Equipment Needed
Your comfort , safety and success of your hunt depend on you bringing the correct equipment but since you will be traveling by tiny , two seat Piper Supercub and on foot, space and weight are critical. With the exception of your rifle all necessary equipment should fit in one airline approved 50# bag, yet provide for all your needs. Handguns, spotting scopes and spare rifles are not needed.
Should any of your items break, we have quality gear in camp you can borrow.
Rifles: The 30-06 was large enough to kill the world’ record Brown bear and still is. Bring a rifle you are comfortable with and can shoot well: Alaskan game may be larger than you are used to but proper bullet placement is still more important than muzzle energy and bullet construction more important than bore size. Sight in for 100 yards and bring two boxes of ammunition with heavy premium bullets like Barnes TSX, Nosler Partitions, Swift A-Frames, Federal Trophy Bonded or Woodleighs. If you need or desire a new rifle I recommend the .338 Win or .375 Ruger or H&H. Don’t forget extra scope covers.
Gun Case: Oversized luggage cases will not fit in small bush planes. You will either have t leave your large case with the air taxi in King Salmon or I suggest bringing a takedown case or the light, tough Kolpin case.
Binoculars: These are one of your most important pieces of equipment and, like rifle, power is not as important as quality and how you use them. I would prefer to hunt with a $200 rifle and $1500 set of binoculars than vice versa. Bushnell, Leica, Leupold, Nikon, Swarovski and Zeiss all make superb binoculars. Get the best you can afford.
Backpack: these are not typically “backpack” hunts but you will need to carry your jacket, rain gear, lunch and personal gear to the spotting hill every day and most hunters wish to assist carrying our their trophy or help carry the guide’s gear while he carries the trophy. Mid to full sized internal framed packs, like the Eberlestock “Just-one” pack are popular.
Sleeping Bag: No one can enjoy their hunt, nor hunt very long, without a good night’s sleep. Bring a synthetic filled bag rated to zero degree F or colder.
Clothing: No Bright colors and no noisy fabrics. Most hunters wear the same clothing for the duration of the trip with a spare set in case they get wet. Bring loose fitting clothes that allows for layering. Your town clothes can be left in the bunkhouse at camp where you can shower and clean up after the hunt.
Raingear: 1 set of pants and coat or else a full length raincoat that covers the top you your hip boots. It must be large enough to fit over your warm clothing. Good rain gear is a must but need not be expensive. Gortex is common but well worn sets eventually starts leaking in extreme rain.We have had descent luck with “paper” coats and pants like Frogg toggs as long as they are new. Rubberized coats like Helley Hanson, Grunion and Guy Coton are guide favorites.
Boots: 1pair camp shoes and either 1 pair of un-insulated, ankle-fit hip boots ( For Bear season I recommend insulated ankle-fit hip boots) from LaCross, Cabellas or Ranger. - or -- another popular item is gore-tex pant waders like fly fishermen wear. Get the ones with a stocking foot and you can wear any hiking boot or running shoe over them. These can be worn everyday and negate the need for rain pants as well.
Hat: 1 brimmed hat and 1 warm stocking cap.
Underwear: Your normal underwear plus 1 set of light or mid weight Patagonia polypropylene long underwear shirt and pants. These are one of your most versatile layers.
Socks: 3 pair light weight and 3 medium wt. Wool.
Shirts: 2 lightweight and 2 medium. Cabella’s “Worstalon” and wool are favorites.
Pants: 2 sets lightweight and 1 set medium wt wool.
Jacket: 1 light polypro jacket or wool sweater and 1 warm, synthetic filled coat.
Gloves: 1 pair light. Wt. and 1 pair warm.
Misc. Gear: 1-hunting knife and stone
2- Bic lighters
1-Camera and extra batteries
1-toiletry kit: small towl, toothbrush, razor, spare glasses and any medications needed.
1-Petzl style headlight
1_ box zip-lock bags for keeping small gear dry
6- large heavy duty plastic bags for keeping gear dry and shipping trophies home
1-roll Duct tape for repairing waders and shipping trophies home
2- good paper back books for days when the weather won’t cooperate.
Your comfort , safety and success of your hunt depend on you bringing the correct equipment but since you will be traveling by tiny , two seat Piper Supercub and on foot, space and weight are critical. With the exception of your rifle all necessary equipment should fit in one airline approved 50# bag, yet provide for all your needs. Handguns, spotting scopes and spare rifles are not needed.
Should any of your items break, we have quality gear in camp you can borrow.
Rifles: The 30-06 was large enough to kill the world’ record Brown bear and still is. Bring a rifle you are comfortable with and can shoot well: Alaskan game may be larger than you are used to but proper bullet placement is still more important than muzzle energy and bullet construction more important than bore size. Sight in for 100 yards and bring two boxes of ammunition with heavy premium bullets like Barnes TSX, Nosler Partitions, Swift A-Frames, Federal Trophy Bonded or Woodleighs. If you need or desire a new rifle I recommend the .338 Win or .375 Ruger or H&H. Don’t forget extra scope covers.
Gun Case: Oversized luggage cases will not fit in small bush planes. You will either have t leave your large case with the air taxi in King Salmon or I suggest bringing a takedown case or the light, tough Kolpin case.
Binoculars: These are one of your most important pieces of equipment and, like rifle, power is not as important as quality and how you use them. I would prefer to hunt with a $200 rifle and $1500 set of binoculars than vice versa. Bushnell, Leica, Leupold, Nikon, Swarovski and Zeiss all make superb binoculars. Get the best you can afford.
Backpack: these are not typically “backpack” hunts but you will need to carry your jacket, rain gear, lunch and personal gear to the spotting hill every day and most hunters wish to assist carrying our their trophy or help carry the guide’s gear while he carries the trophy. Mid to full sized internal framed packs, like the Eberlestock “Just-one” pack are popular.
Sleeping Bag: No one can enjoy their hunt, nor hunt very long, without a good night’s sleep. Bring a synthetic filled bag rated to zero degree F or colder.
Clothing: No Bright colors and no noisy fabrics. Most hunters wear the same clothing for the duration of the trip with a spare set in case they get wet. Bring loose fitting clothes that allows for layering. Your town clothes can be left in the bunkhouse at camp where you can shower and clean up after the hunt.
Raingear: 1 set of pants and coat or else a full length raincoat that covers the top you your hip boots. It must be large enough to fit over your warm clothing. Good rain gear is a must but need not be expensive. Gortex is common but well worn sets eventually starts leaking in extreme rain.We have had descent luck with “paper” coats and pants like Frogg toggs as long as they are new. Rubberized coats like Helley Hanson, Grunion and Guy Coton are guide favorites.
Boots: 1pair camp shoes and either 1 pair of un-insulated, ankle-fit hip boots ( For Bear season I recommend insulated ankle-fit hip boots) from LaCross, Cabellas or Ranger. - or -- another popular item is gore-tex pant waders like fly fishermen wear. Get the ones with a stocking foot and you can wear any hiking boot or running shoe over them. These can be worn everyday and negate the need for rain pants as well.
Hat: 1 brimmed hat and 1 warm stocking cap.
Underwear: Your normal underwear plus 1 set of light or mid weight Patagonia polypropylene long underwear shirt and pants. These are one of your most versatile layers.
Socks: 3 pair light weight and 3 medium wt. Wool.
Shirts: 2 lightweight and 2 medium. Cabella’s “Worstalon” and wool are favorites.
Pants: 2 sets lightweight and 1 set medium wt wool.
Jacket: 1 light polypro jacket or wool sweater and 1 warm, synthetic filled coat.
Gloves: 1 pair light. Wt. and 1 pair warm.
Misc. Gear: 1-hunting knife and stone
2- Bic lighters
1-Camera and extra batteries
1-toiletry kit: small towl, toothbrush, razor, spare glasses and any medications needed.
1-Petzl style headlight
1_ box zip-lock bags for keeping small gear dry
6- large heavy duty plastic bags for keeping gear dry and shipping trophies home
1-roll Duct tape for repairing waders and shipping trophies home
2- good paper back books for days when the weather won’t cooperate.
Please see Contact & Links page for more information on equipment