Looks like the military will be moving me to just south of Fairbanks Alaska after this tour in the mid-east.
Being a bowhunter, upland hunter and father of 2 teenage boys, and owner 2 great bird dog any recommendations?

How much upland (grouse?) hunting, waterfowl or should I expect? Clay's ranges?
I'm getting the feel that is is mostly big game and fishing? (dang the luck).
Gunshops/gunsmiths in Fairbanks?
Rifles(or just use the drilling)?
Issues with traveling thru Canada on the ALCAN?


Thanks guys in advance. We really lucked out as a family with this assignment. This old Iowa farm boy now Texas transplant is really out of his league w/ this one but something tells me we'll adapt.

Dan

Your upland hunting is spelled Ptarmigan. Get a little way off the roads, and you can have a lot of country all to yourself.

http://www.parkergun.org/forums/forum1/4947.html

Dan I've been here since retiring from the military in 2003. I live south of Anchorage though. Grouse-not all that plentiful and you can kill them with rocks most of the time. Clays- don't know. It is 90% big game here. What size drilling do you have? Any with a rifle as least 7x57 will work but, you'd be better off having a dedicated rifle. I have a gunshop down in Sterling next to the Kenai river. It's much easier to let the Army ship your weapons. The last I heard there's a $50 tax per weapon crossing the Canadian border. If you are pulling anything on the ALCAN beware of the frost heaves. Going to fast over them can tear a trailer/boat up. Buy gas whenever you get to 1/2 a tank. From Seattle it took me 4 days in a 26' uhaul truck pulling an 18' trailer. Beware of animals crossing the road in the dark. We dodged wild horses, buffalo, wild sheep, wild goats, deer and black bear. Ptarmigan-off the road and lots of altitude. Questions go here. http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/

One of the most fun weeks I've had the past few years was hunting grouse (ruffed and sharptail) outside of Delta Junction with an old friend of mine. "Pock and shoot" shooting in heavy cover, it was great, you'll love it!
Steve
BTW if you get an opportunity to hunt moose do it, for years my Alaskan friend told me it was tastier then beef, and he was right.

Don't forget snow shoe hares. This used to be my favorite time of year for them. Snow shoe off the road and find a strip of sunlit alder. Sit down on a log about 20 yds from the alders and wait. the bunnies will move in the sun to get warm. Perfect for a .22.

Mike- From Seward, travel back toward Cooper Landing to Mystery Creek Rd. Turn left and head for the creek. As you near the creek, look to the rt. There's a ridge covered in birch that always has grouse. Go to the end of the Texaco runway and there's a road to the left that will take you to the Chickaloon mud flats. Hump about two dozen Canada deeks to the flats and set up where ever you feel comfortable. Never seen so many geese in one place in my life. Life is good in Alaska. Just two more mos 'till soft water.

Cary Nelson

Are you coming to Clear AFS???

I have recently driven the Alcan Hwy. and found the road to be in excellent shape. Second the advice to buy gas frequently and watch for wildlife on the road durng the day as well as night. If you are planning to go before late spring/summer be advised that some motels and gas stations will be closed, particularly between the larger towns. Truckers use the Cassair Hwy during the winter since the elevations are not as steep. The scenery is better than the Alcan but the road north of Bell II is terrible. Make sure you get a copy of The Milepost...greatest trave guide ever written.

I did my 4 in the AF at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks. Advice: beware the orange water (iron), don't go near water in June or July (mosquitoes), and start practicing shoveling snow in 40 below weather at 5am before you go to work. Other than that, it's awesome, and a great adventure!

Fairbanks has a Trap club and Eielson has a Skeet & Trap club. Otherwise it seems the best clays are around the Anchorage area. I spent much of my tour at Elmendorf in the mid-1970s next door at Fort Richardson's Chugach Rod & Gun Club. In Kodiak we have two Trap ranges at the VFW, and there use to be a Skeet range at the Navy Base, but I don't know if the Coast Guard has it operational or not. Back when the Navy was closing out there I bought a load of 20-gauge AAs really cheap and for the next several years my suitcases leaving Kodiak were really heavy!! Probably couldn't get away with that today.

Do a posting over on the Parker Gun BBS. There are a couple guys who are regulars over there that are in that area. I'm sure they can set you on the road as far as clay shooting at least.


Destry

Not much I can add, give yourself lots of time and drive carefully, it's a long way for parts. The last time we drove down, about five years ago, we met a couple in Watson lake who had been there for over a week waiting on repair parts for their vehicle. My generator when out on my truck in the winter of 1966 and I spent two weeks waiting for one from Anchorage ;-). The "Milepost" is a must have, also check what paperwork you need for the dogs. Good luck.

Are you kidding? That should be "dang the GOOD LUCK"
Most of us can only dream of being in such great game country.

I had a three year assignment at Ft. Richardson near Anchorage in the early 70's. Best assignment ever. The big game license and tags are pricey; however they used to be half price for the military (I think they still are). Be sure to get to Great Northern Guns in Anchorage. In addition to the ptarmagain, spruce hen and a few other grouse, you will find waterfowl shooting unbelievable...short season, but fantastic. Definitely hunt moose and caribou if you care about big game. I spent time for Dall Sheep and black bear also. Interior grizzly are beautiful. You will love the assignment. Winters are a little depressing due to lack of light, otherwise you are close to heaven!

Pike and char fishing are wonderful and tons of fun.

God Bless you for serving. I enjoyed everyday I served.

Jim

I drove the Alcan a couple of times while living in AK. The first time it was ok, the second in 1997 was a bit rough. It could be hit and miss, depending on the construction.

Lots of good pike fishing and hunting in the area. When I moved out of AK, the cost of a hunting license was $25.00 and the moose, caribou and deer tags were free. It was $25.00 for a brown bear/grizzly tag, but the last I heard they did away with the $25.00 fee for bear in unit 13.

I spent most of the 17 years I lived in AK off the road system, where getting anywhere was a little more challenging, but the hunting and fishing was outstanding!