Guys, I've been about ready to bust holding this in, but I got to tell y'all!!
There's a gentleman that comes to this board that goes by the board name "Tikaani". His real name is John. We've all enjoyed his beautiful panoramic views of the Alaskan Interior with pictures of Sheep, Caribou, beautiful mountains, etc. He's been a welcome addition to this board since he lives the life that most of us just dream about. He traps all kinds of things. Hunts bear, moose, wolves, shoot I don't know what all. Living the dream!!
Anyway back to my story. A few months ago John and I started corresponding through pm's, emails, and even the occasional phone call. I enjoyed our pm's, emails where he sent more pictures of his hunts and our phone conversations. I know most of you know that I had back surgery. He even called the day after surgery to check on me. I thought that was pretty nice of him.
Well right before I was to go in for surgery John contacted me and asked if I would like to go bear hunting. Shoot yeah I'd like to go bear hunting, but that's a lot of work and money for a schmuck like me, especially since I don't know the first thing about it. He then said if I could make it up there the rest would be taken care of. I 'bout passed out. :sick2: :sick2: ;yes;
Now guys. We aren't talking about going hunting with some greenhorn that may hunt a couple times a year. John spends his entire winter hunting and trapping. He gets wolves, bear, moose, and the list goes on. I can't tell you how excited I am, but at the same time very humbled.
I feel very fortunate that John and his wife would extend an invitation to a relative stranger to come and share a little bit of heaven. I guess we are going to bear hunt, fly fish for grayling or whatever else, see Denali National Park and who knows what else. It won't matter at all to me what we do, just being there will be a treat.
So far we have the date set tentatively for May 22 or 23rd and will be there until around June 1 or 2. I reckon if the Lord is willing, the river don't rise and John doesn't change his mind :innocentwhistle: I will get to live out a dream of mine since I was a kid.
Thanks John, I CANNOT wait!! :yahoo: :thumb2:
That is great news. Hope you have the time of your life. Sounds like a pretty good deal as well. I've got much the same happening with a fellow from Iceland coming over here this fall for some deer and coyote hunting.
Hey, that's a deal you CANNOT pass up! Says a lot about Tikaani. :congrats:
Now if you and John decide ya need someone to help ya drag that bear out of the woods.......... :innocentwhistle:
Semp
Thats awesome Bop...I hope you have a great time. And John that is very generous of you. You guys better get some good pics :biggrin: Have fun!!
Steve
I second what Steve said, take some pics and better yet bring a little notebook with ya to write your tales down at the
end of the day.
Wtg John, the hand extending family on this board is the best :congrats:
I hate you :puke:
:laf: :wink:
Great news Bopeye! :yoyo: And a really nice gesture Tikaani. :bowingsmilie: I'm sure you guys will have a great time. Take lots of pictures. When I went moose hunting in 1997 I bought one of those disposable cameras and only took about a dozen photos. I have one picture of me and my moose! We all expect better of you. We'll be bear hunting in Alaske by proxy. :eyebrownod: :eyebrownod:
Pat
Bop, that is some GREAT news and I am sure that you will have the time of your life. Remember to shoot, so that the bear doesn't BITE YOU or anything like that. If memory serves me correctly there is only about 40 feet of snow left during this time of year and they seldom get over a couple feet of snow each day. :biggrin: You do have snowshoes, don't you?
John, it is an equally GREAT opportunity that you are offering Bop. I think you will have a lifetime pass on getting a BITE ME from Bop.
We are all envious and will be looking for pictures after the hunt.
Jerry
Congrats Bop, souinds like the trip of a lifetime! :yoyo:
Being that I know nothing about bear hunting, are we talking a black bear hunt or a grizzly?
Hey all right Bop, and if ya pass through Wasilla going or coming, and have a free moment give me a call. That seems like ample time but you'll be very busy I'm sure. :wink: And congrats on your trip. :congrats:
I have been called a lot of things in my life, mostly proceeded with several expletive's, but to the best of my recollection, never have I been called a gentleman. After my wife read the post she promptly said I will have to have the doors widened in the house as my head will no longer fit through them. James, I will set up a stand near the house for you to hunt every night we are here and one two hours north of here where we will then take the ARGO in three hours and spend a few days camping, hunting and fishing. Also have a spot where we hunted this year up north, had six bears come in on one night, did not shoot any since they were all five foot to five five in size. Thought about your coming here as I watched four of them on the bait at once, and figured a couple of these will be over six foot about the time you get here next year. So maybe three different areas. Have already got salmon guts and heads from Chitna rotting in three 5 gallon buckets for next year. Take care and I am glad you are excited.
John
:yoyo: Two weeks without Bopeye next year!! :thumb2: :yahoo:
:holdon: :holdon: :shck:
Just messin with ya Bop!! Thats great news & I think you deserve a nice vacation buddy. :yoyo:
Way to go John!! You're making a kids dream come true!! :thumb2: :thumb2:
Bop? How ya gettin there? You surly aint flying :nono: I hope you take lots of pics and share with FNFrs :eyebrownod:
so what ,BITE ME :yoyo:
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Quote from: HaMeR on July 18, 2008, 03:33:44 PM
Way to go John!! You're making a kids dream come true!! :thumb2: :thumb2:
[/quote
Dang Hamer, I'm older than you, but thanks all the same.
Thank you to everyone elso as well. :yoyo:
Bop
There's a package in Iowa that John said your supposed to pick up on your way up there, :iroll:
There'll be somebody there to help ya get it loaded, a little heavy, weighs about 185 lbs.
not sure what's in it. :shrug: :innocentwhistle:
That'll be great man, congratulations. :yoyo:
Congrat's Bop! That's a heck of an opportunity! We will be watching for pics!
Good deal little buddy.......that is one of my dreams too. :sneer:
That's a heck of an offer, Alaska is a great place. You'll have a ball. :highclap: :congrats: :biggrin:
Hey, don't forget to put plenty of honey buns in your day pack, don't want you to get hungry out there. :wink: :laf:
Wow Bopeye,
No wonder you are excited. That sounds like a heck of trip.
Jim
Wow that will be an awesome trip! Make sure you bring back lots of pics.
WOW !! A very generous offer John. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. :biggrin:
That's great Bop. Bring back plenty of pictures of your bear.
It's already been said, but there's a heck of a bunch of great guys on here. :yoyo:
Ed
QuoteWOW !! A very generous offer John. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. :biggrin:
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Quote from: coyotehunter_1 on July 19, 2008, 07:33:31 AM
QuoteWOW !! A very generous offer John. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. :biggrin:
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
He had no idea fellas. Let's not spoil it for him. :nono: :biggrin:
Really tickled for you, Bopeye. That is a most generous offer. You are going to have an absolute ball, and I think John's enjoyment is going to be to watch you and be in on it.
But golly, you'll have a whole year of kibitzers on calibers, bear stoppers, back up, clothes to wear, calls to use, sleeping bag to take, mosquito repellent, my cousin's brother-in-law's bear... You have given life to a whole string of subjects. Thank you! I can't wait to start.
Did I ever tell you about the time up north I squatted with some southern exposure to do some business when a tornado cloud of P-38 double barrelled mosquitoes homed in on me so thick I couldn't blink without catching one in my eyelids. Just then this bear came nosing out of the brush...
Actually, if you have rifle, ammo, tag and some TP in a ziploc, you are good to go. I'm sure John will have a knife to use if you forget yours. Glad you'll have such a hunt.
Bear hunting? :huh: :confused:
I thought Bop said he was going to be hunting BARE :rolleye:
:whew: What a relief :laf:
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:@^^^^^^^^^^^^
Quote from: iahntr on July 18, 2008, 05:34:06 PM
Bop
There's a package in Iowa that John said your supposed to pick up on your way up there, :iroll:
There'll be somebody there to help ya get it loaded, a little heavy, weighs about 185 lbs.
not sure what's in it. :shrug: :innocentwhistle:
That'll be great man, congratulations. :yoyo:
:laf:
Make that two packages! :roflmao: Lucky bastard :laf: If you get that lonely agaain Takaani let me know. :yoyo:
QuoteI will get to live out a dream of mine since I was a kid.
:shrug: And you grew up when?? :roflmao: :roflmao:
Bring back lots of
bare :doh2: BEAR pics Bop. :roflmao: :roflmao:
Hey Bopeye,
You better check the Alaska game laws before you go. I'm not sure hand grenades are legal for bear there???
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee269/Frog6man/100_0842.jpg)
Jim
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:@^^^Sillyfrog.FNF
Congrats Bopeye. That is definitely a hunt of a lifetime.
Quote from: nailbender on July 19, 2008, 08:44:15 PM
Quote from: iahntr on July 18, 2008, 05:34:06 PM
Bop
There's a package in Iowa that John said your supposed to pick up on your way up there, :iroll:
There'll be somebody there to help ya get it loaded, a little heavy, weighs about 185 lbs.
not sure what's in it. :shrug: :innocentwhistle:
That'll be great man, congratulations. :yoyo:
:laf:
Make that two packages! :roflmao: Lucky bastard :laf: If you get that lonely agaain Takaani let me know. :yoyo:
Whoah there! His internet Dad got first dibs. :roflmao:
Semp
:roflmao: @ the hand grenades!!!!!
Sweeeet!!! Have fun Bop. Definatley a trip to be excited about :yoyo:
Lookin forward to lots of pictures. :readthis:
Tikaani... :highclap:
JD
Shamelessly lifted this from another site but thought it be quite appropriate :huh:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/coyotehunter_1/BearWarningjpg1.jpg)
:laf: :laf: :laf:
coyotehunter_1,
Now that is funny!! :roflmao: :laf: :eyebrownod: :biggrin:
Jim
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:@Chet/GrizzPOOP/bells.pepper.......... :laf: :roflmao: :roflmao: :laf: :laugh2:
:holdon: :holdon: That's just wrong Chet!! :huh: :nono:
Now THAT is funny!!! :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
:yoyo: Chet!!!
Semp
Bop,
I was just thinking, you don't think Takaani is looking at you as "bait" or a "decoy" do you? :rolleye:
Jerry
Naw, Jerry. If Bop does his "Silver Back" pose he'd scare off every bear in Alaska. :biggrin: :laf:
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p28/aggiecat/General/IMG_0413.jpg)
Semp
Quote from: Semp on July 21, 2008, 09:53:49 AM
Naw, Jerry. If Bop does his "Silver Back" pose he'd scare off every bear in Alaska. :biggrin: :laf:
Semp
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Y'all aint right!! :rolleye:
Funny!!! :laf: :laf: But just not right!! :nono: :nono:
Bop would start to think we didn't like him if we didn't give him a little bit of a bad time. :biggrin: I learned that from fourth grade girls!
Jerry
So true Jerry. :wink:
:laf:
I just figured out what is wrong with your back Bop..........Its Huge!........ :innocentwhistle: :innocentwhistle:
Could not help myself. :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
It's been awhile, but it's time for one, great big group BITE ME!!! :wink:
:biggrin:
every time I get a Bite Me........Its a group one.......Cant ya just feel the love in the room..... :biggrin:
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
After reading this thread and seeing these pictures, I think next springs bear hunt is taking on a whole new dimension I was not quite prepared for, mentally that is. :laf: :laf: :laf:
C'mon John........these boys are just jealous........uh......that ain't even me. :laf:
Don't back out now man, I haven't even started. :biggrin: :nono:
Quote from: Bopeye on July 21, 2008, 09:33:20 PM
C'mon John........these boys are just jealous.
Yep! And we have a right to be jealous. But we will just have to learn to live with the pictures and stories you bring back.
Jerry
Quote from: Hawks Feather on July 21, 2008, 10:14:30 PM
Quote from: Bopeye on July 21, 2008, 09:33:20 PM
C'mon John........these boys are just jealous.
Yep! And we have a right to be jealous. But we will just have to learn to live with the pictures and stories you bring back.
Jerry
Aw Jerry, I know better though.
I know that the majority of you, especially those that I have hunted with or talked to over the phone are happy for me. That makes me feel good knowing that too. You are sharing the excitement with me in the the same way I would if it were one of y'all. That to me is what seperates this board from any other board on the net. :wink:
I'm gonna try my best to get as many cool pictures as i can with my camera phone........er......just kidding. :nono: I'll actually get a good camera to go on this trip..........what say ye? :eyebrownod:
Bop,
We are all happy for you and also envious of the hunt you will be making. Most of us just see pictures or read about hunts like this, but it is entirely different when you know the person that will be going. Now to learn that you will be taking pictures with something other than a cell phone is just more than I think I can handle in one day. :biggrin:
Jerry
Well put Bop, We are happy for ya so we still give ya a hard time.......We were supposed to. :wink:
If we don't give ya a hard time then we don't like ya Bop!! :biggrin:
Now you take extra good care of that new back. You're gonna need it!! :congrats: :congrats:
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet !!! Way to go Bop !! :yoyo: :yoyo: :yoyo:
Jeb