Alaska Video: Alaska Is All About the Adventure

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This is what Mission Alaska is all about…. THE ADVENTURE! Created by Premier Frontier Productions this video footage was compiled from adventures across the entire state. For more information check out http://www.premierfrontierproductions.com. Ever dreamed of exploring this beautiful place? This video gives a great sense of the raw beauty and rugged terrain this state is known for.

Thanks for the great music Noble Firs, “Night Driving” rocks the forests in this video. (From the Album Rockoon)
Special gear thanks to Pretty Fly for a White Guy, Barney’s Sports Chalet, Alpacka Raft, and Campbell Cameras.
Mission Alaska

ADF&G Change Regulations to Increase Grizzly Hunting Opportunities

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Good news for Alaskan hunters.

You can read the full article here:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr05062014

Spring DIY Grizzly Hunt 2014

alaska, bears, big game hunting
Glassing for grizzlies in spring 2013

Glassing for grizzlies in spring 2013

From a capsized boat in a glacier lake to pack rafting in freezing rivers all the way to having a grizzly bear as your wake up call, my previous grizzly hunts have been anything, but normal (if there is such a thing in Alaska). This time around I don’t expect anything less. I am heading down to the Kenai Peninsula this year where the bears are out in full force. The Alaska Department of Fish and game recently changed the hunting regulations in the Kenai Peninsula to increase hunting opportunities for Grizzly enthusiasts. I will be going to a spot that Mission Alaska founder, Austin Manelick, and myself scouted out throughout the years. We saw a plethora of black bears and a decent amount of grizzly bears on the hillsides as well as in the valley where we set up camp. In fact, this is the same spot we saw the “Disappearing Bear”. A few years ago while on a Mission Alaska assignment, I was filming Austin during a DIY hunt. After hours of arduous labor getting to camp we were instantly rewarded when we spotted a gorgeous black bear at 200 yards feeding right towards us along the outskirts of the wood line. We scrambled to a good position and Austin grabbed his .350 Remington Magnum while I grabbed all the camera gear. 100 yards and closing, Austin was steadying his rifle when the bear fed behind a tree. We could see on both sides of the tree and after waiting for several minutes we didn’t see the bear come out. We went to go investigate and found no sign of the bear. After being outsmarted by this bear we went on to have a very successful hunt harvesting two bears in two weeks and I am hoping to have the same success this year.

Stay tuned to find out how this hunt turns out and follow and subscribe to Mission Alaska!

-Bridger V.

ATTENTION: Alaska DIY hunters, BEARS ARE OUT!  Good luck and safe hunting.  Don’t forget to update your harvest cards at your local store or ADFG office.

Bridger Van Ness of Mission Alaska Graduates Ranger School

DIY hunting, extreme hunting, hunting, Hunting Culture, public land, Rifles, Survival, The next generation, Uncategorized, Videographer
Becoming a Airborne Ranger in the United States Army is a very difficult task, Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course geared to train some of the most elite soldiers America has to offer. Having two brothers who have completed the program (Auggie M. and Dan S.), they have told me first hand just how difficult this accomplishment was. Another one of my hunting brothers named Bridger Van Ness fell off the grid about eight months ago and resurfaced a new man. Bridger Van Ness and I go way back, back to the days of high school and Varsity soccer at Colony High School. Bridger started as a freshman and was a talented athlete to say the least. We have been longtime friends and partners working on the Mission Alaska Project since 2011.  I wanted to congratulate him on his Ranger School success and thank him and all of our troops for supporting and protecting our freedoms as United States citizens. A certifiable “bad boy” in the United States Army, Bridger completed his Ranger school recently and was featured in a story found at The Bayonet and Saber. Bridger has made headlines with this accomplishment as he has pioneered a new pilot program for entry into the prestigious Ranger School. Check out the story below to find out the scoop on Bridger and how his accomplishment has laid the foundation for an improved Ranger Program. Congratulations Bridger, I am very proud to know you and honored to call you friend, brother, and most importantly my hunting buddy. Can’t wait till our next Alaskan adventure!

 

Bridgers harvest 2013 MOOSE

Bridger On Assingment for Team Mission Alaska

Pilot program produces 1st Ranger grad

When Spc. Bridger Van Ness asked his mother to pin his Ranger tab during his graduation ceremony Friday, it signified the beginning of a new career and possibilities for future Infantry Soldiers to enter Ranger School through a new training initiative.

Van Ness, of Wasilla, Alaska, was the first Soldier to go from one station unit training to Ranger School, a feat he said was a challenging and rewarding experience.

“It feels surreal,” he said. “I wanted to do this because of the training and to do missions that every Soldier wants to accomplish.”

“Our brigade combat teams are only manned at 20 percent of all the Ranger requirements and the greatest shortage on Ranger requirements is at the sergeant level and below,” he said. “That has been an issue since the war started in 2001 and something we’ve been trying to address to mitigate the requirement and the need.”

The program will allow Van Ness and future Soldiers to select the duty stations of their choice throughout the Army wherever there is a brigade combat team, Butler said.

“He set a very high bar, so hopefully he will be able to motivate some of his peers when he shows up and tells them the only formal training he had was one station unit training,” he said. It’s challenging, but it is something that anyone can do if they put their mind to it.”

Van Ness, 23, graduated from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., in May 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He joined the Army on Oct. 1 and completed one station unit training in January. During his training, Van Ness was approached to be a test subject for the pilot program.

“As he went through OSUT, his chain of command identified stellar performers’ abilities to accomplish the task based on physical fitness and their intellectual capability and maturity,” Butler said. “He was a star performer and exceeded all of the course standards.”

Van Ness said he was sent to pre-Ranger School after completing basic training, which helped him to make it through the Ranger School on the first try.

“I thought that I would possibly have to do another phase over but I made it straight through with the help of great peers and training,” he said. “I hope it’s a big step for the Army in getting this program approved.”

Butler said the 198th Infantry Brigade will continue to identify individuals who exceed course standards and show maturity and the physical and intellectual capacities to complete Ranger School. Using Van Ness’ experience will also help to identify potential challenges Soldiers may face.

“Not everyone is going to be able to come right off the street, join the Army, finish OSUT and go right into the Ranger course, so you have to select the right individuals to succeed,” Butler said. “If we can identify five guys per company that’s great and even better if we have more. We want to get Rangers out to the brigade combat teams so they can adhere to standards and set a great example for their peers. We want to set as many people up for success as possible.”

Preparing for his next duty station in Italy, Van Ness said he hopes to advance his education and use his knowledge from Ranger School to train future Soldiers and help improve the program.

“If a young Soldier has the right mindset, he could definitely accomplish this,” Van Ness said. “I think the Army has the potential to make this program a big hit … it could be a huge success.”