Recent content by alaska_bou

  1. alaska_bou

    Kowa 553 Internal Rattle - Normal?

    Not normal. Reach out to Kowa USA by phone (in California) and give them the serial number. Kowa is a good company, but If it comes back grey market it won't be covered. In that case I would ask the seller for a refund.
  2. alaska_bou

    Airline Travel with Antlers

    The last time I hunted New Zealand I took my antlers and cape with me as checked luggage. Zero issues. It was easy if you get the correct form from the gov before your departure, which is nothing more than a notarized letter validating the origination and the legality of harvest. Your outfitter...
  3. alaska_bou

    Zero Outfitter Fees Reviews

    This is basically the hunting version of an insurance pool for tags with low drawing odds. The idea is to get large numbers of people paying an annual fee of $599 to $749 for tags (and guided hunts) few will actually draw and utilize. No thanks!
  4. alaska_bou

    Kyrgyzstan Ibex Permits

    Your ability to bring back trophies as checked luggage largely depends on your particular outfitter. Some outfitters are not willing or able to obtain your export cites and your vet certificate in a short amount of time when you are back in Bishkek. If yours can, you can fit most ibex into a 40"...
  5. alaska_bou

    2025 Alaska Bear Hunt Input?

    There is a forest service cabin on the northern end of portage bay on Kupreanof Island near Petersburg. You should look into renting that cabin during the month of May, and renting a boat(s) in Petersburg. Cheap, easy, high success DIY black bear hunt, glassing for bears along the shorelines in...
  6. alaska_bou

    You might rethink booking with Mark Romo out of Dillingham

    No worries. From what I understand, Mark is still a registered air taxi through the FAA, but if he can no longer operate inside the state park areas, he will likely have to outsource his hunters to other pilots or other outfitters who can legally operate in those areas. I heard from another...
  7. alaska_bou

    You might rethink booking with Mark Romo out of Dillingham

    Mark wants you to believe he is "still operating like normal," because he wants your money. Read what I attached, or what Htm84 attached. Better yet, pick up the phone and call the proper channels in Dillingham or with the state, which is where I got this information, then come back and say this...
  8. alaska_bou

    Ibex in Mongolia or Tajikistan

    Yes, just because it is a much more common round that has been around for so many years. In Kyrgyzstan specifically, hunters often give away unused ammo to the outfitter. That way, the outfitter has a surplus they can offer someone in a similar situation. That isn't possible in every country...
  9. alaska_bou

    Ibex in Mongolia or Tajikistan

    The ibex I have shot ranged from 80 yards to 500+, and some at very steep angles. I shoot a .300 win mag. There are better calibers, but if you travel internationally you need to be mindful that if your rifle makes it and your ammo doesn't (which has happened to me), you may not have a hunt...
  10. alaska_bou

    Ibex in Mongolia or Tajikistan

    I have some experience I can share with you, but I wouldn't limit your options to only those two countries. In Tajikistan you have the Pamir ibex and the Bukharan ibex depending on location and what record-keeping organization you may belong to. You may be driving just a few hours from...
  11. alaska_bou

    Taxidermy of African Animals

    Outfitters are often paid commissions from taxidermists, which is why there is a strong push to have the work done overseas.
  12. alaska_bou

    Taxidermy of African Animals

    I will be honest, I love hunting, but I am getting tired of the taxidermy side of things. I am developing a taste for simple European skulls paired with nice photos, and I wish I did more of this years ago to save wall space. Taxidermy can look nice, but it is costly, takes up loads of space...
  13. alaska_bou

    Taxidermy of African Animals

    African taxidermy is okay, but it isn't comparable to the premium studios we have in North America. And more importantly, shipping charges are priced by weight and also by volume. This is important to remember. The money you save by having taxidermy done in Africa will usually be lost with the...
  14. alaska_bou

    My European Red Stag Hunt!

    In Romania, you can hunt "any size" stags for a pretty attractive flat rate with no sliding trophy fee scale, often under $6k or $7k, and trophies average in the 8 kilo range. Or you can pay by size if you want a bigger trophy. The reality is, the guides there usually know where the largest...
  15. alaska_bou

    The best 15x binos

    Zeiss optics are generally regarded as pretty poor when it comes to edge to edge clarity and the 15x56 conquest hd binos that I owned were true to this. What good is a wide FOV if that the outer 25% of that FOV is unusable? Mine had an extremely sensitive focus wheel. So sensitive that I was...
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