Chasing #28!!!!! Polar Bear

[breederbuck33]

Do you know the style of hunting this is going to be? Do they ride around and look for tracks, or sit over certain areas glassing? I never thought we'd be seeing a polar bear hunt unfold on TBH!

[jnd1959]

Good luck Doc. Based on the temps you posted earlier it looks like it will be a bit balmy. Better take the suntan lotion and beach ball.

With regards to #1. I'd just pee my kilt. I bet that is all done inside the tent or inside a "snow outhouse".

Wonder what white bear tastes like. Chicken?

[BrianL]

Might get a small tuft of hair from the hide to bring back. Good luck!!

[docmay]

Originally Posted by breederbuck33

Do you know the style of hunting this is going to be? Do they ride around and look for tracks, or sit over certain areas glassing? I never thought we'd be seeing a polar bear hunt unfold on TBH!

I mentioned it earlier. It's a mix of glassing and riding around trying to find a track. I have to be on a dog sled, the guides can be on snowmobile. Once you see a bear or cut a track you try to decide if it's a shooter. I believe if they see the track then they know. At that point you get your gear ready, get close and then turn out a sled dog or two. As the dogs bark and occupy the bear you sneak in and take your shot. Hopefully it's a good one and the already aggravated bear stays put! I think there is some spot and stalk but only in areas that have some terrain. Most of the area is flat open sea ice. A fair number of bears are killed coming in to camp.

[docmay]

Originally Posted by jnd1959

Good luck Doc. Based on the temps you posted earlier it looks like it will be a bit balmy. Better take the suntan lotion and beach ball.

With regards to #1. I'd just pee my kilt. I bet that is all done inside the tent or inside a "snow outhouse".

Wonder what white bear tastes like. Chicken?

It is a warming trend! I packed some sunscreen and lip balm. I might have room for my Speedo!!!!!

[docmay]

I have heard white bear meat is a bit funky and fishy tasting.

[docmay]

C-section done and another big baby boy has entered the world. Now just some clinic and overnight call and it's go time!!!!!

[docmay]

I'm looking more like Santa Claus these days. Maybe that's my North Pole camo!!!!


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[breederbuck33]

Originally Posted by docmay

I mentioned it earlier. It's a mix of glassing and riding around trying to find a track. I have to be on a dog sled, the guides can be on snowmobile. Once you see a bear or cut a track you try to decide if it's a shooter. I believe if they see the track then they know. At that point you get your gear ready, get close and then turn out a sled dog or two. As the dogs bark and occupy the bear you sneak in and take your shot. Hopefully it's a good one and the already aggravated bear stays put! I think there is some spot and stalk but only in areas that have some terrain. Most of the area is flat open sea ice. A fair number of bears are killed coming in to camp.

Sneaking up to an already aggravated polar bear on sea ice with your bow sounds INTENSE! lol

[Bryan11]

Best of luck to you Doc on your adventure and hope for safe travels and no gear issues. Looking forward to following along.

[Bowtech38]

Originally Posted by jclaybennett

I'm curious how you use the bathroom in those conditions. More wondering about #2 than #1, especially if nature calls when you're away from camp.

Be hard to get a inch of stuff outa 8 inches of clothing in that cold.

[Slew]

Good luck! Thanks for taking us along! Might hafta smoke your victory cigar inside!

Do people live there by choice or are they taking you to some way off remote wilderness to chase this bear? I couldn't imagine living anywhere that cold, course they probably say the same about 100 degree Texas summers!

[chrisgunguy]

Awesome. Best of luck. Stay safe as others have mentioned. Is your partner in crime going with or is she staying back this trip?

[docmay]

Ran home to pack a few things at lunch. I decided that if I am going to eat whale blubber and seal meat I might as well season it!!!!! Put some of this stuff in a little medicine tube.


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[docmay]

Originally Posted by Slew

Good luck! Thanks for taking us along! Might hafta smoke your victory cigar inside!

Do people live there by choice or are they taking you to some way off remote wilderness to chase this bear? I couldn't imagine living anywhere that cold, course they probably say the same about 100 degree Texas summers!

I think the population of Grise Fiord is between 140-160 people. The original inhabitants were told to live there. But they were tough and figured it out.


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[docmay]

Originally Posted by chrisgunguy

Awesome. Best of luck. Stay safe as others have mentioned. Is your partner in crime going with or is she staying back this trip?

Heck no!!!! She hates the cold and thinks it is absolutely freezing when we deer hunt and it's less than 60 degrees.


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[docmay]

Originally Posted by Slew

Good luck! Thanks for taking us along! Might hafta smoke your victory cigar inside!

Do people live there by choice or are they taking you to some way off remote wilderness to chase this bear? I couldn't imagine living anywhere that cold, course they probably say the same about 100 degree Texas summers!

I have an unopened bottle of Pappy at the house. I thought about taking a flask to celebrate. But, I already have too much weight going and would hate for it to spill in my bags. Also, the hunt information packet said absolutely don't bring any alcohol out on the ice and even more absolutely don't give any alcohol to the guides!!!!!!


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[salth2o]

This will be an epic adventure. Can't wait for updates!

[Aggie PhD]

Originally Posted by docmay

Ran home to pack a few things at lunch. I decided that if I am going to eat whale blubber and seal meat I might as well season it!!!!! Put some of this stuff in a little medicine tube.


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Maktak with a little soy sauce and wasabi is really good

I have had rendered seal oil, but don't think I remember seal meat

The walrus is unique. The meat and fat taste completely different. The fat tasted like fish

Everything I had in Barrow at the traditional meals was uncooked since they don't have wood.

Hopefully they will bring some things for you to try out

[diamond10x]

Originally Posted by Aggie PhD

Maktak with a little soy sauce and wasabi is really good

I have had rendered seal oil, but don't think I remember seal meat

The walrus is unique. The meat and fat taste completely different. The fat tasted like fish

Everything I had in Barrow at the traditional meals was uncooked since they don't have wood.

Hopefully they will bring some things for you to try out

Did you work at the science center in barrow or what?

[diamond10x]

We had a polar bear kill a mom and kid right outside the village school in January of this year here in Alaska. Surely the guides are strapped in case them things come into camp or get away from the dogs. Listening to north slope old timers they talk about them things hiding outside/between buildings to ambush workers and residents. Keep that head on a swivel!

[docmay]

Just spoke to the other hunter that will be traveling up north with me. He is an orthopedic surgeon from Arizona. Also chasing the 29 and has 5-6 to go. Should be fun!!!!

[docmay]

Originally Posted by diamond10x

We had a polar bear kill a mom and kid right outside the village school in January of this year here in Alaska. Surely the guides are strapped in case them things come into camp or get away from the dogs. Listening to north slope old timers they talk about them things hiding outside/between buildings to ambush workers and residents. Keep that head on a swivel!

I will do the best I can and try hard to not do anything dumb. I am putting my faith in my Inuit guides. Have been around them before and they are as tough as it comes!

[Aggie PhD]

Originally Posted by diamond10x

Did you work at the science center in barrow or what?

My dissertation was on the genetics of bowhead whales and setting of the harvest quota for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population. I worked with the scientists at the North Slope Borough (Craig George and Robert Suydam).

Craig and Robert sent me harvested whale tissues from multiple years from all of the different villages on the Slope and Savoonga.

As a thank you, they brought us to Barrow for the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Captain's meeting in 2008. Barrow in February....

Craig took me out on a tour of the via snow machine. Got to wear a bunch of the gear that Doc will be wearing this week. I was given a shotgun in case we ran across a problem bear

[docmay]

I spoke with the two guys who did the first hunt. They were there about 2 weeks ago. One killed on day 3 and the other on day 6. Said it was cold but doable. They did mention that it sucked when the wind blew!!!!!! Should be an adventure. Done with clinic. Just call and packing to go.

[GarGuy]

I have three friends that have done this trip. Two had really bad life threatening events. All three got bears. I'll be watching this one!

[rosco11]

Awesome Doc! Looking forward to reading about your adventure! Good luck my man!

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[docmay]

Going to save this for a victory dance when I get home!!!!! Hopefully I'll be toasting a big white bear in a couple of weeks. Packed and ready! Well, as ready as I can be.


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[ramrod]

We’ll be rooting for you.

[Chad C]

Originally Posted by docmay

Going to save this for a victory dance when I get home!!!!! Hopefully I'll be toasting a big white bear in a couple of weeks. Packed and ready! Well, as ready as I can be.


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I’m living vicariously through you, Doc! These are quest I’ll never get around to, but it’s fun to follow along!


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[Burnadell]

Originally Posted by docmay

I am not 100% sure on that. On the ol #1 I am not sure there will be much exposure with those temps if you know what I mean. #2 you better be **** ready when the time comes. You won't be sitting there reading a magazine or scrolling through your phone!!!!

Dang, Greg! Ain't no way I could get my ****** to come out for #1 in that temperature !!! It would be a battle as it would keep withdrawing like a turtle, shouting "uh uh, daddy! it's COLD out there!"

You should have had a catheter inserted before you left the hospital!

#2...I have no advice, maybe just wear several pair of Depends!!! !

[Jcjohnson]

This is gonna be epic! Good luck and thanks for taking us along

[lmartin5]

Tuned in for this...good luck Sir!

We all have been following your quest for the Super Slam, and know this hunt ranks up there and will be challenging!

Safe travels, happy hunting, and thank you for taking us along!

[Olympic Recurve]

Good luck Doc!

[chrisp2012]

good luck

[rvd]

Good luck Doc!

[CarbonFlinger]

PUMPED ON THE KILL PIC! Safe Travels Sir.
Bucket List For Me

[fulmer34]

Good luck, Doc. Will be following and along and pulling for ya.

[JakeM]

Good luck and safe travels, looking forward to the report

[Gclyde12]

This is going to be EPIC. Good luck and stay safe.
Can’t wait to read about it!!!

[docmay]

Well boys and girls, it's time to head north and chase the most incredible animal in North America--Nanuq!!! I have dreamed of this hunt for many years and told myself many times I would never do it. It was too expensive, too cold and you couldn't even bring your trophy home. I guess the sense of adventure and desire to finish the 29 finally won out. Probably 20 years ago I walked in to the finishing room at Woodbury Taxidermy in Ingram. There was a standing polar bear right when I walked in. That image has been burned in to my brain and I have obsessed about the white bear since that time. Life has definitely changed in those 20 years and now its time to finish this quest!!!!!


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[docmay]

I will try to update when I can and post up pics as I go. I know once we head out on the ice I will be away from service until I kill a bear or the hunt is over. Should be a good one! Three days of travel just to get to where we start.

Today: Amarillo to Houston. Houston to Newark. Newark to Ottawa.

Tomorrow: Ottawa to Resolute Bay.

Thursday: Resolute Bag to Grise Fiord.


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[docmay]

Not sure how two big dudes always end up sitting next to each other on small planes!!!!!

[youngbuck1]

Good luck and safe travels!!

[brrdnk]

Good luck Doc. What an adventure this is, thanks for taking us along with you.

[EZ40]

Can't wait to follow along! Safe travels.

[Duzy]

Good luck Doc, safe travels.


I get to…

[CentralTXHunter]

Goodluck Doc! Enjoy the adventure!


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[OleTomTalker]

Safe travels doc!

[Rwc]

And now on to the epic part of this thread.

Best of luck and a prayer or two for safe travels.

Rwc