Alaska Fishing Tips

Salmon Fishing
While fishing in Alaska, your experienced guide exposes you to a variety of fishing opportunities and methods. Salmon fishing typically involves trolling using down-riggers, however, lead weights or deep divers are often employed to reach fish just below the surface. In Alaska, we troll with herring and artificial lures- we have a full arsenal of tools and tactics. Whatever it takes to make ‘em bite!

Sometimes, mooching or even jigging will be the method of the day for catching salmon. Typically, we use light trolling or level wind reels coupled with long (10’6) medium weight rods or, for even more excitement, salt water fly reels.

Nothing compares to the fight of a big king salmon on fly gear and light line! Be prepared for a 30 to 45 minute battle. When fish are actively feeding on the surface, casting with light tackle can be an exciting alternative. We use only high quality light tackle to keep the SPORT in your sport fishing!

Halibut Fishing
Jigging for Halibut has proven so successful we seldom do anything else. We don’t use 5 pounds of lead, a winch and a broom stick to fish like most places in Alaska. Whenever possible, we fish shallow water for these pacific monsters making the fight even more exhilarating!

When jigging, we use comparatively “light” halibut gear, but for the real “sport fishing enthusiast” we use “ultra light weight” 10-20 lb class bait casting and spinning gear. Our guides do their best to stay on the “cutting” edge of angling techniques. Our favorite method for bottom fishing incorporates the use of high quality metal butterfly and knife jigs, coupled with highly responsive light weight jigging rods and no stretch micro fiber lines. Using this system will give you the “fight of your life”, even with 20 to 30 lb fish. Occasionally we land fish in excess of 100 lbs on these light rigs. A – line class world record- fishing experience!

Wild Mustangs and the Round Up… Should they Take Place?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is our weekly point, counter point post on various Sportsmen issues from both sides. 

In 1971, an unprecedented public outcry moved Congress to unanimously pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, granting federal protection to America’s wild horses and burros as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.

Today there are thousands of wild mustangs that run wild through out the west. The roundup is part of the Bureau of Land Management’s overall strategy to remove thousands of mustangs from public lands across the West to protect wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them. The bureau estimates about half of the nearly 37,000 wild mustangs live in Nevada, with others concentrated in Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

The BLM roundups wild horses every year by using helicopters to herd the horses into pens and holding areas.  The BlM states that:

• It is necessary to manage the number of wild horses so they don’t impact the land they roam on.
• The carrying capacity is limited and the number of mustangs exceeds the lands ability to maintain the herd.
• If the mustangs aren’t managed and the numbers kept in check then they risk starving and a slow death.
• Too many horses impact the range land and vegetation for other wild animals as well as cattle that share the land.

For me this issue hits close to home.  I live in Central Idaho and we have wild horses right here in my back yard near Challis Idaho.  Last year they did a round up and several horses were killed.  The wild mustang has been here a long time and we need to find a better way to ensure there is a blance for all our wildlife.  I beleive some things need to managed in order that we have balance but the wild horse and rounds ups I am not a fan of here in Idaho.

Chris Burget

On the other side of the issue are groups that oppose the practice of rounding up wild horses with helicopters and call for the ban of all roundups.

• The Wild Mustang is an iconic symbol and should be left to roam freely.
• The BLM’s practice of using helicopter to round the horses up causes serious injury and death to many horses each year.
• The BLM’s wild horse program cost about $50 million this year and is expected to rise to at least $85 million by 2012 if the program is not changed, which comes from tax payers dollars

Lori Mcnee

 http://www.bullsandbeavers.com/2010/01/16/wild-horses/

 

http://rtfitch.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/california-senator-quizzes-salazar-on-his-deadly-wild-horse-fiasco/

These are two sides of the issue.  We want to hear from you on whether you feel the BLM  should round up wild horses.  Share your experience and or encounters with the wild mustang.  Whatever your experience is we want to hear both sides.

 

Should we Have Reintroduced the Gray Wolf into Idaho and Yellowstone?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is going to be our weekly point, counter point post on various Sportsmen issues from both sides. 

The first issue that we are discussing and looking for our readers feedback is on the Gray wolf.  Do you feel the Gray Wolf should have been reintrduced in Idaho and Montana?  If you had asked me back in 1995 when we reintroduced the wolf my answer would have been no. I live amongst the ranchers and felt that there was a reason they were removed in the first place and we should leave it alone and not open pandoras box.

Fast forward to today and my answer would change for several reasons.  Now that the wolf is here and has been removed form the endangered species we need wolf management in order to keep the numbers in check.  Many people feel that there should be no management and that the only reason we want to keep the numbers in check is so we can hunt the elk and deer. 

• There is some logic to that and if  you look at the ecomic benefit of hunting and fees to our state each year then yes I say we need to keep this predator in check. 
•  We know that each year the wolf numbers continue to grow despite our first hunting season on the wolf.  The wolf predation and cost to ranchers livestock continues to climb despite efforts to minimize conflicts.  
• Farmers and ranchers have a right to protect their livestock and as hunters we have a right to protect our elk, deer and moose so that there is a balance for all. 
• Today we have over a 1,000 wolves in Idaho and Montana and they have been removed from the Endangered Species List.

Chris Burget

On the other side of the issue are various groups that oppose hunting and management of the Wolf. 

• Hunters just want more deer and elk to hunt. 
• The wolf is a key stone species that benefits the environment by keeping elk herds in check.
• The reintroduction of the Wolf has had a positive impact on vegetation especially aspen trees and willows by keeping the herds on the move.
• If you don’t eat the animal you take then you should not kill it.
• How can you cull a Wolf that so closely resembles your dog.

Lori McNee

These are two sides of the issue.  We want to hear from you on whether you feel the wolf should have been reintroduced.  Share your expierence and or encounters with the wolf.  Have you seen one in the wild or have you lost a guard dog or livestock to one.  Have you been to Yellowstone and heard the howl of the Gray Wolf.  Whatever your expierence is we want to hear both sides.

  http://www.bullsandbeavers.com/2010/01/17/the-call-of-the-grey-wolf/ 

 

 

South Africa, Here We Come!

Well, it’s official. We’re headed to South Africa. I think every red-blooded American male has dreamed of going to Africa, and We’re not any different. We’re excited to say the least. Our trip is in May and guess what? We need some people to go with me. Wanna go?

What we’ve done is work with one of our South African PH’s to secure three good blocks of time and some GREAT prices. You could do the whole trip for about the same price as a good whitetail hunt here in the states. It’s cheap!

But, there’s a catch…yeah, there’s always a catch. You have to be willing to let us film your hunt for our upcoming show. That’s not too much to ask, is it? If you agree to let us film you hunting, not only will you get a deal on one of the great packages below, but we’ll throw in an Impala and Blesbuck for FREE! So what do you think?

1. Rifle Hunt – Five Animals
   – 7 day hunt for a group 8 hunters
   – May 6-12
   – 5 animal hunt *Kudu, Gemsbuck, Springbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Steenbuck
   – These animals can be substituted for animals of the same price on price list
   – $4,750 *all inclusive hunt (excluding air and tip)
2. Archery Hunt – Five Animals
   – 10 day hunt for a group 6 hunters
   – May 13-22
   – 5 animal hunt *Blue Wildebeest, Warthog, Kudu, Springbuck, Impala
   – These animals can be substituted for animals of the same price on price list
   – $6,000 *all inclusive hunt (excluding air and tip)
3. Archery/Rifle Combo Hunt – Five Animals
   – 7 day hunt for a group 6 hunters
   – May 23-30
   – 5 animal hunt *Kudu, Gemsbuck, Springbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Steenbuck
   – These animals can be substituted for animals of the same price on price list
   – $5,000 *all inclusive hunt (excluding air and tip)

Bulls & Beavers, Top Sportsmen’s Issues of 2010

 

In 2010 Bulls & Beavers will be discussing important issues from the wolf reintroduction, wild horses, BLM, health of our rivers, hunting rights, second amendment, salmon, conservation and getting our youth both boys and girls into the outdoors.  Every state has issues that affect the outdoor sportsmen and we want to hear from you. 

In California they have banned mountian lion hunting, New Jersey we are seeing hunting rights attacked on all sides.  We understand that these are sensitive issues for some and most of us are passionate about the way we feel.  Here at Bulls & Beavers we want to build a community where people can agree to disagree in a respectful way. Robust dialogue is healthy so don’t be afraid to express your views. 

Here are a few posts that we have written over the last year on several of these important issues.

 

The Call of the Grey Wolf

Encounters

The Ancient Art of Hunting and Preserving its Sacred Traditions

Hunting & Fishing is a Multi-Billion Dollar Corporation

Wild Horses

Do You Stand Out? Why Outdoorsmen & Women Should use Social Media for 2010

Hunting Ain’t just for Rednecks

For the Ages

Bulls & Beavers Tags along with Boulder Creek Outfitters for a Hunt of a Lifetime

Im a BullEAVER

B&B meets up with Ted Nugent. Music, Views and the Spirit of the Wild.

SCI Conservation Efforts Benefit North American Hunters

In the last decade, Safari Club International has spent $140 million on protecting the freedom to hunt through advocacy, research and education to ensure that the hunting heritage is accessible for future generations. These programs benefit hunters throughout North American, and the majority of the work is funded with proceeds from its Annual Hunter’s Convention,  January 20-23 in Reno, Nevada.

Through direct involvement and partnerships with other conservation organizations, SCI contributes to dozens of projects in the United States and Canada every year. Earlier this year, Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) and Mossy Oak joined forces to help ensure healthy white-tail deer populations throughout North America. They have provided funding for white-tailed deer research at the University of Georgia and the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study.

The project will investigate reasons for expansion of epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV) and bluetongue viruses (BTV), better define the impacts of these viruses on deer populations, and then develop recommendations to control and curtail spread of the diseases if possible. The research findings will be shared with the hunting public and wildlife professionals to better maintain healthy white-tailed deer populations throughout North America.

On the West Coast, SCI’s efforts also contributed to the successful vote by the California Fish and Game Commission against extending the current lead ammunition ban for big game hunting to the hunting of small game and upland birds in so-called condor “range.” SCI filed comments that agreed with the finding of the California Fish and Game Department that the extension of the ban was not supported by the science.

The participation of Safari Club International (SCI) in a federal lawsuit has helped ensure that hunters in Idaho and Montana can continue hunting wolves under state seasons. The Montana federal court denied a preliminary injunction requested by Defenders of Wildlife and other plaintiffs who sued to stop the hunting season, and to challenge the delisting of Idaho and Montana’s wolves.

SCI was also instrumental in successfully challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ban on the import of polar bears from Canada. When the FWS listed the polar bear as threatened in May 2008, it also determined that imports of polar bear legally hunted from approved populations in Canada would no longer be allowed, as they had been for the previous 12 years. In June, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rebuffed the FWS’s attempt to have SCI’s lawsuit dismissed without full briefing on the merits.

Another key research project funded by SCI involves the decline of woodland caribou in northern Quebec and Labrador. The caribou herds are vital to the local Inuit and Cree Indians who hunt them for subsistence, but also rely on income generated from guiding and outfitting hunters. Early indications have shown that loss of habitat and predation by black bears are two crucial factors that need to be addressed in order to preserve this resource and hunting opportunity.

These are just a few examples of the conservation efforts in North America that are made possible through the generous support of its Convention exhibitors, donors, advertisers, members and corporate sponsors. For more information on these and other conservation projects in North America, visit the SCI web site at www.safariclub.org.

SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 190 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 18 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

Wolf packs increase despite hunt

 

 

 

 

 

Despite Idaho’s first Wolf hunt with about two months left to go in the season the wolf packs have been increasing.  Close to a 150 wolves have been killed to date and half of the states’s hunting zones have been closed.  For the full story go to the Idaho Mountain Express. 

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http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005129941&var_Year=2010&var_Month=02&var_Day=05

Idaho Mountain Express, Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com

 

 

Turkey Calling Tips

It’s just about that time of year. I dusted off the turkey calls last night and thought a post on turkey calling may be in order. Wild turkey calling takes time and effort to learn, and knowing the basics of wild turkey vocalizations is crucial to being able to use different calls successfully. Wild turkeys make at least eight different calls, as well as several subtypes of calls that are season specific. You don’t need to know them all, just the major ones which are:

Cluck:
The cluck consists of one or more short, staccato notes. The plain cluck, many times, includes two or three single note clucks. It’s generally used by one bird to get the attention of another. It’s a good call to reasure an approaching gobbler that a hen is waiting for him.

Yelp:
The yelp is a basic turkey sound. It is often delivered in a series of single note vocalizations and can have different meanings depending on how the hen uses it.

Kee Kee Run:
The kee kee is the lost call of young turkeys and variations made by adult birds. It’s often associated with fall hunting, but can be used successfully in the spring. This is what it sounds like. A variation of the call, the kee kee run is merely a kee kee with a yelp.

Purr:
Purring is a soft, rolling call turkeys make when content. It can usually be heard by feeding birds. This is not a loud call, but is good for reassuring turkeys as they get in close to your position.

Cutt:
A series of fast, loud, erratic single notes is referred to as cutting. It’s a modified cluck and is a distinct abrupt call with a somewhat questioning nature. It can be heard at a great distance and is often used by a single turkey looking for companionship.

How to call Turkeys:
For successful turkey calling, you should use use multiple calls. The first step would be to start with a locator call, which are used to simulate loud noises or other animals that gobblers will respond to such as owls or crows. Use short locater calls and listen for a response. Once you feel that you have found a proper location with turkeys in your range, then it’s time to use your vocalization calls.

You should start off using your vocalization calls more quietly and then gradually increase volume. A soft “cluck”, “yelp”, or “purr” are good initial calls to use. This way you won’t scare off any nearby turkeys that you can’t see with a loud call. If you hear responses from a gobbler you have to be patient as many times they won’t close in on you right away. Wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before responding to a gobbler’s call. Be sure to keep trying to call a slow moving gobbler for at least an hour before you give up.

If you hear hens, you should respond to their calls with the same number of calls and the same vocalization. For instance, if you hear a hen cluck 5 times, you should respond with 5 clucks. This will encourage her to come towards your location. This will also help to lure gobblers that are in the vicinity of the hen. There is no secret to calling turkeys. Each turkey will respond to your calls in its own unique way. Turkey calling is an art that takes time and experience to master, so get out there and have some fun!

Why Pink Salmon are Cool

by Deneki Outdoors

True, not many anglers head to Alaska specifically to target pink salmon. That’s OK though – we still think they’re pretty awesome fish. Here’s why.

1. Every other year there are billions of them. OK, not billions, but on even-numbered years on the Kanektok, our pink numbers are very, very large.
2. They eat poppers. Find ‘em where they’re fresh, and they’re more than happy to eat surface flies, and surface flies for salmon are cool.
3. They’re a ton of fun on a 6 weight. It may not be a big-game experience, but fishing a lighter-weight rod can be a nice break when you’ve spent most of your week pulling on the big boys.
4. They make a great shore lunch. Pinks don’t keep well in your freezer over the winter, but on the bank of the river, just minutes from swimming, they’re awfully delicious.
5. They’re great for kids. We love hosting family groups, and pinks are ‘friends of the family’! Easy to hook and fun to fight, but not too heavy or powerful…perfect.
6. Their metamorphosis is pretty amazing. All salmon change physically when they enter fresh water, but a pink’s Jekyll and Hyde transition from silver and slender to pink, toothy and humpbacked is just a neat natural thing to witness.

Shots from the SHOT Show

 

 

 

 

This year we saw many positive signs from the 2010 SHOT Show at the industry’s annual trade show — the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show –

The show’s return to Las Vegas sparked a rise in attendance over the previous year, with buyers packing exhibit booths to review products and then placing orders on the latest shooting, hunting and outdoor gear. Overall attendance was 58,444.

SHOT Show Thrives in Las Vegas http://goo.gl/fb/xmO7

The Ancient Art of Hunting and Preserving its Sacred Traditions

 

“Hunting,” the Old Man said when my noise slacked off, “is the noblest sport yet devised by the hand of man. There were mighty hunters in the Bible, and all the caves where the cave men lived are full of carvings of assorted game the head of the house drug home. If you hunt to eat, or hunt for sport for something fine, something that will make you proud, and make you remember every single detail of the day you found him and shot him, that is good too.
“But if there’s one thing I despise it’s a killer, some blood-crazy idiot that just goes around bam-bamming at everything he sees. A man who takes pleasure in death just for death’s sake is rotten somewhere inside, and you’ll find him doing things later in life that’ll prove it.”

The Old Man and The Boy, by Robert Ruark:

Today, many people think of hunters as stone cold killers that don’t care about anything  but the kill.   There are  a few hunters like in every walk of life  that can give us a bad name.  The true hunter is respectful of others and of their property and has great respect for his prey, and will never, ever shoot when he doesn’t reasonably expect to kill cleanly. 

From the begging of time man has been hunting animals and painting their stories on cave walls to canvass to temple stone pillars.  I have always been amazed that we can look back in time and at the different animals early man hunted for survival along with the different methods and weapons.  There is so much we can learn from our history that has been passed down in the form of art. From the cave man days of survival up to the Egyptian times and our own Native American Indians,  man has been showing us many important lessons through art and passed down traditions.

 Toussenel said: “Hunting is the first and oldest ancient art.  Most scenes on the walls of the caves left for us by the Paleolithic men depict scenes of hunting wild animals. Hunting has always been present in art and culture, from poetry to painting.  Whether born and raised in the country or city. We are all descended from those cavemen and posses the hunters instinct. We hunt to live, we live to hunt.

 

Paleolithic men depict scenes of hunting wild animals

The Pharaohs depicted hunting scenes

Native American Indians hunting on horseback

 Native American Indians painted their hunts

 For me the biggest lesson and the one that needs to be passed down is the honor and respect for all animals.  It is not about the kill but about the hunt. Yes, I love back strap and every year I wait with anticipation of an early fall to put my skills to the test against natures most intelligent animals.  I think back to how our native American Indians respected their land and the animals they hunted.

  Traditions in the US are stronger than ever.  Just look at our holidays like the 4^thof July and Christmas. Hunting traditions, are also passed down but by fewer and fewer hunters.  These traditions vary depending on where you live and are just as important to our culture.

• The Germans honored the Stag by placing a twig in it’s mouth
• The Native Americans paused and gave thanks to the quarry for sharing it’s life so that they could feed their families.
• Ancient Greeks believed hunting was discovered by the gods
• Aristotle said that the hunt is just and natural, by means of which man claims what belongs to him but he must prove skill and knowledge for that.

 All over the country our hunting rights are being attacked.  From the banning of Mountain Lion hunts in California to the Black Bear in New Jersey.  Our hunting traditions and gun rights continue to be threatened due to high dollar campaigns from certain groups and  politicians. 

It is through time honored traditions of respect, that in the end will ensure and preserve the Ancient Art of Hunting.

 

Chris Burget - Bulls & Beavers LLC,  Copyright 2010

 

 

“Best of the Best” ATK Ammunition Systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulls & Beavers’  “Best of the Best” award recognizes companies, organizations, products, and individuals who we believe demonstrate superior quality, service, or achievement supporting the pursuits of the outdoor sportsman.

 Jason Nash Communications & Events Manager for ATK Ammunition Systems receives the B&B “Best of the Best” award at the 2010 SHOT Show. Federal Premium ammunition offers some of the most technologically advanced sporting rifle ammunition available.

“Best of the Best” Smith & Wesson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulls & Beavers  “Best of the Best” award recognizes companies, organizations, products, and individuals who we believe demonstrate superior quality, service, or achievement supporting the pursuits of the outdoor sportsman.

Leland Nichols Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing recieves the B&B “Best of the Best” award at the 2010 SHOT Show. 

Smith & Wesson is one of the world’s most recognizable brands, and for good reason. Since their doors first opened the focus has been on design and manufacturing innovative solutions that are unparalleled in the field of personal safety and protection. Almost every major law enforcement and military agency in the world has used Smith & Wesson products, and to this day, most police departments in the United States depend on their firearms and accessories.

 

 

“Best of the Best” Browning

Bulls & Beavers’ recognition of companies, organizations, products, and individuals who we believe demonstrate superior quality, service, or achievement supporting the pursuits of the outdoor sportsman.

Leland Nichols Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

 

“Best of the Best” Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Bulls & Beavers recognizes companies, organizations, products, and individuals who we believe demonstrate superior quality, service, or achievement supporting the pursuits of the outdoor sportsman.

David Allen President & CEO of RMEF receives the B&B “Best of the Best” award at the 2010 SHOT Show.  RMEF’s 150,000 members whose support has protected and enhanced millions of acres of North American wildlife habitat. Hundreds of thousands of these acres offered extremely limited public access or were completely off-limits to the public. They are now open for all to hunt, fish and otherwise enjoy. We employ more than 150 people and boast more than 10,000 volunteers working through 550 chapters across the United States

“Best of the Best” Magellan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulls & Beavers’ “Best of the Best” award recognizes companies, organizations, products, and individuals who we believe demonstrate superior quality, service, or achievement supporting the pursuits of the outdoor sportsman.

Justin Doucette Director, Product Marketing receives the B&B  “Best of the Best” award at the 2010 SHOT Show.

Magellan iphone product review

 

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