DUCK HUNTING Alaska | Tons Of Pintails (Bear Encounter)

Duck hunting in Alaska is always full of adventure and surprises. This hunt was no different, the morning started out a little scary as we had a close quarters run-in with a brown bear during our hike to the spot. Thankfully we made it to the marsh though and after throwing out a small spread in a secluded pond, the ducks started to head our way to get a drink of freshwater. Our shooting wasn't the best, but we were able to knock down a mixed bag of mallards, pintails, teal, and shovelers, with Rue making quick work of the retrieves. Thanks for watching and hope you enjoy!
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[@ronblackburn3683]

I’m curious; how did Rue the dog react to the bear?

[@HokeOutdoors]

She was actually the one that alerted us to it in the first place. We had stopped to take a break and within a couple minutes of sitting down her hair started to stand up and she kept looking downwind of where we were at. I noticed it, but didn't think much of it until we heard a big stick break. At that point it seemed like every hair on her body stood up and she was staring into the darkness, locked onto something. The bear ended up circling us, while getting closer and we could hear it huffing and slapping it's jaws together by the time it got upwind of us. I don't know how much Rue would've helped us if the bear had decided to charge, but she was certainly ready for a fight

[@l.b.frompinevillela1663]

@@HokeOutdoors I started with Fiocchi lead #4s 3inch for squirrels over 20 years ago. Much cheaper than the major brands and just as good kills/knock down power. I have had really good shooting with Fiocchi Steel Shot for ducks. I have a 3.5 inch shell capacity semi-automatic 12GA. I started using BBs in 3.5 Federals & Winchester in the late 1990s because we had so many cripples using steel 4s & 2s. When we used lead shot and transitioned to steel (Federal regulatory mandated) in Louisiana in the early 1990s, all the experts said to go two sizes up (circumference) or down two sizes numbers wise for steel shot. That was bullshit and we proceeded to lose a lot of ducks as cripples. In the group of men that I was hunting with, they refused to go to BBs and stayed frustrated with cripples for years. About 10 years ago, I discovered Fiocchi steel shot BBs and have been very pleased. The are less expensive than Federal or Winchester and I have had good patterns and few cripples with their BBs. Do not make the mistake of thinking BBs are too big for ducks as many hunters have. Lose a few Greenheads and you will be ready to make a switch! I have killed ducks at 100 yards, grave yard dead (head or neck shot) many, many times with BBs. At close ranges, the BBs do not mess up the breasts too badly if you use an improved cylinder choke tube. And, those 100 yards shots, believe it or not, improved cylinder choke on those shots too, but if I know i will do a lot of pass shooting, I go to modified choke tube (which isn't very often, as I usually hunt over a decoy spread). The killing power of BBs is unmatched because #4 & #2 steel lose a great deal of their energy after 40 yards due to the lack of density of steel vs. lead. Therefore, the only way to compensate for this is "shot-size" in steel. Using a semi-auto shotgun, most hunters waste their 3rd shot when using #4s or #2s because the birds are out of range or end up as a cripple and are "gone" by the time you or the dog get there. With BBs, I kill, and I mean KILL, on the third shot very often. I enjoyed the video & subscribed!

[@D_Boone]

It’s crazy how the GoPro makes all the birds look so far away. I swear some of those birds were 85 yards away. 😂

[@HokeOutdoors]

It really makes me look like a sharpshooter right? 🤣 It always seems like it makes them look about twice as far as they actually were. We were reaching out a little further than usual on this hunt because of the bad hide, but the furthest shots were still only 45 yards max

[@NormanBergerson]

⁰⁰00😊​@@HokeOutdoors

[@huntertebaldi3096]

Keep up those videos bro. Really missin duck season rn and this is the only thing keeping me occupied. Blue balls fr

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother!

[@ClarksOutdoors]

The bear encounter is crazy! Especially when carrying all that gear I would be so unprepared lol

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thankfully we were taking a break when we ran into it so we didn't have all our gear on our back but the situation was still way less than ideal 🤣

[@slyflyby]

Good stuff Thomas. Alaska is another world. Hunt delayed by bear encounter, crazy!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Don! It's truly a place like no other!

[@keithbryantjr.3020]

Favorite duck hunting KZbinr back at it!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Keith, I really appreciate it! Just dropped a new one!

[@James-p2z5l]

You know it's gonna be a good night when he drops a banger shot my first woodie last season bc of u think u for the inspiration 👍

[@HokeOutdoors]

Love to hear that, congrats on getting your first duck! Hopefully there will be many more to come!

[@mitchellmoorehead6593]

Fire as always! Can’t wait for teal

[@HokeOutdoors]

Much appreciated! I'm getting excited for it too, hoping it'll be a great year for them with all the water we have up here right now!

[@ReigningWaterfowl]

Video Coming in clutch with the summer depression 😅

[@HokeOutdoors]

Just a couple more short months!

[@littlemanoutdoors20ga33]

I have a Brittany that loves to duck hunt…just wish he had a coat like your Roo for that late season!

[@HokeOutdoors]

That's awesome! Do you do a lot of upland hunting with him?

[@littlemanoutdoors20ga33]

@@HokeOutdoors live and breath upland hunting with my Britt. Can’t hunt without my dog! 🐶

[@Drive-Elegant-Co]

great vid im ready for this next season

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! Not too much longer now!

[@Fowl_Behavior]

Love the videos man, and I got the first comment and like!!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! Hope you enjoy it!

[@knightcustombuilds6988]

Its already begun!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Got a bunch more coming soon!

[@davidramales6730]

Nice! Great Dog!!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks David! Much appreciated!

[@JaredWood-g8o]

Always great content!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks big dawg! Gotta get you out after some ducks this year!

[@Benerman2006]

Glad to see u back posting. Can’t wait for the content!!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! I appreciate you watching!

[@innawoods7042]

Where in Alaska is this? Deering Alaska has crazy ducks now

[@GrahamWood-s3q]

I live up here too. Avid duck hunter. I'm fairly certain I know where this is!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Shoot me a message on Instagram if you have it and I'll let you know if your right! It'd be interested to know how recognizable this spot is

[@wesleysmith6018]

Get your crew, call boys and bw on a film. In the feild on Alberta in the only way. Haha keep them coming!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Haha that would be a heck of time! Hoping that I can make it up to Canada one day!

[@angeloscalzone9773]

Amazing dog

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks much! Rue is a beast!

[@Mffl1014]

Ever coming back down to north Texas? I just bought a kayak because of you and would love to get a hunt in together. If not I might just have to go to Alaska and have you guide me lol.

[@HokeOutdoors]

I'm not sure if I'll make it down there this season but I'm hoping I can! Seems like TX has been the place to be in January the last couple years. You definitely need to get up to Alaska though! You won't regret it!

[@Mffl1014]

@@HokeOutdoors ive thought about it I just ow there’s a lot of public land but I mainly hunt by myself and to venture into the night by myself with bears and moose in those woods is not something I want to tackle. So to put it short I would t even know where to begin or even what part of Alaska to go to

[@fowlplayoutdoors68]

Thomas, when you monetize hunting videos, do you check any of the boxes due to the shooting of ducks in the videos? I read the guidelines but I’m not 100% what to do.

[@toddgiornesto6884]

Your dog 🐕 has improved ,

[@HokeOutdoors]

Rue isn't my dog actually, she belongs to Cory Loeffler! She's a great dog and the issues we had at the beginning of the season were due to my inexperience as a handler, once we started to get those ironed out she was a superstar!

[@jasonkarnz4118]

What Fiocchi shells were you using? I was going to try the 1 1/5oz #2 and am rethinking that after your frustration.

[@HokeOutdoors]

That was the exact load we were using. I have tried them in the past and loved them, I don't know if we got a bad batch or what but they just weren't doing the trick that day

[@gordonhobbis9113]

31 seconds and no views... bro fell off fr

[@HokeOutdoors]

Down bad 🥴

[@davidschmidt8391]

@@HokeOutdoors gotta be consistent with the videos even if it’s seasonal

[@JamesTorrey]

Random question. Isn't scouting with a drone illegal?

[@HokeOutdoors]

Most places but not everywhere

[@13hawks32claws]

Bears & Bird shot not the greatest combo. 🙂

[@belarushunter]

👍классная охота. Какая у Вас порода собаки.

[@anthonyfalciglia]

What type of choke do you use?

[@virginiaswampboys199]

👍

[@nolanminor6761]

this hunt not sponsored by fiocchi

[@HokeOutdoors]

Fiocchi vs brown bear would've been the real test

[@jasonkarnz4118]

@@HokeOutdoors What Fiocchi shells were you using? I was going to try the 1 1/5oz #2 and am rethinking that after your frustration.

[@graydoncarruth5044]

Is this real time or from last season?

[@HokeOutdoors]

This was from last September

[@graydoncarruth5044]

@@HokeOutdoors gotcha. About time to go get em again! We have a while to wait down here in Arkansas, but our crew is ready. Prep work at the club coming up soon!

[@maxsmith61]

I’m better

[@HokeOutdoors]

No doubt 😅

[@helloperson1229]

Jesus Christ loves the person reading this comment

[@MrMajic-wv8cn]

What gun/chokes do u run

[@HokeOutdoors]

I'm using a Franchi Affinity 3 with a Carlsons light modified choke