It truly was an experience that I will cherish forever.
In 2021,I started hunting caribouin mid-September.
Temperatures were cold, caribou were scarce, and I pretty much had the mountain to myself.
Carrying a pistol like the Springfield 1911 Emissary is a smart move when hunting afield. It can provide an additional level of protection against predators of all sizes.
The mountains were littered with people.
I saw more people, campers, four-wheelers, and UTVs than Ive seen on any hunt.
I took my boyfriend Hunter this year in hopes we could both harvest a caribou or two together.
The author carried her Springfield Armory 1911 Emissary pistol while hunting caribou. Her gun is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.
Wolves, Grizzlies and Wolverines Oh My!
Caribou country in Alaska is also wolf, grizzly and wolverine country.
Hunting in desolate areas with top predators makes it essential to have a sidearm you trust on your hip.
Carrying a sidearm while in the field can be accomplished on the belt or in a chest rig — just make sure you keep it close at hand.
My Emissary fits comfortably on my hip in my Bianchi Minimalist holster.
If Im carrying my backpack, it is often loaded with a significant amount of gear.
Therefore, the hip strap is cinched up tight around my waistline with the holster attached to it.
Carrying the Emissary is a smart move, even when scouting or hunting for sheds. You never know when you might need to defend yourself against a mountain lion or other danger.
The whole purpose of carrying a sidearm is to always have it on you and have it easily accessible.
For this reason, I personally dont go anywhere without it, as its not worth the risk.
This year I bumped into more grizzly bears in Alaska than I ever have in the past.
For many hunters, caribou is the prime game animal in North America. Taking one can fill the freezer and provide many tales for future campfires.
No human should mess with their claws, teeth and extreme aggression.
Part of why they are so dangerous is because they see so few people.
If you cannot avoid them and one attacks, having a sidearm is a must.
Hunter and I still had caribou tags in our pockets and made a full-day journey to caribou country.
We prepared for a long day hike in hopes of spotting some caribou.
Caribou live in giant herds, which makes hunting them really fun.
You and a friend or two can easily tag out alongside each other because the herds are so large.
We took off running towards the caribou to cover the ground as fast as possible.
Hunter and I snuck in closer to about 350 yards, and we both made shots at great bulls.
They both went down just before sunset, and we couldnt be happier!
Conclusion
It was time for the hard work.
We had two caribou to cut up and hike off the mountain.
The sun was setting fast, and temps were very cold.
Once the sun was gone, temperatures would drop further.
We got to work immediately and handled the expedited field dressing of bulls in the dark.
We each hiked a hind quarter and front quarter out and came back for the rest in the morning.
The pack-outs were almost entirely uphill for miles; it wasnt easy at all!
This hunt was incredibly fun.
I was excited to be alongside Hunter as he took the shot on his first caribou.
Im already looking forward to pulling the trigger on more caribou again this fall!
And, Im glad I had my Emissary on me just in case I needed it.
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