth.  You miss this place... :cry:
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Offline Old Moss

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2003, 12:15:04 AM »
Matt,

           Congrats :grin:  That must have gotten your heart a pound'n.  Hope you see a blackie or two tomorrow.  Your adventures and all the good stuff on this board is what get's me through these last few weeks here.  Thanks and good luck.

     P.S. Doesn't the eating of grass and other stuff right after hibernation act like a laxitive for bears?  That's got to be one major "movement" after a long sleep.  I'm going to take a little leave time during my move, thinking about sleeping for a couple of weeks.  Wonder if I should tell my family not to cut the grass before I wake up.  :)
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Best regards, be safe, and keep your powder dry!
Thanks Old Moss

Offline Daveinthebush

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Yes
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2003, 05:02:12 AM »
The grass does act as a laxative and it is often the first food out for the bears besides skunk cabbage.  They have to break loose their plug so their digestive system can return to normal.  Kind of like having eaten cheese for a month and then finally going I guess.  Must be the roars you hear in spring! :grin:
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Offline longwinters

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2003, 08:25:40 AM »
Ohhh Boy . . . that must be murder on the hemroids. :eek:
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Offline Matt in AK

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2003, 09:32:54 AM »
I'm stuck doin' honey-dos today and tomorrow's mother's day so no more huntin' this weekend.

I don't know if that brownie will stay around his den, but if anyone's on the Kenai and interested in seeing him here's how to find it.  Take the road to Hope.  Drive about 1/3 of the way down to Hope and look to your right.  There are several pull-outs but only one where you can take a dirt road another hundred yards or so.  You'll know it's the place when you see two very large avalanches across the river on the right.  Look to the left of the two avalanches and there's a clearing about 3/4's up the hillside with green all over -- alders at the bottom and right side of it.  There's a pile of dirt almost smack-dab in the middle of that clearing and that's it...
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Offline Daveinthebush

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Stuck too!
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2003, 04:01:05 PM »
Small Craft advisory in the sound, rain, snow (yea, snow).......

Oh well, loaded up about 500 rounds of ammunition today for the next war.

As soon as it stops raining I loaded up also about 80 rounds of .445 Super Mag.  300 grain hard cast, 300 grain XTPs, 300 grain Speers.  That should give me a good start on a hunting load.  

Time to type final exams for the kiddies!!!   :)
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Offline dabigmoose

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2003, 04:32:23 PM »
HI Dave
 How do ya like that 445 mag I have never tried one of those out.
It seems I always run into some one that really likes it .
Im gonna have to get around to it one day.

DABIGMOOSE
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Offline Daveinthebush

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ready
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2003, 04:37:37 PM »
and waiting for the weather to clear over here.  The loads for the .445 look impressive and the ballistics should do nicely up here for bears and moose.  Ptargiman should worry too as it should have enough penatration for them as well. :grin:

It is a 14" with a build in muzzle break for Mike Bellum.  Took over a year to get but I will have to try it to see if it was worth the wait. :?
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Offline Daveinthebush

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.445
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2003, 05:42:19 PM »


Randy here are the loads I did today.  Three .445 and a .44 to compare.  These are not full loads either.  The .44 has 22 grains of H110 and the .445 has 28 grains or about 28% more roar.  As I have read elsewhere, watch the scope when it comes back at ya.

I scanned them in on the scanner!  Interesting way to do it I guess.
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Offline Matt in AK

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2003, 08:28:52 PM »
Good news today on two fronts: home and abroad.

1.  Got in real good with my 'ol lady tonight.  She's a music nut and I bought her a turn-table (record player) for Mothers Day.  She's been listening to old (well to our kids "old") albums for hours now...and I'm out of the doghouse for a while with that one :-D .  Gonna take her and the kids to the wildlife place near Whittier turn-off tomorrow to see some critters and follow up with Moms Day dinner at the Double Muskie in Girdwood.  'Course we'll have to drive up to Crow Creek before dinner...and if a black bear is on the hillside...well it'd be downright irresponsible not to have the rifle in my truck :wink: .

2.  My deployment "window" (when I'd leave for a 90-179 day deployment) was just moved from Jun-Aug '03 to Mar-May '04 instead.  Kills my fantasy Spring Brown Bear hunt but opens up a pretty nice Summer and fall :grin: .

Dave - that load sounds like just the thing for the big critters.  Be nice not to add a rifle to what you're packin' out...and up and down hills.
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Offline Daveinthebush

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You mean
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2003, 06:05:07 AM »
that you think that I am undergunned carrying a bow and a handgun.   :?

I sharpened the tomahawk yesterday for backup. :grin:
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Offline Matt in AK

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2003, 02:20:59 PM »
Dang it.  Sometimes I even confuse myself :? .  I'm gonna try this again.

What I was trying to say....is that it would be nice to carry a powerful handgun in lieu of a ponderous rifle.  I carried my 338 through a bunch of alder patches last Fall (stupid) and it was a royal pain in the patootie.  A handgun with a little reach would've been far handier.

Somehow I don't think you'd be undergunned with a spear.  Just stick me in the foot with it, dump honey on my head, and leave me to the chargin' bear.. :-D

I ain't even breakin' out my bow 'till I manage to down somethin' up here with my rifle.
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Offline dabigmoose

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Saw my first Brown Bear today
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2003, 10:47:36 PM »
MATT
 DAVE would never stick ya in the foot he might the leg
and he would use syurp the higrade stuff.

Dave I like the looks of those rounds should do well.

dabigmoose
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