Hammer wrote:

mtv wrote:Rifle was a Mannlicher, short barell, full stock. Bear gun, which turns out never shot a bear. Amazing gun, though, and much to my regret, I sold it to a friend.

When I hunt moose in brown bear country, I prefer to be prepared for unwanted visitors. And that rifle had a “nicer” recoil than a .338.

MTV

Sounds like a nice rifle, but I wouldn't beat yourself up too much for selling it. MT bears aren't generally large enough to warrant such a weapon, IMO. I don't hunt anymore, but if I did I wouldn't see any need for anything larger than a .308 or 30-06 in lower-48 bear country. Neat as a .375 H&H is, what the hell are you going to do with it? Not that fun to target shoot with...not that fun to buy cartridges for.

Seems like a moose or fifty have already ridden in Alpaca Rafts...I seem to remember reading that was one of the driving forces for developing them many years ago.

.375 ......bragging rights. Actually, when I bought it in Japan at the Navy Exchange. the only one they had was in .375. I wanted a 30-06. I bought it and a Winchester Model 70 in .220 Swift. Both dirt cheap, on clearance.

But the .375 was a faithful companion for years. Because they’re a relatively slow bullet, they don’t mess up as much meat as some faster calibers, like .300 mag.

And, I hate to break it to ya, but that raft in the photo does not have “a moose” in it. Moose antlers, but, moose.....uh, nope.

MTV

mtv wrote:...

And, I hate to break it to ya, but that raft in the photo does not have “a moose” in it. Moose antlers, but, moose.....uh, nope.

MTV

Au contraire...I know his daughter, and his name is Moose.

Seriously though, while I agree that there isn't an entire moose in the boat, you'd be astounded at the load those boats will handle without any noticeable draft. I'd bet that there's a quarter of a moose under those antlers, plus all his gear.

By the size of those antlers a quarter is about all any "packable" boat would care, I bet it took a couple of runs to get it all out. WOW

Great post, enjoy reading about everyone's hunting adventures. I've used a zodiac boat for hauling grizzlies and moose down rivers. No issues at all. Never used a canoe. Carried plenty of antlers externally. My guide gun up north in the arctic was a .338 for grizzlies and moose. Down on the peninsula I carried a 375 on brown bear hunts. Been charged 4 times and the last thing you think about is what caliber your carrying. Had two bears stop at less then ten yards. Never fired a round but was less then a second away from it.

Jeepers, I hope that camera was mounted on the top of the rifle you where shouldering, yikes

mtv wrote:….Because they’re a relatively slow bullet, they don’t mess up as much meat as some faster calibers, like .300 mag....

Like Elmer used to say, "you can eat the bullet hole".

The unseen bear...... took a caribou. Hauled out the quarters, retuned for the remainder. Where is it? Is that a new mound in the tundra right where it dropped? Sure as shet! A Coastal brown bear had ripped up the tundra in a 20’ circle around the kill to cover it....no rifle and a 40 cal Glock 22 on my side....time to leave...right now...


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In BC the unwashed masses banned the grizzly hunt or I would have been carrying a bear tag too. In my experience, a bear tag is the only way to ensure you don't see any bears.

I'll be packing a 9.3x62 with 285 grain partitions for moose and any bear that creates the impression it is a him or me situation.

On the topic of boats, they are a lot like planes. Everything is a tradeoff. Can't have lightweight and packable and easy to paddle and ability to haul a load. I like Zane's idea of a nice light rigid canoe but my butt would be clenched every time I had to drag it over rocks and trees. But, if I ever do any long paddles, it is sure nice to have a light, tight canoe.

I wish I could find one of those pakcanoes locally to give it a shot before buying one.

m_moyle wrote:The unseen bear...... took a caribou. Hauled out the quarters, retuned for the remainder. Where is it? Is that a new mound in the tundra right where it dropped? Sure as shet! A Coastal brown bear had ripped up the tundra in a 20 circle around the kill to cover it....no rifle and a 40 cal Glock 22 on my side....time to leave...right now...


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It's amazing the first time you see the destruction a bear can do around a carcass. Walked up on many kills that a bear decided it was his.

albravo wrote:...
On the topic of boats, they are a lot like planes. Everything is a tradeoff. Can't have lightweight and packable and easy to paddle and ability to haul a load. ....

Actually, I'd say that's exactly what Alpaca Rafts do. Thirteen pounds, rolls up smaller than a sleeping bag, and will cary two adults and 500+ pounds of gear in moving water safely. You can probably about double that in flat water. They have amazingly shallow draft, and once you unload them they're a piece of cake to portage. They don't even need a pump...you fill them with a airbag and top them off with your own breath. If you want you can order one with the Cargo Fly, which is an airtight zipper that allows you to fill the tubes with gear.

They don't track like a canoe, but I wouldn't call them hard to paddle by any means. They're sure a lot more forgiving than any hardshell boat.

albravo wrote:...I'll be packing a 9.3x62 with 285 grain partitions for moose and any bear that creates the impression ....

9.3x62, hmmmm….
not a common caliber in the US, but according to Finn Aagard's writings it was popular in Africa.
Maybe Canada also?
What kind of rifle-- Mauser?

The 9.3 is a great cartridge, really popular in Africa, not sure why it never took off over here. Not really common in Canada either but I've been amazed how many people get really excited and nostalgic when they see it at the range.

Mine is built on a Tikka action with a benchmark barrel and a custom brake. It is a bit light which makes it great to carry but without the brake the recoil makes it a bit tricky to shoot well. With the brake and handloads it is very accurate.

Hammer wrote:
They don't track like a canoe, but I wouldn't call them hard to paddle by any means. They're sure a lot more forgiving than any hardshell boat.

Hammer, I'm tempted. But they seem designed for floating downhill. I imagine they would be ok to paddle uphill on calm water but how do you think they would be on a lake against wind and waves? Those pontoons look like they would catch wind and wave rather than slice through them.

albravo wrote:

Hammer wrote:
They don't track like a canoe, but I wouldn't call them hard to paddle by any means. They're sure a lot more forgiving than any hardshell boat.

Hammer, I'm tempted. But they seem designed for floating downhill. I imagine they would be ok to paddle uphill on calm water but how do you think they would be on a lake against wind and waves? Those pontoons look like they would catch wind and wave rather than slice through them.

I think you're right in that they were primarily designed to float with the current. How well they'd do on a lake against wind would have a lot more to do with the skill of the boaters than anything else, but I agree that other designs would be more efficient in that scenario, though not necessarily better. They're a lot more efficient than they look, but they're no kevlar sea kayak.

I guess it really depends on how you envision using the boat. Are you anticipating a five-mile open water crossing every morning just to get to your hunting ground, or does a boat just give you more access to the five-mile radius around your airplane where you'll be hunting, and hopefully a way to get the meat back to the plane?

There are advantages to a traditional canoe like the PakCanoe...more efficient against the wind and waves on a long crossing, and probably easier to get in and out of if you're doing that dozens of times a day. But there are some disadvantages, too. I guess for starters, regardless of efficiency, unless you're an accomplished canoeist I would strongly advise NOT being out on a lake when there's enough wind to bring up whitecaps. (After a decade working as a class V expedition kayaker in the Himalayas, the closest I ever came to drowning in my kayak was on a lake in a thunder storm.)

Unless you deck the PakCanoe (more weight, more expense, more time) you run the risk of swamping, especially in a heavily loaded boat. The built in floatation might save the boat, but it won't let you paddle it to shore if it swamps.

Alpacka rafts cannot swamp, and they have a considerably higher load capacity than the PakCanoes until you get up to the 170. The Alpacka Raft will also take a small fraction of the time to set up and break down, thought that might not be a huge deal in your case.

The PakCanoe 170:
Weight: 56lbs
Size folded: 35x18x14 inches
Capacity: 910 lbs.
Price: $2,380, plus accessories and shipping. (A deck and bench-type seat will add $570)

Alpacka Forager:
Weight 14 lbs with two seats
Size folded: 23x9.5 inches
Capacity: Two adults plus 500+ lbs cargo
Price: $1,595 (nylon) to $2,300 (Vectran), plus shipping

That right there would be the determining factor for me, but maybe the 42 lbs and extra bulk aren't deal killers for you.

Looking at the PakBoat website, they do say that you can test-drive one of their boats for a couple weeks and then return it if you're not enthralled. All you'd be out is the shipping both ways.

If Alpacka Raft has a Forager in their demo fleet they'd probably offer you the same option...try their demo, and if you like it send it back and order a new one. You'd have to ask.

If you were doing a several hundred mile flat water trip I don't think there'd be much competition between the two boats...the PakCanoe would be the hands-down winner. But for hunting out of a float plane where so many other things are competing for limited load capacity (like fuel...and moose meat on the way out), the Alpacka Raft seems like the better choice to me.

If you're looking for any other ways to shed ounces while spending money, I'm full of good ideas!

albravo wrote: In my experience, a bear tag is the only way to ensure you don't see any bears.

LOL I know they are not related but life keeps proving you right......

I'm kind of surprised none of the Fairbanks guys have piped up about Pristine Ventures.
They seem to be geared more towards what you are looking for. Fly out hunting boats.
I have been in a few of the bigger ones and they perform well and hold A Lot of weight.
I have two friends that did a brooks range fly in caribou hunt with a Pioneer X-Stream. They floated out in one trip 5 nice bulls and all their gear.
They have a drop stitch floor like a paddle board that you can stand up in and be stable. It's pretty cool.
Anyways, take a look at their website where they've got some videos of them in action. Comparable prices and they pack up to fit in a cessna well.
https://pristineventures.com/products/rafts-canoes-2/

Alaskan Tin Can wrote:I'm kind of surprised none of the Fairbanks guys have piped up about Pristine Ventures.
They seem to be geared more towards what you are looking for. Fly out hunting boats.
I have been in a few of the bigger ones and they perform well and hold A Lot of weight.
I have two friends that did a brooks range fly in caribou hunt with a Pioneer X-Stream. They floated out in one trip 5 nice bulls and all their gear.
They have a drop stitch floor like a paddle board that you can stand up in and be stable. It's pretty cool.
Anyways, take a look at their website where they've got some videos of them in action. Comparable prices and they pack up to fit in a cessna well.
https://pristineventures.com/products/rafts-canoes-2/

Tin Can, those do look like pretty awesome boats but I see the same drawback as the Alpackarafts, they don't look like they would go into the wind very well. Great for going downstream, but not so much upstream.

I plan to hunt from one base camp, out and back each day. A canoe is a pain to get there but at least I'm pretty comfortable that I'll be able to get back to my starting point even if the wind comes up.

Right now my plan is to take a canoe in during one of my scouting trips and hope nothing eats it before i need it to hunt.

albravo wrote:I plan to hunt from one base camp, out and back each day. A canoe is a pain to get there but at least I'm pretty comfortable that I'll be able to get back to my starting point even if the wind comes up.

Right now my plan is to take a canoe in during one of my scouting trips and hope nothing eats it before i need it to hunt.

Your point is well taken. Rafts work great, but if you've ever been trying to move one on slack water in even a very light breeze, you'll avoid that experience like the plague in future.

Your plan is good. If there are trees where you plan to hunt, consider rigging a rope and pulley setup to suspend the thing between a couple trees. Bears do love to chew on anything that even hints of plastic.

MTV

Have you looked at portaboats? They are a solid boat in either 10 or 12 foot length. They fold about 2 feet wide. I have been in a few and carried one in my Beaver. They can also take a 3 hp motor. Folded they are a breeze to carry on floats.

Have you looked at portaboats? They are a solid boat in either 10 or 12 foot length. They fold about 2 feet wide. I have been in a few and carried one in my Beaver. They can also take a 3 hp motor. Folded they are a breeze to carry on floats. May be written as portabote.