Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Another hunt with my campfire custom .35 Whelen!

Well, still no game. I still call it a successful trip though. This was my first time hunting blacktail deer out of Prince William Sound, and to say the scenery is breathtaking would be a gross understatement. I went with two friends, one of whom owns a 23' cuddy cabin boat. I pulled the boat with my truck, since mine is a 3/4 Diesel and his half - ton gas truck doesn't pull it very well.

We launched out of Whittier and tried Perry Island first, since someone told Dan, the boat owner there are deer there. His source was wrong - we hiked all over the island from bottom to top and there was not a single game trail. There were, however, beautiful views and it was a great day for a hike.

We got back to the boat and headed further out to Naked Island, where Dan had previously seen deer sign. He was right about this one - plenty of deer sign everywhere, and a lot of it fresh. We set up camp and set out the next morning. There were game trails criss-crossing themselves everywhere, and we had my friend David, another NCO in my unit set up in an area where he could overlook the hillside below while Dan and I climbed to circle the hilltop, and hopefully push some deer around to where David could get a shot at them. No luck though - there are no other predators on the island besides hunters, so the deer have gotten pretty good at evading us.

I suggested we try a different tactic that evening, so we all set up on bedding areas we had found while hiking around about 2 hours before sundown. We all chose different bedding areas, and checked the wind for best position, then watched the bedding areas until last shooting light had passed. None of us saw any deer, but we learned something about their ability to detect and avoid us, and we'll change our tactics next time. We're planning another attempt in October, during the rut. It's legal to take both bucks and does then too.

I was in awe of the scenery the entire trip, we were blessed with beautiful weather and I had the pleasure of carrying the finest rifle I've ever owned, thanks to a huge number of generous folks right here. Here are a couple of pictures, and a link to more on my photobucket account:







And the link to see more, including some Orca pics:

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s169/Toyuzu/Prince%20William%20Sound%20Alaska%202012/

Friends, diesel trucks, big boats, custom rifles - I wouldn't even want to squeeze a shot off.

Fabulous pics, thanks for sharing.

+100

Wunderbar! Thanks for sharing.

Good heavens, that is incredible scenery.

Yes it is, the middle photo is surreal, is that all moss covered rocks?

I have a hard time reconciling the fact that some lucky sod has access to country like that.
I am green with envy....and pleased that someone can live the dream.

Nice writeup, I love spending time in the sound. Blacktails are tough to hunt early in the season, especially given how much hunting pressure they recieve and how much snow we had this past winter.

I hope your buddy at least brought some shrimp pots.

I can't even begin to express how jealous I am. I was always envious of you folks having never been to Alaska. After having seen parts of it this summer, well.......

I keep telling my wife that with her degrees in Earth Science she could probably secure a job at the Uni in Fairbanks. My resume will open doors pretty much anywhere. A guy can dream .

George

Matt, your pictures and descriptive words make it almost like being there. almost............. dang I wish I was right now.

I will be in Fairbanks in 3 days and spend about 10 days looking for a bull moose. Has to be 48 inch or 4 brow tines or better. Problably won't get one but thats ok to. Good luck on your next hunt. ED

Thanks Matt! Beauty!

On that particular island (Naked Island) - who knows where that name originated. It's FAR from naked, with all it's scenery, jungle - like plants, and an abundance of animal sign; the moss covers literally everything. It's like a rain forest.

You know, he actually had a few pots, but we never dropped them. We sere concentrating on deer and sight - seeing on this trip. He did say he's had success before with shrimp though. Maybe next time we'll drop the pots.

I am humbled by the accolades of one far more experienced than I - thank you!

Well Sir, jobs are plentiful here, and game is too. So when are you moving up?

Matt you have a great rifle,beautiful scenery,no quarry yet "but two outta three ain't bad"..enjoy these days for they disappear in a heart beat..

Thanks Flem! I agree. I am savoring every minute of time I have in the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. I'm hiking yet another mountian tomorrow morning with one of the guys who was with me on this last trip.

I agree, except I confess - we did squeeze off a few shots. The hike to the top of Perry Island was.... challenging, to put it mildly. The rifles suffered some rough treatment on the steep slopes, so we verified scope zero when we got to a safe place to shoot. Those Redfield optics are still spot - on! You gotta love Leupold quality!

well it is a rain forrest ,we have a little of that stuff on the west coast of Vancouver Island as well,not so open under brush wise ,Beautiful spot

norm