30 minutes to MOOOOOOOOOSE! last post

[Dano]

John, glad your folks are OK down south. Your right you know Wingnutty would make a nice Moose decoy    You guys have a safe, terrific time.

[AkDan]

weather update....they are  possible calling for snow here in fairbanks in the next few days.  Had a pretty good frost last nite.

The brooks range north of town (north of tok) down appx 200 miles was all snow also.  No real amount, just enough to make things white.

GL on the hunt!!! 2100lbs, and people wonder why I dont want to guide moose hunters anymore HA.  

[John/Alaska]

Lets see if this works!  Here is this mornings forecast for here. There is a bit of snow on the mountains this morning.

AKZ224-030330-
UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY-
INCLUDING...TOK...TANACROSS...EAGLE...TETLIN...NORTHWAY...ALCAN...
CHICKEN...BOUNDARY
420 AM ADT FRI SEP 2 2005
.TODAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING THEN CLEARING. HIGHS
55 TO 60. NORTHWEST WINDS TO 15 MPH BECOMING SOUTHEAST IN
THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 25 TO 35. SOUTHEAST WINDS
TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY...INCREASING CLOUDS. HIGHS 55 TO 60. SOUTHWEST WINDS
15 TO 20 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS AROUND 35.
SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY...CLOUDY. HIGHS 55 TO 60. SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS NEAR 35.
.LABOR DAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGHS NEAR 60.
.MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS NEAR
40.
.TUESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGHS NEAR 60.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 40.
.WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 60.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS NEAR
35.
.THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGHS NEAR 55.

Doesn't look too bad at all!

[Steve H.]

650 pounds!??!?!?  AGood Lord!!!  Thats enough stuff for a two month hunt in the winter!  Here I scold AKDAN for having too much unecessary crap with a 65# pack for a 13 day sheep hunt!

John H.  I wrote your numbers down too.  We'll see you in two!

[AkDan]

Steve, my pack weighs 52lbs for 10 days, actually I should be under 50lbs thats one man with everything.  I havent weighed it for a 14 day trip but I bet I am well under 60 at this point.  I managed to find one of the leupold back packer tripods.  So if you figure 52lbs with everything, adding 1.5lbs a day for food (which I know I am closer to 1lb) that puts me at 58lbs.  Not bad considering I'm stuck hunting solo most of the time.  

You also have to remember I had to CARRY my leathers and wore those dang blasted hippers for the hike.

Last trip to the sheep grounds was socked in so I pulled out early to regroup for this moose hunt.  Then back out for sheep till the closure, gl on your moose.  

Btw, where in sam heck is Matt Richards.  We leave sunday nite/monday morning and he still has the soar and still no return phone calls and he missed my contacts in anchorage as far as I've found out.  My patience is waining but I am seeing another 720 mile one day drive in my near future!

[kyle]

Good Luck Wingnut!  Yer sure takin enough crap with ya to have a good time!  remeber, you gotta get it AND the moose back home.

[B n Az]

650 lbs!?!  Nope...I'm not gonna touch it.  I'd have to pay for it in January.

Bite my toungue, Bite my toungue, Bite my toungue...OUCH  

[Craig Warren]

Wingnut,

If I had know that you were such a "pack rat"  I'd have sent you aluminum bow bolts.  Would have saved you about 3 ounces. LOL

Seriously, just wanted to wish you and Jason the best of luck so you get a chance to use your skill.

Remember, bigger ones have bigger kill zones.

Take care,

Craig

[gifford]

Mike and Jason - Have a great trip and a succesful hunt. We're expecting some great stories at MoJAM next year from y'all.

Say 'Hey' to Steve H.

[wingnut]

Well here we are at T minus 30 hours til lift off and I'm like a kid on Christmas eve.  Bout wore out the suit cases and stuff pacing and unpacking.  I think we are going to pack em and go down to the vets office today and weigh everything on there good scale.

Had to make one more trip to Cabelas yesterday, couldn't find my camo vest so I have a new wool camo vest that is twice as nice as my old one.  LOL

Going to a BBQ today so I might relax a little.

Gotta go check my lists now.

Mike

[Doc Nock]

DAng, Mike...

If this hasn't been almost like goin along myself! You gota way of spreading that infectious anticipation of your'n.  Thanks! I needed to enjoy your joy and excitement about something.

You hunt smart, be safe and have fun!

[Steve H.]

Mike,  You do know that lots of "travel bags" need to be broke down into smaller sizes to physically fit in a Supercub, right.......?

Steve holds his breath as Mike runs off to measure the kitchen sink...........

[kyle]

Steve holds his breath as Mike runs off to measure the kitchen sink...........  

LOLOL!

Kyle
hoping Mike's not goin....NOW you tell me!

[cjones]

LOL!!

[AkDan]

Went out and floated a slough here in the management area for moose last nite.  Ended up right at 15 yards from a cow and her calf in the fog....even had the camera, IN THE TRUCK haha.  Saw 4, chomping at underwater succulents.  Some duck hunters had beat me to the area so the other three were on edge and by the amount of shotgun shells and feathers I can see why.

[wingnut]

" "travel bags" need to be broke down into smaller sizes to physically fit in a Supercub, right.......? "

Hey they call it a Super Cub right?

Everything is modular in stuff sacks and small containers.  So far we have about 120# between Jason and me.  John on the other hand has the tent and camping gear.

How big is a Supercub anyway?

mike

[Van/TX]

Good luck, Mike, Jason, John            ....Van

[AkDan]

Mike,

Basically it's a tandom 2 seater plane that they usually only allow 50 to 60lbs per person and there is hardly much more room then that unless of course they have a belly pod.  They'll strap rifle cases or antlers to wing struts, the rest will go behind your seat.  The door opens from the side like a cardboard box layed over on it's side, two sort of rectangular looking deals.  I've never flown in one, was supposed to this year but the pilot canceled on me less then 30 days before my planned depart date for sheep.  

Takes quite a few flights in a cub to get a moose out compared to say a 206 or 185 (both are 4 seaters).


Think of it like riding a trike with wings and visqueen on each side of you and pop cans everywhere else  

[wingnut]

Dan,

Yep I've seen em.  We are planning at least one additional flight with our tack probably two.  I know you guys can hunt for two weeks on 50#s.  I like to change my socks and have real food now and then.

It will be quite a pic of me and my stuff in the back seat of a Cub.  Kinda like looking at smoked oysters after ya open the can.

Mike

BTW John is now in the air and the trip has officially started.

[Hutch]

Wingnut, give me a holler when you get back, or before you leave.

Stick'em hard!!!


Hutch