Alaska; it conjures up images of vast forests and tons of snow and ice. It is synonymous with the word "wilderness" because of its big game and dozens of large, potentially man-eating predators. For those that want to try their hand at hunting one of the last great wild places on Earth, here is what you will need.

The Right Kinds of Rifles

Most of the year, you can hunt with guns in Alaska. Gun hunting is legal through most of the year because most of Alaska relies on subsistence hunting to survive. Whatever kind of big game you intend to hunt, bring the right kinds of guns.

For example, do not bring a six-shot revolver to hunt bear; bring a bear rifle with a big enough caliber of bullet or shot shell to kill a bear in one to two shots. If you are not sure what that is, ask a gun shop keeper what he/she would suggest. It is also a good idea to ask hunting guides who know what will effectively kill your Alaskan prey.

Hunting Guides

Absolutely, positively hire a hunting guide when you are hunting in Alaska. Getting lost here is literally a life and death situation. There are predators that could eat you, trees that prevent you from going in the right directions, and nine months of the year, temperatures cold enough to cause death by freezing in a matter of a few minutes to an hour or two, depending on how cold it gets. Having the right hunting and survival guide, the right guns, and the right outerwear makes all the difference.

Sub-Zero Outerwear

Unless you are going to Alaska during the the three warmest months, you need to equip yourself with the warmest outerwear possible. This means you need to find boots, gloves, hats, parkas, muk-luks, and snow pants that are waterproof and designed to withstand temperatures up to sixty below. Check with any hunting outfitters store where you live, or wait to buy these things from local stores when you land in one of the major cities in Alaska and prior to boarding a smaller plane that takes you to the hunting grounds.

Anything Else You Might Need

After you have booked your Alaskan hunting adventure, and you have hired a hunting guide (if one is not included in the cost of your trip), then contact your guide. Ask for a list of anything else he/she thinks you might need. Alaska has a bartering system, so it also helps to have things that other people want and are willing to trade for.

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