Hunting in Alaska...never be alone???

[saturno_v]

That is what I heard from several sources.
When hunting (DG or otherwise) in places with a high probability of nasty encounters (mum with cubs in tow, tracking a wounded animal, etc..) you should always go with someone else (minimum of 2 people, one hunter and one backup) and take turn (unless you are with a professional guide as designated backup resource) at a firearm for specific short range stopping purposes such as a pump shotgun loaded with Brenneke slugs, a lever guide gun or a Remington centerfire pump rifle...or someone even with a handy bolt action of appropriate caliber but very very fast and very proficient with it.
Any members with experiences about this??

Regards

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Statistically, bears are less likely to attack groups of people, especially 3 or more, but it does happen especially if they are dietarily stressed or have been startled (such as walking into a clearing where the momma bear has her cubs and there you stand with your buddies 20 feet away).

 

[Flintknapper]

Take two other people with you (cuts the odds to 1 in 3 that YOU will be attacked).

Make sure... at least one of those persons is slower than you. (Almost guarantees you won't be the one attacked).


O.K., I'm just kidding. I have no first hand experience with bears.

I'm guessing you would want bear spray, an adequate firearm and always make alot of noise when traveling.

Obviously, keep food out of reach (if camping) and pay attention to your surroundings when you are "over a kill" (if hunting).

You should be fine.

 

[saturno_v]

My question was more about the hunting equipment/technical aspect.
My understanding is that you should have one person with a dedicated hunting rig (means often long range) and another with a dedicated short range blaster...the two rig would serve a very different purpose.

For example, if 2 people are hunting bears/moose, one will hold a 338 bolt action with long barrel and powerful optics for that potential 250+ yards shot, and another will have a pump shotgun with Brenneke or a Marlin Guide gun 45-70 iron sights for close range defence if the need arises.

 

[Cosmoline]

Most people hunt in teams up here. As a practical matter it has more to do with the tremendous amount of labor involved in packing out the kill than bear defense per se. Bears can be a nuisance and they have attacked lone hunters before, but they've also attacked hunters who were with others. There are no guarantees. OTOH these aren't man eating tigers we're talking about and a little common sense goes a long way. Very few encounters turn ugly. The big problems are logistical due to the remoteness of so much of the state, and that's often what bites outside hunters--not the bears.

You could have a dedicated bear gun guy, but it's not really necessary unless for some reason the main hunting rifle is way undersized like a .410 shotgun or something. The typical .338 hunting rifle will certainly work as a bear stopper.

For small game hunting where there's not going to be any giant pieces of animal to cut up and haul out I always go alone. Same with hiking. I've scrambled through bear tunnels over prints my size 13 Danners fit inside of. It adds to life's excitement.

make alot of noise when traveling.

This one always leaves me scratching my head. The bears can smell humans a mile away. They can hear us and see us. They're only "surprised" because we blunder into them. They know we're there, but we don't know they're there. So the bear is the one that should be trying to alert us, with our dull senses. And sometimes they do just that. I'd suggest staying quiet enough to be able to hear what's happening around you, esp. in the dense forests and scrub where you can't see five feet in front of you. I almost always hear the animals before I see them. Moose pace around from browse to browse and sometimes knock a small tree down. Their footfalls are calm and measured. If they get angry they're not shy about communicating this fact. Bear are more liable to present as a sudden thrashing and rushing sound in the bushes. A continuous sound, that is hopefully NOT coming towards you.

 

[saturno_v]

The typical .338 hunting rifle will certainly work as a bear stopper.

Cosmoline

I do not doubt that....heck a 30-06 or a 7,62x54R can stop a bear regardless of what some pople think....the problem is the platform, not the cartridge...a powerful scoped no iron sights long barreled bolt action 338 I do not think is the best choice in an unexpected charge/very short range work situation....in that circumstance, I would rather have a lesser cartridge in a lightning fast manoeuvrable iron sighted rig...(for example the Rem 7600 30-06 pump action I just bought)

 

[ArmedBear]

a powerful scoped no iron sights long barreled bolt action 338 I do not think is the best choice in a charge/very short range work situation

Just a few hours ago, I was unable to get an initial shot off at a deer I jumped, then missed it completely when it reappeared, because I was holding a 24" .30-06 with the scope set to 9X for an expected long shot.

I would have to wholeheartedly agree with saturno's assessment!

 

[Cosmoline]

That's another reason I hate scopes. You don't really need super high powered ones for most Alaska hunting anyway. Good irons or a low powered wide field scope will work fine. Leverguns are fine too. There are of course exceptions but in general in this part of AK and in the SE it's the finding, the getting to and most of all the getting out that are the hard parts. The actual shooting and killing is pretty straight forward. Not too many super long shots are taken or advisable.

Or you can certainly have a guide with an amped up levergun backing you up. That was how a lot of famous Alaska wildcat cartridges were born.

 

[blackops]

I don't know about all of that, but I've been across bears and from how I see it if you respect their space they will respect you. I think paying constant attention to your surroundings and keeping your eyes open for signs will do more for you than any gun.

 

[caribou]

Going with somebody is always a good idea, so I take my wife

Its not really a matter of Bear protection (you gotta save your self) as it is for knowing the country, safty, being able to accomplish more, some company (you know, Misery) and just sharing the experiance.
I am out alone quite often, but I live here, and if I dont "Arrive", somebody who knows my habits will look for me, promptly.
Not aways that easy for fellows who are out there from elsewhere.

Being in a boat alone isnt a good idea either, as alot of Alaska is "Boated" but going out alone isnt bad either, so I think its all a matter of preference, skill and personal confidance.

One thing though, Historicaly...nobody "Country wise" lives alone. Eskimos, Indians, Trappers , ect. and all needed wives, but most were full associated into a family or a village.

"Lone Trappers" where usually criminal and avoided~~LOL!!~~

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Not sure if the question is "should you hunt alone" or "should you have a bodyguard with a dedicated bear gun". I have hunted moose on fly in-float out trips alone many times in country absolutely wormy with bears[my last river hunt I shot a bull on the opposite side of the river from my camp right on the sandbar in plain view from the tent-I spent all day cutting off and ferrying across the river 4 quarters and the backstraps-every time I got to my side a black bear would pop out of the bush and head for the moose till I scared him off by waving my arms-what was left of the carcass was carried off that night by a brown,judging by the tracks.] I never give bears a second thought-as has been mentioned you are carrying a large rifle anyway.
The only time I would not hunt alone would be if a 4 wheeler was involved. Those things are far more dangerous then any bear, and I have the crushed vertebra to prove it.