Author Topic: PWS - Bear , weather, vegetation update please (Read 1313 times)

Matt in AK · « **on:** April 14, 2003, 05:28:54 PM »

Dave and anyone else on the Sound please chime in.

What's Prince William Sound looking like? I've got about 10 days 'til our black bear hunt out of Whittier and am curious as to what we're in for...

I was on the Kenai Peninsula today and didn't see any bears...but some places (Kenai, Soldotna) were virtually snow-free.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2003, 05:43:54 PM »

There is still a lot of snow up high. The lower, southern slopes are getting bare to about the 1,000 foot level. We had 1 1/2 days of rain and fairly warm temperatures. It is supposed to hit 50 tomorrow. Not much in vegitation yet but it could start at any time.

Temperatures today at Bligh Reef and bouy 60 were around 40-45 degrees.

Looks like highs in the 40's all week in the sound.

No exciting confirmations on sightings.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2003, 06:46:28 AM »

Snowing and blowing hard in Whittier this a.m.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2003, 05:35:10 PM »

There was one blackie up on the hill behind school yesterday morning.

Of all places in a non-hunting zone.

Matt in AK · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2003, 06:01:48 PM »

Dave,

Slap some postage on that critter and send him my way!!! I didn't see anything this past weekend but will try again on Saturday on the Kenai Peninsula. Honey-do list will have to wait 'til December....

Moose-Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2003, 08:32:55 PM »

Yes, send some bears my way as well! :grin: Until then, I need to order some bullets and some supplies for my new gun.

Matt in AK · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2003, 06:34:10 PM »

Dave,

Strike one -- Whittier's bear report on another forum is pretty poor -- no bears and no food for 'em yet.

Strike two -- The fella I'm hunting with isn't certain his boat will be out of the shop yet either.

Rather than strike out, we're looking at hiking in a couple miles and camping for a three-day weekend (Fri-Sun). It looks like Valdez is the only place seeing any numbers of bears at all. Any areas around there that might fit the bill?

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2003, 07:33:12 PM »

Matt I just saw this. PM me with your plans and maybe I can do something.

Boat is almost in the water!

Del · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2003, 06:12:58 AM »

It's official, I spotted my first bear of 2003, last night on my way home from work. A Black Bear cruising the mountain side, I was driving and didn't have a good spot to pull over and put the binoculars on it, but it was good to see!

A friend of mine was out in his boat a couple days ago and said he spotted a big one that he could have taken right from the beach. But he was out for the first boat trip of the year, doing a little fishing and didn't bring a rifle!

Spring fever is starting to affect me, and the only cure is to get out there and do some hunting & fishing!!
Del

Matt in AK · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2003, 03:11:48 PM »

Dave,
Sent you a PM just now. Just found out I'll be on call to deploy (depart) Jun-Aug so I'm going to do all the Spring hunting I can just in case I'm not here this Fall....thinkin' about taking honey and mollassas baths before each bear hunt :wink:
Matt

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2003, 06:58:56 AM »

The blackies are definitely out on Prince of Wales Island. Saw one last week up in the Shaheen area on the west side.

-Kees-

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #11 on:** May 01, 2003, 05:03:24 PM »

I have a personnal day to use up so the rifle, bow and .44 are packed. Had the Coast Guard inspection today. Got some food and the gear ready. Just have to air up the raft, get a shrimp permit and gas up the boat.

We have set 6 records in the past six days for warm temperatures so the weather has been beautiful. Actually a little hot by Valdez standards. Now if the winds will stay down.

Will file a report when I get back guys.

Matt in AK · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2003, 06:40:55 PM »

Hot dawg!!! Boss gave me half a day off Friday so I'm driving to Valdez to look around and don't have to be home 'til Sunday. I figure I'll glass an awful lot of hillsides on the way down and see what that place looks like.

Dave - I looked at the map and saw what you mean when you say "steep" hills...wow!!!

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #13 on:** May 01, 2003, 07:25:07 PM »

OK so much of Valdez is either a freaken cliff, heart attack or glacier silt. It is still beautiful. The best thing is that if you shoot something it is usually a down hill drag, or a down hill restraint from falling down!

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2003, 07:14:11 PM »

Well Matt in AK made it over to Valdez this weekend. We went out to Sawmill Bay and climbed a steep bank and scouted several clearings. The skunk cabbage is still short and grasses very short. No bear sign over there at all. We then hit Jacks Bay and found too many hunters. I think there were four camps set up over there. Shoup Bay produced nothing either.

Might be a little early yet!

I will let Matt fill you in on the other details.

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #15 on:** May 04, 2003, 09:17:44 AM »

Sawmill is one of the most beautiful bay's in all of Alaska, no doubt about it. Lots of goats, black bears and other critters. Nice protected little bay, too. Steep as can be though when lugging 100 lbs of surveying equipment on your back.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2003, 08:10:34 PM »

:eek: I awoke to a dusting of snow on Sunday. I looked out tonight at the mountain across from my driveway and it looks like from the 2,000 foot mark up..........................it's snow covered! The other mountains took a hit too. So what will that do to our friends the bears. Push them lower in search of grass and warmer temps?

Hope so!

Matt in AK · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2003, 04:16:21 PM »

Good luck to ya Dave.

Sat - Torch Run (Police Fundraiser) for Special Olympics
Sun - Son's 10th birthday (22 revolver and King fishing)
Mon- BEARS
Tues - 17th Wedding Anniversary

Bear · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2003, 07:16:15 PM »

Dave,
I hope you are right. We roll out of Whittier heading for Jonah bay tomorrow. I'm taking my 11 yr old son who has not slept in the past three night due to anticipation. We are due back late Monday, the following Friday (23 May) I'll be taking the family to do some fishing out of Valdez. With any luck I will be able to track you down. The boy is dying to meet you.

Matt in AK · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2003, 03:53:45 PM »

Good luck Bear!!! Hope that boy has a blast...