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It sounds like you guys are all nuts and don't have anything better to do then dream up crap that you obviously don't know much about.  All of the animals were shot within 1/4 mile of camp.  The first 6 were taken late in the day across the river.  The river came up 3 1/2 feet overnight and we weren't going to swim in 39 degree water to save anything.  We were in the great flood of 1989 north of Kotzebue when 2 people died trying to get across the Kelly River.  We removed all edible meat from the animals.  Neck, ribs etc.  Quarters on the bone.  The last 2 were shot 100 yards from camp on the same side of the river as the camp and that is after the other 6 complete animals were brought back to the main camp.  The fish cop stopped in and checked on us once and didn't have any violations to hand out like you would have hoped.  2 racks that were left in the field were my racks and the only reason we took any racks home is because they were close to camp.  The 2 capes that we took out came from the last 2 caribou we shot.  I heard that a black hawk helicopter was brought in to fly 3 groups of guys off another river because the river came up and they were left islands.  All their meat and gear remained on the islands and all was lost to spoilage.  Back in Kotzebue I had heard that around 60% of all the meat for everyone in September was lost to spoilage.  Those are staggering numbers and I'm not sure what the cure is for it.  Even if you had a plane scheduled to come in 1/2 way through your trip to get the meat out wouldn't have helped because the planes couldn't fly most of the time anyway due to the weather.  Unless you were there you can not realize what the weather was like. It was more like survivor Kotzebue than hunting. If that was a normal year of weather that would have been one thing to plan for but it was so uncommon that most people were left off guard. You can only fly so much stuff in. We are very ethical hunters and don't just shoot for the horns.  We have never given any of our meat away to locals and have always paid to get it home.  Talking with the fish in game cop in Kotzebue he said we meet the requirment of the law and brought back all of the meat to Kotzebue.  Actually I'm not sure what they do with the bad meat in Kotzebue but we signed over a transfer of possession form and went on our way.  Hopeful this may clear up a few of your concerns and simmer down the complaint department.  We are not lazy hunters but we do like to shoot close to camp if there are animals.  If the animals were 3 miles away we never would have shot so many at one time, but when you can almost see the carcusses I don't have a problem with shooting them.
Take care and happy hunting, this is probably the last time I write in.  Shawn

Message Thread:

• Follow up on the Kotzebue Caribou Hunt shawnhastoworkaol.com Oct 17 2005
  • Discussion closed Webmaster Oct 19 2005
  • A Rotten Deal- Michael Strahan Oct 19 2005
    • wanton? yukonjim Oct 19 2005
  • Read John 8:7 guys Cutter Oct 18 2005
    • This is sad Arcticwildman Oct 18 2005
  • 15 Yards for PILING ON mdhunter Oct 18 2005
  • Stuff happens.... AkHunter45 Oct 18 2005
  • You guys are nuts shawnhastoworkaol.com Oct 18 2005
    • High water and Kotz Wapiti57 Oct 18 2005
    • Why some of us are upset bushrat Oct 18 2005
      • Offensive AkHunter45 Oct 18 2005
        • are you part of the problem? bushrat Oct 18 2005
          • Freezer?? Brian in AK Oct 18 2005
            • Hi Brian bushrat Oct 18 2005
            • This is sad #2 Rutting Moose Oct 18 2005
          • Rant AkHunter45 Oct 18 2005
  • Grumpy old men Jason in Anchorage Oct 18 2005
    • Not assumption..FACT AlaskaHippie Oct 18 2005
      • I'll Shutup Jason in Anchorage Oct 18 2005
        • Kotz Caribou and water levels Wapiti57 Oct 18 2005
      • How to Avoid rost495 Oct 18 2005
  • Welcome to ODD, Shawn martentrapper Oct 18 2005
    • Let's evaluate martentrapper Oct 18 2005
      • let's evaluate ovis Oct 18 2005
    • I've had enough bushrat Oct 18 2005
    • o ye defender of the oppressed... fullkurl Oct 18 2005
    • There's no need... Michael Strahan Oct 18 2005
  • slippery slope... fullkurl Oct 18 2005
    • meat spoilage viktor Oct 18 2005
  • A couple of questions... Michael Strahan Oct 17 2005
    • Meat situation shawnhastoworkaol.com Oct 18 2005
      • It's not adding up... AlaskaHippie Oct 18 2005
      • meat spoilage viktor Oct 18 2005