10.27.11 Alaska Deer Hunting – Prince William Sound

We started the ‘everything open’ month with rain, then got 8 days of great hunting weather and now we are back to intermittent rain with low clouds and a storm once a week. The storms have been depositing lots of kelp on the beaches. The rain has brought up the water levels in the streams making it difficult to cross some of them. It’s that time of year to dig out the canvas tents, portable wood stove and cots. I would recommend bringing or renting a raft to get around the shore or to cross the flooded creeks. It does not need to be a big raft just something to paddle around obstructions or across a lagoon. A chain saw is also very handy during the late fall season as there is plenty of dead and downed wood to harvest. Remember to pack your gear in waterproof containers (totes) or bags as it could be raining on your way out or back. It is also best to put your rifles in hard cases. Port Chalmers Cabin has a new diesel heater, installed this summer. Five gallons of fuel lasts 2 ½ days and set on low, it will cook you out. The snow line is still up high in the southern half of the sound. Sea water temperatures are hovering around 43 to 42 degrees F near Montague Island.  We have seen an increase in bookings in November this year - many are past customers wanting to try out their hunting skills when the snow is deeper on the high ground. Whittier Water Taxi will be transporting through December or till the weather stops us. Check our web site for more info on the services offered by Whittier Water Taxi   www.whittierwatertaxi.com  Our hunting web site is www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com  You can get a hold of me: Captain Matt Cline at 907-362-1291 or Captain Heidi at 907-362-1290. We are collecting info and hunters’ photos to add to the princewilliamsoundhunting web site to help hunters plan their hunts. If you have info, tips, recipes or photos that you wish to add to the site e-mail us at ak_explorer@hotmail.com

Whittier Water Taxi Alaska Fall Black Bear

September 14, 2011 prime time for Alaska Black Bear hunting. I just returned from Knight Island with a group of Alaskan hunters. They were very successful at harvesting a couple of nice black bears. One hunter got his with a bow - his first bear with a bow.  After harvesting their bears they saw 10 more bears in the area. I saw two bears just during the time it took to load the boat on the return trip to Whittier. The rainy weather doesn’t bother the bears - they keep on feeding even in a down pour. Some of the bears’ bellies only cleared the ground by a couple inches. The hunters kept a fire going and a lantern burning all night to keep the bears away from the tent while they slept. The only bear problem they had was one stole away with a 5 gallon gas jug. These hunters took great care to protect their food and gear from raiding bears. October is the last good month to hunt black bear in Prince William Sound. After October, food starts to get harder for the bears to find and many start hibernating. These hunters brought a raft to check out the coves and to harvest some rock fish. Kayaks also work well to explore the coves in the area. Heidi with http://www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com/ rents out sit inside fishing kayaks and a 12 foot raft with a 6hp 4 stroke outboard. Just because you are camping, there is no need to chow down on MRE’s and freeze dried food. I noticed our experienced hunters bring Dutch ovens and often brag about the gourmet meals they make at camp. A little meal planning before departing to the bush will make the hunt more enjoyable – it doesn’t matter what the weather does. We still have some open times with the Water Taxi in October but they are filling fast. For more info on services offered by Whittier Water Taxi check out  www.whittierwatertaxi.com or call  Matt 1-907-362-1291. For raft or kayak rental call Heidi 1- 907-362-1290.

Whittier Water Taxi 2011 Deer Hunter Transport

Prince William Sound Alaska deer season is just starting. Whittier Water Taxi is gearing up for our favorite buck season. This is the time to hunt Prince William Sound deer if you are looking for bucks in velvet. From August 1st to September 30th is bucks only. I personally enjoy hiking to the high ground and taking in the spectacular views from atop the mountains on the islands of Prince William Sound. Around the upper alpine slopes is where I have harvested some of the nicest velvet bucks ever. When going after these high ground bucks I go prepared to bone them out on the spot. Two boned out bucks is my load limit for the hike back down to camp. Due to the warm weather of this early season we carry black pepper to sprinkle on the meat to keep the flies away and good quality game bags are a must. I always look for the real finely woven cloth bags. The tight weave will prevent flies from laying eggs on the meat. I find the old style army laundry bags work perfectly as well. When hiking to the high ground, remember to carry plenty of water. A water filter will cut down on the amount of water you have to carry. The hike to the high ground can be hot and humid but once on top, expect a cool breeze. You might consider bringing a light wind breaker to prevent a chill from the evaporating perspiration. We have hunted Prince William Sound for over 25 years and enjoy filling our freezer with the delicious table fare it has to offer. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed State of Alaska game transporter #928. We offer the most affordable rates and the most reliable service. Check out our Prince William Sound hunting web site for information on hunter transportation and rates at www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com You can reach me, Captain Matt Cline at 907 362 1291 or email ak_explorer@hotmail.com Members of our military should remember to ask for our active armed forces discount. Whittier Water Taxi is a local Alaskan Disabled Veteran owned business.

Prince William Sound Kayak Fishing

Whittier Water Taxi is now renting Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 fishing kayaks.  We have been testing a pair of these very stable kayaks since this spring and our customers who have rented these kayaks have given us very positive reviews. Not only are they very stable and track nicely, they have a roomy cockpit with very comfortable seats. The Pungo 140s are lighter than most kayaks and are easy to handle in and out of the water, making your kayaking adventure more enjoyable! The increased weight capacity, storage hatches for gear and increased tracking let you go the distance in the comfort of a sit-inside kayak. Many who own these kayaks have found out how versatile these boats are and have written very good reviews about them.  Fishing from a kayak can be very challenging with a standard single kayak - a nice sized silver salmon can roll you into the water or wrap your line around the rudder and deck rigging. Not so with these kayaks - they are designed to be stable enough to fight your catch and have no snags to break your line. Our Pungo 140s have two rod holders: one behind you for while you’re paddling to your destination and one on the front deck. (No fumbling with your fishing rod while trying to maneuver around!) Wilderness Systems also installed holders for your paddle while you’re fishing and there is a removable consol for your tackle with a beverage holder. These 14 foot kayaks can carry close to the same amount of gear as a typical 17 foot single. This is perfect for those who want to explore the more remote parts of Prince William Sound and catch dinner on the same trip! Many of the islands in Prince William Sound offer some of the best rockfish, salmon and halibut fishing as well as great remote camping.  Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans and their families and guests as well as independent travelers. We provide water taxi services throughout western Prince William Sound from March through December. Check out our website www.whittierwatertaxi.com  for kayak rental, kayak transport, rates, locations and all services offered or give me a call on (907) 362 1291.

Captain Matt

2011 Spring Black Bear Season

Whittier Water Taxi would like to thank everyone that went out on a spring black bear hunt with us this year. We enjoyed seeing so many local Alaskans that have used our services over the years return for another season as well as our new found friends that we met at the sportsman shows! It was an honor to transport our members of the United States Army and Air Force, many of whom are deploying overseas or have recently returned. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing the stories from the soldiers and of how they dreamed of hunting in Alaska and now got the opportunity as a result of getting a duty station here. Over the years we have had several soldiers who have transferred out of Alaska and still fly back every season to go on their traditional hunt with us. Most hunters were successful and harvested the Alaskan black bear of their dreams this year.  All got the opportunity to enjoy the great beauty of the Alaska wilderness and honed their hunting skills. One hunting tradition that we have seen an increase in over the last few years is the father - son hunting trips. With many troops having to deploy to combat, fathers have taken their sons out to the wilderness for several days of bonding. Then there are those fathers that have brought their young sons on their first hunting trip, exposing them to one of the greatest American traditions. We were so busy this bear season that we didn’t get to harvest any bears of our own but it was very rewarding to be able to provide a service that fulfilled so many hunters’ dreams. For those who didn’t get a bear this spring like us, there is always a fall black bear hunt! We like to wait till the salmon are gone and the blueberries are falling off the bushes. Berry bear is my personal favorite and I’ve always believed: if it eats good, it’s good eating! Whittier now has a taxidermy shop located at the boat harbor. They not only process the hide but also handle the meat for you. Deer season starts August 1 and it’s never too soon to plan your next hunt. We have already had soldiers book trips for the coming deer season calling from Iraq and Afghanistan. We look forward to seeing all our friends who have chosen our services over the years as well as our new clients. See you soon!

Captain Matt Cline

Whittier Water Taxi
Quality not Quantity

Prince William Sound All Day Custom Glacier, Wildlife Viewing and Shrimping Tours

Are you planning your great Alaska vacation? The calls are coming in from all states at the moment! Many of our callers have been here before but now they’re bringing guests and they want to show them the real Alaska. Do you want to go to the wilder side of Alaska, off the beaten paths you went down when you first came to Alaska? Do you want to see what you don’t get to see on the common big boat tours? Now you can explore the wilderness of Prince William Sound with an all day custom marine tour that will be your most memorable Alaskan adventure. Whittier Water Taxi caters to small groups offering custom tours covering all of the South Western Prince William Sound. Whether you’re looking for glaciers, whales, historical sites, beach combing, shrimping, berry picking, birding or wildlife viewing, we can take you to the more remote locations where the wildlife is more abundant and beyond the areas utilized by the industrial tour companies. You will see a part of Prince William Sound that is usually only accessible to a handful of local Alaskans. Our boat, the Bayhawk, is custom built for exploring these waters, is heated and fully insulated for your comfort and has a large open front deck to view and photograph from. The Bayhawk is designed to ride smoothly and is able to land on shore, providing easy access with its custom bow gate. We are a small local Alaskan business and Captain Matt has been operating his own boats in Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast for over 25 years, with some years clocking over 1500 hours of time on the water in one season! The advantages of touring on a small boat are: It is more personal – the focus is on you and your guests. The smaller boat is less intrusive on the wildlife with less noise and environmental impact. The boat is on your schedule and you can choose where you want to go and what you want to see. We offer an all day tour where you decide how far and how long your tour is for $150 an hour for the whole boat – with up to 6 people. An 8 to 10 hour tour is the most common request. In this tour, there is enough time to explore the area from Whittier to the South West entrance of Prince William Sound. We will see glaciers with lots of ice and plenty of wildlife including a variety of birds. With our local knowledge of the area we can show you several bird rookeries as well as marine mammal haul outs and sea otter pupping areas. Humpbacked whales are often sighted several times during our all day tours. We may also see members of the several pods of orcas that visit Prince William Sound during the summer. If you don’t have enough time for an all day tour, we also offer a 3½ hour glacier viewing/shrimping tour. We depart from Whittier to visit the black-legged kittiwake rookery in Passage Canal and then cruise on to Blackstone Bay looking out for wildlife on the way. In Blackstone Bay we will visit the tide water glaciers: Blackstone and Beloit glaciers. There are several other hanging glaciers you will see flowing from the ice field which stop short of the ocean as well as some impressive waterfalls. On the mountain sides and along the salmon streams in the bay we often see black bears. After exploring Blackstone Bay we stop at one of our shrimping hot spots and pull up our shrimp pots and check out our catch. This tour is designed for those who don’t have the time do a full day tour, giving you a taste of what Prince William Sound has to offer. We are a small local Alaskan business and our tours and water taxi service schedules fill fast so it is best to reserve your tour well ahead to ensure you get the dates you want. Whittier Water Taxi operates from mid- March through mid-December and we transport mostly Alaskans and their guests as well as independent travelers. Our fall day tours offers bird migration viewing, humpback whales, Dall porpoise, sea otters, sea lions and harbor seals to name just some of the species. For information on all our services and Alaskan adventures check the Whittier Water Taxi web site at  www.whittierwatertaxi.com If you are looking for remote public use cabins in the Prince William Sound area try http://www.princewilliamsoundcabins.com/ Our Prince William Sound Cabins website makes it easy  to book with direct links to the cabin reservation pages for the Chugach National Forest Public Use Cabins and the Alaska State Park Cabins in Western Prince William Sound.

Spring Black Bear Drop Offs

It’s spring and by now you can see the bottom of the freezer – there are just a few packets of last years fish left! Soon spring black bear season will be starting and that means fresh meat for the freezer. That’s right - black bear are good eating and spring is a choice time to harvest them. The best cuts are the rump roasts, back straps, tenderloins and ribs. Don’t waste a single scrap - many hunters I transport rave about the bear bratwursts, Italian bear sausages and breakfast bear sausages made by their local butcher shops. I have personally tried the bratwursts and summer sausages made by Pioneer Meats in the Mat-Su Valley and they are excellent. My next bear will be going to them – I can’t wait to try the breakfast sausages! Every year many hunters ask for recommendations on where to hunt in Prince William Sound. First, I must point out I’m a licensed game transporter so I can not guide you, but I can say the most successful hunters I transport are those that camp. That’s right: they camp! No cabins, no lodges, just tents – that’s the trick. Hunters who stay in cabins and lodges tend to spend too much time hanging out at the lodge or cabin. Lodges and cabins are fixed locations that the game in the area key into and avoid. If you have a bear that hangs around a cabin or lodge, more than likely it’s an immature bear trying to scavenge food from the occupants. It’s not very good sportsmanship to shoot a begging bear. In addition to this, they tend to be small and not as healthy as those that fend for themselves. Camping places you in the territory of the game. You will both hear more and see more wildlife. Often game will check out something new in their territory such as a camp. Hunters who camp not only get more game but they fork out less money. Hunters that stay in lodges are spending more than double that of hunters that camp. Let’s face it if you are spending more than $200 per person a day to hunt from a lodge maybe you should check into the price of a full beef freezer package from Mr. Prime Beef in Anchorage! Camping not only gives you the advantage of being in the territory of the game it also gives you the opportunity to distance yourself from other hunters. In a lodge you have to share the area with other lodge guests. The next most important tip I have is: Do your homework: Many hunters I transport check the forums for hunters who write about their hunts. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game has tons of info on their web site and you can call up the biologist who studies the area you are looking to hunt in. Google Earth maps will give you an idea of what the terrain is like. Also, take the right gear: if you didn’t use it the last four times out hunting, more than likely you won’t need it (unless it is safety/emergency gear). Bringing the same duplicated gear as your hunting partner is a waste of space – be sure to check each others gear and if you both have the same items, pick the better of the two and leave the extras at home. Having too much gear will bog you down loading, unloading and lugging to and from your campsite. How long should you hunt: this is very important and too often we have hunters that plan too short of a hunt. You will need a day to set up and a day to pack up and you should plan for at least 2 days of solid hunting and that’s at a minimum. Bad weather also needs to be factored in. Personally I plan for at least 5 days, which gives me three full days of hunting. Whittier Water Taxi caters to Alaskans: we provide a wide range of transportation services through out Prince William Sound. Our rates are the lowest and our service is the most reliable. We operate from mid March through mid-December. Whittier Water Taxi is a licensed big game transporter #928. We are also a licensed transporter for the Alaska State Parks. Plan your Alaskan adventure now checkout out web site www.whittierwatertaxi.com or give me a call Captain Matt 1-907-362-1291.