Hunting Alaska News & Tips-april

Spring is in the air in Alaska. While it's a little harder to sense in the Arctic, down here in southcentral Alaska, the days are becoming pleasant with temperatures above freezing and long hours of sunshine. Bear hunting is already underway.

April is show month, and there are outdoors shows late this week in Anchorage, and the following week in Fairbanks. The Mat-Su show has already come and gone (March 31-April 2). You can find a schedule for the Anchorage show in the online edition of Alaska Hunting News.

Plenty of interesting reading on the Alaska hunting forum this past month. You can find a compilation of "hot threads" below.

David M Johnson, Publisher
OutdoorsDirectory.com
PO Box 609, Delta Junction, AK 99737

News

Here are some of the headlines. For the complete March hunting news, including details on these stories, please see the archives for the month.

Alaska outdoors show schedules
Proxy hunting narrowed to curb abuses
Predator control programs crimp wildlife agency budget
ADFG advises on Avian Flu
ADFG/Wildlife publishes response to game proposals
Dick Burley appointed again to state game board

New on the Website

DIRECTORY: 6 March 2006: Arctic Alaska Guide Service, PO Box 82204, Fairbanks, AK 99708. Telephone: (907) 457-1240. Email: arcticak@ptialaska.net. Master Guide with over 20 years experience. Offering top quality hunts in Alaska's Interior and Arctic regions for dall sheep, grizzly, moose, caribou and wolf. Areas include two exclusive guide use concessions in the Brooks Range.

DIRECTORY: 8 March 2006: Ocean Point Alaskan Adventures PO Box 240034 Douglas, AK 99824 Tel. (907) 723-3006 Email: akpointer@hotmail.com BOAT BASED HUNTS IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA. Offering first class GUIDED hunts for TROPHY black bear, mountain goat, Sitka black tail deer and waterfowl. HUNT ALASKA WITH REAL ALASKANS.

NEW CATEGORY: 14 March 2006: Sea Kayaking Alaska offers wonderful sea kayaking opportunities from near communities to remote wilderness trips. This page lists kayak day-trips, courses, rentals, camping or lodge-based adventure tours and accommodation in Alaska.

DIRECTORY: 20 March 2006: Wild Alaskan Guides PO Box 235-Dept OA, Girdwood, AK 99587. Tel. (907) 783-2355 FAX (907) 783-0051 E-mail: michael@wildalaskanguides.com Wild Alaskan Guides offer some of the best Alaska brown and grizzly bear, 60-inch class moose and trophy caribou hunting available. We take a limited number of clients each year and personalize our hunts to fit your dreams. We believe you deserve the best. From our base camps and food, to our persistent hunting style we strive to make your hunt a top-notch Alaska experience. Our camps are only hunted every other season maintaining our quality trophies year after year.

PRODUCTS: 23 March 2006: Float Hunting Alaska DVD If you're interested in Float Hunting Alaska, this video offers the real deal: a real-time, action packed, hold-no-punches view of what hunters can expect while float hunting in Alaska, loaded with expert advice.

DIRECTORY: 24 March 2006: Pristine Ventures is the premier Alaska outdoors expert. PO Box 93909 Fairbanks AK 99708 Phone: (907) 451-4366 Toll free: (877) 716-4366 E-mail: info@pristineventures.com We offer fully guided rafting, fishing, and backpacking tours, as well as unguided hunts for Alaska big game. Our Raft Rental department is equipped with only the best rafts and gear available, all at affordable prices. We are willing to do everything possible to make your next river adventure become a complete success. Also, the owner, Larry Bartlett, is regarded as one of the most professional Hunt Planning consultants in the business. Visit our website for a complete tour of our services.

DIRECTORY: 29 March 2006: Lonesome Dove Outfitters PO Box 1389-Dept. OA, Cordova, AK 99574-1389. Tel. (888) 388-3683. Lonesome Dove Outfitters offers top quality big game hunts in some of Alaska's most spectacular country. We hunt Brown Bear, Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Dall Sheep, Moose, and Blacktail Deer, and most are combination hunts for more than one trophy. World class salmon fishing and waterfowl shooting are also available on some fall hunts. We have been featured on ESPN & ESPN2 on Tom Miranda's Advantage Adventures and Cabela's Sportsman's Quest. Our success has been 100% on Mountain Goats and 70% on Brown Bears since we started in 1996 including archers.

Hot Forum Threads
Here are some of the top threads from March from the Alaska hunting forum.

alwaysgoing wants to know about the bugs north of the Brooks Range!
AlaskaCub would like to know if there is any special tricks to care for guns in the saltwater environment on the Alaska Peninsula.
Jake_65_65 wants to get practiced in the event of a bear charge as far shooting techniques.
Michael Strahan has some inside information on Adak caribou hunting.
9point needs some pointers on how to dry hip boots on a drop hunt.
LaneW would like recommendations for equipment to take digital pictures through a spotting scope.
Mr. Grayling is planning a hunt in the Wrangells and would like to know where he can hunt for sheep.
bizymocha needs a good bannock recipe for in the field.
375ultramag is addressing the changes to moose hunting in unit 21D.
ward17 would like some feedback regarding Joe Want's bear hunting seminars.
Mr Grayling is going sheep hunting in fall; what exercise and training tips would you give him.
FALCON would like to know which Cabela's Alaskan Meindle boot he should purchase.
RANGER RICK is looking for recommendations on what GPS would be good for his son.
Jeff L is looking for thoughts about exit wounds or no exit.
niceguy0777 needs help deciding between a .338RUM and the .375H&H.
AK375HH is going hunting in PWS and would like some meal recommendations.
blackfoot is curious how brown bear hunters and guides sight in their rifles, and for what range.
niceguy0777 would like to know the difference between the .338 RUM and the .338 Lapau Mag.
Gordo is flying to Alaska in September for a moose hunt and is looking for more information on guns as checked baggage.
Ak Steve is comparing tents, specifically the Hilleberg Nallo II and the Bible I-tent.
homerdave provides a link to the proposed new outfitter / guide requirements.
Josh_AK is purchasing a gun for hunting/back-up protection, he's deciding between a .44 and .480, any suggestions?
How do you get a fire going, Michael Strahan wants to know.
David Johnson announces that Alaska's wolf population has doubled from what it was about 20 years ago.
turner1978 is going on an unguided drop hunt this fall. What should he tip the pilot?
Michael Strahan wants to know where you go for your outdoor information online.
blackfoot is curious about Nosler Accubond's performance?
Michael Strahan starts a valuable thread about the top three tips you'd offer when it comes to surviving a remote Alaska hunt.
blackfoot wants to know about calling grizzly bears.
AlaskaCub believes that there may a "Big Caliber Obsession" in Alaska.
Michael Strahan consolidates the previous threads on guide - client relationships.
twodux starts a thread on ethical hunting for guides and the expectations clients have about guided hunts.
waterrat defines subsistence hunting.
Barron starts a hot discussion on residents and non-residents and how locals in Alaska effect their hunting resources.
Jasper's wife is going to join him hunting; what's the best rifle for her?
Kusko is comparing the Ruger 77 Mark II lightweight and the Tikka T3 Lite and wants to know some opinions on what people prefer.

Search all messages on the Alaska hunting forums for specific topics.