Certaindeaf
member
100% lucky is how I see it.
Life Below Zero
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caribou
Member
~~LOL!!~~
No Native Alaskan Blood here, in me, that's why I don't hunt Seals, Walrus, and such, but the wife, inlaws and the kids all do.
Im proudly from Kalispell Montana, when I was 19, I just happened to venture up this way to visit my mom and brother who lived in Kotzebue. I got a job with a better pay than I had in MT ( Loading/unloading Herc's for 25$ an hour vs 3.35$ as a field hand) and the sky was the limit......Red Fox skins were 90$-100$ each and the hunting/fishing here wide open and profitable, so I use my year of gaining residency, learnd snowmachines and local tricks to stay undead and bought stuff that worked, as my lil bro told, and was soon outfitted and with an inside guide to the crazy world of ice, snow and Eskimo' I just started having fun making a living. People here like people that work no matter their orgin or color, and I had plenty of guys willing to have me along, and I learnd as I went....hunters, fishermen, wood cutters, Mammoth Hunters,trappers, Reindeer Herders, Dog Mushers and most guys that did it all, according to seasons, and its been a groove since.
When I got along with the wife, she was doing then as she does now. She married me quick like 'cause I aint her cuzin. ~~LOL!!~~
No Native Alaskan Blood here, in me, that's why I don't hunt Seals, Walrus, and such, but the wife, inlaws and the kids all do.
Im proudly from Kalispell Montana, when I was 19, I just happened to venture up this way to visit my mom and brother who lived in Kotzebue. I got a job with a better pay than I had in MT ( Loading/unloading Herc's for 25$ an hour vs 3.35$ as a field hand) and the sky was the limit......Red Fox skins were 90$-100$ each and the hunting/fishing here wide open and profitable, so I use my year of gaining residency, learnd snowmachines and local tricks to stay undead and bought stuff that worked, as my lil bro told, and was soon outfitted and with an inside guide to the crazy world of ice, snow and Eskimo' I just started having fun making a living. People here like people that work no matter their orgin or color, and I had plenty of guys willing to have me along, and I learnd as I went....hunters, fishermen, wood cutters, Mammoth Hunters,trappers, Reindeer Herders, Dog Mushers and most guys that did it all, according to seasons, and its been a groove since.
When I got along with the wife, she was doing then as she does now. She married me quick like 'cause I aint her cuzin. ~~LOL!!~~
scaatylobo
Member
Caribou
Sounds like the stuff that books & movies are made of.
Many of us envy your life --- yes even as hard as it really is.
real men love a challenge and you seem to have met the bear at the door and now he is your rug
.
I had a chance when I was Iron worker to boom out to the pipeline ,I was not about to step THAT far outside my comfort zone - stayed here to work,I still regret that.
Sounds like the stuff that books & movies are made of.
Many of us envy your life --- yes even as hard as it really is.
real men love a challenge and you seem to have met the bear at the door and now he is your rug
.I had a chance when I was Iron worker to boom out to the pipeline ,I was not about to step THAT far outside my comfort zone - stayed here to work,I still regret that.
Sheepdog1968
Member
So Caribou, what stuff works in Alaska and what doesn't? Obviously, I'm curious in terms of firearms but curious in general. Is there stuff you avoid? Are the certain things besides firearms that you always carry when going out?
jim in Anchorage
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Made it to E4. Sue is now surrounded by wolves who are going to send "scouts" to "draw her out" so the one she "can't see" can get her from behind. I think lot's of this is slanted to ignorant viewers.
bassdogs
Member
Don't know if you have any interaction with the other characters on the show, but thought I'd ask. Sue is getting a lot of attention [much of it negative] concerning the way she appears on the show. Nat Geo doesn't seem to be vary viewer friendly to allow us to ask direct ??'s to the producers of the show or to give them feedback. Any suggestions on how to let them know what the fans are saying?
Do you ever have group meetings with the producers? I suspect that at least some of the activities shown on the screen are staged, well maybe not totally staged but at least edited to add drama and excitement to the episode. How much control do you have over how you and your family are presented on the show?
Do you ever have group meetings with the producers? I suspect that at least some of the activities shown on the screen are staged, well maybe not totally staged but at least edited to add drama and excitement to the episode. How much control do you have over how you and your family are presented on the show?
Speaking of walrus. This is a pic of me when worked for ASU on the the research vessel Acona. Was 1970 on Walrus Island in the Bering Sea.
One of the scientist's from ASU wanted some fresh walrus scat to study. so kinda got up close and personal with them before the tide came in.
scaatylobo
Member
@ jim in achorage
Thanks ---- had to clean my keyboard as it got a coffee bath through my nose
.
Hope I can repay the favor,but you are SO SPOT ON !!.
Too bad the producers are more interested in making silly stuff [ reminds me of "DUAL SURVIVOR" - ya know barefoot in snow ] Than in making stuff that we might learn from.
@Caribou -
I too would LOVE to see a real list [ and pic's if not intrusive ] of the REAL gear y'all use and keep on hand.
Rifles-pistols-shotguns-hand saws-axes-KNIVES-boots-hats- and thanks for the show.
Thanks ---- had to clean my keyboard as it got a coffee bath through my nose
.Hope I can repay the favor,but you are SO SPOT ON !!.
Too bad the producers are more interested in making silly stuff [ reminds me of "DUAL SURVIVOR" - ya know barefoot in snow ] Than in making stuff that we might learn from.
@Caribou -
I too would LOVE to see a real list [ and pic's if not intrusive ] of the REAL gear y'all use and keep on hand.
Rifles-pistols-shotguns-hand saws-axes-KNIVES-boots-hats- and thanks for the show.
caribou
Member
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.............
We done have interactions at all (so far) with others in the cast, but I do belive theres gonna be a new guy and one dropping off, but beyond that, I don't know any of them.
We just don't have time to "Act", we get a ton of film done and then the editors cut it down into a 'story' about the doings they have filmed. We have had little nee to make a story up or interrupt our cycle of doing things. Granted, we have to duplicate a couple things, like snow machining past the camera, and letting them set up ahead while we wait, then drive by and be slow enough to let them past us for the next drive by, , or leaving the house or entering, but the rest is on the fly........but its fun watching the camera work really hard too......The camera really set the mood, but soon the series will come to summer and 24 hour sun and the mood will be as good.
We narrate ourselves, and say /describe ourselves as we go along. Sue, I belive, is VERY scared of any and all predators, while my wife, per say, has no fear nor was ever taught to fear Wolves or Wolverine, as Eskimo' know that Wolf and Wolverines are only dangerous to your unattended Dog team and when caught in a trap, other than that, they are very elusive and a dog team is safe with the presence of Man around, and Man is safe from Bears with Dogs around... The wife will not talk about bears out of respect for them, but she will say factual events wev'e had with Bears. Nor will she eat Bear meat, its quite cultural.
What the editors do with 4-7 days of film is not in our control, but , with only a couple exceptions, were pretty much portrayed as we are. Sometimes the narrations don't quite fit the scene (we were there, we know) but they are often trying to describe several sets of images flashed across the screen, mear seconds all melded into , perhaps, a minute.
Often , Im not sure what they have crafted until I see the show. Lately, I've missed them, but Ill catch up.
We done have interactions at all (so far) with others in the cast, but I do belive theres gonna be a new guy and one dropping off, but beyond that, I don't know any of them.
We just don't have time to "Act", we get a ton of film done and then the editors cut it down into a 'story' about the doings they have filmed. We have had little nee to make a story up or interrupt our cycle of doing things. Granted, we have to duplicate a couple things, like snow machining past the camera, and letting them set up ahead while we wait, then drive by and be slow enough to let them past us for the next drive by, , or leaving the house or entering, but the rest is on the fly........but its fun watching the camera work really hard too
......The camera really set the mood, but soon the series will come to summer and 24 hour sun and the mood will be as good.We narrate ourselves, and say /describe ourselves as we go along. Sue, I belive, is VERY scared of any and all predators, while my wife, per say, has no fear nor was ever taught to fear Wolves or Wolverine, as Eskimo' know that Wolf and Wolverines are only dangerous to your unattended Dog team and when caught in a trap, other than that, they are very elusive and a dog team is safe with the presence of Man around, and Man is safe from Bears with Dogs around... The wife will not talk about bears out of respect for them, but she will say factual events wev'e had with Bears. Nor will she eat Bear meat, its quite cultural.
What the editors do with 4-7 days of film is not in our control, but , with only a couple exceptions, were pretty much portrayed as we are. Sometimes the narrations don't quite fit the scene (we were there, we know) but they are often trying to describe several sets of images flashed across the screen, mear seconds all melded into , perhaps, a minute.
Often , Im not sure what they have crafted until I see the show. Lately, I've missed them, but Ill catch up.
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jim in Anchorage
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Bou since you're on, what do your wifes chin tattoos mean?
caribou
Member
I figure its a customary tattoo, as there used to be near every woman had such up this way, until about the 1920's and theres only a couple dozen now.....about 1/2 are 40 and younger, and if a woman wants such, go for it , I told her..... I have the lightening bolt from between AC and the DC on my forearm, so Im no one to tell her not to get a cool tatt, a real tribal tattoo at that, in Kobuk river kinda way.
I might throw on that Mosin Nagants have been my favorite all around rifles, for years, in peticular M-39 Finn varients. An old .22lr Romainian and an old Winchester pump 12 gauge have always served me well. I had antique rifles and such collected up for years, and I shot them all. I like small knifes for skinning and gutting, old Timers are very good. I also make alotta my own gear, as its made for and from things already up this way, and that materials at hand.
I have the lightening bolt from between AC and the DC on my forearm, so Im no one to tell her not to get a cool tatt, a real tribal tattoo at that, in Kobuk river kinda way.I might throw on that Mosin Nagants have been my favorite all around rifles, for years, in peticular M-39 Finn varients. An old .22lr Romainian and an old Winchester pump 12 gauge have always served me well. I had antique rifles and such collected up for years, and I shot them all. I like small knifes for skinning and gutting, old Timers are very good. I also make alotta my own gear, as its made for and from things already up this way, and that materials at hand.
Bull Nutria
Member
Caribou,
what type and magnification is in the scope Agnes using on the Mosin? i have to confess i did not think much of the Mosins until i started reading of your success with them.
What brand scope is it? Agnes and that scoped mosin make a deadly combination for some critters??
Did any one post episode 6 on Youtube as i could not find it and forgot to set my recorder, i did see a short clip of the mosin sight-in though.
Bull
what type and magnification is in the scope Agnes using on the Mosin? i have to confess i did not think much of the Mosins until i started reading of your success with them.
What brand scope is it? Agnes and that scoped mosin make a deadly combination for some critters??
Did any one post episode 6 on Youtube as i could not find it and forgot to set my recorder, i did see a short clip of the mosin sight-in though.
Bull
scaatylobo
Member
TKS Caribou
Lots of answers in a few posts
I could tell the film crew was making y'all run over scenes - the tell tale tracks of the machines and footprints are a REAL giveaway,guess they don't understand that = LOL.
I was interested to see that many use older guns [ such as yourself ] and that the young kid [ Erick ] was a fan of modern M-4 type rifles.
I own both and I know that if I were heading up your way,I want a rifle that is HARDY and proven = Mosin is a great choice.
Lots of answers in a few posts
I could tell the film crew was making y'all run over scenes - the tell tale tracks of the machines and footprints are a REAL giveaway,guess they don't understand that = LOL.
I was interested to see that many use older guns [ such as yourself ] and that the young kid [ Erick ] was a fan of modern M-4 type rifles.
I own both and I know that if I were heading up your way,I want a rifle that is HARDY and proven = Mosin is a great choice.
jim in Anchorage
Member
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Bou- I ask about the tat because on the TV show hell on wheels set in 1860's Nebraska, there is woman who was kidnapped by Indians and they gave her a near identical tattoo.
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels/cast/eva
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels/cast/eva
A few years ago I was able to spend two weeks in Alaska, flew in drove/flew around.
It is absolutely beautiful. Great fishing out of Seldovia.
The show is great.
Caribou there is something special, even on the show living as your family lives.
I thank the Creator for your wife, her family and others who respect and love what is around us.
It is absolutely beautiful. Great fishing out of Seldovia.
The show is great.
Caribou there is something special, even on the show living as your family lives.
I thank the Creator for your wife, her family and others who respect and love what is around us.
caribou
Member
That tatt on that show is kinda similar, but a few thousand mailes from here, and these folks are Eskimo, decidedly not Indian.
Only accurate rifles are interesting, and an M-39 version of a Mosin in the cold is like a puppy and a little kid on a sunny day. Lots of fun.....The wife has her favorite Vkt Made M-39, something shes hunted with for 10 or so years.
She bought herself an M91/30 with a 3.5 power PU scope on top, a Soviet surplus sniping rifle. She getting used of using it, and likes the chin weld on the stock, as opposed to a cheek weld, that is very doable wearing alotta hat, hood, mask, scarf's, ect in deep cold. Takeing aim with a regular rifle, especially with a cheek and comb on the stock kinda drives alotta Eskimo nuts, so they tend to do alterations that accommodate heavy clothing and wide cheeks. Might be why they made AK stocks as they do.....
Anyways, its her "Seal Rifle" as tight precision is needed for a basicly 'head shot only" kind of animals, as they tend to nap atop ice and aim at the water a few inches away, and a twitch sends them into the water face first, and straight for the bottom...... Thank God for Fish finders and stout trebbel hooks to get 'em up, but its better to take them proper and blow their brains out atop the ice.
The crew dosent get us ran around too much, but we do slow and let them pass, so they can see us go by or land or take off, but we go alotta places and in 10 days they get alotta film and scenes of us leaveing and returning. They often spoil the scene with tracks and spare rides around, but that's not often, as well we often take trails that hundreds drive, but it depends on the day.Sometimes they wait outside to get us in the morning and such, but we put a stop to that and told them to have coffee instead of freeze, 'cause we had decided not to go out that cold morning ~~LOL!!~~ The easiest way to see if the vids are timely is to see the three frostbites on Agnes, where her sunglasses bit her cheeks and nose, leaving dark brown marks..
Only accurate rifles are interesting, and an M-39 version of a Mosin in the cold is like a puppy and a little kid on a sunny day. Lots of fun.....The wife has her favorite Vkt Made M-39, something shes hunted with for 10 or so years.
She bought herself an M91/30 with a 3.5 power PU scope on top, a Soviet surplus sniping rifle. She getting used of using it, and likes the chin weld on the stock, as opposed to a cheek weld, that is very doable wearing alotta hat, hood, mask, scarf's, ect in deep cold. Takeing aim with a regular rifle, especially with a cheek and comb on the stock kinda drives alotta Eskimo nuts, so they tend to do alterations that accommodate heavy clothing and wide cheeks. Might be why they made AK stocks as they do.....
Anyways, its her "Seal Rifle" as tight precision is needed for a basicly 'head shot only" kind of animals, as they tend to nap atop ice and aim at the water a few inches away, and a twitch sends them into the water face first, and straight for the bottom...... Thank God for Fish finders and stout trebbel hooks to get 'em up, but its better to take them proper and blow their brains out atop the ice.
The crew dosent get us ran around too much, but we do slow and let them pass, so they can see us go by or land or take off, but we go alotta places and in 10 days they get alotta film and scenes of us leaveing and returning. They often spoil the scene with tracks and spare rides around, but that's not often, as well we often take trails that hundreds drive, but it depends on the day.Sometimes they wait outside to get us in the morning and such, but we put a stop to that and told them to have coffee instead of freeze, 'cause we had decided not to go out that cold morning
~~LOL!!~~ The easiest way to see if the vids are timely is to see the three frostbites on Agnes, where her sunglasses bit her cheeks and nose, leaving dark brown marks..
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Do you use the new Old Timers made after Schrade went under in 2004 or the ones earler?
caribou
Member
I had no idea Schrade is outta the game, but I have bought a few Oldtimers these last couple years, and have no complaints.
I actually own quite a few knifes, depending on the job, but skinning and gutting only needs three inches of blade to do efficient work.
I actually own quite a few knifes, depending on the job, but skinning and gutting only needs three inches of blade to do efficient work.
bassdogs
Member
Bou - First thanks for the feedback on my previous post. Got one more from the last episode. I understand that the TP is a traditional solution to mobil shelter, but why not a modern tent system? Much more compact and less weight. New ones almost set themselves up and come in an endless set of configurations. Just seems dragging the poles takes up a lot of room. Love the skin sleeping bags but the same ? as before. Do you ever use the modern sub 0 bags?
Do you go with traditional stuff because its better or because it just fits your lifestyle?
Do you go with traditional stuff because its better or because it just fits your lifestyle?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I am 99.9% sure I should let caribou answer this.
But I can't resist!
Perhaps they do not have several thousand dollars cash on hand to outfit the whole family with state-of-the art artic sleeping bags and nylon tents??
When traditional methods work as well, and are almost free for the taking??
rc
But I can't resist!
Perhaps they do not have several thousand dollars cash on hand to outfit the whole family with state-of-the art artic sleeping bags and nylon tents??
When traditional methods work as well, and are almost free for the taking??
rc
I love the show- though i have to wonder how much is 'staged' for tv. Like all the conflict on DC- have to wonder if it's real, or in context.
It looks to me like they all use what works. Old School, new school, whatever works and whatever is within means.
A bit dated - but the polar expeditions of the last century - Amundsen made it because he studied the people and methods of the polar regions. Scott died because they used the most modern technology available and it was not up to the job at hand.
It looks to me like they all use what works. Old School, new school, whatever works and whatever is within means.
A bit dated - but the polar expeditions of the last century - Amundsen made it because he studied the people and methods of the polar regions. Scott died because they used the most modern technology available and it was not up to the job at hand.
caribou
Member
Rc has most of it right there.
Using what works is the name of the game. The more uses we get outta something, the better.
The Caribou bags are superior for our uses as we can repair them locally, can turn them out and beat the frost out of them in the cold, and get right back in, warm and dry, as well are wind proof and very durable, as well as very roomy. We often undress our inner layers in them, and redress in them, while out below Zero.
The Tepee can be set up anywhere, and no stakes to pound in to permafrost, ice or powder snow, just set it up. The canvas is multi use, as are the poles on the trail and in camp, and we can fix that , too, anywhere. We can fit our wide sleeping bed sled and a fire, and a couple grub boxes in there and be in a sweet home. We can wrap different layers apon it and keep it wind/rain/snow and critters out, and with a cap atop, snug and warm, as well we can stand up in there too. A very nice feature many tents don't have, as well as we don't have to stitch nylon in the dark and cold winds or worry about bungi cords slacking in the deep cold or brittle fiberglass tubes breaking.
Not much at all is "staged" 'cept us leaveing and arriveing, where we wait to arrive while they set up (a real bummer 100yards from the front door after a 200 mile ride) However some of the hunting scenes are blended, as differing views are show, but the differing colors of clothing show that, but we weren't 'staging' anything, its the editors who throw in an odd 2 seconds of this or that. One was my wife shooting at a Fox that was shown as a caribou hunting scene, we got a laugh ,'cause we were there, but it wasn't a detraction from what really happened, it was a nice sunset panorama, so I don't think they were misleading, just throwing up some beauty. There were others, for sure, but ya just gotta watch. Some storys they made short, like the time I tried to get a Fox or two for the 40$ the city offerd. I didn't get one that day, but by X mas, I had 29, but they didint stick around to film that.....~~LOL!!~~ they shot me setting traps , and checking them the next morning, removing them so kids wouldn't get in them outta curiosity and such.....they shot that footage the day before they left, so I was suprized they made a story outta that at all, but , indeed, its the editors who translate the story of a few days down to minutes and its not all explained. I would love to have some quips they have of me further explained, but alas, I have no editorial control Dont matter to me, its fun, and I know its 95% cool.
Using what works is the name of the game. The more uses we get outta something, the better.
The Caribou bags are superior for our uses as we can repair them locally, can turn them out and beat the frost out of them in the cold, and get right back in, warm and dry, as well are wind proof and very durable, as well as very roomy. We often undress our inner layers in them, and redress in them, while out below Zero.
The Tepee can be set up anywhere, and no stakes to pound in to permafrost, ice or powder snow, just set it up. The canvas is multi use, as are the poles on the trail and in camp, and we can fix that , too, anywhere. We can fit our wide sleeping bed sled and a fire, and a couple grub boxes in there and be in a sweet home. We can wrap different layers apon it and keep it wind/rain/snow and critters out, and with a cap atop, snug and warm, as well we can stand up in there too. A very nice feature many tents don't have, as well as we don't have to stitch nylon in the dark and cold winds or worry about bungi cords slacking in the deep cold or brittle fiberglass tubes breaking.
Not much at all is "staged" 'cept us leaveing and arriveing, where we wait to arrive while they set up (a real bummer 100yards from the front door after a 200 mile ride) However some of the hunting scenes are blended, as differing views are show, but the differing colors of clothing show that, but we weren't 'staging' anything, its the editors who throw in an odd 2 seconds of this or that. One was my wife shooting at a Fox that was shown as a caribou hunting scene, we got a laugh ,'cause we were there, but it wasn't a detraction from what really happened, it was a nice sunset panorama, so I don't think they were misleading, just throwing up some beauty. There were others, for sure, but ya just gotta watch. Some storys they made short, like the time I tried to get a Fox or two for the 40$ the city offerd. I didn't get one that day, but by X mas, I had 29, but they didint stick around to film that.....~~LOL!!~~ they shot me setting traps , and checking them the next morning, removing them so kids wouldn't get in them outta curiosity and such.....they shot that footage the day before they left, so I was suprized they made a story outta that at all, but , indeed, its the editors who translate the story of a few days down to minutes and its not all explained. I would love to have some quips they have of me further explained, but alas, I have no editorial control
Dont matter to me, its fun, and I know its 95% cool.
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JPG19
Member
Unfortunately you can't guarantee that anymore from the NG channel. I just recently watched an episode of Ultimate Factories on Ferrari. They episode was on the construction of the Ferrari 599 GTB and they refer to the car that is being assembled as such throughout the show when in fact it is a Ferrari F430. Not a big deal if you aren't a Ferrari fan; sacrilege if you are.
Shadow 7D
Member
Caribou, on your wife's tattoo's did she get them the tradition way of sewing the skin with a wode/inked thread, cause if she did, props to her, that makes even me squeamish to think of it, stitches with Novocaine were bad enough.
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