CHECK THAT BAG

Wherever you will be hunting in Alaska, know the area and its weather intimately. Also, know how you’ll be accessing it, as that will determine how much gear you will be able to bring. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

During my last 30 years of hunting throughout Alaska, I’ve learned a lot, especially when it comes to gearing up for a hunt. Living a semi-subsistence life on the North Slope for most of the 1990s was an invaluable education, and it’s something I continue learning with each journey to different regions of the state. I have gained even more knowledge in the past six months since moving to Hyder, on the east side of the lower Panhandle. Thanks to first-hand experience I have acquired, I’ve developed a prehunt packing routine that’s quick and efficient. When preparing for a trip to Alaska,

Combining veggies and harvested game birds in wrapped foil for your grill makes for a nice outdoor meal in camp. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

One of the joys of hunting camp is cooking your quarry. Throughout Alaska many grouse and ptarmigan hunting opportunities will be going for a few more months, so don’t overlook the opportunity to cook them up fresh in camp.

Regardless of what you’ve got in the game bag – grouse or ptarmigan – hobo packs are a great way to cook up a meal over the campfire and on your charcoal or gas grill.

Preparing hobo packs ahead of time is a time-saver when it comes to camp cooking. And if all else fails and you come up empty-handed, you can whip up a nice vegetarian meal ready to heat up at the end of the day.

Plan on two to four grouse or ptarmigan breasts and thighs per person. A combination of any or all of the following ingredients can be included in a hobo pack. Note that some vegetables need to be cooked ahead of time, as you don’t want to overcook your birds.

Sliced potatoes, partially cooked Sliced carrots, partially cooked Sliced zucchini Sliced mushrooms Diced bell pepper Diced tomato Minced onion Minced garlic Corn and/or peas Butter Provolone cheese Salt, pepper and smoked paprika Cayenne pepper or red chili flakes, optional Heavy-duty foil

Prepare hobo packs prior to leaving for hunting camp. Partially cook potatoes in an oven or microwave until they just start to soften. Steam carrots on the stove or covered in the microwave until tender. Let cool completely before slicing. Chop all other vegetables and cut two 18-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil for each hobo pack.

To assemble hobo packs, put two pats of butter in the middle of the foil. Spread a layer of sliced potatoes on top of the butter into about a 6- to 8-inch square. Add carrots on top of potatoes and a sprinkle of salt, pepper, paprika and any other spices you’d like.

Continue building your meal, adding any of the other ingredients desired. Add another sprinkle of salt, pepper and paprika on top of the vegetables. Finish with another pat of butter and close the foil. Store in a cooler or refrigerator until ready to cook in camp.

Prepare grouse by removing breast and thigh meat. Chop meat into tiny pieces and inspect carefully for any shot. Sprinkle meat with salt, pepper, paprika and any other spices you’d like. Tuck grouse meat into the middle of the hobo pack above the potatoes and carrots but below the other ingredients. Top with a slice of provolone cheese, reseal the package and cook on the edge of the campfire, on top of hot coals or on a medium-hot grill. Packs should take 15 to 25 minutes to cook.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Game Birds, visit scotthaugen.com. Watch Tiffany online at Cook With Cabela’s and check out her blog for more great recipes.

weight and space are a hunter’s limiting factors. If you have the luxury of taking a commercial airline to your hunting pickup point, it’s not so much of a concern. But if you’re taking a bush plane or boat, space and weight are challenges to be dealt with prior to leaving home.

SPYING SAVVY TRAVELERS I see hunters from around the world traveling to Alaska. The veterans are

Limiting your gear to the absolute essentials increases mobility and success when hunting in remote Alaska. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

usually easy to recognize. They wear their boots and bulky hunting jacket on the commercial flight. They’re also wearing or have packed a day’s worth of hunting clothes in their carry-on bag with their toiletries and other essential items.

Rifle and bow cases usually make their way onto bush plane flights, but bulky suitcases full of clothes sometimes get left behind. Wearing a set of hunting clothes on the flight into Alaska can save a day or more of hunting should luggage get delayed.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS I recently observed a moose hunter from out of state traveling to King Salmon. The weather in early September was warm – at least where he came from – as evidenced by the flip-flops, shorts and T-shirt he wore.

His rifle made it, but that was it. The outfitter met him at the airport and they could have flown out to camp that afternoon if the hunter had dressed or packed accordingly. Instead, they ended up spending the next day and a half in King Salmon waiting for gear.

There are usually enough bush planes in the air during hunting seasons that gear left behind in the hub town due to airline neglect can be organized to get to

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hunting camp. But if you take what you need with you, you’d be surprised how long you can actually go without fresh clothes every day.

PACKING VERY LIGHT An outfitter once told me, “Pack what you think you need and then take out half, and that’s what you really need.” It was good advice. The first time I tried it I was uncomfortable. Now, every time I pack for a hunting trip into the bush, I think of this rule.

A PERFECTLY PACKED BAG On my latest moose hunt, I took breathable waders, a thin and midweight base layer (top and bottom), a hooded sweatshirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a midweight rain jacket, gloves, stocking hat, cap, three pairs of socks and underwear, wet wipes and toiletries.

In my carry-on hunting backpack, I had extra clothes and wore my hunting boots. That was it for clothing.

For the hunt, I took one box of rifle shells, shooting sticks, binoculars, a 4-inchbladed knife, a sharpener and game bags. I knew if my buddy and I had to pack the moose, my pack could handle it.

A mosquito net and repellent were also in my checked bag, along with a small sleeping bag. My pillow consisted of clothes stuffed into a shirt.

Inside my locking gun case – something that I check in – I put heavy items, including binoculars and any clothes that will fit. Inside my soft-sided checked bag of clothes I have a dry bag, which allows me to consolidate all gear on the bush plane and gives me an extra bag to put my camera in when I am out on the hunt.

OTHER SMART ITEMS A compact first aid kit is a good idea, and I usually take a small roll of duct tape and zip-ties. My water bottle has a built-in purifier, which I drain into my hydration pouch in my pack. Should something happen to my pouch, I have a backup bottle. A headlamp and extra batteries are musts. Make sure to remove the batteries in the lamp until you need them.

As you plan your next hunt, study the area closely. Know what the terrain is like and what the weather will likely be that time of year. This will help make your packing experience more efficient. When it’s time to head out, you’ll be amazed at how little gear you actually use and what you can do without. After all, hunting in remote Alaska isn’t about luxury; it’s about necessity. ASJ

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best selling book, Hunting The Alaskan High Arctic, send a check for $38 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order online at scotthaugen.com.

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