Fort Rich??

[akhunter3]

Is Fort Rich a good place for ptarmigan/hares?

Was also wonderin' how you get access to hunt it?

Thanks,

~Jon

 

[Mark]

Spruce grouse hunting is great this time of year on Ft. Rich. The hare population is spotty, depending on area. A few micro-spots have a few hares.

Go to the main gate and ask the security officers about small game hunting. They'll inform you of any necessary briefing you may need to attend regarding general or daily access restrictions, permitting, etc.

It's shotgun only, and your shotgun will have to be registered with the Provost Marshall.

 

[sal]

You will have to have completed the Basic Hunter Ed COurse and will have to sign up for USARTRAK. Basically the latter is a system where you call in and they'll tell you which areas are open on base. This is now required for all recreational use (fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, hunting) on Army posts in Alaska.

 

[TruBluTex]

I've heard the Arctic Valley/Ft. Richardson area is loaded full of bunnies & grouse! I would imagine Ptarmgain are around the area of the ski lift but not sure if you can go hunting around that area or not.

 

[hre814]

No you can't hunt by/on the ski area, but Ft Rich land comes up right against it. Areas 11a-c if you have a map. I heard there are ptarmigan up there, but I personally haven't been yet. You need to make sure those areas are open on the day you want to go.

 

[racinghoss]

Training areas 11A, B, C, and D are never open to recreation. They are mostly covered by the surface danger zones for the small arms areas. 11E is rarely, if ever open to recreation either. (I work for Range Control).

Bulldog Trail (in 12A and 14A is sometimes open and a good place for small game. There are lots of grouse on the northern side of the highway as well. myself and a buddy just bagged a dozen there this weekend.

 

[akhunter3]

awesome,
I'm registering with USARTRAK this week, so hopefully I'll get a lil huntin' in this weekend. Thanks for the advice, hope to see y'all out there.

p.s.

went out to knik this weekend, a couple bunnies but nothin' spectacular.



~Jon

 

[WinMag]

Hey Hoss...

Hey Hoss...

Racinghoss,

I have recreated on Fort Rich for a couple of years now (small game hunting, hiking, etc), and 11E used to always be open for recreation. It was even open a lot this summer, but now is closed. When I go up to Alpenglow I still see plenty of people using 11E, especially at Ship Creek trailhead, even on days when I know it is CLOSED.

I drew the winter moose permit this year, and was hoping to hunt 11E (I've been told it has always been a good moose area). Do you know what is keeping 11E closed? I completely understand if it's military training, but since I always see other civilians going in there....I'm not sure that's it.

 

[racinghoss]

Every day we send an updated list of the areas open to recreation to the MP's. They keep the list at the main gate and update the USARTRAK system as well. I have not seen 11E on the list in a while. There has been alot of construction at Biathlon Range (in 11E) this summer and fall. I am not sure when it will be concluded. Let me ask around and find out if 11E will be open anytime soon.

I also see many people recreating in 11E, as well as 11C and the Site Summit areas. Mostly they are berry pickers. However, they are mostly civilians who dont know that the land is part of the military installation because of the public access road to the ski area. I have talked to a few of them and they all get an attitude when you try to explain it to them. I do know that the MP's will take action if they catch people up there and they occasionally make a push to do just that.

BTW, there are lots of large bulls on the S side of the highway. I hope to draw that tag next year.

 

[Alaska Gray]

Areas 1 and 9 seem to work for me.

 

[racinghoss]

For this weekend (Oct 28 and 29):

Areas open to recreation:

2AB, 5, 6AB, 7AB 8A, 9AB, 12B, 13, 14ABC
Engineer Expressway and Bulldog Trail are closed for construction.

Area 1 has been closed for a long time and will remain closed for a long time for major construction.

NOTE: THESE OPENINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AND THIS POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR FOLLOWING THE RULES FOR RECREATION ON FT. RICHARDSON. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN WITH THE MP'S AT THE GATE OR USE THE USARTRAK SYSTEM TO CHECK IN FOR RECREATION. THIS POST IS FYI ONLY.

 

[TruBluTex]

I was out in 2B and 6B on 28 October and didn't see any sign. No rabbits or birds. Reckon they were roamin' around elsewhere. My youngest son and I did happen across a guy who took down a young bull moose w/ a bow and took his photo after the kill around Gwen Lake. Too bad I didn't have my video cam w/ me...it would have been a nice capture.

 

[StevenJ]

I went out after the big snow to the area 4 area. also 2A/B. No sign whatsoever! I was actually suprised. Be careful the roads are SLICK! Ive heard 7 is a good area for hares.
Steve

 

[TruBluTex]

Training areas 11A, B, C, and D are never open to recreation. They are mostly covered by the surface danger zones for the small arms areas. 11E is rarely, if ever open to recreation either. (I work for Range Control).

Bulldog Trail (in 12A and 14A is sometimes open and a good place for small game. There are lots of grouse on the northern side of the highway as well. myself and a buddy just bagged a dozen there this weekend.

Are you referring to the 2B section? Care to provide a bit more detail as to which part? I'd be much obliged....

 

[racinghoss]

2A and 2B are good hunting areas (around Clunie Lake). Lots of grouse and supposedly hares, but I have not seen hares. Some people have good luck duck hunting the lake as well.

 

[TruBluTex]

2A and 2B are good hunting areas (around Clunie Lake). Lots of grouse and supposedly hares, but I have not seen hares. Some people have good luck duck hunting the lake as well.

Copy that...Clunie Lake area.

Thanks!