Alaska Hunt: Sea Duck-Related

[Chris Hagenlocher]

Earlier this month I had some time off from school and decided to chase some reindeer up in Alaska's Pribilofs. I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but I had a blast, despite the attempts of sea duck hunting falling through. I was able to take some photos of harlequins and brant on a photo "hunt". Hope you enjoy-

View attachment IMG_2860.JPG
High Bluffs of St. George

View attachment IMG_3022.JPG
Stalking the herd

View attachment IMG_3896.JPG
Harlie

View attachment IMG_3027.JPG
My bull

View attachment IMG_2888.JPG

 

[Kevin Weir]

Chris,
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Nice rack on that bull. Was that a true raindeer like we see in Dec. parades or such?

 

[Ryan Werden]

Chris,

Love that first photo. Looks like an adventure.

Ryan

 

[Capt. Brian Rhodes]

Very nice!

AK is a beautiful place for sure.

Congrats on your bull!

 

[Jim Bucko]

The last true "wild west" left in this Country! Thank you for the pictures.......awesome!!

 

[Capt. Larry M]

congrtas I am jealous

 

[MLBob Furia]

Chris,

Looks like it was a memorable adventure.

 

[Ray]

Chris,
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Nice rack on that bull. Was that a true raindeer like we see in Dec. parades or such?

Kevin, These are Siberian reindeer which are very similar genetically to the reindeer from Finland that you see in movies. That bull is still in its summer coat so it is much darker than it would be later in the fall.

The reindeer up here that run wild on the islands typically grow bigger than those that are herded on the mainland. There are no predators, and not enough bugs to run them down, so they grow a little bigger. The white racks are due to the lack of vegetation that has enough tannin in it to stain the bone when rubbing the velvet off. Further south on Atka Island the reindeer grow huge racks. Big enough that Jim Shockey set up an exclusive hunting deal with the village corporation. I wonder how that all worked out over the last couple of years?

 

[Chris Hagenlocher]

Ray,

Thanks for the explanation. Well put, and pretty much what I was told when I was up there. There were certainly numerous bulls that were huge! I got my meat, and the antlers were a bonus.

 

[abe henderson]

Christian, check your pm.

Abe

 

[Chris Hagenlocher]

Abe,

Right back 'atcha!

 

[Kevin Weir]

Thanks for the explanation Ray. No matter, still a great adventure. He had to have had lots of fun on that hunt.

 

[Al Hansen]

Looks like you had one of those "perfect" days on the islands. That made you lucky. Beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing them.
Al

 

[Jeff Bowen]

Santa is going to be pissed you shot one of his reindeer.

 

[Yukon Mike]

Chris, great to hear from you! That is a crazy looking bull you took. I read your other post about travelling and it is good to hear you've got your priorities all in order.

Glad you popped in.

Mike