Moving to Alaska

[Ryan_B]

In the future i would love to move up to Alaska.  I am looking to find out what Calibers and optics you guys use, and for what game? i would like to start accumulating some of the guns I would need.  Also general recommendations on Cold weather clothes and other Alaska Necessities that would be of good Use.

Thanks
Ryan
 

[cgoff]

A good all around Alaska caliber is a 338 fitted with something like a 2x7 power scope.  I always followed the rule carry enough gun for the biggest thin in the woods.

A good pistol in 44 mag. or bigger to carry while your fishing or hiking is a good idea to, just don't get one so heavy that it gets left in the truck instead of on your hip.

A good set of binoculars and a spotting scope are a definite,  they will save you alot of walking

As far as clothes dress in layers don't by any big bulky clothing, it's amazing how hot you can get in thirty below
Make sure you get a good set of raingear cause you'll need it.  Most of the gortex stuff I tried wasn't good enough so I ended up with some Helly Hanson Impertech.  It. doesn't breath so you have to slow down so you don't sweat but it's quite and will keep the worst rain shower out,  It's also great for walking through the alders in the morning.
 You will also need a good pair of rubber boots and hipboots. most of the terrain in Alaska is wet and will tear up leather boots.

If you don't have a GPS get one and make sure it has Alaska maps on it Garmin use to be the only brand you could get Alaska maps for not sure now.

The best advice I can give is find somebody that has exp. to hunt with, Alaska is not forgiving of stupid mistakes   

[Totenkopf]

cgoff, that last tip you gave was the best. I have a small cabin South of Homer in Sadie Cove. I can not believe how much colder it is than MT. Sweating can kill you there. You guys that live there are some tough fellows. Luckily there is an old timer who runs a trap line down Sadie Cove who befriended me. If not for him I would have been in real trouble. I would just live there when on leave from the army to hunt. I have only been there 3 times since I retired 2 years ago.
 Ryan I would strongly recommend you look into some Alaskan survival books. An inconvenience in the lower 48 can be a death sentence up there.

[bilmac]

A wool shirt can be damp but still keep you warm. Your guns should be able to stand up to wet weather. Stainless and plastic sure have a place in Alaska.

[Gun Runner]

Ryan, try wwwoutdoorsdirectory.com  This for the Alaska outdoors directory forum.
Hit forums and it will give you log info. Lot of good stuff there and folks dont mind helping out.

Gun Runner

[Sourdough]

In the first place you need to know where in Alaska you are going to move to.  The items needed for Anchorage is a lot differant than the items you will need for Fairbanks.  Like Monday of this week when I left North Pole it was -62.  Anchorage, the Kenai, and Southeastern never see those temps.  So just saying you are moving to Alaska is like saying you are moving to the United States, and not definning the state or area.

[Dand]

Clothing - in addition to dressing in layers, go with synthetic fibers or wool. Cotton kills, retains moisture and will chill you down, summer or winter. Now on a hot summer day cotton is fine but come evening it is wise to have some fleece nearby. Sourdough is right tho, a lot depends on where in Alaska you go. And if a 338 win is too much, 30-06 isn't such a bad choice for all around.  A little light in some cases but there are ALOT of folks carrying 30-06 and a lot of game taken every year.  While a lot of the early goretex didn't hold up, I'm seeing better and better stuff that works pretty well - use Cabela's Guide Gear myself. But I usually also carry my old Helly Hanson, commercial fishing rain gear just in case.  One thing, take your time to pick good gear and spend the money to get it.  Not to say only expensive gear is good.  I have found some inexpensive synthetic long underwear at Anchorage Army Navy or Big Ray's (Fairbanks) that works very well. Like several have said, make some friends, listen and learn. You'll have to have a BS filter up sometimes as we Alaskans sometimes get a little too "know-it-all" at times.  I think if you hang out here you'll find some good info - Sourdough, Corbanzo, Daveinthebush, others have pretty good advice.

[Ryan_B]

Thanks for the replies so far Guys its good to get some actual advice from guys who live there.
On the Alaska Survival Books do you have any specific titles.
As to the area i would move to I think to start out I am looking at the Anchorage area and then look to find a place to build a Cabin after a few years?

Again thanks for the great info
Ryan

[shootercochran]

I to am moving to Alaska in a year.  After a TON of research, I decided on the .30-06 and a .22 rifle.


I'm not rich so I'm getting the Marlin XL7 and a marlin .22.

[deltecs]

I've lived in the temperate rain forest in Prince William Sound just SE of Anchorage for over 30 years.  At first my only hunting and work clothing was wool.  Now with the advent of good Gore-Tex synthetics like clothing, it is my first choice, but it cannot be cheap outer material just having a synthetic moisture lining.  Yes, rifles and equipment gets rusty and most advise SS and synthetic stock.  Have a care of your equipment and normal blue works just fine.  That goes for your hand tools too.  A good pair or 2, one insulated and one not, of BF Goodrich extra Tuff rubber boots is a must.  Mostly for the traction on slippery terain and an abundance of water.  Cheap footwear here along the coast can be deadly if torn or have poor traction.   Do a lot of research with others who spend lots of time in the wilds of Alaska, as each climate has its own best clothing and outergear for its area.  Welcome to Alaska as we need a few more right wing voters.

[teddy12b]

I wish I was going up there with you guys.  I'd buy a 45/70 guide gun, a 44mag revolver, and a 10/22.  That should cover anything you'd need a gun for.

[corbanzo]

Definitely a 12 gauge.  Don't know how you could do without the 4x4 of guns... so many ducks, other birds, for bear protection, and for "jellyfish trap."      Don't know if any of you other costal guys have done this... but you take some rubber tubing and duck tape with you... make your self a big sling shot, and do yourself some trap shooting with those thousands of moon jellies that wash up on the beach. -You can just throw them, moons don't sting like lions do. Or maybe that is just in seward that we do that.   

Hell, I already live in Alaska, and I would still like to start "accumulating" more guns as you say.   

I think a mid level like an -06 or a 7mag is indespensible, as well as a .22.  If you are interested in larger game like ox or brownies... just do what I did, let the guys at the shop talk you out of the .375 and into the .458.  That whole "Alaskan ammo availability" complex that everybody else seems to have... just isn't true.  We do have sportsmans warehouse.  We do have mail service.  It's a supply and demand thing - there are A LOT of shooters in Alaska, so there is a lot of ammo supply. 

One things... which some people don't agree with... but I do agree with... myself, haha, get rubber raingear.  A full set.  Hell, get two.  After two or three days of walking through soaking wet brush with a full downpour.... the whole time... even the expensive gore-tex will let through some amount, and retain some amount of moisture over  time.  Just bring an extra pair of long johns to wear underneath - the rubber will never retain water.  That is only in certain cases of course.  Well for me it should have been most cases... but that is what happens in a rain forest.  Even the super expensive gore-tex super lined coated with some space age crap expensive stuff, will not breath enough to get rid of all your sweat if you are working hard.  I've tried a lot of it.  It's good for being lightweight, that is about it. - If you are not into mountaineering, you probably don't need it.  Finding a silent rainshell for hunting, that is a different story all together. 

As for clothing, I like bringing more of lighterweight clothes than less of thicker.  And not always as a layer.  Just keeping an extra set or two of lightweight long johns seperate can be a god send.  Light weight long johns -dry- under good raingear can keep you pretty warm as compared to the moist mid or heavy-weights you have been wearing for three days straight.  One other thing along those lines, is make sure you have enough underclothing to keep you warm.  When it is not precipitating, I don't like to wear a shell.  That cool wind you feel without your shell is cool because it is carrying away moisture.  Better to wear a little thicker shirt, or two thing shirts than a light shirt under a coat when you are not worried about rain and are worried about sweat.  That is why I don't like coats.  I only own one thick coat, and it is for around town or around my property.  When I am out in the woods, I have a few unlined shells for different purposes (rubber, goretex, something that rei made 15 years ago that sucks for rain but is good for snow... etc. - because like I said before, I like smaller layers.  Coats are big, hold moisture well, and don't breath.  -So those big puffy coats you see... for extreme cold weather only.  Or rap music videos for some reason, must be cold on those sets. 

Lastly... one of those most important things you can have up here are gators.  Not the big green things with sharp teeth to protect you from bears, but good, durable, waterproof, gators.  All that water, snow, brush that your expensive clothes and boots supposidely protect you from mean nothing if you leave a giant hole under your pantleg.  The ones I have now... goretex gators from cabelas.  I hate them.  they are quiet, they are light, they fit snugly, they block stuff out well... but they retain water like nobody's business.  I need helly hanson to make some stretchable rubber ones...  One thing i always have with me is a roll of double sided velcro, so if I need a pair of impromptu gators for mypant legs or wrists I have them right there.  Light, reusable, handy, why doesn't everybody carry double sided velcro? 

I guess for gear, my number one recommendation, and in agreeance with sourdoughs comment about different environments, is to plan your gear for you trip.  There is too much environemental difference to have one set of gear.  It's kind of like the "all around Alaska gun" disscussion going on right now... Nothing will work in all situations. 

Oh yeah, and don't forget to keep your toilet paper in a ziplock bag.