I love this gun,
I will carry this on my adventures into the AK wilderness with complete confidence.
Many thanks and best regards
AKG

Greetings ski junkie,

That sound is music to my ears. The amazing thing to me, is how easy it is to hold down at that rate of fire. It ain’t no good if ya can’t hold it on target.

Cheers,
AKG

How bout this for lower compatibility parts, please forgive my feeble attempt at humor.

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Greetings Sean,
Great topic,
In Alaska hunting for big game is a little different for many reasons. Road access hunting in AK is very different than flyout hunting. Air taxi services often limit passengers to 95 lbs. As a guide in AK, I found myself enforcing these weight limits by instructing Client’s on what they need, and what needs to be left behind. I also loaded aircraft with gear as to get this wrong, could be a problem. I found that many folks just bring too much stuff. In AK we weigh our gear long before we arrive to load the planes. In my experience smaller day packs do not work. A full framed back pack is often better suited to the job at hand. I had some Client’s who harvested a moose some 12 miles away from camp. It took 3 guys, 3 days to pack that moose out.
I would add that in the AK bush, gear is life itself. So getting it right, is truly a matter of life or death. So it seems that the proper day pack, depends on many factors. The good news, modern gear is strong, light weight, and quiet. My full frame pack is used for many things when I am out and about in the wilds of AK. I sit on it, I shoot off of it, my survival and first aid kit are in it, and of course, I can pack out large and heavy loads of food/groceries. So while day packs are cute, they are just not well suited for big game hunting in the AK bush.
Good hunting,
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings again tegg,

Very cool on Kenai. How bout that Kenai River current? I fished rainbows at the head waters the Kenai just down from Skilak Lake clear on into Jan. I lived in Kenai/Soldotna AK for many years. Time and expense are certainly huge challenges. I can assure you that fly out fishing is way better. Fewer people and more bears are important to me. Bristol Bay is one of the premier rainbow trout destinations in the world. There are many youtube videos on Bristol Bay fishing. Planning takes many folks a year or more in advance to prepare.

I have carried and used 8-10 wt rods for bigger ocean fish. Just too heavy for AK in my experience. However, I say, go with what ya know, and of course, listen to your guide, as you will live longer, and catch more fish. I have seen a couple of Client’s who thought they had a better plan, only to catch more fish after following the guides suggestions. Finally folks who get on bush aircraft are all limited on weight.

It is hard to describe what it is like to be standing in ankle deep water with 5000 fish at your feet. In Bristol Bay we go catching, not fishing. No wait time is common in Bristol Bay. I had to pinch the barbs down in order to more quickly release, and get my fly back into the water for the next rainbow.

I consider Bristol Bay heaven on earth for those who chase bows. Most folks report having the trip of a lifetime.
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings tegg,
I never know how much experience good folks have with Alaska, so, I tend to keep things basic, along with sharing my experience.

The world famous Kenai River is a very fine “road access” river system. I would most likely not recommend road access fishing because fly out fishing is so much better. Alaska access is often expensive. Why not jump on a float plane and see what the real AK wilderness is all about. The big draw on the Kenai was, king salmon. World record Kenai king salmon remains at 96+ lbs.

My favorite river in Bristol Bay is the Alagnak River. One of many favorites.
Sept in Bristol Bay is among the very best times of the year to catch monster bows. Typically I fly commercial flights from Anchorage to Illiamna, then to Nonvianuk Lake via float plane. We float 90 miles in river rafts, camping along the way. The biggest problem with catching rainbow, is being able to get your fly down through the salmon, and on to the rainbow. The other issues include, seasonal transition weather, and you will have to share the river with AK brown bears. Sept can be cold, which is nice with regards to bugs, not so nice with regards to bush aircraft. I have been “weathered in” many times, which was always a bonus. Best to plan on two extra days on each side of any bush flight. When the plane don’t fly, it’s time to go fishing.

Any egg pattern will work very well on AK Bristol Bay rainbow. My favorite fly is the purple egg sucking leech. I would bring fifty with me, and all were torn to shreds after the trip. Mouse flies in summer at night is a very special experience. I have seen rainbow literally jump out of the water, and down onto my mouse fly. Beads are a real good idea to have as well. Lotta fun. Bottom bouncing is key in Sept.

I use a 7 wt flyrod at the 9.5 foot length,for everything Alaska. I bring 3 of em, just in case I break one. I have had salmon break my 7 wts. Ain’t no stores out there to buy a new one. Timing and proper survival gear is life.

Hope that helps, if I can be of further assistance please let me know.
Watch out for the bears,
Cheers,
AKG

Been to Hope many times. Gold panning was on the docket during my drives from Anchorage to Hope. Road access Alaska is quite good. Fly out Alaska is a horse of a different color. Lots a black bears near Hope.
Cheers
AKG

Greetings Doug,
Kodiak bears are very special and even unique. While I never hunted Ursis Arctos on Kodiak, I was a fishing guide on the Karluk River, Kodiak AK. Our Client’s were fishing for kings. It was common for brown bear to walk right through our camps. In fact, we had around 20 brown bears per day come through, even walking in between our tents. Bear patrol and hazing were common activities for the guides. King salmon fishing with fly rods, was the best I have ever seen, in the world. There are five bear species in AK. Brown, griz, black, polar, and blue bear. Please see link below for more info.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=home.main
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings SR,
Yes Dolly Varden or (Salvelinus malma) are common in Alaska. I caught them in big numbers on the Karluk River, located on Kodiak Island. Another lesser well known trout common to Alaska is the Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus), easily confused with Dolly Varden. Of course Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are also found in AK. Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) can be found in SE Alaska. Finally Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) are yet another species that is often over looked in favor of five different salmon species found in AK. Northern pike is another species available in AK. Makes Alaska a very popular fishing destination. See link below for more information.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=home.main
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings chubby,
Peninsula, Amber Bay not to put too fine a point on it.
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings and salute,

Scope height for the AR is rather complex. I posted a photo of my first AR build. I like the carry handle and iron sites. I do not like batteries linked to optics. I do like Trijicon. I can use both iron sites, and scope, and maintain the carry handle.
Cheers,
AKG

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Greetings basseyes,

I have no idea what iowaboy1 meant in his post. It does appear that for some reason, iowaboy1 was sweating a great deal. I have no idea why. I can say for certain, that it is no fun to be in a chat room full of anti-hunter, anti-fishing, anti-guiding people. Kinda like hell on earth actually.

My wife is my best friend. We have never ever had a fight, nor cross words, as we live by a simple code of mutual respect at all times. She is a pretty darn good fisher, and a great travel companion as we have traveled all over this good earth. After living with AK bears for nearly 3 decades, I am not easily frightened. Too old for that s>%t.

At any rate thanks, peace and joy to you and yours,
AKG

Thanks deertracker,

The comment did seem out of context. I am too old and it takes way too much energy to engage in worry. In fact, I have found that feelings are in fact, a choice. So is thinking. I am new to the forum and it will take me a little while to get up to speed. I enjoy conversation with good folks who have so much common ground. The last chat forum I was in, was a anti hunting, and fishing bear chat. It is difficult to talk with people who are anti hunters. Anti hunters who have never hunted in their entire life. At any rate, again thanks.
Peace and joy to you and yours,
AKG

Greetings wildbeaver,

I lost no sleep, and more accurately, I did not completely view the clip. I posted the clip in order to give folks a feel of recreational fishing opportunities in Bristol Bay. I do not understand your comment, “I only watch if it’s more than 36 hours.” Ain’t no video clip out there than I can watch for 36 hours. I hope the clip shows some good fishing in AK. Attention span, and
the ability to stay focused are both important attributes.

Cheers,
AKG

Great bear tail Iowaboy1,

I was false charged twice by AK brown bear and griz, Glad we had no contact. Good to know when to give ground. AK brown bear and griz did destroy quite a bit of my gear, and of course, they did take fish, caribou, and moose away from me. Oh well, bears gotta eat too. You can watch live brown bear cams at the link below. Be aware that the chat community below the live cams, do not treat hunters, fishers, and guides, in a very friendly manner. Talking about hunting and or fishing in an anti hunting and fishing bear chat forum, just below the cams carries with it, certain risks. I avoid the chat, like the plague. I enjoy the live bear cams very much.

Explore live bear cams link below.

https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

Cheers,
AKG

Greetings catmando,

I took great pleasure in learning everything I could about them, long before I ever learned to live in harmony with them. These days I still prefer Alaska fishing over hunting, as I am old. As with all AK bear behavior, I have studied them a great deal, to include up close and personal, and lived to tell about it. Bears are over rated mostly, and did not seem to mind me fishing in many AK rivers with them.

For me AKs five different bears species, represent true freedom and wilderness.

I hold them all, in very high regard,
Cheers,
AKG

Very big indeed,
Saw a bunch of it,
Understood on snakes,
Everyone it seems should at least come see AK.
I question the “X spirts” all the time.
I say, trust but verify.
Cheers,
AKG

Rgr that Johnie,

Understood on reliability.
Reduced costs for building the AR are considerable, making it possible for me to upgrade the barrel and such. I carried two guns during my adventures in Alaska. A hand gun and large caliber bolt rifle. My AR will cover both and eliminate the need for the hand gun. Weight remains a big issue when flying in AK bush aircraft. I will carry my AR, or my later variations of the AR and feel quite safe, even in Alaska bear country. I have fired low and high end AK, and can easily understand the attraction. I just did not want the poor guy to be confused on the differences between the AK and AR.

Cheers,
AKG

TROUTMAN cut and posted a link that talks about about snakes in Alaska.
thank you TROUTMAN,

I have reviewed this data in the past. I also lived in AK for nearly 3 decades and never saw a snake. Did you know about ice worms in glaciers?

I posted a link to AKFG below. I consider AKFG, along with most folks who live in AK, fairly reliable.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=animals.listreptiles

If you ever do see a snake in AK TROUTMAN, I would like to see photo.
Cheers,
AKG

Thanks Randy,

We called AK Fish and Game from camp and got permission to harvest. Most of the meat went to many good folks in Ekwok AK. Harvesting two bull moose in a ragging river presented quite the challenge. Thank God for chain saws. Nothing goes to waste in AK.

Cheers,
AKG

Youtube video ULTIMATE AR-15 MELTDOWN! See link below.

Greetings Snake,

There are no snakes in Alaska.
I have however, encountered a coward or two along the way.
A famous man was paraphrased with the following,”Fear nothing but fear itself.”
I say fear is a choice, and often, a poor one.
I say choose wisely.
I say, Twilight Zone indeed.
Peace and joy to you and yours,
AKG

Hi Jon,

I got beat up pretty good as a member of the bear chat community, which is found at the following live bear cam location. Live bear cams have been provided by explore for many years. Viewing live bear cams is very cool, however, the chat community was very abusive with me. While on bear cam chat, I never discussed hunting or fishing/guiding, as to do so, is suicide….lol. The bear cam chat needs a large group of people to come in there and balance things about a bit. I recommend the link posted below for great viewing of AK bears at Brooks Falls in AK. I also recommend extreme caution for folks like us who post comments at the bear cam chat forum. See link,

https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

Here you can see several live cam feeds focused on bears at Brooks.
Thanks again jon,
Salute,
AKG

Hey Steve,

Been on clear Creek. Much of my Alaska river fishing and guiding experience included fly out destinations. Road access Alaska is certainly very different than fly out locations. Most of my AK river experience included adapting fly fishing to AK salmon. Fly rod equipment is so much lighter as weight is a huge issue with regards to air taxi or bush Alaska locations. The thing I really like about silver salmon is their aggressiveness. While the 4 other AK salmon species remain somewhat lip locked, I have seen silvers chase my fly all the way across a river. Silvers in AK are absolutely incredible. I have bit by the AK bug. In fact, I cannot live in any other place on earth. Too many people, and not enough bears.
Thanks Steve,
Cheers,
AKG

Greetings and good morning Timmy,
What we think about, we bring about.
This phrase helped me to set about living my dream. When it comes to dreams, my best suggestion is, to “live your dream.” Make it happen.
We only live once, and once is enough.
Moose hunting in Alaska is a huge challenge. The Alaska-Yukon moose is the biggest “deer” in the world. A full grown bull, can weigh, 1600 lbs. For many good people in AK, moose are simply seen, as groceries. Contrary to popular myth, there is not a moose behind every tree in AK. No guide is required in order to hunt moose in AK. While some of the best hunting for moose in the world can be found in Alaska, other great moose hunting locations do exist. The best moose hunting in AK, may require air taxi services. I find rafts and boats to be among the best ways to hunt moose in AK. For me, hunting and fishing in Alaska, is living my dream. Let me encourage you, to live your dream.
Cheers,
Salute,
AKG

Greetings and many thanks pool2fool,
Rgr on the Midwest. I learned to hunt and fish in Michigan. This was great preparation for my life in Alaska. I posted a photo of our hunting camp on the Mulchatna River in AK. I am just left of the guy in the yellow sweat shirt.
Here to help and support in any way I can,
Cheers,
Salute,
AKG

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Greetings Randy,
I have attached a very unusual photo of a moose encounter I had in Alaska. I was guiding on the Mulchatna River, when our jet boat rounded a bend in the river, revealing two moose that had drowned. Needless to say, both these moose, died for wrong reason…lol. It could be said, that these moose were looking for love in the all the wrong places. My buddy made a great deal of money of a photo taken of these two bulls. Some of my best memories are of hunting moose in AK.
People do not realize how big a moose is, until ya walk up on one that has been harvested.
Thanks for the post,
Salute,
AKG

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Greetings bear hunters,
Oh yes, I was a licensed hunting and fishing guide in Alaska for many years. I harvested 2 brown bears while hunting in AK. I helped a Client harvest a black bear in AK, that would not stay down. My first brown bear was harvested near a place called Amber Bay, way out on the Aleutian chain, via air taxi out of King Salmon Alaska. This spring hunt was the most difficult hunt of my life. This old boar was 9 1/2 feet nose to tail. He was beach combing and walked by my position at 35 yards. The two most challenging aspects of the hunt were, the weather, and carrying/packing the hide, back to camp. Hunting bear in Alaska is a very special experience. I call it, the real deal. It is one thing to punch wholes through paper, it is quite a different thing, to hunt an animal than can kill ya.
Good hunting,
Salute,
AKG

Greetings again eelpoutguy,

Ah…no, not hardly.
In fact most folks I know who own the “black rifle” get offended when other guns get confused with the AR. In my experience the AK without some important modifications is far inferior to AR. If you watch slow motion video of the AK, you will see how much the barrel vibrates when fired, compared to the AR. Stamped guns are often inferior. I have posted a photo of both the AK, and AR.
I prefer the AR with regards to most all performance parameters.
Salute
AKG

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Greetings,
Below is one of many many links I use to purchase AR stuff. I have had the pleasure of building and modifying the “Black Rifle.”
Good luck,
AKG

https://www.cheaperthandirt.net/category/hunting-gear/game-calls.do?c=119147.119159&sku_instock_b=true&pp=30&sortby=ourPicksAscend&cx=0