The trip started as we landed in Fairbanks, AK and were met by a batch of kind folks eager to verify we weren't bring any gifts of the virus to Alaska. We were processed within a couple minutes and off to the local hotel to settle and get our heads screwed-on straight.
This U-haul van worked perfectly for our adventure.
A visit to the local Sportsman Warehouse and Fish & Game office to stock up on required supplies, licences, and tags.
Prior to heading out, we visited Nick Muche for some "local advice". This was supposed to be a short visit to say hi. Well, it didn't quite work out that way. Nick and his wonderful wife rolled-out the red carpet to us and we were graciously presented with many snacks ranging from smoked salmon (that was superb), to canned pike, and endless cans of beer (glad I wasn't driving). His awesome wife cooked a fantastic meal using Dall sheep meat.
Next morning, on the road for a 3 1/2 hr drive to Tok, AK. Defiantly some nice views along the way.
Awesomeness so far! Keep it coming guys!
Love it when a couple of Bowsiters get going on a story!
A very interesting area to explore, rich in history and gold.
Jimmy flew in first as he had the tent. Mission was to find a good area to establish camp. He found the best area for sure. Including one semi-level sleeping area. Note: He found one not two semi-level areas for sleeping bags. Thanks buddy! lol
How long will it take?
He also told me, "Don't shoot the first bull!"
It seems that most if not all species of caribou like to maintain a 80 yard buffer between us and them.
The dark green areas are trees. Looks nice to stalk a caribou in right? Well, let me tell you, looks are defiantly deceiving! I believe these are called Upland Alder Willow shrubs. That area totally sucked! My leg injuries are still healing.
We saw probably 150+ caribou each day. Mostly cows and calves along with groups of bulls numbering 3-6.
Later in the hunt, we started seeing mature bulls hanging with herds of caribou.
Saw three very good ones that would have been too easy to kill with a rifle.
Lots of blue berries around too. But very hard to find those special, extra large ones that grew from bear poop! (inside joke)
He soon saw me and moved away smartly.
No treatment needed.
The idea it to anticipate the movement, get ahead of the animals, remain downwind, out of sight, and get within bow range. Much easier said than done.
I sat on the high ground several hundred yards away, tucked in a pocket of tundra and rocks while watching the show develop.
A bachelor group of bulls were moving from the low alder valley toward an area that we have seen caribou before during the afternoons.
Jimmy was in position as the bulls approached. Suddenly, one of them decided to take-a-break-in-place and bedded down. Well, most of the rest followed except 2-3 that kept moving around while staying close to the boss bull.
See yellow underlined area to the left. Those are the bedded bulls. Jimmy is standing behind a tree and underlined in red. The distance looked close to me, however I had know idea how far of a shot that would be.
I think there was 7 or 8 bulls total. One was good framed and obviously mature bull, he was the last to crest the ridge line into the saddle. The second best bull was the lead bull. He was heading on a path that bring them past me at either 30 yards or so or about 60-65 yards. As he gotten closer the last and dominant bull decided to bed down. At that point all the rest or the bulls stopped and walked back to him. After few minutes they must have decided he was going to stay awhile because they stopped milling around and bedded with him.
He stayed bedded at 68 yards for awhile ( Russell says two hours), while i was standing behind a trio of small pines I was able to get a good look at this bull. He had big frame, good tops buy was a bit weak in the fronts. Everytime I would question myself I would go back to looking at his body size and attitude compare to the other bulls and it made up my mind that I would try to take him if I got a clean shot.
Some of the other bulls get up and walked around a bit then would bed down, but none would leave while the old bull was still In his beded. At some point I could see him getting restless and he stood up and shook himself off. At that point the number 2 bull took the lead again and started off with all the rest Of them in tow. I ranged the gap that they walked though at 61 yards and set my sight pin.
They went through in single file and as the big bull came through the gap Last I drew my bow. A couple more of steps and I had what I thought was broadside shot. I pulled through the shot and sight picture looked great, seemed that I hit right behind my pin. The arrow hit with what sounded like a loud crack and he showed an obviously broken leg and he almost went down on the spot. He went about 25 yards and went down quick. Turns out the crack was from breaking the off side humerus as he must have been quarting away every so slightly. I was thankful to have made a good shot.
Anyway here he is ....and we had some work ahead of us to get him broken down and packed back to camp. Truth is we made quick work of it, and two trips latter had him all out.....big thanks to Russell for the help.
Now go get another one!
I learned one thing today, don't put three bags of meat in your pack! I was sooo glad to arrive back to camp with that load. A couple hours of resting and dinner, back for the final load before dark.
First night, I slid off my cot feet first all night long. Fixed that for the second night's try. Second night, kept sliding off side ways. More testing. Third night. Air mattress. Found many rocks that I missed. Forth night. Removed more rocks. Elevated the cot more using rocks. Middle of night, cot fell off rocks. Fifth night. Removed cot, dug all the rocks up. Made a thick bed of tundra moss. Ready to test this one out. Zack arrived to pick us up. He was impressed with the setup, but I never got a chance to test it. I'm sure I would have rolled right off. I have problems sleeping.
Here's the favorite spot to glass for potential targets.
Watching them from 400-500 yards away and downwind, they appeared to be on course to follow a particular corridor. I quickly gathered my gear and frankly told Jimmy, "I'm going down there to kill that bull."
Much easier said than done as I would soon learn.
The yellow line represents the caribou's path.
The red circle is where I intercepted them.
The red X is the first shot.
Fine red path is estimated course my caribou took.
As I arrived in the area of the small trees, one of the smaller bulls spotted me stalking in. The others were busy feeding along. A few seconds of frozen time, the little one went back to feeding.
I moved it closer, ranged the largest bull, 50 yards. I drew, he stopped in an opening between some trees and looked my way. Arrow on it's way. I think I hit him low. Think? They jogged to my left and I moved into position for another shot. (Lots of cover for me to move. Drainage area)
Knock another arrow. He stops, ranged at 70 yds. I am good at 70, full draw, settle. Squeeze release. Clueless where that arrow went, somewhere swallowed up via the tundra.
Things happen so fast, in milliseconds it seems.
I just shot my second arrow from a four arrow quiver. I'm starting to understand why Chuck Adams carries so many arrows.
Trying to relive what just happened, I look for my two arrows. Looking for blood. Heck, there is so much red foliage, it's nearly impossible to find blood if it's actually there.
A few minutes go by, I look up the hill to Jimmy through my binos, he's waving his right arm. Down? What, caribou coming my way? Get down? OK, he might be signalling my caribou is down.
I can tell you now, my shooting confidence is gone! How the heck can I miss such a big animal at 50 yards?
As I arrive, Jimmy said he watched the whole thing and my bull is hurt badly, bedding many times. He said the shot looked back because the bull hunched up on the arrow's impact. Crap, I thought it low, just under the lungs.
We sit and watch the bull bed along some cover, getting up, taking a few steps and bedding back down.
I want to give him several hours. Jimmy says I need to put another arrow in him before other caribou come by and he gets up to join him. I follow Jimmy's guidance because he's more experienced in caribou hunting than I.
We move in closer, maybe 70 yds, he stands up. I range him at 66 yds, Jimmy says 75 yds.
Bull walks off and never stops until he gets into the thick alders and disappears.
I find very little blood in the bed, a low hit on the belly.
We go down and try and find him to push him out.
Walking around trying to follow trails, all of a sudden yells, "there he is!"
The bull runs by me in the thick stuff less than 10 feet away. I knock my third arrow and somehow get into a semi clear area and the bull stops and looks back toward Jimmy. I range him at 36, draw and shoot. Watch my arrow hit high angling upward, putting a very large gash in his upper side.
Bull runs off and soon disappears within a couple steps. Now where is he?!!
I'm down to one arrow and a knife. I know how to use the knife, but questioning my abilities to shoot the arrow.
Suddenly, I see my bull not 15 yards away, bedded facing away. I have a clear shot of his neck. I knock my last arrow, range, and draw. Muscle memory kicks in. I take my top pin center of mass and shoot. Arrow hits high and bull runs off. What the heck!!!
Then I remember, a couple weeks prior to this hunt, I changed my top pin from 20 to 25 yds. I hit high at 15 yards. Damn-it! No arrows remain in quiver.
Searching the crime scene, I find lots of cut hair and even find my arrow, with a bent blade.
Place the shot arrow in my quiver, I start climbing out of the thick stuff, totally discussed with my abilities as a bowhunter.
Trying to find the wounded bull, I hear something crashing around in the thick stuff. Knocking an arrow, waiting for something to exit the dense stuff. Is it Jimmy, my bull, a bear? Clueless. I stand guard ready to shoot again.
You see, alders grow vertically, horizontally, and diagonally creating an nearly impenetrable dense thicket.
I search and find no arrow.
I back out, marking a tall branch with survey ribbon and climb back up the him to find Jimmy.
As I'm climbing, I'm thinking, leave the bull till morning, then go back in. Bears, thick stuff, dead caribou...think this combination isn't good.
I give the bull a little more while and sneak back to the ribbon and listen. Nothing heard.
I stalk in there quietly, looking for the bull. I see him, but no way to shoot. Lowering the bow to the ground, I draw my knife and approach from behind. It's going to be him or me. Someone is going to die soon!
Fortunately for me, the bull was dead!
Before Jimmy arrived, I offered several word asking the bull for forgiveness in being such a bad hunter and he deserved better. I was serious, I was very sorry for putting this animal through the ordeal the past few hours.
Then I thought, at least a bear or pack of wolves didn't get him later this winter.
We carried three game bags back that evening.
Next morning we glassed the area, all clear regarding the meat and rack.
Never saw a bear nor wolf. However, we did see a silver fox in the area and a lot of caribou!
Congratulations!
When I arrived back home, shot a few from 50 yards. All was good.
The problem I had was rushing the shot.
No fish were caught, but wished I had a pan to try panning for gold.
We even met a local gold miner panning for gold. Old One-Boot was a kind person, but a bit strange to chat with. You see, he was wearing one rubber boot and one sneaker, but had some gold flakes in the pan tho. Sure wish we would have taken a group picture.
Here's the public use cabin. Even had a log-book for tenants to jot down a few notes about their stay.
Thank you all for the comments and kind words.
Regarding bear protection: I believe it all depends on the location you're hunting. We could see for miles, so could the bears. Beside, Jimmy is a world class snorer. Seriously, it was a challenge even with ear plugs. :) But what are friends for!
Next time, think I'll have my own tent.
Russell, just wondering which model of 6 arrow quiver you ordered? ;-)
This was supposed to be my drive to Alaska retirement adventure while spending the summer fishing and then culminating with this Caribou hunt.
I never personally met Jimmy before and only knew from Bowsite. In hindsight, I wouldn't change a thing about this adventure.
Maybe separate tents? ;-)
Good point, actually I'm giving some thought to what shelter I would buy if the situation presented itself that I needed one.
To answer the cost the question or the cost break down. I would be hesitant to even quote what current transport costs where because I think there have changes substantially since we set this up. Suffice to say that getting into some beautiful country doesn't come without transportation costs. Other the major costs are, tags and license, rental vehicle, hotels before and after, airlines tickets and extra baggage and...a host of incidental costs that maybe different for everyone and each trip. It certainly helps to have flexible budget for things like this.
