This is field editor Spencer Brent’s follow up article on his Texas Whitetail hunt with outdoor conservation hero Jim Roche.  I posted a blurb a while back about having Spencer on board as a Mission Alaska field editor contributing for the Texas hunting experience.

Jim Roche a true role model

“It was a cold morning in the early days of January. We went and bundled ourselves up in the tripods waiting for the sun to come up and the deer to come eat. I heard hogs in the bushes below us and saw raccoons coming to eat but there were no deer. Me and my friend nino sat there in the tripods for at least 4 hours before Jim Roche came in his chevy pick up truck to pick us up for lunch. After lunch we waited till about 4 and then me and Jim dropped the others off at their blinds and then we went and poored two “big ole bags” of feed out by the feeder. We went and hid the truck in the bushes and crawled into our blind about 10 deer walked up and a couple varments came by to see if they could get some feed too. About 15 minutes before dark jim decided  hed let me shoot my first buck. He pointed out a 8 point and said do you see that 8 point? “yes” I said back. He said “I want you to take him.” I had no hesitation I picked up my rifle and mounted it on my shoulder. I looked at him through the scope. I had the cross hairs right on his left shoulder he was perfectly broad side. As Jim told me to squeeze the trigger I poped off the safety the deer purked up he looked directly at me and BAM  I pulled the trigger and the gun went off. He literally dropped in his tracks, he looked like he had layed down after I shot him.  He was beautiful.”

Thanks Spencer for the write up, what an amazing person Jim Roche is and what adventure both of you had.

-Austin Manelick

I just got back to home base in Palmer Alaska after two very exciting spring bear hunts.  The first hunt North of Talkeetna was with Vince Pokryfki out of his river boat.  We only saw one bear, however had the time of our lives on an unforgettable adventure.  During our trip, Vince and I would be hunting with our longbows.  After several days of hunting with no luck, we spotted a bear feeding up a river bank.  I would attempt the shot with the back up rifle with iron sights and no scope, a hail Mary at best.  The shot was a complete miss, and the bear was not harmed during the production.   More details to come later, once I finish the entire bear hunting season in approximately one week.

After the hunt with Vince, I would drive down to Valdez Alaska with Bridger VaNess(the videographer) to hunt beach combing bruins.  After two days of hard hunting, I would tag out with a beautiful Valdez black bear.   Using a scoped rifle, I was prepared for this encounter.  The DIY, spot and stalk, pack out hunt in this location would prove difficult.  However with determination, I was able to weather the cold rain and deep snow to harvest my quarry.

Not only did I have an awesome opportunity to take my bear, but I was also afforded the opportunity to share the great sport of hunting with a deserving individual.  Bridger my videographer was so thrilled about hunting that I encouraged him to purchase his hunting license and tags prior to leaving on our Valdez trip.  This encouragement could not have been more beneficial as I helped Bridger with his first big game harvest.  Cool.  After I had tagged out, Bridger and I met with Jason Semler who would be captain of his vessel, taking us to his secret bear hunting location outside of Valdez.  It wasn’t long before Jason spotted a bear and kicked Bridger and I off on the beach.  Bridgers very first big game stalk was a success and I could not have been more thrilled to share my passion with someone new to the hunting realm.  More details to come.

I am headed out on my next adventure to the Kenai Peninsula, in attempt to fill my two last remaining black bear tags.  When I get back from my last leg of this adventure I will do justice to telling the stories of my 2012 bear hunting season.  Should be a blast!

I am currently traveling across the vast state of Alaska, hunting down and studying aggressive and dangerous bears.  Throughout my first few days in here in Alaska I have come to a startaling discovery.   It seems as if the black bears near South Central Alaska have little fear of humans.  Check this picture out of me standing and talking to a bear.

 I had to be a bear whisperer in order to talk these few bears out of eating me.  The bears had no fear of me, however the bears had plenty of food and farage in the area so I was not too worried.   The bears vast food supply leave me in little danger, as the bears are not hungry.   However, if these bears were to be hungry and had little food to eat, then I would be dead meat.

What do you think of these pictures?  Do you think many bears have lost there fear of humans after centuries of co-existing with us?

This year I was granted the opportunity to help coach a high school rugby team, one of the coolest experiences of my life.  PAC rugby team consisting of three high schools, Platte Canyon High School, Conifer High School, and Evergreen High School would join forces to make one collective club rugby team.

Noticing an article in a local publishing paper, the High Timber Times, I saw the PAC rugby team would be attempting to win the state championship tournament a title that has alluded them the past three years.  The PAC rugby team has made it to the state championship game the past three years in a row, however the team had not won the final most important game.

This year would be different, this team would train like champions and prove themselves the best team in Colorado.    The team played and were declared champions Wednesday night at Infinity Park, Glendale Colorado.  The team finally proved themselves worthy of the title State Champs throughout this season, earning the right to the title by the last game of the season under the lights.

I must say that I have never been more proud of someone else’s accomplishments.  I admire each and every person on this team and have thanked them for letting me be apart of their magical season.   I will be coming back next year to help assist coach this team to yet another state championship game.  Training started basically immediately after the final game had ended.    The underclassmen sent the graduating seniors off, to say the least, the best way they possibly could as the most dominant high school rugby team in the state of Colorado.  Thanks again to Coach Hugh Miller and Coach Marty for letting me be apart of these young mens development.  I learned much more than I coached and can’t wait for next years playoffs.

GO PAC RUGBY! GO! TRI TIME!!!!!!

-Coach Manelick

I came across this interesting information on bears while researching bear attacks in Alaska.  When face to face with an aggressive bear, standing your ground can save your life.  This bear fact sheet from the Tongass National Forest noted most bear encounters are not dangerous.  However if you find yourself in bear country be prepared to stand your ground, make your self appear as large and loud as possible.

Devon Rees, of Eagle River Alaska, apparently didn’t get the “play dead when a bear attacks you” memo.  Devon took it upon himself to go “fist to claw” with this bear which ultimatly saved his life.  He went UFC on this bear and came to a draw.  Check this bear attack article out.

Photo Courtesy Purl Gurl

I’m going bear hunting myself this spring, in search of the very bears that have been known to attack humans.  These attacks will be fresh on my mind in the next few months.   Do these bears deserve a the bad reputation?

Austin