Where were you when you got your first?

[upinak]

Question for the experienced hunters. Actually more like a rendition of your “first” in Alaska.

• Where were you when you go your first kill? (Which area like 20A, 14C)
• What did you use?
• How long were you out?
• Did you fly in, ATV, etc?
• Would you consider it easy now that you look back on it.

I am trying to get an idea of what to expect. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good story.

[Brian M]

I have a couple of "firsts", so if you don't mind a few answers...

My first big game kills came in the same fall - I can't remember which was first, though I think it was the sheep. I killed a ewe in 14C on a day hunt with my dad and brother, and then I killed a medium-sized bull caribou (again with my dad and brother) in Unit 13 about 25 miles off the road in an area I had grown up hunting with my family. In both cases I used a .308. I was out for 5 days or so on the caribou hunt, which we accessed via ATV.

Since those were done as a kid, though, they might not be as applicable to your situation. My first on-my-own harvest was sheep in....the mountains. I hiked in off the road on August 7th, sat on some rams on the 8th and 9th, started climbing by moonlight at 3am on the 10th and had my first ram down by 11am after a 4 hour, 400 yard crawl one inch at a time. I used a 30-06 and took a ~400yd shot that I would not take today. It was irresponsible, but I didn't realize that at the time. I managed to take the ram with my 4th shot, but since I hadn't practiced at that distance, I had no business shooting at an animal and risking a hit on a sublegal ram. Anyhow, I took him and it remains a great memory despite my questionable shot judgment. The pack back to camp took nearly 12 hours, and I finally got to light my victory cigar at just a little past midnight. Looking back, it was most certainly not easy. Actually, it was one of the more difficult experiences I had done up to that point in my life, and at the age of 18 I learned a lot about myself from that day. The pack back to the truck the next day was awesome, and even better was calling my dad and telling him that I had a ram down.

[Rock_skipper]

O.K. I'll be the first on here,lol ( my puter is crashing bad so bear with me) My brother and I have been shooting rabbits since I was six years old, dad gave us 2 22 shells apice and we were suppose'ed to come back with 4 rabbits shot in the head. If one was gut shot , or there was a miss we went to the garage, was'nt no fun in the garage lol, leather belt came out and was told to take it like a man, looking back on it , helped shaped my life. As far as my first big game animal I was 13, 2 boats going up the river, my dad ,my brother and one of his friends in the lead boat, myself and two other old timers in a boat about a 1/4 mile mile behind. They go by this spot and a 64" bull walk's across the river right behind them, never turned there heads, lol. Anyway the guy in the front of our boat got water in his eyes about the same time that this was happening and did'nt see it either, I , as excited as a 13 year old can get, turned around to the driver, was in a 26' wooden boat with a 25 jet with a tiller handle on it and am pointing like a wild child at where it went in the woods, he acted like I was crazy,( later found out he saw it too) so anyway he pulls up and tells this other guy to go in after him. Now I'm seing red,lol. Then tells me to push the boat back into the river, and we go up around the river to a bar across from where we saw the moose. I set him up with his 30-30( bad joints) and then he tells me to get up the bar aways. I go up the bar and hunker down, seeing all kinds of colors because I knew I should've been the one to be let off behind the thing, and sit there and wait thinking at any time I'm going to hear the other guy shoot. Next thing I know here come's this huge, and I mean it when I say huge rack come's walking into view. I look over at the 30-30 and can see him tence up, then relax,and then there he was 150 yards away. 1 shot from the 30-06 and he took off in a gallop, was so confussed that I did'nt know what had just happened, I knew I could'nt have miss'ed, but from the cussing from the boat operater and the orders to get up to the far end of the bar I was onmy way. about halfway on my run, there was this mighty crash, but I did'nt stop. About 2 minutes later, long 2 min. the guy behind him come's out and shouts at me , "you got him" Shot him a little low and got a heart shot, died on the run. That was one happy kid, and thats him in my avater

[mdhunter]

Great Memories...

Small Game:

Snowshoe hare on the Matanuska Flats, 7 years old, hunting with my dad and younger brother. Shot it with my single shot .22 rifle; was excited to hunt for more, but then stepped through a soft spot in the ice and gt my foot wet, so we headed for home.

Big Game:

Caribou on the Denali Highway, 11 years old; with my Dad and older sister. I was carrying a .44 magnum rifle and the caribou was about 200 yards away - too for the .44 with open sights, so I used my Dad's .308 Winchester. Took me a couple of shots, but I got him. It started raining pretty good, so we didn't even take any pics of my first big game animal...oops!

[hoose35]

Shot a button horned blacktail on kodiak with a .243 from about 40 yards away. I was 10 years old. Looking back, it was probably the easiest kill I have ever made, it was only 200 yards from the zodiac we used to get to the beach from the big boat.

[TWB]

Sept 12 2003 I left Anchorage Koyukuk bound, hit the yukon bridge off the haul road at around 4am, whopping 23 degrees. Put everything I brought and started packin the boat. At sun-up the boat launch was a sheet of ice from all the other boaters. Spent the day WFO to Galena, gassed up and pressed on til dark. Next day on to Ella's cabin, then headed north. Came into camp around 4ish, unloaded and decided to spend an hour pokin around for mooses. Caught a glimpse of what i thought was a moose in the corner of my eye and stopped to investigate. Found 3 bulls and 6 cows playin around ont he edge of the lake. did some calling, stalekd in to about 60yds and let loose. Took a decent sized bull with a 59inch spread. Thin paddles but super long tines, almost a 20in tine on one side. Cleaned him up a bit and came back for him after breakfast. Spent the next 8 days callin, cuttin, packi and fishin with the rest of the crew I went with.

[BIGBOB]

Fall of '78. In front of my girlfriends parents fireplace. They were gone for the weekend..............Oh wait.


Wrong forum.




My bad.:cool:

[MBURNS2244]

First Alaskan Kill

Despite 37 whitetail kills and a number of turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, ducks, geese, ect killed in PA and NY. My first alaskan kill took place on my first trip to Alaska last August. Bull Caribou killed on a DIY hunt with 2 buddies from Wasilla in Unit 26 on the Ivishak. Shot at 442 yards with a .280 remington with 150 grain nosler partition handloads (before you start questioning the shot selection the bulls we were on were headed away and about to crest a small ridge AND more importantly I have a fair amount of experience shooting at this distance) Crippled him with the first shot and then hit him a second time for good measure, although it was probably unnecessary.

[Daniel in Ak]

Question for the experienced hunters. Actually more like a rendition of your “first” in Alaska.

• Well lets see I dont know If Im an expierenced hunter in anyones eyes but, to answer your question my 1st Alaskan animal was
• Where were you when you go your first kill? (Which area like 20A, 14C)
  over near delta and it was a caribou.
  
• What did you use?
  Used a .338 WM
• How long were you out?
  Was out 15 minutes. Woke up at 6 am and had 3 animals down at 6:15 am
• Did you fly in, ATV, etc?
  At the time you where allowed to drive in, so I used my truck
• Would you consider it easy now that you look back on it.
  Was way easy, but totally unexpected and I had no idea what to expect on my 1st hunt.

I am trying to get an idea of what to expect. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good story.

After that I also went up near Chicken for another 'bou hunt (my 2nd) and when I arrived and set up camp, was done about 4 pm, I drove the wheeler in on a mining trail and had my 1st Grizzly down at 8 pm.Next Morning woke up and shot a Caribou.

Last year went Blackbear baiting for my 1st time and the 1st guy I put on stand had his in 24 minutes, next guy I put on stand had his in 3 hours, put my hunitng bud out there and 52 minutes later he had his,I was out 3 hours and had mine,took two more fellas out and put both of them on stand and an hour later they had two.

Oh! and also last year went out Duck hunting in late Sept and walked off the road bout 40 yards and turned to my left only to find a Grizzly there.(I have bad luck finging them) but wife is not complaing about the two rugs

Seems like Ive been WAY lucky so far.Hunting in Alaska, I just dont get out very often.So in my ventures Ive utilized my 4 wheelers, Truck and Boat to harvest animals.

[jfreeze1981]

My first animal taken in Alaska was a Moose in 14A. I was fortunate enough to Draw the DM410 Cow tag in last years Spring Draw. A good friend of mine and I hiked in and started hunting at around 0645 or 0700. Was out about 45 minutes before we spotted a cow, but due to the amount of brush, I couldn't take an ethical shot. After hiking through some thick brush and swamp for another hour we spotted a Bull through the brush. We sat back and judged him for what seemed like forever and realized that he had that third brow tine. Shot him in the neck with my 7mm and dropped him right in his tracks. On the other side of the brush was an even bigger bull, but all he had was two brows on each side and he woudn't make the 55 inch mark. My bull was only 38 inches but is one helluva trophy in my book! Took us quite a while to pack him out, but was well worth it!

[upinak]

These are great stories and funny in some cases as well.

Thanks for sharing

[AK NIMROD]

3rd year in alaska 1980, moose 29" spread antlers, 1/4 mile off petersvillie road bow kill? 17-18 miles back in ? Unit 16?
Out 4-5 days.
Easy but took 3 years to happen. Right place at right time.

[Akres]

Question for the experienced hunters. Actually more like a rendition of your “first” in Alaska.

• Where were you when you go your first kill? (Which area like 20A, 14C)
• What did you use?
• How long were you out?
• Did you fly in, ATV, etc?
• Would you consider it easy now that you look back on it.

I am trying to get an idea of what to expect. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a good story.

Up Eagle River Valley about where WalMart is now.
Bow
Four Hours, to kill and butcher the Moose from where we left the main drag at Eagle River. It was just ruts then, hardly a trail.
Drove a M38 back there.
It was very easy.
SP

[Finley]

First.......

Moved to Alaska August 2001, went right out and bought a non res license and tag. Talked to as many people as I could about where to hunt. I spent 20 days hunting different areas from hike in to 4 wheeler trails. Was hunting down Pt Mackenzie when I finally found a legal bull. One shot at 40yds and I had my first moose, a little spike fork. Couldn't have been happier! Only downside was I had to start looking for a job......such is life.

[BIGBOB]

Up Eagle River Valley about where WalMart is now.
Bow
Four Hours, to kill and butcher the Moose from where we left the main drag at Eagle River. It was just ruts then, hardly a trail.
Drove a M38 back there.
It was very easy.
SP

I've hunted plenty, where there are now houses. Sad, really sad.





If only in how it ages you. Ahh, but the memories we're left with.