On the 10th of September flew into Beattles Alaska. From there caught a flight aboard a Beaver to a lake inside Gates Of The Artic National Park. We were dropped off at the lake about 1:00PM. It took us till 4:30 to portage our gear to the creek, and inflate the rafts. After a fast meal we loaded up and started drifting. We drifted till almost dark. We set up camp the first night on the river bank.
Next morning, fresh Grizzly tracks all around our tents. Big tracks, probably the biggest tracks I have ever seen. We started floating right after breakfast. About one hour down stream, found a spring of water, filled up our water containers with enough water to last the rest of the trip. Around 5:30 that afternoon we crossed out of the Park. Seen sheep and Caribou, just inside the park boundry. It was like they knew where they were safe.
Third day: Floated till around noon. Found good camp site to overlook a small lake. Thought we should stay here for a day or two. Partner got sick that night. We ended up staying there for five days till partner got over the bug he had. During this time there was no moon at night. Cloudy at night, no star light. Too dark to shoot at night. Had Moose walk by the camp every night. And bears in camp every night. No problems with the bears. We left our canned food in action packers, sitting on the ground. The things like crackers, bread, lunch meats, cookies, and boxed stuffs we hung in trees, out of reach. Had one incident where a bear ran into my tent during the night, I don't know who was scared the most it or me. I jumped up grabbing a pistol, it ran away from the tent and fell off a bluff into the creek. Seen four to five groups of people floating by each day.
Eighth day: Started floating again. Seen lots of Caribou up on the hills. None close enough for a shot. Seen no Moose or bears during the day.
Ninth day: Floated all day seen nothing to shoot at.
Tenth day: Saw a big Moose around noon. Moose was 500yards out and had already seen us. He was running hard. Disappeared long before we got there. Floated the rest of the day and seen nothing shootable, just cows and calves.
Eleventh day: Had wolves visit our camp during the night. They tore up a blanket we had left hanging on a bush. They also tried to get into the action packers. Norms raft was flat and had four puncture holes in it. Looked like a wolf had bite it. Took us two hours to fix the raft and reinflate it. Late evening saw a black bear running down the river bank. Let it pass, too small. Had a Bull Moose answer our calls. We worked him in toward our location. He was in heavy timber, with a lot of brush between us and him, when he started. As we called he angled toward us, and moved out to the river bank. Suddenly we heard shots, then we heard the bull running back toward the timber. When we got out to the river bank there was three guys, around 1000 yards down river camped. We continued floating. As we passed I stopped to talk to them. They told me about the big Moose they had seen earlier out on the river bank. They thought it was 400 yards away so they had all taken two or three shots at it. I never said anything else just left.
Twelth day: The river went down about a foot overnight. We started floating early, and floated all day. We stopped just before dark. After setting up camp we walked to a small lake about 1/4 mile from the river. Found two bulls on the lake. We started grunting them in. They were moving around the lake well. They were still about 500 to 600 yards out when a chain saw started up. Good-bye Moose. Six guys had set up camp about 100 yards upstream from our camp. Instead of gathering drift wood to burn they had to cut standing dead timber.
Thirteenth day: River dropped again last night. Forget hunting, not enough water tofloat rafts with a Moose in it. Paddled or drug rafts over gravel bars all day. When we were out of the rafts dragging them ever the gravel we would wee lots of wolves. As soon as we would reach for a rifle they would disappear back into the brush.
Fourteenth day: Wolves everywhere. We would catch glimps af them running through the brush, or see them up on the hillsides. Never where we could get a clear shot at one. Again drug rafts all day. Floated till after dark.
Fifteenth day: Had a Moose standing outside the tent when I came out this morning. I threw rocks at him to drive him off before Norm woke up and shot him. He was about a fifty incher, three brow tines on one side four on the other. Again wolves everywhere, but not able to get a shot at one. Did more dragging today than paddleing. Finally reached the Koyakuk just before dark. Good thing, we ate our last MRE at noon. One pack of dried fruit was all that was left of our rations. The boat from the lodge saw us on the bank and stopped to pick us up. Spent the night in Beattles. Finally had a shower. Found out only two Moose were taken the whole season on the river. No bears, and no Caribou. Several sheep had been taken, up in the upper river area. No wolves either were taken.
Next year going somewhere else. A place less crowded. Still it was a good fifteen days. Saw lots of new country. Plus I had already got a Caribou in August, In the fourty mile area. And I killed a Moose in the Tanana flats in November.
