FIELD
Big game animals have an incredible sense of smell, and monitoring the wind is a vital factor to consider when closing in for a shot. The author got close to this black bear in Southeast Alaska by using the wind and putting the sun at his back. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
WHEN THE MOMENT ARISES
WATCHING YOUR WIND, SUN ANGLE, TARGET BEHAVIOR KEYS TO BIG GAME SUCCESS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
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leven hours after spotting a giant brown bear loping across the coastal tundra, it was time to make a move. The bear finally awoke from a midday nap; the wind changed direction and the sun was low on the horizon and at my back; every element was finally in my favor. Following a lengthy stalk, the 10-foot,
9-inch bear went down with one shot. An insurance shot anchored it for good.
WHEN LIVING IN THE Brooks Range, I once watched a bull moose for two days before it finally moved into a valley where I could get close to within shooting range. Another time I watched a band of Dall rams graze, sun themselves, sleep
and graze some more before getting a shot moments before dark – nine hours after spotting them. I’ve been fortunate to hunt much of Alaska – and the world. Having gone on hundreds of big game hunts, one thing that’s helped me – as well as exceptional hunters I’ve spent time afield with – find success has been the
aksportingjournal.com | MARCH 2022
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
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