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Hunting With Your Avid 2015

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Posted

I just got back from our hunting trip last week and had an awesome time.  I think we should have a regular section for hunting, fishing and camping trips with our planes.  I continue to be amazed at how much I can fit in and haul in mine.  I had all my hunting gear, 2 weeks worth of food, 2 packs, tent, sleeping bag, 2 pads, 4 duffle bags of gear, rifle, fishing pole, electric fence and posts, 15 gal of fuel in cans, and a bunch of other miscl. stuff besides my regular tools, emergency gear and backup battery.  I left my passenger seat out and ended up sleeping in the plane for the first night because I left after work and couldn't get all the way in.  I was raining hard so I unloaded the cans and most of the gear an covered it with a tarp under the wing then made use of my open cargo area and had a very comfortable night stretched out in the plane since it is 6+' from the bungee truss to the back of the cargo area. Flew the rest of the way in on the second day.  Here are some of the pictures. We saw sheep, moose, caribou, a few black bears and a ton of grizzlies.  We figured we saw at least 13 different ones (note the electric fences in the pictures).  We didn't have any trouble with them fortunately since they seemed to be mainly interested in the blue berries but I passed up shooting a second caribou (the same size) that was with the one by partner Danny shot since we knew we would only be able to get one out at a time before the bears were on the kill (if we were lucky)...and grizzly season didn't open until 1 Sept in that area.  We managed to get his out in two loads and I had another chance at that same bull when we were going back for the second load but we would have had to leave it overnight; so no chance we would be able to claim it the next day.  Not to worry, I got a great ram a few days later.  w split the caribou between the two planes and flew it out to get it to Anchorage on Northern Air cargo; 267 lbs of meat.  We flew the sheep back with us to home, of course it was a bit lighter and there wasn't much backstrap left, lol.  If you want something good, try frying up a couple of pans of sheep backstrap and then mix it with Mountainhouse stroganoff noodles; I think we had it 5 nights in a row!

 

It rained on us almost every day and at the last we couldn't cross the river any more with waders and were wondering if it would start threatening our camp and landing spot.  I was sureglad I had the 30's on for this  trip, they slow down the cruise to 80-85 mph but they are the way to go for landing on those big rocks and gullies with them.

 

Made it back with nothing bent this year!  Yeeha!

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Posted (edited)

Wow! That looks awesome!

Does the electric fence work well? Or does it just piss the Grizzlies off before they eat you?

Smart idea though!!!

Your airplane looks great! I love your gear and tires. You really have an off road vehicle!

Ron

Edited by Ron

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Posted

Hey Ron, 

 

The electric fence is 100% successful; I haven't been eaten yet!  I can't say how well it really works on grizzlies but it lets me sleep better at night.  As far as I know I have never had one test it yet though.  That said, my BIL has a bee business in OR and uses them around all his bee hive sets that are not in crop fields.  They absolutely work to keep the black bears out.

 

Randy

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Posted

Beautiful sheep!

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Posted

Congrats on a great hunt!  Awesome pics as always Mr!

 

:BC:

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Posted (edited)

Randy,

Your narrative and photos got my heart pounding - Wishing I could have been there!

I agree with having a "Flying Hunts" section - sounds like it would be your private domain tho - so far.

Wishing many more great adventures for you in the future.

Keep posting - I really enjoy the photos from the Great Land of Alaska.

I didn't take any photos at Bass Pro Shop, Cabellas, or Walmart - my last "hunting trip"! Ha!

I might add some flares and claymors to the bear fence area!

I flew with F&G spotting radio-collared Grizzly bears around Anchorage, on the East and South sides from Merrill Field - We found 8 bears before we got outside the city limits, and lots more toward Eagle River. That was when someone got killed by one at Eagle River.

EDMO

Edited by Ed In Missouri
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Posted

Never realized how big a caribou was .big set of horns .awesome pictures. THanks for sharing em

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Posted

If only most of the lower 48 looked like that...

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Posted

I agree the pictures and narrative are great! I really enjoyed reading about and seeing your adventure.

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Posted

Wow!

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Posted

Great pictures. I wanted to see how you got the antlers in the plane, or were they tied to the struts?

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Posted

Looks like an awesome trip,thanks for the pictures,remember not to piss on the fence at night :)

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Posted

Great pictures. I wanted to see how you got the antlers in the plane, or were they tied to the struts?

Danny flew with them partly hanging out the window of his cub but we still had to cut the skull in half.  you can see them hanging out the window in the picture of the cub on the tarmac.  I tied a set on my struts once and it flew fine but cut my cruise by about 7 mph.

 

Looks like an awesome trip,thanks for the pictures,remember not to piss on the fence at night :)

And remember to switch it off before you step over it, Hahaha

 

I know we are very fortunate to be able to fly in such a great place.  I hope many of you guys get a chance to fly in Alaska sometime and be sure to look me up.  I sure enjoyed getting to visit and fly with Bandit when he came up but it was too short a time.  Mark, when are you coming back up?

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Posted

Randy is right. If it is possible take a trip to Alaska do it. Even though my daughter and I only had a short time to spend in Alaska we made the most of it. Participated in my brothers wedding, met up with a couple of friends and got to meet and make new friends like Randy. Every time I see pictures from Alaska on the forum I remember the great hospitality and adventure Randy introduced Megan and I to. If any other members make it to Anchorage give Randy a call. He is a super nice person with a super nice airplane. Thanks again Randy. I will be back.

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