Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska JUST BOOKED MY ALASKAN BEAR HUNT.

Tell me about those calked boots..Are they essential where you guys hunt??? ( about the only time I see them mentioned is in connection with Alaskan or Canadian hunting)

Whats the main benifit?? Climbing over wind blow timber or are conditions just generally treacherous under foot??

I can't say I have ever seen them used in the UK, although they would have worked great in a few places I've stalked in Scotland.

I did see one chap using instep crampons to cross a steep wet grassy side slope...He stalked in the area enough to decide that it was worth carrying a set of those crampons in his pack and it did give them access to areas the rest of had to skirt around..

Regards,

Peter

Hunter01,
I've hunted POW several times since first going in 1999. I've always hunted in the Fall. I've hunted with Johnnie twice before and will go again this Fall (for goat). I can't say enough good things about his operation! I guess you can tell I like it, going a third time. I don't know if Bobby works in the Spring, but he's the guide I always go with and he's one of the few I've been with in a tent in the wilderness that don't eventually piss me off. I won't attempt to give you any hunting advice, because things have changed alot since I went after bear, but trust me, Johnnie is a fount of knowledge and he won't steer you wrong. My first POW bear I shot with a Ruger Blackhawk, open sights, I'll have to tell you about it sometime.
Have a great time,
Don

Steep and wet in the spring, summer and fall; steep, wet and snowed in during the winter. There are some parts of this countryside where you simply cannot travel without spikes. If you're here year-round, you need at least two pairs -- one light, like in the picture, and one heavy for winter. And trust me, they do not make one pair suitable for all 12 months.

If I go out in that kind of country this fall, you can know for sure that I will be wearing boots about exactly like those -- one slide is all I need, and I've had a couple... .

Dennis

Baiting for a large bear means they are passing over smaller ones. There is some knowledge and patience required . It's the others that shoot anything black over bait that I have a problem with. I'm referring to southeast Alaska as I understand the situation is different up north.

Hunter01 should fit just fine in Alaska as they love liberal yankees. Make damn certain you spout this [bleep] off everywhere you go up there, it will add greatly to your enjoyment, and ultimately ours.

Sounds like over penetration to me.

Is this a guided black bear hunt or brown bear?

Don't believe there are brownies on POW.

Sir,
All black bear on POW. No color phase either from what Johnnie says. All black. Johnnie does brown bear hunts on mainland.

I did a lot of research before I booked with Johnnie. I talked with Alaskan DRN, and several other guides and outfitters. Several were very impressive, but after talking around, one name kept popping up. JOHNNIE. I talked to him 5 or 6 times on the phone. I could tell from talking to him that he knew his bear, and was expericenced at hunting them. I learned a lot from taking to him. He was really helpful advising me about hip boots, rain gear, etc. He knows his stuff. He knew a lot about guns, calibers, bullets, scope covers, sighting in, etc. He said my .300 RUM would be a great gun for bear. He also said the Nosler Partition was a great bullet to use. I've decided to use the 165 grain. I'm loading a Nosler 165 Solid base in it now, so I won't need to do to much load development with another 165 grainer. But I'll be checking to see how the Partition flys anyways. There was one nitwit in here that thinks .300 mags., etc. is to big for black bear. Something about DSMF. He's one himself it seems. I went caribou hunting last fall in Upper Quebec and half the guys in camp were using .300 mags. In my cabin alone 2 guys were using .300 short mags, another .300 wlby, me a .300 Rum, and another was using a .338 win. mag. And Johnnie himself said he uses a .338 win. mag. Guess we're all a bunch of DSMF according to this nitwit... Ha, ha. NOT! Just read in my latest edition of P.A. Game News that the .300 mags are the most popular caliber used in the over 1200 heads of game taken in 2009 for the B & C. 19% used them. Higher percentage than any other caliber. More DSMF again, right. Some folks are just trouble makers. I ignore them. You hear me SH?
I thank you for sharing your experiences with Johnnie, and your hunts. Would look forward to hearing about your special exciting hunt you had with him in the past. Your are really getting me excited to go on this hunt. I can't wait. Thanks again.

Hunter01

I used a 338RUM this year to kill my POW bear. 210xlc and 3100ish. It crushed that bear. I could have killed him with my 25-06ai, but the RUM just does the job sooo well. Use whatever you want. It's your hunt.

I agree, your 25-06ai would of done the job, but it is nice to smash those critters with those big booming bone crushers. Hit em with your 338 RUM, and they know they've been hit. It is just nice knowing you have all that power at your finger (trigger) tips.

I'm thinking I'm going to haul my 338rum/210X up to the top tomorrow and blast a deer with it. Just because I can. Bet I'll waste less meat than if I hit him with a cup and core bullet.

I'm thinking (and to each his own) that if I were going back to POW for bear, I might get one of those .45 cal Marlin stainless lever guns (NOT PORTED), with a 4X scope. Ranges are short, and rain is plentiful. I'm taking a NULA in .30-06 for the goat hunt. It's light weighing 6lbs 6.6oz (note that 666 is the sign of the beast, I'm just sayin'). I have a new scope, though, a Swaro Z5 3.5-18 (now there's my overkill!). I just love that magnification. Johnnie has already warned me to make sure I'm sighted in at 100yds and don't have to fiddle with the scope to be ready at 100.....good advice! Come to think of it, if I tag the goat early, I just might be over on POW at the Hollis cabin, after Deer or bear, but I'd prefer the deer......love gaining altitude.
Don
PS best to not respond to the haters (gators)

Nothing better than muzzle energy.

That .45 Marlin should be a great bone crusher for POW bear. Johnnie told me too that ranges aren't far. He said too to sight in at 100 yards. He said to know where gun is hitting at 50-60 yards too. He said we'd be using electrical tape to cover the muzzle too. I have a muzzle break on my RUM. He said to check zero using tape over break too, to see if that changes anything. Just little things like this that impressed me about Johnnie. I can sure tell he's been around bear hunting for a while and knows what he is doing.
By the way, this hunt is a one guide/two hunter deal. A buddy and I are going together. I hope that doesn't cause any problem with the bear hunt.

I wouldn't think that would make any difference, having two. You'll have a great time!
Don