When you're on the menu. What would you do?

[dewi]

Nothing about us. Nothing about our history. Our stories, our language, our culture or traditions. Before Columbus we didn't exist I think maybe even though we discovered this place.,

In fairness, they should only attempt to teach what they know and the majority don't know what was going on pre-Columbus and they never bothered to try and find out!

I say that, but there is study into DNA that links native Americans to Asia... but thats not really cultural knowledge... its the same as telling someone from the deep south in the USA that they share DNA with a English musketeer. Doesn't automatically fill in the blanks.

 

[Robson Valley]

By the time it happens, the bear will be in your face. Shotgun & SSG. Point blank.
Last I read, one SSG pellet has the muzzle energy of a .38 Special bullet.
There are 9 pellets in each of my 3" loads. Single selective trigger on my o/u means (potentially)
being shot 18 times with a .38 cal revolver.
If you have a 5 shot capacity, save the last one for yourself.

Two pretty certain ways to get killed:
1. Get between the sow and her cubs (you may not even know it at first.)
2. Pause in curiosity to find some big game animal partially buried in twigs and brush ( you need to me a mile away, right now.)

I used Google to look at Napaskiak, AK. Looks like a busy place, the school is big and full of cultural activities.
Makes me think that there's a lot more aboriginal/native values in the classroom that there used to be.

 

[santaman2000]

.....I used Google to look at Napaskiak, AK. Looks like a busy place, the school is big and full of cultural activities.
Makes me think that there's a lot more aboriginal/native values in the classroom that there used to be.

We can only hope.

That said, I think European presence in Alaska (specifically a Russian presence) predates Columbus.

 

[santaman2000]

For anybody interested in moving to Alaska, they're also always looking for school teachers willing to teach in the remote villages. One of my cousins began that a couple of years ago. her own kids have grown and moved out on their own so she grabbed the adventure. She's teaching in Napaskiak, a small native village of about 400 and accessible only by boat or air (only by air after the freeze) She loves it......

What do they teach them? What are the acceptable recognised teaching qualifications? That actually sounds like a really great idea.

PM Sent.

I'm not a teacher myself, although I did explore that possibility when I retired from the Air Force (there was a big push at the time for the Troops To Teachers program) I can't speak specifically for Alaska but generally most states require at least a bachelor's degree (either in education, or in the specific subject to be taught, or in social sciences) and the requisite student teaching under a current teacher's supervision......

Just got a reply back from my cousin regarding the application and selection process (for those who meet the qualifications) I'll paste it below verbatim. Our :principle is roughly equivalent to your headmaster.

"Sorry, just seeing your message. He needs to fill out an application at Alaska Teacher Placement. Usually a human resources person will get in touch, then set up an interview by SKype, and then if you pass all that, the principal will set up a phone interview with you."

 

[artschool]

when i am overseas i either have my 308 for plains game or my 375 for DG so i wouldn't be worried.

 

[santaman2000]

speaking of being on the menu, Bass Pro just shared these pix from their surf fishing class this morning down at Henderson Beach:

Ladyfish

Pompano too small to keep

And the one that changes who's fishing for who?

Caught with the shark between him and the beach

Back on the safe (er) side

The better part of valor

 

[Quixoticgeek]

If you are talking about Europe, the odds being allowed a defensive firearm are remote at best

Svalbard...

in OZ i had once a python sliding into my bed- i just asked "monthy"" nicely to leave which worked; possums are a different matter ( :AR15firin)....

The very idea of a python crawling into my bed makes my skin crawl and scares the **** out of me. I have a major fear of snakes, and something that has put me off travelling to the tropics, and Aus in particular, is that fear. Part of it's irrational, tho I'm pretty sure that having a fear of something that can kill you is a logical thing to have. The thought of what might happen if a snake decided to crawl into my bivvi bag when I'm in it, yaaaaaaaargh. Not sure what measures you would need to take to stop it happening...

J

 

[Quixoticgeek]

You worry and fantasize too much.

Don't we all? When your sat round the fire, it's very easy to worry about what might be in the shadows...

Bears around here keep to themselves too, but if one is suspected to be in the area, make noise. They too, in their normal behaviour, will try to avoid you.
If they come into camp then you did something wrong and attracted him. Probably by leaving food lying around. Yes, eyeing a wolf or a bear in real life is a exhilarating experience and learning about having them in your backyard is too, but we should be rational and leave all those red riding hood stories behind us and learn about their ways. Their real ways.....

Greetings from an area where moose, wolf, bear, lynx, fox, marten and other dangerous critters leave their mark regularly.....

In Sweden do you use bear canisters, or bear bags to store food? All the info I can find on camping in bear country is US based, where they either require bear canisters, or people bear bag. What other measures do you take other than not leaving food laying around?

Thanks

Julia

 

[British Red]

Svalbard...


J

You are going to have rifle experience by law there (and a whole raft of other things including search and rescue insurance)

Guidelines1. Don't be an arctic litterbug! Leave no lasting signs of your visit.

2. Birds and other animals are not to be disturbed.
Remember, you are the guest.

3. Help take care of the biodiveristy. Do not pick flowers.

4. Leave old cultural remains alone.
Law protects all traces of humans from before 1946.

5. It is prohibited to lure, pursue or otherwise seek out polarbears in such a way as to
disturb them or expose either bears or humans to danger.6. Do not leave the settlements without a suitable gun,
and experience in using it.

7. Be considerate to others.

8. Contact the Governor's office (Sysselmannen) if planning a longer field
excursion. A mandatory registration applies for travel to large parts of
Svalbard.

9. Acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations pertaining to travel and
other tourist activities on Svalbard.

10. For the sake of both the environment and yourself, we recommend
organized tour arrangements.

You can't just rock up to Svalbard and wander off - so the tour operator will take of protection.

 

[mick91]

Clearly the actual answer is a single barrel .410 and whatever roughly.4X ammo you can lay your hands on! [video]https://youtu.be/wAnbDvLIAac[/video]

Obviously I'm not advocating putting .444 Marlin or .454 cassul through a .410 that's a darwin award waiting to happen!

 

[forrestdweller]

Svalbard...



The very idea of a python crawling into my bed makes my skin crawl and scares the **** out of me. I have a major fear of snakes, and something that has put me off travelling to the tropics, and Aus in particular, is that fear. Part of it's irrational, tho I'm pretty sure that having a fear of something that can kill you is a logical thing to have. The thought of what might happen if a snake decided to crawl into my bivvi bag when I'm in it, yaaaaaaaargh. Not sure what measures you would need to take to stop it happening...

J

i guess monty just wanted to stay warm.... and she/he was only about 2m long- so no thread to homo sapiens , the risks lay the other way around!(the biggest python i ever saw was stretched accross the road (ca. 5m wide) with the head cut of by two-legged vermin) o.k.- another time i found a 5ft king brown living under the wooden shower floor when taking it apart barefoot- my host decided to introduce it to a .22magnum bullet as the nearest landing place for the RFDS was a rather long drive away....

i still believe that homo sapiens are more dangerous then all other predators together....

 

[santaman2000]

Clearly the actual answer is a single barrel .410 and whatever roughly.4X ammo you can lay your hands on! [video]https://youtu.be/wAnbDvLIAac[/video]

Obviously I'm not advocating putting .444 Marlin or .454 cassul through a .410 that's a darwin award waiting to happen!

Taurus markets a line of handguns chambered for .410 and .45 long Colt in the same chamber interchangeably. http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=199&category=Pistol

 

[Robson Valley]

Sadly, no. With a critter in you face, a .410 is silly. Any sort of rifle is silly, I don't care what your favorite cal happens to be.
Mine is a Rem 700BDL with a 220gr. = useless.

Here at 53N, 12ga with the hottest, biggest loads you can find. While anything is accurate at handshaking distance, I won't wait until a neighbor kid
gets dragged down by a cougar.

A magnum 3" load of #4 x 1 9/16oz will punch a hole bigger than a wine bottle cork through any meat you can name.

Sorry. I forget. My GF shoots a 3.5" Stoeger 12 ga pump with #2 Canada Goose loads.
I guess I should kick her out of bed to do the duty, huh?

 

[santaman2000]

....A magnum 3" load of #4 x 1 9/16oz will punch a hole bigger than a wine bottle cork through any meat you can name....

You shooting #4 shot? Or #4 buckshot?

 

[mick91]

You shooting #4 shot? Or #4 buckshot?

Presumably birdshot IME, they're popular across the Atlantic for home "defence" and whatnot. Close range and tight chokes the pattern almost acts like a solid (YouTube brass fetcher for ballistics testing) #4 supposedly gives you the perfect balance between penetration, shot size and pattern density. People THINK they act like glazers making them a safe "defence" round, but really they don't they'll still make pretty short work of drywall and whatever is behind it
On animal defence however I couldn't agree more with him, the sheer raw kinetic energy coupled with so many wound channels of a close range tight choked shotgun blast is enough to kill anything in Europe or north America. Africa you'll struggle but big game hunting IMO is a bit antiquated and unethical now anyway

 

[British Red]

Sadly, no. With a critter in you face, a .410 is silly. Any sort of rifle is silly, I don't care what your favorite cal happens to be.
Mine is a Rem 700BDL with a 220gr. = useless.

Here at 53N, 12ga with the hottest, biggest loads you can find. While anything is accurate at handshaking distance, I won't wait until a neighbor kid
gets dragged down by a cougar.

A magnum 3" load of #4 x 1 9/16oz will punch a hole bigger than a wine bottle cork through any meat you can name.

Sorry. I forget. My GF shoots a 3.5" Stoeger 12 ga pump with #2 Canada Goose loads.
I guess I should kick her out of bed to do the duty, huh?

If she is shooting full house 3 1/2" magnum goose loads she is tougher than me!

I put a load of 2 1/4 ounce loads through my wifes gun which is 3 1/2" chambered. I thought I had knocked my fillings loose - and I shoot 1 ounce slug for giggles

3 1/2" shotgun cartridge by British Red, on Flickr

 

[mick91]

If she is shooting full house 3 1/2" magnum goose loads she is tougher than me!

I put a load of 2 1/4 ounce loads through my wifes gun which is 3 1/2" chambered. I thought I had knocked my fillings loose - and I shoot 1 ounce slug for giggles

3 1/2" shotgun cartridge by British Red, on Flickr

Agreed.
I have a box of gamebore mammoth Same as in the picture and they're vicious on the recoil even through the auto. They don't get fired often out it that way!

 

[mrcharly]

Presumably birdshot IME, they're popular across the Atlantic for home "defence" and whatnot. Close range and tight chokes the pattern almost acts like a solid (YouTube brass fetcher for ballistics testing) #4 supposedly gives you the perfect balance between penetration, shot size and pattern density. People THINK they act like glazers making them a safe "defence" round, but really they don't they'll still make pretty short work of drywall and whatever is behind it
On animal defence however I couldn't agree more with him, the sheer raw kinetic energy coupled with so many wound channels of a close range tight choked shotgun blast is enough to kill anything in Europe or north America. Africa you'll struggle but big game hunting IMO is a bit antiquated and unethical now anyway

We had an old shotgun on the horse stud - very old could only take low-pressure loads. Mostly used for duck, but also in emergency for putting down injured horses. Birdshot wouldn't penetrate much bone, but shots behind jawbone angling up to brain were an instant kill.

I don't think I'd like to depend on birdshot for a rushed shot. ISTR from reading his book (many years ago) Jim Corbett favoured a shotgun with buckshot for leopard - thin skinned and usually shot at very close range.

 

[santaman2000]

Presumably birdshot IME, they're popular across the Atlantic for home "defence" and whatnot. Close range and tight chokes the pattern almost acts like a solid (YouTube brass fetcher for ballistics testing) #4 supposedly gives you the perfect balance between penetration, shot size and pattern density. People THINK they act like glazers making them a safe "defence" round, but really they don't they'll still make pretty short work of drywall and whatever is behind it
On animal defence however I couldn't agree more with him, the sheer raw kinetic energy coupled with so many wound channels of a close range tight choked shotgun blast is enough to kill anything in Europe or north America. Africa you'll struggle but big game hunting IMO is a bit antiquated and unethical now anyway

Umm, that's the side of the Atlantic I'm on, and no, we don't use "birdshot" for home defense. By the way, #4 shot isn't birdshot over here either (yes it was used for ducks back when lead shot was legal for waterfowl, but "birds" nd "birdshot" refers more to upland birds such as quail and smaller shot such as #6 or smaller)

The smallest load normally used for defense (home or critter defense) was usually #4 buckshot but now-a-days the smallest used is usually 00 buckshot.

No small shot doesn't penetrate very well at all, and yes, a simple drywall with normal insulation fill will stop most small shot after about 15 to 20 feet of flight.

We had an old shotgun on the horse stud - very old could only take low-pressure loads. Mostly used for duck, but also in emergency for putting down injured horses. Birdshot wouldn't penetrate much bone, but shots behind jawbone angling up to brain were an instant kill.

I don't think I'd like to depend on birdshot for a rushed shot. ISTR from reading his book (many years ago) Jim Corbett favoured a shotgun with buckshot for leopard - thin skinned and usually shot at very close range.

That sounds more like my experience as well.

 

[Robson Valley]

My partner is like me = no more than 8 3.5" goose loads and we are done for the day. I'm shooting a Benelli Nova for those.
Daily bag for Canada geese here is 5.

santaman2000: don't think you get a 15-20' shot at a rushing bear. I'm quite fond of Rem Nitromag #2.