Life Below Zero

The AR15 comments do not surprise me at all. You know the two happiest days of a boat owner are the day they buy it and the day they sell it. I heard that applied up to AR's in Alaska too(not counting of course the city dwellers, like me). I remember some really crazy guns though coming in from the villages. I always wished I could here a few of there stories. I dig the Mosin too. We kept one around too when I was in Alaska. I still have it but lost the bolt.


Cool show by the way.

I like the show, tells the story of just how self reliant the people are, they don't complain, they just do it. We are losing that these days.

Caribou.

Thanks for clarifying the comment about the 5.56 being a popular round.

I would not take any such caliber if I were heading your way,NOTHING smaller than .30 caliber.

But the reason for using that round makes sense if your doing lots of game killing and need cheap ammo,I shoot a Mossberg MVP in 5.56 and with 69 grain match its a killer on anything that caliber can stop.

And hell yes to the Mosin's as I own 2 and they are great guns and the price was WELL worth it.

Mark me down as another who enjoys this program. I don't catch every episode, but I see most of 'em.

Good stuff.

I feel that if you can get any semi auto rifle in the preferred caliber to run right in the cold, you are better off than the time it takes to reset for a second or third shot with a bolt gun.
It more than compensates for the accuracy when dinner is at stake and you spend your whole day stalking these animals for 1 shot.
Fumbling with a frozen bolt is a waste of time and can ruin the whole hunt. Having seen Agnes have trouble ejecting a round it would be much easier to be able to fire a second or third shot without having to reset each time.
I have been watching and taping when I am unable to watch. That Sue is a darn bit smarter than I first thought, and handy with mechanical equipment, my wife has problems with the vacuum.

First off... Agnes is a badass. I love the show.

I only have 1 gripe with the show and that is some of the editing. It appears as if they try to give a dark, sinister mood. Some of the lighting they use when they film the dead fish or cleaning of the game is like they are trying to make a horror movie.

I didn't like the part where they showed the wolverine in the trap, and being shot. I know it is the right way to end him, but it kind of ruined the show for me.
Can't help it, I guess it's hypocritical being that I eat meat and all, but watching them suffer is bad Karma.
Out of all of the folks on the show, I find that Wiseman, "hope the spelling is properly". stands out the most, in the sense that at his age, he should, "regardless of his love of nature", have more of a social life. The isolation of being alone most all of the time is not healthy for a young man.
Not that it's any of my business, but it exhibits anti social behavior to a degree that may become problematic down the road. We are social animals, and need to interact with each other on a regular basis. It seems like escape is a priority for him in his life, the companionship of other Humans is essential for a balanced mental state. Even if it's occasional. Perhaps we will see some more interaction as the show progresses. I would wish him well and urge him to spend more time in social settings, like perhaps with this new exposure, " dating online", having a young lady who I am sure would love to come there for a week and spend some time with him.
Although off topic it does come as a concern for my fellow man, being they have opened their life up for scrutiny.
I retrospect to what Don ,"above" said, I agree, all that's missing is the organ music. These cliff hangers end up being a simple fix, understandably to keep you watching, although unnecessary.

Interesting. I've just set up my DVR to record many episodes that are being rebroadcast Sunday. I love seeing shows about Alaska.

gym said:

I feel that if you can get any semi auto rifle in the preferred caliber to run right in the cold, you are better off than the time it takes to reset for a second or third shot with a bolt gun.
It more than compensates for the accuracy when dinner is at stake and you spend your whole day stalking these animals for 1 shot.
Fumbling with a frozen bolt is a waste of time and can ruin the whole hunt. Having seen Agnes have trouble ejecting a round it would be much easier to be able to fire a second or third shot without having to reset each time.
I have been watching and taping when I am unable to watch. That Sue is a darn bit smarter than I first thought, and handy with mechanical equipment, my wife has problems with the vacuum.

Click to expand...

I agree in theory. But in reality I think those guns take far more abuse than most semi autos are designed to take. Remember you are in an environment where the less maintenance the better due to time, money, parts, etc. You dont have time to screw with it. You cant take the risk of it screwing up. You cant get parts if it does screw up. You have too many other things to do than worry about the gun. It is going to get wet, frozen, muddy, snowy, dropped, banged, dinged, and everything else on a regular basis. I can totally understand why Agnes uses a Mosin Nagant. It is quite possibly the perfect gun for her circumstances.

If you guys have "on demand" there are a dozen episodes online.

I guess Erik really does guide. Here's his website---http://www.bushwhackalaska.com/

I have become a big fan of the show, although the life style is not for me. I still can enjoy the day to day struggle to stay on top of things. I don't understand the mindset of never being to relax for fear of something going wrong. But I guess that is part of the allure. You also have to be a loner, I am to a degree, but need the occasional contact weather female or just walking into a store and looking around. Also not a fan of cold weather, maybe if it was on a desert Island. Like Life over 90 degrees.
Like a Robinson Crusoe type.

Just got home from a 3000 mile round trip to the Colorado mtns and returned to the last 2 episodes on my DVR. Watched them both this am. Will hate to see this season end.

More ?? for Bou:

1] Why don't you use handheld personal radios to communicate when you are separated on a hunt?

2] Why don't you mark channels of deep areas of a lake with a GPS during the warm months so you have a better shot at finding where to drill your ice fishing hole?

3]Still interested on "Native" hunting vs non-native regulations.

Thanks

Just watched the show for the first time and really enjoyed it. Thank you Caribou for letting us all in on your lives and for giving us some further insight in this thread. Looking forward to more episodes.

Love the show, and I don't like much on TV. Caribou, if you don't mind my asking, my wife (who also loves the show, especially Agnes and your kids) would like to know if there's any significance to the skull and crossbones on your sign. Wish I was tough enough to do what you do, but my wife put her foot down when I was offered a job in Anchorage. She "wasn't going anyplace people have to plug in their cars".

I gotta ask Caribou. Trivial question. What kind of gloves are you guys wearing? They look like the sort you buy at gas stations down here for $3.99. Leather palms and fingers with cloth backing. I ask because those have no insulation properties at all. Are these something different?

We carry several pairs of gloves, bloody or wet gloves will kill you if your lucky, get your hands cut off if you don't. I like leather gloves with a fuzzy lineing, and 3 pairs with me, inna pcket a couple on the ride and spare. I have a pair just for gassing up and another for setting traps.


The preference for a bolt action M-39 is, first and formost, Accuracy and dealing with the first shot the best you can. Only accurate rifles are interesting and with he ranges we have here, a large .30 caliber bullet can close those distances quite well. A bolt action that's difficult to work in the deep cold is 10X easier to deal with than a semi auto thats up to such at the same temps. It dosent help when 5 days of filming is canned into 'one' few minute segment.
Animals in leg hold traps are not bad Karma. They are still intact when you arrive to kill them for their skin. Connibear and other "killer traps" kill animals instantly are often raided by Ravens, who pluck the dead animal and eat them, as well as those who are attracted by the Ravens, and they ruin the skin and the trap set, so theres the crux of the trapper, and both have their use, but it depends on circumstance where you are and what you plan to catch.

We don't mark the channels as the lake is actually an "inlet" and brackish in water. We don't own a GPS anyway, a compass and experience are still just fine, with no batteries required. Also, Two things make it change every day and year; Tides and the thickness of the ice. The tides lift the ice twice a day, and this year the ice was 5 feet thick, last year it was 3. The Shee fish cruise the narrow gaps because thats where the small fish they seek are "Tarpon of the North" are a hunting in the 2 or so feet between the bottom of the 'lake' and the bottom of the ice. We are often 'feeling' with our jig just how deep it is. Once a series of holes are established in general, we move ever few hours and get ahead of the school o'fish, Nat Geo didn't have time to see such, but thats how it go's.

Hand held radios are illegal to use during a Hunt. They are what we use in an emergency to call for help or check in to a village with. Besides, the cold kills the batteries and you want them strong and fresh, to broadcast far to get you some help, so we carry them in our parkas and keep them warm, and use them as little as possible.

There are no "Native-non Native" State of Alaska fish and game laws, we are all citizens and equal. You are most likely referring to Federal managed hunting for international Migratory Marine Mammals ;
Native folks have a tradition of makeing a living from the sea and using its products, even 100 miles away, via trade and migration (we move to the coast most summers, or very close, like this summer, 7 bends up a river delta), by eating what they caught from the oceans, fish and Marine mammals, as well as a history of making a large part of their meals, clothes and foot wear from Marine Mammals, but when commercial whaling and Sealing was bringing the populations to the brink, something world wide had to be done, this was in the 60's. Since there was no other tradion among non Native Alaskans than Commercial Hunting out of Nantucket and San Francisco, ect, and with the KKK ,Aryen Brotherhood or the Republican party were what Caucasion folks had for representation, shuks.... nor did I hear of the NAACP or another organization speak up for their chunk of Blubber........, and there was no hunting alotted when Commercial hunting was banned. These Native folks spoke up, gave fine examples and when the act took effect, were protected to live, eat and hunt as they had the day before it was in effect. Also, Sea Mammal hunting is allowd to only the Natives who reside along the coast and the tributarys that lead to them (You cant be an anchorage whaling captain) were allowed to keep hunting for food. Feds said where Hunting could occur and where they cannot.
On the Federal way of doing things, like fishing , for example, if theres "Lots" then every one fishes, commercial, subsitence and all. When numbers fall, then commercial guys are cut off first and catching fish for personal food only contenues, but when the numbers really suck, then no one fishes..................... Same same for Marine Mammles in Federally controlled waters.

Soon, nobody will get to hunt Polar Bears, and theres a subsitence restriction of 58 Bears killed by all Human causes in both Russia and the US combined. The numbers are dropping off in the Bering, Chukchi and Beufort Seas.
I think the Salmon fishing south of me is an example as well.

The International Whaleing Commition controlls the nubers of Whales struck, according to poulations, and moniters the countrys that still hunt Whales and Seals.

Canada, Russia, Norway, the Fereo Island and Iceland still Whale and hunt Seals, and do so for eating skins and other tradional uses. Japan hunts 800+ whales a year for "Research" and sells the byproducts (100% of the Whale) commercially, in a huge Loophole in the Whaling commitiion.

I wish I could hunt Whales too, but its cool to see my family do such, and Seal hunting in Sept is commin'.

In this world of our there are only two kinds; Killers and Accomplices.

Even Farmers kill animals. wildlife for crop damage, their own raised animals, meats and products, and so does their fences, mono crops and loss of habitat and diversification, for wildlife, with now polutted water sheds being draind, as well as watershed filled with pesticides and fertilizers, and as we all know waters are redirected to grow those crops, making an unnatural change to the down stream.....fish runs and natural redistribution of waters to natural lands suffers.


People just have to realize the only way to live is to kill something, or pay someone to do it for you.

Thanks for a great show

Caribou, just wanted to add my thanks and congrats for making the show a hit, and really enjoy your family action. I spent 8 years in the Fairbanks area (left in 2001) and had a ball throughout the state.

Thanks for sharing your life with us "outsiders", and God Bless you and your village.

O.K.
Here's another question for you.

How did the Mosin become the mainstay up there in the first place??

I have always considered them really inferior in all respects, including sights, and difficulty of operating the action quickly, to a 1903 Springfield, 98 Mauser, or Lee-Enfield, when they were still cheap mil-sup rifles years ago.

All three work perfectly fine in sub-zero temps, as proven by WWII.

Then I remembered the Alaska National Guard native troops were still using M-14's long after the M-16 came along.

I wondered if some of those Russian Mosin rifles and ammo were stolen from the CCCP back during the cold war, and came across the ice from Russian outposts many years ago in trade for fish, fur, & anything else to eat & keep warmer with??

And the native population got used to them, and now prefer them, because Mosins were there to start with??

How far off base is that line of thinking??

rc

'Twas I and my friend Neal, , back in the late 80's and early 90's, back when I still had my Dead accurate Finn Mosin M28/30 and 6 cases of Chinese ammo, no kids and a GREAT paying job reading about Simo Hayha and skii'ng biathlon in highschool was my awakening to accurate large bore shooting.

We bought them from Centurey arms and took the worst ones (Cosmo in the chamber I Know, I know!!!! Iknow!!! ARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!) that had shells stick in the chambers, we turned them into lamps and bought more with the proceeds 5 inna bundle, 100$ and the collection took hold. Neal sold them as soon as he got them, but I had first pick. Ammo in crates back them was 89$ -Landed in the Arctic- so ammo was plentyfull , accurate and the rifles spoke for themselves, hence they became pouplar, and not regarded as "Cheap" or such, but rather as a Hell of a bargin.

A GREAT cold weather Rifle, a Riflemans Rifle.

The stock is wood and wont stick to your face in the cold, its a bit heavy and that helps dampen felt recoil, as well, the wooden barrel guards keep the steel barrel from freezing to your hands, (you can start a fire in an emergence by shaveing tinder from the oil'd wood and hand guard) Parts are cheap and plentyfull, The stock can be easily modified, if necessary, has a cleaning rod that will easily clean the barrel of ice and snow, as well as corrosive salts, the "hold" is great for wide Eskimo cheeks, wrapped in a face mask and Fur cap tied down around those cheeks, as well as having a bolt that will lock shut when the safty is applied with no way inhell to take the safty off accidently. Well balanced and accurate, with a big trigger guard, and they are available with scopes that can take the brutality of Arctic weather and traveling, its a real no brainer....

Guys here are enamored with accuracy, and when I started showing them around, a few guys ended up getting their own and like Rem 700's and Winchesters, Mosin's came to be known as accurate and reliable. In the late 90's and early 2000, it was a no brainer for the guy who owned the Kotzebue Gun and Pawn to buy a bunch, as well, 800 rd cans of Czeck were 50$ and some shipping and M-39's were under 100$ landed.

Im enamored with antique Rifles, and the early Mosins appealed most to me, and the M-39 Sako I used for years had a reciver made in 1892.

A Stael of a deal with ammo , Rifle and plenty of practice, its a way different story today, the mosins and ammo are in plenty, as most guys bulk buy here in the Arctic, for food, fuel, ammo and such, as well, its 40$ for 20 30-06 shells in the store , so the Bargin still holds, till the ammo runs out........Privi Partizan will be popular then, Im thinking.....

The first Mosins were AK Territorial Guard issue,1920 or so, all Remington manufacture I understand, from the cancelled contracts when the Tzar was over thrown bythe Soviets, still haven't see one. There were a lot of White Russian Troops who escaped the reds by coming to Alaska, even up this way, digging water ditches at gold mines and such, working their way to southern AK and settling in.I imagine some brought their issue,and traded or used them when here. The wife collected up locally, a nice 95 Winchester from a Federal prison that was reissued to an ATG man in Selawik prior to WWII, who was reissued an M-1917 when the Japanese invaded Alaska. Every man, from 14 on upo went Militia and stood too, in every village, and kept an eye on the lands and seas, until the Army came through and organized them into the ATG, and issed them all M-1917, and cases of ammo. They kept the Hunters hunting by supplying ammo during scarcety and having hem keep an eye open while doing so. The wifes collected quite a few M-1917's and some are decent , while other carried on as Hunting rifles till recently.

Caribou, what do you consider to be acceptable accuracy for a hunting rifle? How long are you typical and longer shots?

Down in CA I see a lot of folks enamored with accuracy as well. I understand that for a bench rest rifle match or 500-1000 yard shooting. Otherwise, I'm it sure there is much real world difference between a sub MOA and 2 MOA rifle.

The wife and I both have always appreciated accurate rifles. Her, growing up as a Hunter, I growing up hunting to a lesser degree, but mucho enjoyed target shooting as a teen. An M28/30 was my first Mosin, and it was VERY accurate, so accurate I sold it to the Biathalon coach and bought two more.

M39's were quite the bargin in early 2000's, as was quality ammo in quantity. I had a favorite, a '42 SAKO with an 1893 reciver, it shot 2 inch groups via open sights with quality ammo, and handloading. I never did get into scoped rifles, the scopes up this way have a bad rep, 'cept Leupold. Seems the Soviet PU is up to snuff, from what I've seen.

The wife has her 'favorite' M-39 she still uses and picked up herself a PU scope'd M91/30 awhile back and is looking forward to some more shooting with it some time.

Hunting ranges are usually 100 or less yards, unless were on some really open ground, then out to 400 isn't too hard. Practise and knowing your limits helps , as does a high power rifle to close the gap.


With 3-4 extra snowmachines and the same guys 'stalking' along with us, the "gap" has grown to 200 yards and sometimes its just not doable. gas consumption played a part in kinking our hunts too, as well as inexperienced riders, so we took it easy on them last winter, but not this winter. As well, the editors add a miss or two, I guess to show its not as easy as some would think.


The sign was made for my birthday, drawn by my second oldest daughter, who has a thing for skulls, and likely felt we need a Human one on the porch ~~LOL!!~~ I don't know, but she got an older student in the wood shop to make it for her and I put it up

Cool, I think I found a new show to check out, sounds like a good one!

I enjoyed flying Alaska also could live there one day myself.

caribou said:

In this world of our there are only two kinds; Killers and Accomplices.

Even Farmers kill animals. wildlife for crop damage, their own raised animals, meats and products, and so does their fences, mono crops and loss of habitat and diversification, for wildlife, with now polutted water sheds being draind, as well as watershed filled with pesticides and fertilizers, and as we all know waters are redirected to grow those crops, making an unnatural change to the down stream.....fish runs and natural redistribution of waters to natural lands suffers.


People just have to realize the only way to live is to kill something, or pay someone to do it for you.

Click to expand...

Very good thoughts about it. The only thing I think I would add is that we should take care of what we have and not waste it. The old timers down here remember when you may go a season without seeing a single deer. Things are much better now.

Didn't realize scopes have a tough time up there. Thanks for that insight. Given that ammo is more expensive up there is reloading common?