Archive for May, 2008
Grizzly Bear Hunting Vs Brown Bear Hunting
Posted in: Bear Hunting
?Grizzly bear hunting is world famous in Alaska and is also known as Brown bear hunting. Brownies as they are also dubbed are very plentiful in certain Alaskan game management units. Grizzly bear hunting in Management Unit 9 for instance will be more than just a good day's harvest. Unit 9 has one of the largest populations of Grizzly bears (Brownies) in the world. In fact, the current world record grizzly bear was taken from Alaska Game Management Unit 21.
Although Grizzly bear and Brown bears seem to regarded as interchangeable, most guides and outfitters will tell you otherwise. Guides with years of experience say that Brownies live along the coastal regions (usually within 100 miles of the shoreline of Alaska).
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Grizzlies on the other hand live in the interior regions of the state. (North of the 62nd parallel). Having said that though, they are also quick to point out that Brownies and Grizzlies are genetically the same animal. The Brown bears tend to be bigger physically than those found Grizzly bear hunting, simply because the climate they live in is more temperate and they eat high protein, high fat salmon all year.
In order to get ready to go Grizzly bear hunting, there are certain things you must have in order to make your hunt viable. Your rifle must be 30 caliber or larger and the barrel channel glass bedded. Your best bet is a rife that shoots consistent groups in all weather conditions. You are also responsible for a number of other items such as your ammo, sleeping bags, personal items etc. Some alcohol is allowed in camp, so long as it is moderate. You can carry up to 50 pounds of gear on the bush plane that flies Grizzly bear hunting clients to base camp. Please remember to bring your firearms permit.
By the way, Alaska outfitters are required by state law to salvage meat from Grizzly bear hunting and other harvested game animals. If you want to take bear meat home, you can, however it's highly unlikely, given the size of some of the Grizzly bear hunting harvests that you would be able to handle that much meat. The meat is donated to food banks and other sources that put the meat to good use.
If your destination of choice to go Grizzly bear hunting is Alaska, you should know their tag system is rather unique. Basically tags of equal or lower dollar value can be used for different species. So, as an example, species dollar value (highest to lowest) are: Brown bear, Moose, Caribou, Black bear, Wolverine and Wolf. That means that your Brown bear or Grizzly bear hunting tag can be used for any species mentioned in the above example – and so on. Hunters like this system because it provides them with lots of choices and provides more hunting opportunities.
Bear Hunting In Alaska, Where Trophy Records Happen
Posted in: Bear Hunting
?Bear hunting Alaska bound on the trip of your dreams to participate in some world-class bear hunting. You'll have the opportunity to participate in several species of bear hunting. Alaska offers 5 species of Alaska big game to hunt including Brown bears, and Grizzly Bears.
For your incredible bear hunting trip in Alaska you will want to make sure you stay at a place that provides not only super trophies, but also a fair chase. Your trophies should include the higher end of animals hunted, and with some luck you can find an outfitter that will help you consider color and size. You'll then leave with filled-out tags and an outstanding trophy of the best of the best bear hunting trip you've ever been on.
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Before you leave home, make sure to practice shooting from a standing position. This is not only important, but it is what you will need for success on your bear hunting Alaskan adventure.
Sportsmen who bear hunt in Alaska can expect to take bears in the 8' to 9½' size range with skulls from 24" to 28". Each year the sizes do vary, but this will give you an idea of what to expect on your bear hunting trip.
The best location for your trip is near the coast of Bristol Bay, considered world record bear country. Bristol Bay trips are all in remote wilderness more than 200 miles from the closest part of the connected North American road system. Great country to be tracking bear in and superb opportunities for taking pictures of a lifetime of you with your trophy bear.
If you've got your sites set on bear hunting Alaska Brown Bear, then you'd want to be booking your trip for the Spring. This time of the year offers prime hides, dense fur with long thick hair and heavy claws. If you don't make it in the Spring, you still have a long season to take advantage of and a lot of bears. The length of the Brown Bear season is almost 8 months, from September 10th to May 25th.
Brown bears are found all through Alaska with one exception, the islands south of Frederick Sound (southeastern Alaska), the islands west of Unimak, and the islands of the Bering Sea. At one time Brown bears and Grizzly bears were listed as a separate species. However, they are actually the same – Ursus arctos. There is one area in Alaska (Kodiak Island) where the Browns are a distinct subspecies. The shape of their skulls differ slightly and they are physically isolated from the main gene pool.
Amazingly, Brown bears have an approximate life span of up to 34 years in the wild. This is thought to be a rare event. Males may reach the age of 22 years, females 26 years. Since you may be hunting Brown bears be aware they have an excellent sense of smell and under the right conditions can detect odors more than a mile away.
Although related to the Black bear, you likely won't miss a Brown if you see it. But pay close attention, because typically you cannot distinguish them by color alone (Browns range from dark brown to light blood). Other distinguishing factors for a Brown are: they're bigger, have larger shoulder humps, smaller ears and the claws are longer and straighter. By the way, the hump and the claws are adaptive to their feeding behavior.
As with most species of bears, their weight will fluctuate depending on the time of year. So, if you expect to participate in tracking several species and find the ultimate size trophy while bear hunting, Alaska offers you the best variety. And even though you are there to go bear hunting, Alaska offers some of the most stunning scenery anywhere. Take your camera!
Hunting With Dogs Is Serious And Fun
Posted in: Hunting Dogs
?Hunting with dogs is a controversial sport in today's world. There are some specific types of dogs who hunt either better than others or are better "at" certain game, making the art of hunting with dogs a popular sport with many.
There are no specific groups in the AKC registry for hunting alone other than maybe the hounds. This one is of the largest group that have a wonderful hunting nose. The hounds seem to have a dominant amount of breeds in their group who do hunt with an ancestral background in their lineage, with the most known hunting traits. These traits vary, such as scenting ability, baying when the scent is found, or excessive stamina to follow a trail or scent for excessive periods of time. The most prominemt breeds are known as Beagles, Norwegian Elkhounds, Basset Hounds, American Foxhounds, Dachshund, English Foxhounds, Bloodhounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, and so on.
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The AKC Sporting group is a large group of hunting dogs for those who enjoy hunting with dogs, and that specifically enjoy the water and the woods. These include the American Water Spaniel, Brittany, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Pointer, Spinone Italiano, Sussex Spaniel, Vizsla, Weimaraner, Welsh Springer Spaniel, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
The exciting things about dogs, especially noticeable when we are hunting with dogs, are that each breed has their own natural behavior. The best breed for being a total workaholic out in the field is the Border Collie when herding livestock or children. And the terriers are something else, believe me. They were originally developed to hunt small game, and kill vermin, and nothing had better EVER get in their way!
And then we have some of the hunting dogs, maintaining a continuous drive to confront some form of prey or another, to the point if you don't have the time or energy to train and go with them, then don't buy one, as without proper socialization or training, severe problems will definitely develop. For the hunting dogs that have a high predatory behavior, the word "challenging" doesn't even come close to the experience of training them.
Hunting with dogs is not an easy task to accomplish by the time they are ready to go to the field, and that is when the quality of training will show up. If the training wasn't adequate, spaniels, retrievers, pointers, and so on, that have a naturally born predatory behavior that has to go somewhere and do something will go after small children, small animals like cats or guinea pigs, they will instantly become game for their hunt that is natural born to them.
Essential Bear Hunting Info
Posted in: Bear Hunting
?If you are looking for the hunting experience of your life, bear hunting is the thrill for you. Whether it is brown bear, grizzly bear, or black bear, bear hunting is a dangerous yet thrilling experience that excites most hunters.
If grizzly bear hunting is what tickles your fancy, travel to Alaska and hunt in the Management Unit 9. Grizzly bears dominate Unit 9. They dominate Unit 21 in Alaska, too. Grizzly bears are considered one of the most dangerous, unpredictable bears in the world, so considerable care is required when hunting these types of bears.
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It has been noted that Grizzly bears and brown bears are interchangeable. Outfitters and guides will dispute this belief as they encounter bears, both grizzly and brown,in their day-to-day life. Those that travel on the shore line while bear hunting will experience more brown bears. Those bear hunting more in the interior will come across more grizzlies. Grizzlies are also smaller than brown bears, but genetically, they are the same.
Brown bear hunting is as dangerous as hunting grizzlies. Brown bears are physically larger because they live in a more temperate climate and their diet is high protein, high fat salmon. They are also distinguished by their coloring, which can be anywhere from blonde to brown, and even black.
Black bears, smaller than other bears, are not in any danger of becoming extinct. Their only major threat is poaching. Legal hunting, that is hunting with a licence, regulates the number of bears able to be harvested, which is extremely important to preserve the number of bears in the wild.
Before you go bear hunting, make sure you have the proper equipment to make your hunt successful. Your hunting rifle must be a 30 calibre or higher and the barrel must be channel glass bedded. The best rifle to use is one that shoots consistently in all types of weather.
Outfitters will also tell you that you are responsible for your own gear – the ammo, sleeping bags, personal items, and your firearms permit. Make sure you carry that permit with you at all times when hunting. Alcohol is permitted in camp, but only in moderation. Excessive drinking and firearms are a dangerous combination.
Food banks are the recipients of harvested game animals. As a bear is a huge animal, you would not be able to go through that much meat on your own, so outfitters, who are required by law to salvage the meat, donate it. You can take some bear meat home, if you wish.
Learn the tagging system of the area you plan on hunting in. Knowing this information will allow you to hunt other kinds of wild game – pending that you have the right permit to do so – while bear hunting.
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