Opportunities for Musk Ox in unit 22

[alaskalouie]

First, to the folks flying into Shish. CAUTION:I was there last year on a sub. hunt as were 2 others going it alone renting sno go's. This is a dangerous place in the winter any money would be well spent going with Brain and Cliff (The guides) The 2 loaners nearly Froze!!! and ended up with the guides. Going alone is fine in warmer climbs, ---- you better think about it!

Second, In the case of the less accessable areas, they have a real OX problem in 22, there is a plant called and I'll screw this up SAUREDOCK:?? This is the locals vegitible patch the OX eat root and all, some heards I saw in the hundreds on federal land heave wipped out this plant.

So Here I go hang on tight!! It is expensive for outsidders to access these areas. You have a remote OX herd nearing or past capacity. Give more trophy tags out or cut the tips, there is no Boon or SCI value left with cut tips. I brought my ox horns home and fixed the tips and they adorn the garden of RECPECT! and memories. Cutting the whole horn off and leaving it behind serves no purpose. What it does do is keep folks from going hunting-ME. The OX meat is the best wild game I have ever eaten in the world. The Hide awesome and both are a gift from god. The horns destroyed is a crime. 2 to 4 inches is plenty on cows or bulls. 60 remote permits last year you wanna bet they didn't fill a 10th. of them? I know of 4.

So who losses?
1.Ox out of control eating the locals out of veggies.
2.No Meat in my freezer next year.
3.No boost to the local economies, for we spend thousands while in unit 22.

AH this Alaska thing gets sadder every year.

Good luck if you go, contact Cliff Weyiowana in Shish. He is the best there is and he will keep you warm, safe and successful.

Louie

[323]

What is a ballpark figure to do this hunt???

[alaskalouie]

Door to door

[Steveo]

Martintrapper, SO what about us lower 48 residents. Can this hunt be dont as a DIY out of SHISH if one would be lucky enought to draw one of the 2 tags?? PM me if you have more info???

Steveo

[Alaskan22]

Originally Posted by alaskalouie

1.Ox out of control eating the locals out of veggies.

hahahahahahahahaha This has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Apparently you listen to the GUIDES on why THEY want more people to come up. hahahaha too funny!!

[Bullwinkle50]

Alaska, is $3000 the price you paid for the guide or is that a DIY? My wife and I went up last February and spent a little less for both of us and we did it on our own. I am surprised that you will shoot one if you can keep the horns but not for a reggristration hunt where they destroy the horns. I agree that the meat is some of the best I have had and will go again just for the meat.


Randy

[martentrapper]

Actually, Alaskan22, louie is listening to the local folks, not the guide. If you were to come to a RAC or AC meeting, which I know you never do, you would hear much the same talk as Louie mentioned about the sourdocks. Of course, it may be that folks fears are unfounded, but at the current time, the 22E and D residents often voice exactly what Louie said.
I would say 3000 is a realistic ball park figure for a DIY hunt. I would also say Louie's assesment of hunting Shish is accurate. Tough climate and country. If you wat to do a DIY hunt as either a non res or a res, on a draw permit, best apply for the DX099 or DX103. Those can be done from Nome.

[Bullwinkle50]

MT,

I would have to add up my costs again but you are correct on going to Nome instead. The logistics of hunting in Shish can be tough. We barelyl go out of town before a storm shut down everything going in and out of Shish for about a week. If you hunt in Nome, you only have to worry about the Alaska Air jet getting in and out and you can stay in a hotel, go to the bar (if that is your thing), and there are lots of places to eat (well, a couple or three anyway).

The natives I dealt with in Shish also made the comments about not liking the Musk Ox. The bulls charge them in the fall during berry picking, the animals eat everthing down to bare ground and beyond, and the Caribou are spooked by them because Musk Ox appear to be a bear or something not safe.

Go to Nome, rent a snogo from MT and enjoy. The experience of being out there that time of year and having the entire world to yourself is a feeling I will never forget.

Randy

[Alaskan22]

Originally Posted by martentrapper

Actually, Alaskan22, louie is listening to the local folks, not the guide. If you were to come to a RAC or AC meeting, which I know you never do, you would hear much the same talk as Louie mentioned about the sourdocks.

Correct. I'm lazy.

I've heard the rumblings, but i've heard they are unfounded. Also heard it is ECHOED from the guides as a way to promote more hunters coming in. Just like the guides wanted GUARANTEED permits for non-residents (as they usually have lots of $$ to spend). The locals say it is cutting into the caribou's forage, which coincidentally has a larger bag limit than the ox.

I would definately not use the term "have a real OX problem in 22".

Also, this statement really stands out as erroneous: "some heards I saw in the hundreds on federal land have wipped out this plant".

I've never been up the Shish way, but I can't say that I believe that there is ANY heard of a 100 head of Ox. I've seen some big ones around here (usually ONLY nursery heards), and none come close to 100 head.

I also want to repeat what has been said: Tough country, tough climate. Easy to die out in these parts when the weather turns bad.

I also agree that the meat is some of the finest table fare I've enjoyed.

[Milo]

In 2005 my wife hunted Nunivak with a transporter for $1800 + $500 extra for me to accompany.
In 2009 I hunted with Brian and Cliff out of Shishmaref for $3500 for me and $1000 additional for my son. Brian cut the boy a break.
The additional cost of airlines, cargo and tags would be more of less the same for either location. It ain't a cheap hunt if you don't live there, but worth doing.

I will echo what Alaskan22 said about the climate. Weather could be nice or could be brutal. There is a real safety factor in going with Cliff W, as he owns a number of cabins out on the tundra available for use in an emergency. It never got about -25 when we were there and it took us 51 hours to make it from Anchorage to Shishmaref before we could even start our hunt due to weather delays. I'd hate to see it when it gets bad.

My wife's Nunivak ox in 2005 was a younger bull, but still a mature animal with fully developed boss and was easily identifiable in the herd. She picked it out herself and this is still the only big game animal she has ever taken. My son and I both killed B&C ox which although they tasted great were significantly tougher. Then again, the backstraps we ate last night were excellent.

Glad I did the drawing hunt once, but won't pay the money to do it again. I'll either tag along with someone else and do the registration hunt for an eater or possibly go the registration/snowgo rental/diy route out of Nome. Need to empty the freezers first.

[alaskalouie]

Been on the federal land 3 times passing through, I have seen the large herds and the ground they graze on. Cliff would be a liar on what he has told me ----- I doubt it. A finer man I have never met and the things he knows and shares. I will share mo more here! For I see it is wasted time,
Louie

[Alaskan22]

Louie- I'm not trying to bust your chops, but your own response says what I had thought "Cliff would be a liar on what he has told me...", that you heard it from them. It may very well be infact true....but i'm not abliged to believe it.

Not only that, ol' Cliff and Brian were BIG pushers (actually they submitted proposals) for GUARANTEEING non-resident hunters atleast 20% of the permits (and another proposal for guaranteed 10%...just incase the BOG thought 20% was high). Now, i'm all for them and their business, but not for "guaranteeing" permits for anyone, especially non-residents. I like it the way it is at "up to 10%" for non-res.

Again, not trying to bash you, just saying that there is a HIGH chance that there opinions are money driven. Kind of like MT starting this post, as he stands to gain from renting snogos and buying Ox horns. Then again....I guess that is subsistence.

All that being said, it is a great hunt and all should try to make the trip if available. Again, the country doesn't always play nice, nor does the weather....but then again it wouldn't be hunting if it were easy.