Hey everyone. After years of planning, my wife and I moved to Anchorage last year. I’m excited to learn the ropes of hunting and fishing, and to meet new people. I’ve really enjoyed stomping around the mountains in the area and look forward to taking advantage of more of the other outdoor activities this great state has to offer
New to Alaska
- Thread starter KYtoAK
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Just so you know, this isn't a typical winter here. We have had a few like this since I've been here, but still unusual.
So I’ve been told. I’m a little disappointed with this winter’s weather honestly. I’d rather have the snow than all of this ice. Snow and cold don’t bother me so much
4merguide
Well-known member
Well, ice is the one thing that's pretty consistent during the Alaskan winters, so that's probably something you'll need to get used to. Welcome!
kasilofchrisn
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum!
Alaskan weather is anything but predictable!
Alaskan weather is anything but predictable!
Up here in the norther part of the state, we don't have all the slippery ice. We have some, of course. We have more of the cold but not as much of the snow as the southern part of the state sometimes gets. I know you don't always get to pick where you live but it sounds like you could be happier up here. We are closer to the wilderness than Anch. is. Not as many gang bangers and one way streets. Less people.
Welcome. Have fun, good luck, be safe.
Anchorage hasn’t been so bad so far, but we could do with more elbow room and will likely settle elsewhere in Alaska. Happy to be here for now regardless
The studded tires and ice cleats have worked like a charm so far
Katoolahs for the win.
Good idea. There were some muddy hikes I went on a few months ago where some extra grip would have prevented some falls
I wear football shoes in some terrain. They work really well up Palmer Creek Road area, especially when it's raining.
Welcome! I'm glad everything worked out for your and yours to make the move to Alaska. When I was new to Alaska and to hunting/fishing in general, the best thing I ever did was thoroughly brush up on the different hunting areas and its associated laws. My heart raced when an Alaskan State Trooper appeared out of nowhere and checked everything (this happened to me three times now over the years) and thank goodness I had everything I needed and was found in good order.
Taking the time and small cost to attend Hunter's Ed class at Rabbit Creek Shooting Range is also a great idea that I honestly didn't even consider doing until many years hunting. The class is well worth your time no matter how experienced you might be.
I struggled for years finding a legitimate spot to hunt. I started with small game. I feel I did what many did when pursuing small game for the first time- asking for specific locations (and subsequently getting hazed and shut down for doing so), wandering through the Palmer Hay Flats and Bird Creek several times and anything close to Anchorage (too much hunting pressure on small game/getting hunted to near extinction), getting lost chasing tracks but never finding anything (moving through too quickly), and not knowing where to really go thus wasting gas going to really nowhere (poor planning).
This best thing is to get the app called "On X" and pay for premium. The app will tell you where public land is (good for hunting) and where private land is (not so good for hunting). It'll also show terrain and possible entrances to the public lands, aka where to park the truck and walk in. I like to plot a route that I'm going to take and send a copy of it to my wife before I go, just in case something goes wrong out there. I cross reference this with Google Earth to get the best idea of terrain and habitat for the species of game I'm pursuing. I call it Online Scouting. You scout areas in these apps and plan a time to walk the route and see if it is a good spot or not. Keep notes, Rinse, repeat the process.
This is literally what I've come to in my years of hunting since 2006. It might be a mediocre way of doing things, but I sincerely wish someone told me how to do this when I was first starting out rather than hiking a gajillion miles and getting somewhat frustrated after skunking for the 20th time... heheh.
Best of luck!
-HH
Taking the time and small cost to attend Hunter's Ed class at Rabbit Creek Shooting Range is also a great idea that I honestly didn't even consider doing until many years hunting. The class is well worth your time no matter how experienced you might be.
I struggled for years finding a legitimate spot to hunt. I started with small game. I feel I did what many did when pursuing small game for the first time- asking for specific locations (and subsequently getting hazed and shut down for doing so), wandering through the Palmer Hay Flats and Bird Creek several times and anything close to Anchorage (too much hunting pressure on small game/getting hunted to near extinction), getting lost chasing tracks but never finding anything (moving through too quickly), and not knowing where to really go thus wasting gas going to really nowhere (poor planning).
This best thing is to get the app called "On X" and pay for premium. The app will tell you where public land is (good for hunting) and where private land is (not so good for hunting). It'll also show terrain and possible entrances to the public lands, aka where to park the truck and walk in. I like to plot a route that I'm going to take and send a copy of it to my wife before I go, just in case something goes wrong out there. I cross reference this with Google Earth to get the best idea of terrain and habitat for the species of game I'm pursuing. I call it Online Scouting. You scout areas in these apps and plan a time to walk the route and see if it is a good spot or not. Keep notes, Rinse, repeat the process.
This is literally what I've come to in my years of hunting since 2006. It might be a mediocre way of doing things, but I sincerely wish someone told me how to do this when I was first starting out rather than hiking a gajillion miles and getting somewhat frustrated after skunking for the 20th time... heheh.
Best of luck!
-HH
I've never heard of those, I'll look them up.
Good on you!
Thank you, Mark!
Thanks for the awesome reply. You're right about the laws and regs. Quite a bit more complex than the regs in Kentucky, where I'm from. I've gone out a few times with my 10/22 for grouse and ptarmigan here in 14C (including Bird Creek) with no luck so far. But, I found a spot last weekend where I spotted a fair size group of ptarmigan in flight, so I'm going to try to work that area a couple times and see if I can finally have some success. Either way, a day outside is well spent.
As far as mapping, I've got a CalTopo subscription which I like well enough, but I've heard good things about the features on OnX. Might have to make the switch
No problem! I've heard of CalTopo but haven't personally used it yet, though I'd like to add that for terrain cross referencing. The biggest thing for OnX to me is the clear marking of private vs public land that has probably saved me from getting shot by land owners a few times...
Best of luck with the Ptarmigan! I find they are never within 500 yards of the same spot the day before for whatever reason. Kind of one day they're there and the next day they disappear.
Thanks. I'm going to give ptarmigan another try Sunday so hopefully I break my streak of getting skunked
Similar threads
