Leaving Heaven for Hell

[Matt in AK]

Well guys.  It's all but certain now that when I leave Alaska in June/July of '04...I'll be sentenced to 2-3 years at the Pentagon :cry: .  I'll know for certain next week.  Feel free to send along your sympathies, but I don't intend to be totally sober until....say February :wink:  -- just kidding.  Figure we'll live in Virginia....anyone have any contacts there?

Guess the wife'll have to drive the truck when we leave.  I figure some darned dust storm will have my eyes watering pretty bad that day.

Good news -- taking my buddy black bear hunting again tomorrow.

[lilbiggun]

Sorry to hear that Matt. They tried to send me to california when I was in. I couldnt leave AK and besides the wife told me that if I accepted the orders, I might as well file for divorce, You know what they say about hindsight . Just kidding. I'm sure you wil be keeping your residency and you will be back.

[akpls]

Having been stationed at both Ft. Belvoir and Quantico myself I can certainly sympathize.  Living in VA just ain't AK even though it's way better than anti-gun MD.  Western MD (Garrett County) does have some decent hunting opportunities though.  Mostly whitetails.  I'm not sure what the bear hunting situation is in Maryland right now.  Once you get away from the DC area counties of VA there are some fairly good whitetail and bear hunting opportunities too.  You're also fairly close to good hunting areas in WV and PA.  It will probably just be a matter of deciding how far you want to drive.

[ihookem]

Virginia is a nice state. You have to make the best of were you go. My wife has family around there. Very nice land is what I remember. They hunt deer and ducks it seems.  And just think how lucky you are to have eight more months in Alaska, and how lucky you are to have been there.

[Daveinthebush]

Still time for a spring black bear hunt! Or even grizz.

Sorry you have to move.  But you can always come back to retire. :grin:

[Matt in AK]

Hope I didn't sound like I was complaining...too much.  My wife says I'm happy everywhere we've lived and she's probably right.  This Alaska assignment has been, and still is a dream come true.  I wanted to put a fish and a big game animal on the wall and a black bear and red salmon made that come true.  I also wanted to see a griz and have seen a boar(?) as well as a sow with cubs.  What a "country" this state is!!!  

Something else you don't truly appreciate is how helpful Alaskans can be.  I've made several friends on the internet up here and all have shared what they know.  Just try finding someone in the lower-48 who'll tell you exactly what hillside to find your bear on (thanks bearhuntr).  I've even seen what may be the most beautiful place on earth with my dad and son (thanks daveinthebush) and caught some fish there too.

I may just be able to try out that Spring griz hunt.  It looks like I'll go back to the Middle-East in mid-Feb and, with any luck, will be back by the end of May.  Not sure how the family would react if I up and left a week later though... :lol:

Wife won't even entertain the idea of retiring up here, but she's a helluva woman so she might just dump me someday :wink:

[willis5]

The shenandoah valley has some really nice whitetails! drive out 66 west toward Front Royal and Winchester. There are bears and big deer. Make the most of it!

[Yukon Jack]

Matt,
Alaska is sure going to miss you.  You seem to be a stand up guy and an excellent sportsman.  We need more like you.

However, I've been a lot of places over the U.S. and abroad, and I can say with all honesty that each and every place has its own grace and charms.  Most of the places around this great country of ours will make a fantastic home for you and your family.  Virginia is absolutely stunning in the country.  Huge hardwood trees with a lot of colors that we don't get here (although the birch and aspen are grand) in the fall.  Deer, dove, quail, grouse, woodcock, bear, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, coyote, are all in the mountains in the Virginias.  There's a lot of history and a lot of country's culture there.  Just make sure you don't get planted in a huge city and I'll think you see all the beauty grace that the mix east coast and the south have to offer.  Small towns and the countryside will provide many opportunities for you and your family to experience many outdoor activities.

Look for it and you will find it.

[Bear]

Matt, I feel your pain.  The Army sent me a few miles farther east, ended up in Mosul ,IRAQ.  I'm still hunting but we can't eat the game (if you know what I mean). :blaster:

[Daveinthebush]

If your where I think you are and hunting what I think your hunting be careful!

We don't want to loose any of our vets and appreciate the things that you are doing for our country. Some people don't understand.  Matt and I are both vets, current(Matt) and "slightly used"(me) if you need a sounding board just PM me.

What I always told the newbies was:  Never do the same thing two days in a row.  Because man is a creature of habits and someone will get you that third day.

Be safe over there and keep us posted.

[Matt in AK]

Bear,

Keep your head down over there.  I'll be a bit south of you in less than two months.  If you'd like a little "taste of Alaska" care package, shoot me a PM with a good mailing address.

[Bear]

Dave, with all the IEDs (Improvised Explosion Devices) that keep taking the lives of our nations men and women we have a saying....IF YOU DID NOT DROP IT DO NOT PICK IT UP.

Heads are down because the rockets keep flying, good thing these Iraqi's can't aim for crap.  Thanks for the kind words.

BEAR......101st ABN DIV (Air Assault)