Maybe heading to Alaska

[ojibweindian]

I may be offered a job in Fairbanks, Alaska and was wondering if my Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm Remington Magnum, topped with a 3x9 Bushnell Elite 3200, will be up to the task of hunting in the environs around the area.

Also, I've worked out an accurate load with a 150 grain Core-Lokt; will that work for game up to the size black bear? I'd like to go for moose, too, but I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to hunt them.

 

[Biff]

7 Mag will work just fine. The BIG Brown bears are coastal residents. In the interior they are just large You will not be able to hunt until you have been here a year, unless you want to spend the big bucks on a non-resident permit, as well as paying for a guide for big game. After a year, you will qualify for a resident permit. (About $45 for a year of hunting and fishing) Bear, Goat, Sheep, Moose, Caribou are the major big game. There are some lottery drawings for some areas, but in general, game tags are free, except for Brownies, which is something like $10. Be aware that because of the sheer size of the state, the Alaska Hunting and Fishing Regs can be some of the most complicated in the nation.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

You might want to consider a Barret....

Well seing as how your probably going to be hunting dangerous game you might want a semi-auto.

 

[byf43]

I hate to break the news to you, ojibweindian, but, here goes.

That 7 mm mag is going to be too light for use in Alaska.

Here's what you do. . . .

Ship that (now useless) 7mm mag to me, along with all ammunition for safe keeping.

Now, go out and get yourself a NEW Weatherby in either .338 Win Mag, or in .375 H&H Mag.
NOW, you'll be prepared for whatever comes down the pike!

Shoot me a PM and I'll let you know the exact address to send that 'useless' rifle.
















(Just kidding. Your "7 mil mag" should be heap big medicine for just about anyting that you want to hunt. You might want to step up the bullet weight a little for BIG bear. . . .)

 

[ojibweindian]

Biff

Would I be able to hunt black bear without having to go through a guide? Don't want to hunt the coastal or inland brown bears. Also, I'd like to try deer, too, if the cost isn't prohibitive.

byf43

No way am I getting rid of this rifle; that load I worked up is printing 3/8" groups at 100 yards; it gives me the warm fuzzies all over

 

[Biff]

Just looked at the regs...Guide is only required for brown bear, sheep & goats.
The regulation book is posted here:

http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=regulations.hunting

Black bear tag is about $225, moose is $400 for a non-resident.

 

[eidsvolling]

EDIT: As just noted, some of the info posted previously about non-resident hunting licenses and permits is wrong. A nonresident U.S. citizen is not required to use a guide for any species except brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep, and mountain goats. There's some noise about a proposal to require guides for nonresident moose hunters, but it hasn't gotten far yet and is unlikely to succeed, IMO.

Here's some bad news: A nonresident needs to live in AK for twelve months, plus meet some other requirements, to become a resident. (And yes, Virginia, they do cross-check hunting and fishing licenses against the driver's license database, to see when the driver's license was first issued.)

Alaska's hunting regulations are incredibly complex. Rules vary greatly by game management unit and residency status. You can find the '06-07 general regs at http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/regulations/pdfs/general.pdf. You need to be aware of emergency orders as well, including midseason closures. If I were still living in AK, I'd have the Fish & Game web site http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov at the top of my list of favorites and I'd check it frequently for updates, right up through the season I'm interested in. The site also has some of the best hunting and fishing info I've seen on any state agency's site.

 

[Hutch]

Man, that's one HELL of a long way from Union Grove, AL. Let us know how this works out. We'll miss you...

 

[ojibweindian]

Hutch, et al.

Looks like I might NOT be going to Alaska after all. A company here in Huntsville is putting an offer package together for me. Looks like I'll be staying put a while longer.

Gonna keep the rifle, though .

 

[Manedwolf]

Marlin makes a ported lever-action carbine in 45-70 Government now.

Seems to me like that'd make a good "always with you" to face just about, well...anything.

 

[grizz]

Before you move: Look up the usual weather in Fairbanks. Seriously. Winters are long and -60 is not uncommon.

Your 7mm mag will do just fine, but it rains a lot in AK. I'd highly consider a stainless rifle.