American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 127 The Hunting Season Begins (4.5K votes requested)
In early August in Alaska, the intensity of the midnight sun is slowly fading, the boundary of night is beginning to become clear again, and the precious twilight is reappearing.

The main structure of the house is complete, but there is still a long way to go in terms of interior decoration and water and electricity installation.

But Lin Yu'an has already moved into this wooden house, and the woody fragrance emanating from the house can be clearly smelled.

He had a clear plan in mind: he had to turn this place into a warm and comfortable home before the first blizzard of late autumn blocked the Dalton Highway, and then bring Arya over.

He pondered his next plan, his gaze falling on the calendar hanging on the wall.

August 10th, a day highlighted in red, with the words "Hunting Season" written in bold below.

He sighed softly. For a "non-resident" who had not yet lived there for a full year, hunting was an extremely luxurious activity.

He had consulted his old neighbor Stan in detail and learned that an annual hunting license was required for the hunting season, and as an Alaskan resident, he only needed to pay $45.

As a non-resident, Lin Yu-an would need to pay $630 annually for a hunting license if he wanted to hunt large game, a difference of fourteen times.

The prey tag—that's the real big deal.

For a black bear, the tagging fee is $25 for residents and $450 for non-residents.

As for the brown bear, the king of the Alaskan wilderness, the resident tag remains a symbolic $25, while the non-resident tag is $1000.

Moreover, hunting ibex and brown bears requires a lottery, which is tantamount to winning the lottery for non-residents.

Even if he buys a hunting license, he can only hunt one moose per season.

However, if you have a bear ticket, you can hunt black bears or brown bears.

"It seems that until I get residency, I can only hunt small, unrestricted prey," Lin Yu'an muttered to himself.

However, he had already made a promise with old George, and Lin Yu'an promised to act as his "legs and eyes" and accompany him to chase the Dol goats on the mountaintop one more time.

He doesn't have to hunt Dol goats, but he can help carry the pack, scout the terrain, and use a shotgun to hunt small game like thunderbirds and grouse, so Lin Yu'an is planning to buy a shotgun.

Lin Yu'an drove his Ford Conqueror to Fairbanks once again.

I walked into the largest outdoor sports equipment store as if I knew the place well. The store was filled with the smell of gun oil mixed with leather.

On the long gun rack, various rifles and shotguns were displayed silently, like beasts waiting to be awakened.

A salesman with a name tag that read "Dave" walked over. He had a thick beard and a friendly yet professional look in his eyes.

Good afternoon, sir. What are you looking for?

Lin Yu-an got straight to the point: "I need a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun."

"It needs to be very reliable and versatile. It's mainly for hunting birds, but in a critical moment, I hope it can help me deal with a bear, if I'm unlucky enough to encounter one."

Dave smiled knowingly: "Of course, no problem, sir. Versatility and extreme reliability are practically every Alaskan's requirements."

“We have timeless classics, such as the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500, which are like the Ford F-150 of the pickup truck world and will definitely not disappoint you.”

He showed Lin Yu'an several basic models. Although they were well-made, Lin Yu'an felt that something was missing.

What he needs is a firearm that can handle any extreme situation from the start.

Dave seemed to have seen through Lin Yu'an's thoughts, and he smiled mysteriously: "However, if you want a guy who can graduate right away, come with me."

He led Lin Yu'an to a separate display case of tactical equipment and took out a shotgun that was entirely black and had an aggressive design.

Lin Yu'an's eyes were instantly drawn to it.

This is the Mossberg 590A1, but it has clearly undergone extensive tactical modifications, making it quite different from its plain relatives on the shelf.

Dave handed the gun to Lin Yu'an, and its heavy weight immediately conveyed a reassuring sense of solidity.

“This is the law enforcement version of the Mossberg 590A1,” Dave began, listing the various parts of the gun in detail as he ran his fingers over each component.

"First of all, look at this stock. It's not a traditional fixed stock, but an M4 carbine-style retractable tactical stock."

"In summer you wear a T-shirt, in winter you wear a heavy parka, just press a button and you can adjust it to the most suitable length for you."

"On the top of the receiver is a full Picatinny rail, which comes pre-mounted with a tubular red dot sight."

"Its purpose is to allow you to quickly capture the target during close-quarters combat or shooting while moving, with both eyes open for aiming and a very wide field of view."

He pointed to the perforated metal cover on the barrel and said, "This is a heat dissipation shield. It will prevent your hands from being burned by the hot barrel after you have quickly emptied a magazine."

Lin Yu'an's gaze fell on the muzzle of the gun, a serrated, seemingly highly aggressive device.

"This is……?"

"A door-breaking device." Dave grinned.

"In terms of tactical use, it can be used to hold door locks or hinges in place to prevent the muzzle from sliding."

"But here, it's more of a style, a 'don't mess with me' warning! Of course, it can also effectively suppress gun muzzle rise."

Lin Yu'an pulled the wood-guard pump, and the crisp, smooth mechanical sound of "click-click" was full of power!
This handguard is also unusual, as it has an integrated rail at the bottom, on which a tactical flashlight and a vertical front triangle grip are already mounted.

Finally, Dave pointed to an inconspicuous attachment on the side of the receiver, on which six blue shotgun shells were neatly clipped.

"The side-mounted ammunition saddle allows you to reload as quickly as possible after emptying the magazine. Six spare rounds are within your fingertips."

Lin Yu'an stroked the cold metal of the gun, having already made up her mind.

Every detail of this gun seems to be telling the story of "doing it right the first time".

"That's it."

"Wise choice."

The next step is legal proceedings.

Lin Yu-an presented his green card and Alaska temporary driver's license, and meticulously filled out the federal ATF Form 4473.

Dave entered his information into the computer and conducted a background check through the NICS system.

While waiting, Lin Yu-an purchased a sufficient amount of 7.5mm bird bullets and powerful 1-ounce slugs.

"Alright, background check passed!"

Dave smiled and printed out the receipt: "This beast is yours now."

After paying $860, Lin Yu-an legally acquired his first rifle in Alaska.

It was a heavily modified Mossberg 590A1, and despite the hefty price tag, Lin Yu-an felt the investment was well worth it.

Back in the wooded forest, a professional high-altitude hunting plan has entered its final preparation stage.

David and Mike were carefully inspecting and packing their photography equipment, a hint of disappointment on their faces.

"Lin, are you really sure you don't want us to come along?"

David, carrying his heavy Sony camera, gave it one last try.

"This is a hunt for Dol goats! Just imagine the scene: snow-capped mountains, cliffs, white goats... This is absolutely top-notch material that will drive audiences crazy!"

Lin Yu'an was stuffing a bag of high-calorie beef jerky into his huge hiking backpack when he heard this and shook his head with a smile. "David, I understand how you feel, but this time is different. The place we're going to has no roads, we have to hike on foot for several days."

"The weight of equipment and supplies is calculated in grams, and having too many people might alert those cunning Dol goats, so the smaller the number of people, the better."

He stopped what he was doing, picked up a small, square, black, metallic-looking object about the size of a matchbox from the table next to him, and tossed it in his hand.

"But don't worry, I won't miss any material."

He clicked the small cube onto a magnetic pendant on his chest.

"What's this? A new GoPro?" Mike asked curiously as he leaned closer.

"No, I bought this on the spur of the moment when I was buying a gun in Fairbanks. It's a DJI Action 2."

Lin Yu-an showed it to them: "I think it's much better than GoPro. Look, it has a magnetic design, and you can switch between your chest and the barrel in a second."

"And its image stabilization... well, its horizon stabilization function is very powerful. No matter how much I shake, the picture I shoot is always level."

He patted David on the shoulder and said seriously, "This hunt is of great significance to George, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

"So, you two should treat this as a short vacation, rest well at the camp, or go explore the surrounding area."

"If we come back with spoils, I promise to bring you the most exciting footage."

Seeing Lin Yu'an's resolute attitude and confident assurance, David and Mike, though disappointed, could only nod in agreement.

After seeing the two photographers off, the cabin fell completely silent.

When it was time to depart, Lin Yu'an arrived at Old George's cabin living room, which had now become a temporary command center.

A huge topographic map of the Brooks Range was laid out on a makeshift wooden table, densely covered with contour lines, river and ridge markings.

Old George, Stan, and Lin Yu-an, like a special operations team about to set off, gathered in front of the map, carefully planning every detail.

"Our entry point is here."

Old George pointed to a place on the map called "Weeping Valley" with his calloused fingers.

"From here, we need to hike at least 15 kilometers on the first day, cross this saddle, and set up camp below the 'Wind Shear Pass'."

"The view there is wide open, making it the best spot to observe the sheep on the opposite hillside."

Looking at the vast map on the table, Lin Yu'an couldn't help but ask, "George, aren't we going to take an ATV in? I've seen a lot of people using those in Alaska."

Stan laughed and shook his head: "Kid, the place we're going to is God's territory, there are no roads there."

"More importantly, in those areas designated as wilderness reserves, anything on wheels is prohibited by law."

"The white ghost we're looking for lives in those treacherous places."

"You know what, kid? Old George is such a stubborn old man. He applies for the Dorgo goat lottery in this district every year without fail, for a full ten years now!"

"I've tried hunting for Dol goats four times in the past ten years, but I've always come back empty-handed."

"Luckily, old George won the lottery again this year. Hopefully, with your participation, we can bring even more luck to this old guy."

"This might be one of the few opportunities he'll ever have in his life, and we must help him fulfill this dream!"

Stan then took a pen and drew another alternative route on the map.

“If the water level in Weeping Valley is too high, we’ll have to take this route, going around the scree slope. It’s five kilometers longer, but it’s safer. We have to be prepared for all sorts of things.”

Lin Yu'an listened silently, taking in every word of the two elders' rich experience. His main tasks were logistical support and mid-range defense.

He checked their equipment list item by item, and the list itself was a model of professionalism.

Three lightweight mountain tents, three down sleeping bags with a temperature scale of minus fifteen degrees Celsius, and a Leica high-magnification observation mirror that can clearly see the annual rings on a ram's horn one kilometer away.

It also includes a portable water purifier, a small iron pot, a satellite phone, high-calorie dehydrated food, and a professional first-aid kit sufficient to handle any sudden injury.

"Have you brought enough food? At high altitudes, the body burns twice as many calories as usual."

Stan inspected the food bag packed by Lin Yu'an, which contained energy bars, beef jerky, and freeze-dried dinner specially made for high-altitude areas.

"Don't worry, Stan, it's enough for us to eat for seven days. I also brought coffee, so you can have hot coffee even on the mountaintop," Lin Yu'an replied with a smile.

After the equipment was inventoried, the weapon configurations of the three perfectly reflected their respective roles and personalities.

Old George carefully took his beloved Remington 700 rifle out of its holster.

This is a true old friend. The walnut stock is polished to a shine by the years, and small V-shaped marks are carved on it with a knife, each mark representing a successful hunt.

He fitted the Remington 700 rifle with a top-of-the-line Swarovski scope, then meticulously cleaned it with a piece of deerskin, his gaze as tender as if he were caressing his own child.

Stan's style, on the other hand, is quite different, full of Alaskan ruggedness and pragmatism.

With a click, he unfastened the clasp of the huge leather holster hanging on his chest, revealing the gleaming silver hand cannon inside, the Ruger Super Red Hawk "Alaskan".

Although its barrel is extremely short, making it appear exceptionally compact, its massive frame and robust cylinder silently proclaim its ability to hold terrifying ammunition such as the .44 Magnum.

This is not a gun for long-range hunting, but a purely close-range bear-protection gun.

As Stan loaded six heavy hollow-point bullets into the cylinder, he said in a deep voice, "In the bushes, this thing is more effective than a rifle."

Lin Yu'an, on the other hand, had his newly purchased Mossberg 590A1, which was entirely black and exuded a modern tactical style, forming a stark contrast to Old George's classic wood-grain gun.

"Hey kid, this big guy of yours looks pretty cool, but it's not light," Stan said, pointing to Lin Yu'an's shotgun.

Lin Yu'an patted the gun: "George, take care of the long range, you take care of the big guys at close range, and I'll take care of the little guys in the sky, let's add some game to our dinner!"

His words elicited good-natured laughter from the two elderly people.

Old George walked over, patted Lin Yu'an on the shoulder forcefully, his eyes full of expectation and satisfaction: "Kid, are you ready to experience the real Alaska?"

"That's not the scenery you see on TV, but the land you need to measure with your own feet, feel with your own breath, and even... revere with your own life."

Lin Yu-an said this was truly the life he had been looking forward to! The two elderly people laughed heartily again, seemingly also looking forward to his performance.

Two days later, they ventured deep into the rugged heart of the Brooks Mountains.

Everything here is completely different from the civilized world. There are no roads, no signal, only endless mountains, rushing glacial rivers, and slippery tundra underfoot.

The first day's 15-kilometer hike gave Lin Yu-an a real scare.

Carrying a 25-kilogram pack, walking across the seemingly flat but actually treacherous tundra requires a tremendous amount of physical exertion with every step.

But Lin Yu'an's enhanced physique not only allowed him to keep up with the pace, but also gave him the energy to scout ahead of the team.

This completely put Stan and George's minds at ease, who had been somewhat worried.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(It's here! I've been waiting so long for the image to be approved! I narrowly missed out on the daily/monthly vote champion yesterday.)

(End of this chapter)