Meat / Trophy Poll

[Michael Strahan]

Okay, this one should be interesting. Only three choices, so you have to decide which is MOST important to you. I know this is a complex question in some ways, but here goes.

What is your PRIMARY motivation for hunting Alaska. Even those who have never hunted Alaska can do this one. I know we all have multiple reasons why we do this, but if you had to choose ONE thing as your primary motivation, what would it be?

-Mike

 

[mdhunter]

Experience, Meat, Trophy...

Experience, Meat, Trophy...

in that order. Shot three nice caribou, kept all meat. Kept one set of antlers, gave the others away - those antlers are sitting in my basement, not sure what to do with them. Have memories to last a lifetime, and still trying to get that moose! Gonna give grizzly a shot this fall too...

good luck to you spring bear hunters,

Michael

 

[RayfromAK]

Ooops! I voted too fast. I do hunt for meat, but I also enjoy the experience of hunting along a couple of friends. Last year I didn't kill a moose, but my hunting partner did on the first day of the season. We brought the meat home, then to the freezer, and went back to the hunting grounds to enjoy a few days of vacation.

We have a great time out there, eat plenty of food from oatmeal to steaks and onions, and so do some of the hunters we socialize with each year. Since my hunting partners snore quite loudly, I sleep by myself in my 8'x10' wall tent, where my gear includes a small table, a chair, a large cot, and even a small Honda generator. We even have a park-type BBQ grill in the center of the campsite. This grill setup is a clothes washer drum, topped with a heavy iron grill, and works very well for us. I am certain that we smell "delicious" to the bears, from all the steaks, sausage and other stuff we BBQ out there. I wash my face, beard, brush my teeth, and even wash my whole head sometimes before going to bed, but I can still smell BBQ steaks in my nose hairs as I drift into sleep

 

[Boss Gobbler]

Hunting

Hunting

There are many reasons we all hunt. It may be obvious to some that I am a turkey hunter. There are not "trophy" turkeys in my mind. An adult turkey is a trophy and I hunt them for the pure pleasure and enjoyment of interacting with the animal and gettin up close and personal with them. It doesn't hurt that they are great eatin birds. Other animals I hunt for the same reason, but maybe look for that better trophy quality animal, but all are trophies to me and I remember them all. I love to eat wild game so I take please in "bringing home the bacon." Hunting in Alaska requires a lot more work to bring in the animal once it is down than it does in Ohio where I grew up, so there is more of a sense of accomplishment that comes with taking a sheep steak or moose burger out of the freezer than a white-tail deer that took 5 min to load in to the pickup. The entire experience is rewarding. Even if I did not take an animal but watched the excitement of my best friend shooting a 61 inch moose on his first trip to Alaska. Being in Alaska is awesome. I truly wish everyone could experience the solitude and beauty God has created here for us to enjoy everyday.

 

[martyv]

meat...and experience

meat...and experience

When I moose hunt it is primarily for meat.

But I'm going sheep hunting this fall and I don't plan to bring a rifle, just a pistol for some bear protection. My brother-in-law will have a rifle. He wants a sheep. I just want to be in sheep country again.

 

[AKmud]

interesting and thought provoking....

interesting and thought provoking....

At first I was going to vote for meat but if you think about it, taking vacation time from work, fuel, supplies, gear, etc... I could go buy 1/2 a beef and be money ahead every year. So, even though I thoroughly enjoy the freezer full of steaks and burger after a successful moose hunt, it has to be for the experience. There are things you see while at moose camp that you would never be able to describe to non-hunters/outdoors people. Sitting by the campfire on a star lit night makes a person feel pretty insignificant. But it is a good feeling!

 

[eatwildgame]

eat it

eat it

Username says it all!

 

[tccak71]

Agree w/Mud

Agree w/Mud

Its for the experience. Primarily for the meat; but considering all of the preparation, time off work, etc. it is truly for the whole experience.

Tim

 

[northriver21]

Tradition

Tradition

1 The peace and quiet of being in the woods and leaving the crazyness behind, the tradition of spending time with family in the field. the thought of raising your young sons the same way you were raised. Teaching them to respect the right to harvest a legal animal and the joy that comes with that.

2 Meat, My family wont starve if I dont put a moose in the freezer, but I do almost every year. We use every bit of the meat it is healthy and the satisfaction of putting food on the table. I dont pass on a legal animal. Meat in the freezer is more important than a rack on the wall.

3 Horns, if I accomplish both of the above listed, and get a big rack then that is the cherry on top.

 

[Bravowhiskey]

The experience

The experience

The experience is something you can't substatute. Having grown up hunting and fishing, I really am missing the experiences you get fromthe hunt. Due to the Germany laws it is almost impossible for an American to hunt over here. Looking forward to being able to take my son out with me when I get back to the USA. We try to get into the woods as often as possible and at least get a little bit of the enjoyment of the outdoors. My little guy is sure to be a hunter as he grows, he wants to "boom" all the little critters we come across over here. Brad wanted me to put his picture on here so here he is.

 

[AkHunter45]

I hunt Alaska because there's nothing like this anywheres else and to share it with friends is even more enjoyable!

 

[Akboondocker]

Alaskan Experience

Alaskan Experience

I voted for the experience. Nothing makes you feel closer to nature than being on a hunt with good friends, food and a good camp set up. Some of the more memorable hunts I've been on we didn't shoot one round but had the time of our lives. I agree with Mud, you can buy meat at the grocery store for pennys on the dollar compared to what it costs to go hunting these days. Nothing beats being in the outdoors...nothing.

Great poll Mike!

 

[VA Steve]

Alaska Hunting

Alaska Hunting

Only been lucky enough to hunt in Alaska once, caribou drop hunt in Sep 05. I would order my reasons, in priority order, as the experience, meat, and trophy. The experience alone, a week of complete solitude, beautiful scenery and comraderie, made the trip specatacular, with or without bagging an animal. I did manage to get a nice bull and had a mount done, which now hangs on my wall here in northern VA, where it reminds me every day of how luck I was to spend a few weeks in such a remarkable state. Stil enjoying the meat from the freezer as well.

 

[Brian M]

Steve - It's a little off topic, but how much did it cost you to ship the meat back to VA? I hear such concerns about the cost of shipping meat to the lower 48 after a successful hunt, but I've yet to see hard numbers on what this cost actually is. Not trying to start another debate on the merits of donating meat locally (I'll leave that for the Kotz discussion), but I'd still like to hear what it cost you. Thanks!

-Brian

 

[Michael Strahan]

shipping meat

shipping meat

Steve - It's a little off topic, but how much did it cost you to ship the meat back to VA? I hear such concerns about the cost of shipping meat to the lower 48 after a successful hunt, but I've yet to see hard numbers on what this cost actually is. Not trying to start another debate on the merits of donating meat locally (I'll leave that for the Kotz discussion), but I'd still like to hear what it cost you. Thanks!

-Brian

Brian,

Your post points out an important issue. Would you be interested in posting a new thread on that? I'd hate to have some really good info get buried in here where few people will see it. There are lots of options for meat shipping, and I personally would be interested in learning what others are doing and the costs involved.

Not telling you what to do, but I think you have the makings of a great thread here.

-Mike

 

[Terry]

Differs Animal to Animal

Differs Animal to Animal

When I go hunting for bou or moose it is for the meat normally. A couple years back I did a lone flyin moose hunt, even thought it was a nice 60"er the time in the field was all about the experience. When I take the boy it is about the time in the field together. When going bear or goat hunting it is more of a thropy hunt.

 

[hilbile1]

Every Reason Possible

Every Reason Possible

I would have to honestly say, I enjoy for all reasons. I have dreamed of hunting Alaska since I was a kid, just had the bug I suppose. Now that I am here, I dreading the day I leave. But not just hunting here, hunting any where, just having the ability and choice to enjoy what we are blessed with have, it makes it all worth the time and effort. From the meat to trophies. Ain;t nothing better than grillin the steaks with a cold one, lookin at the heads in the window and remembering all the good and bad with all my family and friends!!!

 

[TroutsMan]

Age and Animals affect it.

Age and Animals affect it.

I read somewhere once that there are 3 stages in a hunters life.

The first stage is just getting out and be able to shoot your gun/bow and bag the animal.

The second stage is the Trophy stage where you will pass up any small animal for the chance at that really nice trophy.

The 3rd stage is not careing if you shoot anything and are just happy to be there in a beautiful place with family and friends.

I would hope all of these stages of a hunters life include meat care and not wasting anything. We as hunters have the responsibilty to teach those arround us hunting ethics in every respect of the animal.

I belive I am in between stage 2 and stage 3.
I hunt for a trophy animal in every species. I dont need the meat and in some cases different species are better tasting then others.
I do however make sure none of the meat is wasted. Shelters in my area are so greatful for the meat that it would be a shame not to help them out.

I voted for the experience, but trophy came very close. Meat I put last not because I dont respect that aspect of hunting, but because I dont need the meat.
I will be going on a Black bear hunt on the 4th week of may down in S.E. AK and they tell me the locals there are greatful for the meat. If they are not in need of it at that time I wont hesitate to Take it home or find someone else who is in need of it.
Sorry for the lengthy post.

Russ,

 

[viktor]

why i hunt

why i hunt

I work as a manager over seeing a department of 40 plus. I aslo work in the hospitality business. As you can imagine it is flat out crazy. I hunt to get away from it. I hunt to be able to relax and actually listen to nothing, but in reality listen to alot like birds, mosquitoes, calls of cow moose the bleet of a lamb sheep in the fog, the sound of the dog swimming across a lake with a duck in his mouth, the 6 wheeler, the snow machine, the sound of my buddies shotgun, the sound of a ducks wings as they fly over, the sound of a bird hitting the ground and yes the sound of nothing at all other then just plain natural nature. Words do not do justice as to what the experience in Alaska is. If i shoot somthing and if i get a nice rack it just makes it better. Just think of how much different the food tastes, how cozy it is laying in a tent and hearing it rain. How exciting it is just to sit on a snow machine and wait for a flag! For me it is the experience for sure then the meat then the rack. Thanks!

 

[Water_Gremlin]

I hunt for the experience. If I am just hunting for meat or trophy antlers than its not as fun if you get skunked. If the main goal is to have fun on a hunting expedition a great time will be had even if an animal isnt bagged. Coming home with meat for the freezer is an added bonus.