alaska hunting expedition

Mountain Goat Kills Hiker

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I found this article while researching Alaska Mountain Goat hunting.  In my findings, I have learned never to mess around with a Mountain Goat.  A mountain goat almost took my life in 2011 while I was hunting South Central Alaska.  I almost completely severed a finger from rock shale while stalking the goats, however managed to connect with a beautiful goat.  Check out my youtube video and compare the dangers of my  Mountain Goat hunting video veersus this article.

Austin with tenderized mountain goat and injured finger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4CObfmhtI

I was lucky enough to have my Thompson Center Muzzleloader with me in order to take care of my goat, the hiker in this article wasn’t as lucky.

Outdoor Life Writers

Robert Boardman, 63, was hiking with his wife and friend in Olympic National Park on Monday when he was attacked and killed by a mountain goat. The trio was hiking up a popular switchback trail and decided to stop for lunch when the goat approached them and started acting aggressively.

Boardman tried to scare the goat off, but instead of running away, it charged him goring him badly in the leg. More hikers came to try to help Boardman, but the goat stood over the man’s body and wouldn’t let any other hikers come to his aid.

An hour after the attack, rescuers finally arrived at the scene but Boardman died from his injuries. Park officials eventually shot and killed the goat.

Apparently, that specific goat had show aggressive tendencies in the past. “It has shown aggressive behavior, however, nothing led us to believe it was appropriate to take the next level of removal,” park spokeswoman Barb Maynes told the Associated press. “This is highly unusual. There’s no record of anything similar in this park. It’s a tragedy. We are taking it extremely seriously and doing our best to learn as much as we can.”

The goat is being examined by scientists to see if it had any diseases that could have caused it to act so aggressively.

 
Find more information on this article at:

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2010/10/mountain-goat-kills-hiker

Mission Alaska: Spring Bear 2012 Second Leg

alaska, alaska hunting expedition, bears, big game hunting, Uncategorized

-Journey to Valdez

As any hunter does, after missing a shot on their quarry, I felt a sense of desperation come over me and the instinctual crave for another shot opportunity.  This feeling would cloud my agenda over the next four days of this spring Alaska bear hunt.  After missing a large black bear while hunting with Vince Pokryfki, I felt the need to redeem myself.  The feeling of redemption would be the clarity needed to help me succeed on the next leg of my two week bear hunting journey .  Only stopping at the home base of operations in Palmer Alaska to do a confidence shot (sight in) with my 350 Remington Magnum.  An eight hour drive to Valdez, gave me plenty of time to meditate and concentrate on the days past events.

Fireside contemplation

Thinking deeply on developing a new game plan on how to harvest a black bear, I had one tactic in mind.  Talking with the locals proved to be the most crucial piece of advice for the entire hunt.  During the drive I called and contacted several locals and asked them if they had seen any bears in the Valdez area.  The most popular reply I received was “the bears are everywhere down here.”  The odds seemed to be in my favor and the phone conversations sparked my imagination; my thoughts became crawling with bears.

The drive to Valdez is full of breath taking views of mountains so big and vertical, they seemed to reach out and punch you in the face.  An interesting place to hunt black bears for sure, the area looked to hold more mountain goats than black bears.   Working off of previous knowledge and tips from the locals, I knew of two hunting locations near town that held big bears.  These two areas provided great hunting, at a very steep price.  The black bears littered the mountains, however getting up in a shooting position would not be a simple task.

Typical Alaskan view

After deciding via coin toss which of the two locations would be first, the hunt began from the parking lot.  After only five minutes of glassing, we had already spotted four bears – one sow with two cubs and one promising boar.  I proceeded to throw on my snow shoes and Barneys Pinnacle Pack frame and trekked a mile and a half to the base of the mountain.  I kept my eye on the bear as I hiked up the 6000 foot nearly vertical mountain.  Everything looked a lot different once I was on the steep mountain face hiking toward the last location of the boar.   Re-locating the animal as you get closer to them is a crucial technique in hunting big game animals in Alaska.  Finding the game is a small fraction of the battle, judging their size, closing the final distance for the shot, packing the animal out, and filling out your tag correctly are all parts of the journey.

As I proceeded to close the distance on the boar, I lost sight of him around 600 yards as he fed through an overgrown jungle of alder bushes.   With a good vantage point on a protruding mountain shelf, I hunkered down on an alder stand waiting for the animal to show himself.  I knew, if I gave him enough time, the bear would unknowingly walk right by me.  He was completely unaware of my existence on the mountainside as I laid like a frozen predator in silence.  Wearing “whites” (white jacket camouflage) to disguise myself on the snow shelf, the bear revealed himself around 300 hundreds yards.   The only way to explain my vantage point was like Mark Whalberg in the movie Shooter.  Yeah, the last scene in the movie up in the mountains (you know what I’m talking about), when Marky Mark Whalberg looks likes a chunk of snow.  The bear walked directly towards my position. I waited like a patient spider on my web of snow. I had just enough time to judge the size and the sex of the bear.

Glassing in “Whites”

From two miles away I predicted the bear to be a large boar black bear approximately 5-6 ft squared.  I noticed the bear was not behaving like a large boar at all, a large boar usually takes his time during travel.  This bear was moving quickly, and before long this large bear from far away, was actually a very small bear when up close.  Judging the size of bears is very difficult, knowing the behavior of the animals helps.  Small bears generally move much faster than larger bears, bigger bears take their time with no rush.  Also, ear size, leg length, belly drag, skull/nose size, are factors that play into judging a bears size.

Another great bear hunting vantage point

The bear walked within two hundreds yards of me before turning back up the mountain feeding back into the nasty tangles of alders.  The bear was about two years old and about 4.5-5ft squared in size.  This was not the type of bear I wanted to harvest, so he fed away from my position unknowingly that I had tapped cou on his head.  It was awesome to watch the bear in his own element unaffected by human presence.  Bears are the ultimate land predator and there is something to be said about viewing them in their natural element.  Finding the four resident bears in the first hunting spot in Valdez, I decided this area only contained a small boar and a female with cubs.  If a big boar lived in that area, I never found him and he lives on for the next outdoor enthusiast to enjoy.  I decided to come down from my high vantage point and change locations to my second area in Valdez.

Sleeping straight up and down in the seat of a truck was an excellent alternative to sleeping on the 8ft of snow base in the Valdez area.  Not to mention the frozen rain, now starting to pour as I neared the base of the mountain and the truck’s location.  I arrived at the truck and made a Top Ramen package accompanied by a camel pack of water. An excellent meal and some much needed hydration was necessary for a great night’s sleep.  I drove to my new location, which was just outside of Valdez, parked the truck and fell into a deep slumber. Waking up in the morning to more frozen rain, I knew it would be a great day of hunting.  Already in position to glass for bears, I was confident I would find an early morning monster bear.

Breafast consisted on four gulps of water, and a peanut butter Oreo tortilla snack (a family hunting snack).  After an hour or so of glassing with no bears in sight, we relocated.   The mountains in Valdez are a site to behold.  From sea level to 5000 feet, these mountains are nearly vertical.   Avalanche danger would also be a preventative matter and precautionary step taken into account on any stalk or game plan.  During the adventure, several “avies” avalanches made themselves known by a thunderous mega phone of power.   Knowing the “avies” could sweep me into the white abyss, venturing above tree line would be the last resort to harvesting a bear.  With a record snow fall in Alaska for the 2011-2012 winter, the snow was a critical factor in the spring 2012 hunt.  Sticking to the roads would be one of the only options for this hunt.

After a two mile drive, the dirt road changed abruptly. We were coming across potholes so big they could swallow an ATV.  Driving slowly to dodge the potholes allowed me to “bare eye” the mountainside.   “Is that a bush bear?” I said to Bridger the Videographer, thinking I was fooled by a dark colored piece of vegetation.   Stopping to verify what appeared to be a bear, the binos clarified that this was no bush bear.  In fact, this was the mature black bear that I was looking for.  Pulling the truck safely off the gravel pit roadway and finding a good parking spot was the immediate next order of business.  Coming to a halt and coordinating a filmed stalk with Bridger, the bear was 1000 yards and feeding on a hill side. A large cottonwood tree grove separated the bear and the fiddle head fern hill side between the gravel pit and truck.   The long stalk would take us far from the road side and deep into the cottonwood jungle, the bear was unaware of the impending inevitable.  Closing the distance using gigantic trees to shield my movements from the bear was the key to taking an ethical shot.

Bear crawling was the only option

Two hundred yards away, the crunchy snow gave the bear a direction to look at.  The bear was now aware something was close, losing interest it went back to feeding.    “If only I can get within 170 yards, I could take a shot,” I thought to myself. The crunch of the snow under our feet was too loud. Bear crawling to spread my weight out would be my only option.  I slung my rifle over my back, a 30 yard bear crawl would prove its stealth like effectiveness.  Using a move out of my Pennsylvania hunting career for whitetails, I popped up from behind the cottonwood and posted the rifle on the tree mass.   Jacking a round into the 350’s chamber, the crosshairs found center  mass on the bear in the blink of an eye.  I aimed low on the chest of the bear to account for the extreme angle and to prevent shooting over the bear.  I took a deep breath in and exhaled a thunderous breath from the rifle.  The shot rang across the mountainside.  The bear was struck by the final blow and fell 30 yards into a tangle of alders.

Waiting 45 minutes with no movement from the bear, I took a mental note of the bear’s final resting place.  A short hike up an avalanche shoot to the bear’s location was exciting to say the least.  Turning the power down on the scope to approach the bear proved unnecessary, however I was ready.  The beautiful mature black bear had a jet black healthy coat.  I was proud.   Validating game tags, salvaging all of the meat from the bear, skinning the bears hide and skull were some of the final steps.  Packing all the meat, hide, and skull back out to the truck wasn’t too difficult.  Before long we were rambling down the road with grins from ear to ear.  “Ring Ring”… My cell phone just getting into cell reception had five missed calls and five voicemail messages.  Jason Semler called my phone and had a very important message.  He said “I am in Valdez at the boat launch, you up to go hunting?”   I called him back and said “I already tagged out and cannot hunt any more bears in Valdez this year.  However Bridger has a bear tag, would you mind taking him out”?  All of us being Colony High School graduates at some time or another, Jason didn’t mind going out and splitting the costs for this evening buddy hunt. He replied “right on, get down here to the boat ramp, we will fuel up and head out”.

Beautiful Valdez Black Bear

Driving to the boat launch, Bridger had his black bear tags and hunting license already purchased.   Having a premonition that Bridger would get his first shot opportunity at a big game animal, I told Bridger to get his tags at Sportsmens Warehouse before we left.  Bridger having his black bear tags and his hunting license in his pocket would be hunting big game for the very first time.   We met with Jason Semler at his boat, jumped in and motored off towards the majestic Prince William Sound.

STAY TUNED FOR PART 3 Of THIS BEAR HUNTING ADVENTURE.

Snippet Preview of next article.

Driving 8 hours back home to Palmer Alaska would go by fast.  Bridger and I both grinning ear to ear with success, the drive was filled with laughter and stories. The next steps would be processing both the bear’s meat into delectable packages of edible goodness, and “officially sealing” the bears with Wildlife officials.   All was completed successfully and everyone who took part in the adventure could not have been happier.

Stay tuned for the  2012 Alaska fishing season!!

Gear List

-Photon 10X40 Russian made Binoculars

-Barneys Pinnacle Pack

-Hidden Antler Jersey

-350 Remington Mag.

-Mendhl Boots

-Mamut Champ Pants

-MSR Snow Shoes

Spring Bear Hunt 2012: The First Leg with Vince P

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Alaska Spring Bears 2012

Alaskan adventures if survived, tend to leave individuals smarter than when they embarked.  That being said, the Alaskan learning curve is basically vertical, and surviving means adapting and learning very quickly.  Do it yourself adventures bring a whole new challenge and dimension to any hunt.  This year’s DIY spring Alaskan bear hunt proved just how difficult, yet rewarding these self-planned adventures can be.  The mission of this three-leg journey was to successfully harvest a black bear, a brown bear, or both.

Brown Bear

The first leg of the three part adventure across South Central Alaska was with fellow Sourdough (Alaska resident) Vince Pokryfki.   Vince and I headed north of Talkeetna, Alaska in his riverboat. We worked our way up a network of connected rivers to our destination; Game Management Unit 16A-16B.   Our objective was to thin out several bears from his moose hunting area. This would allow more moose fawns to live, meaning more trophy bull moose to chase in the fall.  For this hunt, Vince wanted to settle the score on his terms. Vince was equipped with his custom “Dan Ryan” primitive bamboo-back osage long bow and self-made port orford shafts and double bladed Eskimo Zwickey 125 grain broad heads.   Vince then proceeded to hook me up with 6 home made Grizzly Stick shafted arrows with Zwickey double bladed Death Wish broad heads.   I accompanied Vince with my own home-made longbow to settle the terms of our claw-to-stick fight.

Vince and Austin with flannels and bows

I named my home-made long bow “Hybex.” This bow was made back in my high school days in collaboration with Vince Pokryfki and Bowyer(bow maker) Dan Ryan.  I also brought my trusty 416 iron sighted Remington Magnum, a gun my Dad used back in his registered Alaskan guide career.   This massive caliber could do the trick if necessary to back Vince up if anything were to go wrong.   I kept the 416 shouldered across my back as means of back up.  All members including the videographer, were packing heat.  Vince also had a 454 Cassull on his hip, and I had a chest holster equipped with a 44 Magnum.  It’s safe to say that we had one small arsenal of weaponry that we planned to employ if necessary.

Vince P Moose Hunting Picture

The reason we came so heavily prepared was due to the fact that Vince has much experience with the wildlife in that area.  Vince has taken many moose via longbow in this area over the years.  Most of these years he has came back the following morning to find brown bears on the moose carcass.  Not only have his hunting grounds been invaded, his fishing grounds have as well.  Last fall a bear charged Vince at his secret fishing hole in broad daylight.   In Alaska you have to learn to co-exist with wildlife in their habitat.  Vince has learned to do just this; he fishes during broad daylight hours and leaves mornings and evenings alone to let the bears have their turn at the fishing hole.  The charge occurred during a blue bird sunny afternoon.  Vince has never hunted brown bears until now. This is interesting because he has had the opportunity to take many bears in the past.   He has made the decision to finally hunt bears because.  He has over 20 years experience with not just the bears, but all of the wildlife in this area.  He takes family members to these areas, and he wants to make sure they are safe.  I want to help Vince in this area and do our part in bear management.  Taking our quota of bears in the big picture is minimal.  However, hunters such as Vince and I can make a difference in the population of a particular area.  Collective groups of hunters need to be successful in many regions across a GMU to make an effective difference on animal population.

Vince caught this “Chromer” salmon at his secret fishing hole.

In essence, Vince and I are attempting to do our part.  The adventure for this journey began at Fred Meyers, to get our hunting tags/licenses and secondly to get food for the trip.  We gathered our favorites, including Oreos and granola bars and off to the boat launch we went.  We got to the boat launch that Vince described as an “Alaskan boat launch.”  We arrived on a steep gravel road access to a boulder farm style riverbank.  The closer we got to the river, the worse the launch looked.   Vince was confident the whole time, I followed suite and was excited to finally start this bear hunt from the riverboat. Vince expertly flung the boat in the water as I held the rope tied to the front of the boat.  The boat swung to the side of the rocky riverbank, Vince parked the truck and we both jumped in and fired up the Evinrude.   There were a few moments of silence as Captain Vince pushed the throttle forward and threw that baby on step.  We were cruising up river and hunting bears in no time.

Boat in action, on step and moving up river.

At any given point you can see game animals or bears in Alaska and we were prepared.  We cruised up river to the point of attack, where last year Vince was charged by an aggressive bear.  We found a suitable flat spot where Vince has made moose hunting camps in the past and set up our camping site.   The tent and kitchen were up and running real quick.   After camp duties were taken care of, we grabbed our bows and off we went.  During spring time, bears are not usually concentrated to food sources such as salmon streams or berry patches. Bears can roam up to 50 miles per day in search of food.   Coming across one of these post hibernating bears is basically the combination of perfect timing and a great location.   Vince and I did not hunt over a bait station, but hunted via spot-and-stalk.

River beaches and endless miles to stalk.

We walked what seemed like endless miles of braided out river until we stopped to glass for meandering bears walking the river beaches.  We found many black and brown bear tracks, however we hadn’t spotted the owners of the tracks.  After two days of walking the river beaches with no luck, the game plan had to change.  Instead of walking the rivers silently, we cruised the river and searched for bears from the boat.  Not a bad game plan, the only down side would be the noise from the boat’s engine.   This noise would alert any predators of the dangers that our longbows poised.  Our bows would be rendered useless at this stage, as the element of surprise had flown out the back of the boat.  On the third and final day, I switched from my longbow to the iron sighted back up rifle.

Austin carrying Bridger across the creek. Team work is dream work.

With the new game plan in mind for the final day of the adventure, we ambled on up-river.  If a bear showed himself, we would have to park the boat, bail out of it and set up on the river-bank for a long shot.  Hopefully a bear would be tolerable of our presence and stand just long enough for an iron sighted shot.  Extending the distance of my “smoke bow” fumed new excitement into the air. A close encounter was long overdue.

Austin and Bridger near the boat landing ready for the stalk.

“Hey Vince, is that a boulder bear?”  I asked, thinking I had been fooled by a dark colored rock.  The rock started to move… “BEAR, BEAR, BEAR!” I whisper yelled to Vince.  He immediately steered the boat towards the rocky riverbank, and in a moments notice I flew out of the boat like I was storming the beaches of Normandy.   The videographer (Bridger VanNess) was in close pursuit and I sprinted along the rocky beach to an abstruse log, an excellent shooting bench.   The large sized black bear was around 170 yards away and was moving up a large embankment towards a thick, endless grove of crisscrossed spruce and alder trees.   The bear paused for a moment.  I aimed the front pin of the iron sited 416 Rem Mag toward the bear; covering much surface area of the black dot.  The black dot stopped near the top of the alder choked hill, I took a breath and slowly pulled the trigger doing my best to steady the steel bead.   “BUHHHDOOOOOM” said the 416 Rem Mag.  The bear paused another second looking stunned before bolting deep into the “peanut butter” like alders.

Vince backing me up with his custom long bow.

The bear looking unfazed by the 250 grained bullet, I didn’t feel confident with the shot and felt it was a 100% miss.  Although I wasn’t confident with my shot, I wanted to be the ethical sportsman and check the surrounding area for signs of a wounded animal.  After a short boat ride and a three-minute hike, I found myself standing in the bear’s footsteps.  After circling the area multiple times and conducting a thorough investigation for any signs of a wounded animal, Vince and I concluded the bullet never found its mark.   The bear was safe, however the bear learned to fear humans now more than ever.  I was extremely bummed, as any hunter would be, feeling like I let myself down as well as my hunting partner.  Missing an animal is a hard feeling to describe, only a hunter who has been there and done that can know the feeling.  A clean miss is better than a wounded bear, and any hunter who hasn’t missed hasn’t been in the woods long enough.   Knowing the animal was not wounded helped relieve the large burden I was carrying.  It was now the last day of the hunt and our focus turned to taking down camp and preparing the boat for our departure.

Tent and campsite.

Just before leaving, Vince and I took a few moments to reflect on the trip.   Even though there was no kill during this trip, Vince and I still had positive morale in the special memories we both made on that trip.   Hunting with an iron sighted rifle is difficult, and hunting with long bows is even more difficult.  Vince and I both believe that the kill of an animal is the physical representation of the memories made on a hunting trip.  However, in no way does the kill of an animal represent the endless laughs and fun times Vince and I spent together.   To say the very least, Vince, myself, and Bridger had an awesome time together. We made memories that will last a lifetime.  I want to personally thank Vince for taking several days away from his family and work to take me on an unforgettable journey.   I will never forget the delicious camp food, the authentic Alaskan stories, the real life facts, and the camaraderie that Vince shared with me.   I already asked Vince when our next hunting adventure would be. He said he is always game to go play in Alaska.

Coffee and laughs with Denali

With seven days left of my spring bear hunt, I set my sites to a new hunting area.  I drove eight hours to Valdez, stopping only at my home base in Palmer to exchange rifles.   I needed to switch from the iron sighted 416 to the 350 Remington Magnum with a 4-14x Leupold scope.   Now we were off to Valdez in search of beach combing monster black bears.   I had spoken with several locals in the area who all said “bears are literally everywhere down here, some of them live in the streets.”   With a scoped rifle to extend my shooting range, a new excitement came over me.  Venturing to Valdez was the second leg of this three-part journey….

Boat ready for launch.

…..Stay tuned for the rest of this three part spring bear hunting adventure….

Go-Pro’s Make Outdoor Heros

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Trick Cam Stick Cam POV, picked up the stick cam pole while on a 14 day 2011 Alaskan Spring Bear Hunt.

Trick Cam Stick Cam POV, picked up the stick cam pole while on a 14 day 2011 Alaskan Spring Bear Hunt.

Ever wanted to have your hunt captured on film, but couldn’t convince your buddy to sit in your tree stand with you?   There is a new revolutionary piece of technology in the outdoor industry that is changing the game as we speak.  Go-Pro the Outdoor Edition, the all weather, shock proof, ultra small, mega High-Def, bad-to-the-bone camera sees the world as you see it and is the easy answer to all your filming needs.  The Go-Pro takes outdoor videography to the next level.  Throughout my experience as an outdoor field producer (vid cam dude), I’ve found the Go-Pro camera to be my go-to tool in my hunting arsenal.

Go-Pro Helmet Cam POV on hog hunt at La Frijolia Ranch with Hidden Antler

Go-Pro Helmet Cam POV on hog hunt at La Frijolia Ranch with Hidden Antler

Its small size and weatherproof casing makes the camera the world’s most versatile; taking on anything mother nature throws at you.   No tools required for the endless attachments provided with the Go-Pro including chest mounts, handles bar mounts (works nicely for custom barrel or archery shots), suction cup mounts, adhesive mounts, helmet or head strap mount, allows the user to film easily and achieve a variety of shots including close-mid range kill shots.  The wide angle lens records the perception of your point of view.  This allows you to be as creative as you want, or a simple as you want.  The attachments for this product make the Go-Pro extremely user friendly and can take a zero to a hero over night.

Go-Pro Stick Cam on Mountain Bike ride to Dall Sheep Hunt

Go-Pro Stick Cam on Mountain Bike ride to Dall Sheep Hunt

Seamless transfers to your computer in an easy MOV file, the Go-Pro records to secure digital cards (SD) 2GB,-32GB (gigabyte) cards. Depending on the SD cards storage size, you will be looking at one-two hours of HD filming.  Closer to the pricing of the mid level game cameras such as Bushnells 8pixel  Trophy Cam, the Go-Pro is a steal.  For $299 Go-Pro hooks you up with the HD Hero 2 Professional camera package with all the basic attachments to get you in the field and filming with the press of a button.    When compared to higher end videographer camera rigs(costing thousands), with use lighting equipment, wireless microphones, additional camera lens, tripods, boom microphones, the Go-Pro has all of the above combined in a mini user friendly camera.  The Go-Pro has advanced settings with a manual book so you can customize your camera to your preferred setting.  However, it’s ready to film out of the package after a quick charge.

Go-Pro Stick Cam POV on Dalton Highway Caribou Hunt. There was a full caribou on each of our backs in this photo. The Go-Pro did all the cameraman work..

Go-Pro Stick Cam POV on Dalton Highway Caribou Hunt. There was a full caribou on each of our backs in this photo. The Go-Pro did all the cameraman work..

Throughout my experience as an outdoor videographer, I have purchased one Go-Pro that has traveled with me from Alaska, to Pennsylvania, to south Texas and everywhere in between.  This product is rugged and reliable, period.  Field producing many outdoor TV shows in the past few years, I have been privileged to meet some of the coolest people in the world. Take for example Mike Hanback, the dude is the real deal on and off camera.  We have made a couple whitetail episodes out of Texas with our buddies Sarge and Brandon. Each year several of the Go-Pro shots will make it to the silver screen.  Also, each videographer I’ve met in dual cameramen hunts had at bare minimum of one Go-Pro.  In my opinion the Go-Pro has revolutionized the way outdoor television productions are filmed, allowing for a very unique list of shots. This product no doubt makes the average Joe a hero, all with the press of a button.  The price is affordable for the American working man, and if your lucky maybe this year you’ll get an early Christmas present from a loved one.

-Austin Manelick

www.missionak.com

Spring Bear Hunting Alaska 2012

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This picture is from August’s and my 2009 spring bear brother hunt.  August and I, (as well as videographer Jon D) took to the spring hunt as if it was our last.  We hunted six hard days, deep in the Alaska wilderness and managed to harvest this beautiful black bruin on film.  Bears taste better during the spring, as they have yet to change their diets to the salmon runs of summer through fall.  August and I would eat plentifully off of bear backstrap after this harvest as we were nearing the end of our food supplies.

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This is a photo of me cutting bear back strap (in preparation of our beast feast over open flame) on a moose antler found during this 2009 spring bear hunt

I’ll be partaking in the traditional Alaska spring bear hunt again during this 2012 season.  To some hunters in Alaska, bear hunting is part of their culture.  I am proud to say that this tradition of spring bear hunting in Alaska has shaped my culture and parts of who I am as an Alaskan.  Every year since the sixth grade (12 years ago), I have been gifted  the ability to hunt bears in Alaska.  This is a blessing to be apart of such an awesome outdoor culture.

Hopefully after this spring I will be able to secure valuable bear meat to add to my 2012 collection of wild game fare.  I can see it now……Smokey bear jerky….. Bear stew…..Bacon wrapped bear sizzled on the grill w/ avacado….   You get my drift…

I can’t wait to head to the field.

-Austin Manelick

Trophy Bull VS. Meat Bull

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Hunting to many Alaskas means red meat for the freezer, enough meat to get a family through the winter.  Across Alaska many residents practice the art handed down by our ancestors and the cave men before that, the not-so lost art form called subsistence hunting.  Each Fall locals from around the state leave the comfort of there homes and thrust themselves into the wild attempting to fill the freezer against all odds.

2009 Moose Harvest

When your an Alaskan and attempting to fill your freezer, any animal deemed by ADFG (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)as legal under the states rules and regulations most likely will be harvested.  As Alaskan subsistence hunter August Manelick would say “a legal spike for moose will taste just as good if not better than a trophy moose.”  I agree with August in that the goal of hunting is first and foremost to be legal and secondly to fill your freezer.  All though most hunters (including August and myself) will agree that a 55 inch trophy bull moose would look better on the wall and in the freezer than a spike fork (small legal yearling bull moose) would.

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The goal of hunting is to fill your freezer and provide sustenance for the long winter months.  Taking a trophy animal is a bonus, providing in a sense two trophies the meat and the antlers.  The meat of an animal is the true trophy, don’t let anyone tell you different.  The hunt is about the experience, camaraderie, and the stories shared with loved ones post hunt.  The harvest of the hunt is a physical representation of the memories made while in the field, regardless of the animals antler size.  Any legal animal is a gift, take your blessings and eat plentifully through out the following year.

Auggie with a double trophy, meat and antler.

Auggie with a double trophy, meat and antler.

Bottom line, there is a big difference between trophy hunting and subsistence hunting.  Trophy hunting individuals hunt usually for just the size of the antlers, bigger is always better.  Subsistence hunters hunt for the meat value of an animal.  Two very different ball games, playing by the same rules.

D_A_PRO LLC Production Highlights- presents Mission Alaska

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DA PRO owner Austin Manelick pictured with Major League Baseball MVP Texan Ranger Josh Hamilton and family.

DA PRO owner Austin Manelick pictured with Major League Baseball MVP Texan Ranger Josh Hamilton and family.

D_A_ PRO LLC  is a full service media marketing provider, specializing in filming of remote and extreme shoot locations.   DA PRO’s, enlist a full staff of professional videographers willing and ready to shoot HD footage in the hardest most unforgiving terrain possible.   State of the art High Definition filming and audio recording equipment travels with each member of our globally experienced team of videographers.  D_A_ PRO, LLC is the next generation of video production, bringing revolutionary visions to the television industry.

PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO PRESENTS MISSION ALASKA

Follow this YOUTUBE link to watch the production highlight video a sample from the D_A_PRO LLC  Library.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72hU5wKa72s

                                                                                                 D_A_PRO LLC.

-THE PREMIER FRONTEIR PRODUCITON COMPANY.

Mission Alaska:Jim Roche “Outdoor Hero” Adventure in Youth Missions

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I found an interesting article regarding a filming gig I filmed last summer 2011.  A true role model to the next generation will be outlined, noted is his message to the next generation of outdoorsmen.

Butch Cassidy the Sundance kids hideout on the Green River

Butch Cassidy the Sundance kids hideout on the Green River

During my professional career as field producer and videographer, I’ve had the remarkable opportunity to meet astonishing people with messages strong and resounding.  True heros of conservation, the people who have planted the metaphorical “acorns” or strong outdoor moral values in the next generation, people like the man I met this past summer during a film shoot.  This documentary style shoot was a float trip down down the Green River in Utah, the very same river Butch Cassidy the Sundance kid took refuge to hide out from the law in classical western stories.  The man I speak of, Jim Roche, is the ideal role model for the next generation of outdoorsmen.  Jim a professional hunting guide and owner of Magnum Guide Service in Eldorado Texas, after years of much guideing success found new enjoyment helping boys become men through faith and the outdoors.

Jim Roche a true role model

“There’s so many kids that need to hear the word about Jesus Christ and who also need the hunter safety course. You’ve got to get outside the church to get across to most of these people.” -Jim

http://www.shortstoriesforchildren.net/hunting-guide-hopes-to-lead-youth-toward-christ

This float trip planned by Jim was a mission trip with a group of “boys” who would walk the steps of boyhood to manhood, walking the steps with Jim and Christ himself.  These 12-15 year old boys/men would be completly devoted to christ during the 100 mile or so float trip, learning campfire lessons about stories from the bible.  Each story had a different meaning, but all carried the same message, that message “Be a respectable, honoable man of society, who finds strength and courage through the almighty”. These men would be taught by Jim how to be sheppards of the land, good stewards of mankind.  They would also learn a valuable outdoor message through the bible and Christ “One of the things that we have to realize in the Bible, especially in Genesis, God’s given us dominion over the animals and over this Earth,” Hill said. “And so we really are in charge of this resource. and one of the things that we thought was important was to also work with the young people, boys and girls just like we have today, that help them be in a situation where they can manage that resource as they get older.

Adventure in Youth Mission Crew

Adventure in Youth Mission Crew

This trip was wildly unexpected and unanticipated, as I myself found this message to touch the roots of my christianity.  I could not help but to listen to the morning devotionals by the campfire as I filmed the young men read and follow Jims thoughts through each biblical verse.  I began to look at myself and how I could improve my relationship with Christ.  During this week long trip, I found myself on about the fourth day taking part in all parts of the mission trip, including prayer, sharing thoughts on bible verses, and sharing my own stories.  This became a very personal experience, not a work experience, I developed deep friendships with the young men around me and became one of the guys.

Vid Cam Dude known as "AK"

Vid Cam Dude known as "AK"

I immediately wanted to share my knowledge of nature with these young men, they were all very interested in what I told them before we embarked on the float trip.  I said “grab some hooks and some line, I maybe able to teach you how to catch a fish in a survival situation”.  The fourth night of the trip we ended up catching and realeasing a fistful of catfish, enough to feed the 16 or so people on the trip.  We used balled up whitebread on a single weighted hook, fishing right on the bottom.  We released the fish as we had enough food already reserved for the week, however we proved we could catch fish.  I taught the young men how to hand-line catch fish in a “survival situation”, to be ready for anything during adventures into the wilderness.  I imposed a small biblical lesson of my own, catch a man one fish feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish feed him for a lifetime.

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

I learned a few things from these young guys myself and ended up learning more than I could possibly teach.  I learned to speak more with the big man up stairs, and He discussed with me on this trip the mission of my manifest destiny.  The youth and the next generation of Outdoorsmen, teach them how to become respectable honorable men who care about nature and a healthy population of animals.  “On a mission trip to Green River, Utah, two boys accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Surprising Roche and everyone else, a cameraman with a postproduction company in Denver knelt down and accepted Christ, too.”  Short Stories for Children writes.

I was hit with this epiphany like a thunder bolt from God, as I gasped for breath being pulled from the bottom of the Green River.  By the 6th and final day of the trip I became one of the guys, and found myself being baptized by my new buddy Blaine in a circle of men who were accepting Christ in the Green River.  What a wild experience, I was convinced the entire production crew and all those involved were brought together for this very special mission trip for a reason.  What each person would walk away with, was the discovery of why they were called to this Adventure in Youth Mission trip, and where they would go next.

Blaine "my hero" and designated Go-PRO Videographer

Blaine "my hero" and designated Go-PRO Videographer

Each of these men found friendships in both themselves and with the almighty above, they would leave with the fundamental values of how to be a respectable, honorable, god fearing and loving man.  These men would leave with a sense of pride an accomplishment, my new friends would leave me with an inspiring thought to encourage more youth to become men just as they.  My relationship with these young men continues today, Spencer Brent pictured above is a gentlemen I met on this float trip.  Spencer was offered a field editor position at missionak.com and will be reporting his findings in the field during the Texas hunting season.  Check back for more in the field action from our field editors like Spencer, the youth has been inspired!  Thanks again to Jim Roche for being such an outstanding role model to the next generation of outdoorsmen, the world needs many more of you!

Looking down on us... From Desolate Canyon

Looking down on us... From Desolate Canyon

Mission Alaska Reaches Across the Globe to India

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This is an email I recieved after I posted an article asking for your thoughts, opinions, articles, pictures, etc.  This email comes from an individual from India, who runs a blog site called  greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com.  He writes me connnecting my blog with one of his adventures in India, and he shows us hunters in India are viewed with more respect and prestige with more animal skulls on the wall.  Here is the email and pictures, humans continue to amaze in our ability to share connections.

Hey…

First of all, awesome blog guys. I only reason I read about your hunting adventures, is because you guys respect the wild, and more like a part of it. Hunting is perfectly normal, if you do it in a sustainable way and not harming the nature.
I live in a tribal land, Northeast India. Here, hunting is a part of the culture, and at the same time, the tribes have a deep respect for nature which only a person like you or me would understand. But things have been changing recently. A lot of hunting takes place, so that the products go to China, where they make perfumes and what not, out of majestic animals such as Tigers, Leopards, Rhinos..etc..
Anyways, I am the admin of greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com. Received your recent mail asking for people to submit stuff.
Well, I think I have a picture which you would like, which I have attached with this email. It was taken inside a Mishmi tribal house, located somewhere far away in the mighty Himalayas. The skulls are hung like trophies in their house, and the more trophies you have, the more prestige and respect in society. I have also sent the picture of he tribal, who is the owner of the house. All respect to him. He’s been there, done that.
Please feel free to use the pictures.
And keep up the great work.
Regards,

Vaivhav Todi 

www.thegreenerpastures.com 

 

My response:

Vaivhav,

Firstly I wanted to note how awesome it is to have someone from across the world such as yourself reading my blog and interacting with me.  I noticed your blog activity after you comment on my posted article about the mountain goat burgers I made.  Thanks for following up withmissionak.com! I appreciate your email and it will be going up today!
This is very fascinating about your views on hunters and the way of life “in your neck of the woods”.  It is very sad and a shame to hear of the destruction that “poachers” not hunters, such as the tiger, rhino, and leopard killers you speak of have committed.  You know, as I, that this illegal black market where valued animal parts from tigers etc are taken and sold as aphrodisiacs or health remedies, and is viewed as normal by those who consume the goods.  The decrease in many species in places like Africa, Sudan, India, China, has led to an increase in demand for animals products on the Black Market.
In the USA, we have many rules and regulations that must be followed by a hunter or consequences and citations will be given.  Poachers and people hunting illegally in the US, who do not obide by the hunting laws set forth by each individual state will be regulated by authoritative figures.  Each state has many counties and cities, the wild game in these cities is protected by Game Wardens basically wildlife police.  Game laws are very serious in the USA, and individuals must abide by these rules or they will receive punishments.  There is an intricate system that ensure that the wildlife in the United States is cared for and payed for, payed for by the hunters licenses and tag fees it cost to hunt the animals.  In essence, hunters pay for the conservation of animals(to hunt legally), and work with wildlife agencies such as each States department of fish and game to ensure that a heatlhy population of animals exist for the next generation of hunters and fishermen.
Secondly, your mission statement and your blog greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com has an authentic and real message, a message that I can relate to, understand, and commend even being from a different side of the world.  Your adventures are amazing and I encourage you to spread you message to receptive ears and minds.  Who wouldn’t want to find themselves in a greener pasture?  I seek new green pastures every day of my life, everyday is an adventure in my eyes.
The man in your pictures is what I like to call a “grizzled vet” , as in, a person who has veteran experience gained through physically and mentally demanding experiences.  Like you said, a man that has been there and done that.  Here in the US, trophies are viewed in many different ways, some are disgusted by it, some are fascinated by it, some are jealous, some are happy.  I am very proud of each trophy on the wall, not because I feel powerful, or prestigous, or manly.  I never place emphasis on the kill of each hunt, as killing is not what hunting is about.  The adventure and experience is the catch for me, the harvest or trophy value of the animal is purley in the edible meat to be consumed over a long winter.  The kill of an animal is simply put, a physical representation of the memory had on the adventure pursued.
I only wish hunters were viewed here in the United States with more respect and prestige in society, considering their hunting license costs recycles directly into the wildlife programs set forth by the state to keep the environment healthy.
Thanks again Vaivhav, your email has been awesomely informative and perfectly placed into the right hands.  Keep pictures like these coming, I would love to hear more on the culture of hunters in India and your culture in general.
Truly great to hear from you,
Austin Manelick

Mission Alaska: You can help

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If you have been reading missionak or following at all, then you would know that MA is all about the next generation and spreading the word on how “cool” the outdoors is.  I have been talking with every person I know personally and contacting all of the youth I have met over my lifetime of friendships, in attempt to spread the good word of the outdoors.

Men enjoying the culture of the great outdoors.

I want to thank all of the readers and followers of Missionak, since summer of 2011 MA has grown greatly and viewer numbers are through the roof!  I want to thank you again for following and reading my personal message to the woodsmen in all us.  If you have or feel like you want to be more involved on missionak.com, please feel free to do so, in fact please help me!

If you have any pictures, videos, stories, anything that you feel appropriate for missionak.com, please email me at austinmanelick@gmail.com

Once again, I would love for anyone to send me interesting photos they have found on trail cameras, taken on hunts, taken on fishing trips, taken on antler shed hunting trips.  Tell me a story, it doesnt have to be a trophy buck that you have taken I would be just as happy with a picture of a readers first deer harvest of a doe than of a monster 10pt buck.

I want to connect with my readers, help me!

-AM

SEND ME PICTURES AND STORIES!!!

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