2011 Spring Bear Q&A Thread

[keep]

We're heading to Prince of Wells Alaska on a spot and stalk DOI hunt this May. I'm excited as sitting on bait is fun; however, I think calling and stalking will be more challenging. Good luck to those that chase the bruins this year.

I think stalking would be a ball and have been up on a few moose hunting but never actively hunting them while stalking.
I know my guide/ buddy isn't impressed with the thought of calling them. He said that if you get an aggressive bear you could have issues since they are coming in knowing "something is wrong and something is being killed", Eric thinks they are coming in knowing they'll fight for their food.

[Cam-Mac]

Great info- thanks for posting---

[muley4x4]

Jim I know this is a bear thread but are you doing a caribou hunt this year?? When are you going to do a blacktail hunt in Alaska?

Jarred

[keep]

No caribou this year for me. My hope would be for this year to work like this.
Bear in the spring then run up to our place in CO for elk then(this is where it would all have to fall in place) go hunt Coues Deer next Jan in AZ.(more of a laid back year unless the coues deer happens)
2012 is headed this way for now. Bear in the spring and mt goat in BC in Aug.
Then maybe try to get in the blacktail hunt in AK the first week of Dec. I'll wrap up the blacktail details once I settle on the outfitter and piece together the group but first and foremost I have to pay the mt goat hunt off before I start paying on this.
I would assume my next caribou trip will be central barren ground or barren ground. I want to wait to see the woodland number come back up before I go after them and Mt caribou may be coupled with a moose or big bear.

EVERYTHING will go out the window if I draw a sheep tag though, that trumps it all.

[thebomb6_99]

Two Texasbowhunters are coming up here to hunt Spring Bear in AK. Wish Us luck!!!

[Humper]

Bear Judging Tips-
T.
9) Does he have a noticeable crease in his head? As Ralph once said"his head needs to resemble J-Lo's butt".

so i should just take this pic with me to the stand???

[Lenny]

What is the best/most cost effective way to ship hides and meat back? I have a 155 qt Yeti. Should I take it and ship everything back myself or just leave it all up to the guide?

[Texastaxi]

so i should just take this pic with me to the stand???

[ATTACH]219555[/ATTACH]

That stand would never be the same!

[Humper]

TTT for keep

[keep]

What is the best/most cost effective way to ship hides and meat back? I have a 155 qt Yeti. Should I take it and ship everything back myself or just leave it all up to the guide?

I usually bring mine back on the plane. Especially if you can freeze it first. If not stop at Walmart and get some fry ice, just a couple pounds and wrap that in newspaper and put that in with the bear. Don't mix dry and reg ice though. I also stop at Candian Tire on the way up and get the xl styrofoam cooler. It's super think and sturdy and use that. It will only cost you and extra bag fee.

[keep]

Next Installment of Tips- Baggage

Here are some hints for airline travel with baggage and what I have worked into after flying to Canada a bunch.

Baggage- We will be charged for baggage but that is determined by each airline. You're allowed 4 items, 2 checked, 1 carry on and a personal item. I will address each of these. You are allotted 50# per checked bag, period. They might give you 2# but never seen them give away 3# but rather charge you $30 for being over weight. Use a fishing scale to weigh you bags if you have one that works well. Just wrap a shoe lace around the handle and hook the shoe lace on the fish hook. Many times I use the bathroom scale too.
You will have to check 2 bags, one for for the bow and one for gear/ clothes. The bow case needs to be packed and attention needs to be paid to string protection, DO NOT TRAVEL WITH YOUR BROADHEADS ON YOUR ARROW. Also put extra stuff in there like clothes, towel and fishing stuff but protect your bow. I have a double bow case so I can pack extra stuff in there because the case never hits the weight limit without putting extra stuff in it. Instead of the double bow foam provided I use clothing to protect the bow and that helps distribute the weight between the 2 checked bags. My bow case is a SKB 4114A, I bought this model for the sole purpose of packing extra stuff in it.

The 2nd checked bag- If you are running tight on weight change this bag from a suitcase to a duffel bag. The bags with hard bottoms and wheels add weight, if you are tight on weight go with the old school carry duffel. I have a Badlands Terra Glide and that weighs 12# and if I get close I switch to my huge duffel that only weighs 3# tops.
Remember, you'll probably be bringing souvenirs back so allow for the extra weight. I guesstimate 5#.

Carry-on bag- I put all my heavy or expensive stuff there. Like binos if I were to bring them, laptop video cam, regular camera, ect.
This bag DOES NOT count towards the weight limit and I have had at times in excess of 35# before. I use a Badlands Superday pack or my Badlands 2200 pack so those sizes will work. The 2200 is about the max the airlines will let you carry on without making you check it so go to the Badlands site and see the sizes for reference if you need to. It's safer to go with the Superday size.
Keep these back packs on your back when walking into the plane. While they will make the size limit, they look huge and spread out when not on so it will look to the airline that it's too big and they'll make you check it. The problem with checking it is what you have in it, remember, laptop, binos, cameras,ect. That stuff doesn't need to get check and broken.
I also strap my coat or jacket to this pack and if an issue will put the coat on to walk on the plane if size is a problem.

Personal items- This refers to laptop bags, purses for ladies(I guess some of you guys too) camera bags or a shopping bag from the airport. This bag is not considered your carry on.

I carry zip ties to zip tie the zippers so I can tell if any of my baggage has been tampered with. I put them on before they go on the plane and on the bow case I put it on after TSA has checked it. I bring zip ties that are different colors so the case can't be opened and zip ties replaced easily. If a case has been opened, I bring it to the counter and have them watch me open it so if something is gone the airport personal is there to see it.

[Humper]

Jim...you have risen to a whole new level of OCD

[rladner]

I guess it depends on how much stuff you NEED to bring. Last year (and will again this year) I decided to bring just one set of versatile camo. Just took the bare essentials. Last year I purchased an ice chest there. This year I will use my ice chest as my luggage and pack everything in there. As Keep referred to above, weight can be an issue so I take just the minimum and do as he said, pack everything heavy in my backpack (carry on). Also, I use the little concentrated packets of Dead Down wind to mix up more field spray when I get there. I take an extra duffel bag (empty) and pack it with my stuff in the ice chest. Then, if I get a bear I will use the ice chest to pack it home and put all my stuff in the duffle bag. Yes, I have to pay for an extra bag, but at least it is only on one direction of the flight, not both. Again, you can buy something there and if you do as Keep previously suggested and get a cheap styrofoam cooler shouldn't be too much of a financial impact. Really comes down to how much stuff you feel you need to bring. Which really comes down to where you are going and the accomadations you have. Since I take my wife I go to a place where the accomadations are nice and they actually have a washer and dryer, so I take a lot less since I can wash my clothes every two days if I need to. I imagine if you were roughing it a little in tents, etc... that you might need to take more stuff.

[Lenny]

Thanks guys! Awesome info

[TXZiggy]

Do you have to declare a bow to the airlines like you would a firearm?