Well I finally got at least the 1st half of a day to my self, so I'll get out for the 1st time to try & fill my coveted (only 3 or 5 (cant remember which) for an area of approx 800-1000 square primarily roadless miles) before the bears head to bed soon (been in the teens here in the mornings). I can drive to a small(step accross it in places) creek that still has some silver salmon in it & start hunting as soon as I leave the road. I know there are bears in the area that will go 10' plus.
I REALLY want to try & take one with the 480 SRH, but I will be hunting alone in fairly thick country so it's tempting to take the Guide Gun in 450 Marlin with 420gr hardcast @ 1820fps. Still in the deciding mode. Since I never leave the road without a backpack that goes over 25# I'm not too excited about carrying the rifle & SRH...
Hopefully I'll have pics to post, just a question of which forum.

Good luck and make the safe decision. And remember, we like PICTURES!!

Vance, have a safe hunt -- and take lots of pictures!

Lord Bless you there Vance. May your shot be sure!

Thanks guys.

Don't worry about pics, the camera & extra batteries are one of the reasons the pack gets heavy!

Hunting Alaska Brown Bear alone, you have bigger wavos (huevos)than me Vance. Good luck Bro, be careful and God Bless.

Actually, it's more the fact that my schedule is different from any friends I have that hunt, & I do 90%+ of my hunting alone so I'm used to it.
Trust me, I will be carefull... I'm a scaredy cat at heart.

[quote=Vance in AK I'm a scaredy cat at heart. [/quote]

This only means that you are smart! Be safe, Vance, but most of all, have a great time!

ENJOY!!!!

Good luck!I sure wish I could be there,maybe carry your pack?

That is not the Vance that I remember. You seemed pretty calm when we motoring back into Valdez while the waves made the shore disappear, the whole time I was contiplating how long the walk could really have been and asking to get let out of the boat.

Good luck buddy.

Good luck Vance. Hope you shoot a big one.

Good luck, God bless, and WE WANT PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

Be careful, be safe, good luck.

May I reiterate that we want pictures? LOTS of pictures!!

Good Luck on your hunt. And be safe for sure. I have seen how high up, and how far apart scratch marks are in trees. WOW they are an impressive animal.

Good luck and good hunting.
Pictures of your hunting area would be welcome as well.

good luck my friend. remeber if u shoot and there still coming shoot again.lol great luck to u.

Nothing really to report other than the bears & I both survived.
It was dark, 33* & raining hard when I left town at 8:30am. The hard rain never turned to snow (also never let up) & the temp stayed low 30*s all day.
It's about a 50 mile drive to the area I hunted, 1st half pavement & second half nice gravel road that intercests a huge wildlife refuge, & this portion is mostly roadless & of wilderness designation.
As soon as I parked my truck & hit the creek I was hunting I started to wonder if I had a sound plan. I took the 480 SRH & left the Guide Gun in the truck & the 480 seemed a little puny right off (A 500 Linebaugh would have seemed a little puny). The area is pretty thick & brushy, & most shots would likely be under 25 yds. Unfortunately most initial sightings will likely be at that distance too... The creek has an abundance of sliver (coho) salmon spawning in it. Most places it's 5ish ft wide & never more than knee deep. Most places I can walk accross in my 10" waterproof boots. Much of the time the salmon are sticking up partially out of the water because it's so shallow.
I hiked back in there maybe a little over an hour going in & just a little less coming out & I finaly said enough. In that hor going in, I covered only a few hundred yards. It was really nerve racking, Not 15 yds from the truck was the 1st area a bear had been snacking. Foliage is trampled down & slamon scraps are there. another 15yds, same thing. 30 yds from the truck & the brush is thick enough the blue Ford truck can be seen. At that point I decided this simply wasn't a wise move alone & I should go find a more open area to hunt. Nut the other half of the brain said you can't quit yet, just a little further... Finaly after a little more tan an hour I slapped that side of the brain & headed back.
The place is just a bear superhighway. Carcasses(sp) everywhere, trails everywhere, it's amazing. As I said it was raining hard & heavy overcast so it was really dreary in the area. Willows & alders low (leaves are gone or I would NOT have been there), small cottonwood & birch high, & Thick black spruce starting about 10' from the creek on each side so it has the feeling of being semi dark. Te fish are splashing in the creek, but since you often can't see what's making the splasing & coming your way on the otherside of the brush 15yds away around a bend in the creek, you don't know if it's a fish or a bear.
I felt like I was a bad guy doing a a home invasion on a wel armed & trained SWAT guys house (that I didn't know the floor plan of) with a low wattage flashlight & he's home & knows I'm there. Just not a good feeling.
I intend to go back soon with a friend for backup. I didn't see any bears but they are obviously there. My big fear is getting in a position where I have to kill a sow with cubs because things happen too fast & too close & being alone I can't give her the extra secong to change her mind. My BIGGEST fear is the same situation & the sow has 2 or 3 2.5 yr old 500# cubs... I will post a report on the next hunt. I got a few scenery pics this time but not good quality(figuring out a new camera). If I get a chance I'll post a couple.
_________________________
Vance in AK.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

When you get in a situation or place where that voice in your head say's dont go there, or dont do that, listen .Some people say its the voice of reason, I say it's that angle that watches over fools like me screaming in my ear, and its been right so far.Good move !Another set of eyes and ears and a steady hand you trust,[or he would not be there] are good insurance.Hunt safe and good luck.

"I felt like I was a bad guy doing a a home invasion on a well armed & trained SWAT guys house (that I didn't know the floor plan of) with a low wattage flashlight & he's home & knows I'm there."

LMAO, I like that analogy. You guys up there are a bit more gristled than the rest of us. I would have only made it about half that far with semi-auto slug gun. Thanks for sharing..

Vance,buddy I know the feeling, sort of.Kind of like going in a bay after a wounded black bear and not 100% sure how good he's hit.I may be a little sick but your day sounds like fun.When you get goose bumps and the hair on your neck stands up,and your skin starts crawling.........my kind of fun.Now I didn't say smart.Sounds like you've got a good spot,and I get the fear of having to deal with a sow.For that reason alone the extra set of eyes,and another weapon does make sense.Best of luck on your next venture out and know that you are the envy of others.