Rifle Choices for Alaska

I'm heading to Alaska this fall and plan to hunt Sitka Black Tail deer and Black bear. I need to purchase a new rifle that can knock down a bear and perform well at long range but doesn't pose a significant issue as far as recoil. The recoil on a .300 Weatherby is significant, but not out of line. It wouldn't be a great rifle to sit and shoot at ground hogs all day, but taking a couple of shots while hunting big game would be no problem. Comparing it to the .300 WSM, it is greater. The recoil on a .300 WSM is similar to that of a .30-06. So, remember it will shoot harder, but not out of line. As for benefits of both, the .300 WSM was designed to compete with the .300 Win Mag without the recoil, nor the use of a long magnum action. Recoil wise, it will save my shoulder a bit. It is also known to be very accurate and available in lighter weight rifles. On the other hand, it doesn't handle the larger weight bullets as well as the full length cartridges. So, although it has great benefits in the popular bullet weights, its is limited when trying to expand it into 180 grain and larger bullets. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Imagine a wilderness where the wildlife out number the people. Where the population of humans has been steadily declining since 2000. Not that its overpopulated to begin with just 767 people call this place home. Where is it you ask? It's Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. This 135 mile long by 35 mile wide island which is covered mostly in timber is just a ferry ride from Ketchikan. Wildlife abounds here, black bear, sitka blacktail deer, wolf, mink, martin and other land mammals as well as eagles and a host of migratory birds. Not only is the fishing excellent, but the amount of whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters and birds is phenomenal. If you want to get away from it all, and enjoy a truly wild place this is the place to go. 20-60 pound King salmon abound here in the mid to late summer. It's a phenomenal place. I'm heading there this fall, check back to read all about my adventure.

Polar Bear study May list them as Threatened Species

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and initiating a comprehensive scientific review to assess the current status and future of the species.
The Service will use the next 12 months to gather more information, undertake additional analyses, and assess the reliability of relevant scientific models before making a final decision whether to list the species.
“Polar bears are one of nature’s ultimate survivors, able to live and thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments,” Kempthorne said. “But we are concerned the polar bears’ habitat may literally be melting.”

State Record PA Archery Buck

A New State-Record Typical Archery Buck
Mike Nicola's Allegheny County buck not only carried the largest typical rack ever taken by a bowhunter in Pennsylvania, but even more amazing is that it was shot inside the Pittsburgh city limits!
By Duncan Dobie

Photo by Mike Nicola
The morning of Nov. 12, 2004, dawned cold and drizzly. Brothers Mike, Tom and Jim Nicola arrived at their hunting property in Allegheny County at about 7:30 a.m. The Nicolas were joined that day by Jim's son Steve, Jim's brother-in-law Ronald Kreutzer and their nephew, 21-year-old Dave Nicola.
The group was hunting on a rugged 100-acre tract within the city limits of Pittsburgh on the second to the last day of the early archery season. About 40 acres of the tract had been clear cut the year before, and large treetops still littered the ground.
Just before dark on the previous afternoon, Dave had arrowed a nice 9-pointer, and the deer had run into a steep ravine after being hit. Because it was so late in the day, Dave decided to wait until the next morning to begin searching for his buck.

Check out this monster taken in PA. The bucks are getting bigger but the herd is reducing significantly each season. Where is the balance. It seems as though none of PA's legislators are listening to the hunters, they're relying on data from the PGC.

We as hunters are losing the battle. Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today hailed a Commonwealth Court ruling that dismissed, with prejudice, the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania's challenge to the agency's deer management program. The decision to throw out the case was made "with prejudice," meaning that the lawsuit may not be re-filed."Today's court ruling is a strong statement that the Game Commission's deer management program is being conducted in a sound, methodical and scientific manner," Roe said. "We believe that most hunters and the general public recognize that the need to reduce and stabilize our state's deer herd is a short-term pain that we must endure in order to achieve long-term gains."Our hope is that this ruling will cease the unnecessary expenditure of sportsmen's dollars and tax dollars fighting frivolous and ill-conceived lawsuits."

Spring Time Floats

The spring melt will be here in just a few months. Do you have any favorite rivers you like to kayak or canoe in the Northeast Region of the U.S? Post them here! Share your thoughts and adventures with fellow enthusiasts. Trade a trip!