The Tonsina Glacier Area

The Tonsina Glacier Area

It’s August 10, my birthday and the first day of sheep season.   I’m at home and not in the mountains. There is something wrong with this picture.  A number of events led up to my not celebrating my birthday sheep hunting.  A road trip, a new job and a major operation were a few of the reasons that my sheep hunting partners couldn’t go with me.  I’m kind of bummed, but the last four days presented constant rain in the area where we were to hunt.  And, there is another low pressure system coming in so thinking about lying in the tent listening to the rain is not something any of us enjoy.  There is always next year and even at my age I still have that desire to be in the mountains hunting sheep.  However, I no longer have a burning desire to personally take a sheep.  I just enjoy being in those majestic mountains with the special people in my life.  Hopefully, next year.

The following story is about a truly tough sheep hunt with my good friend and hunting partner, Lyle Thompson.  I know that at my age now I physically or mentally couldn’t repeat this particular hunt. I wouldn’t even want to try.  I hope you enjoy “The Tonsina Glacier Area.”

What a Difference a Year Makes

What a Difference a Year Makes

Most of you that follow my blog know that for the past twelve years I have been hunting the Sitka black-tailed deer in hopes of taking a buck that scores high enough to make the Boone & Crockett Record Book.  I have taken two super bucks that have come close but none have hit the mark.

The Big Bear

The Big Bear

I was sitting at my desk on a beautiful April day in Alaska when I heard the chime of a new Email coming in.  It was Brent.  He was at a sports show in Wisconsin.  Matt Caldwell from Illinois had dropped by Brent’s booth.  Matt is a good friend of ours who had hunted with AAA on eight different occasions.  Brent had told Matt about a really big brown bear that one of his guides had taken a photo of through his spotting scope during the spring season in 2016.  He also told him about a couple of openings he had for the late spring hunt at a discounted price and if Matt wanted to come on one of those he could hunt for that bear.  Matt had already taken three brown bears including a 10’1” that I had guided him on in 1992 in our Cold Bay area.  Matt asked, “Does Roger still have his guide license.” Brent wasn’t sure so that was why he had sent me the email.  I emailed Brent saying that I had let my license lapse after I turned 70.  The State has a special deal for retirees to keep their license in an “in-active status” for $200 a year but that was too expensive just to say you were a Master Guide but couldn’t guide.  I told him to tell Matt that I would love to come down just to hang out if he wanted.  Matt is just one of those guys that is fun to be around.  I told Brent to give me a call once they decided.

A Goat For Nathan

A Goat For Nathan

Nathan my youngest grandchild of 7 grandchildren is quite a young man, a jokester and really fun to be around.  While I think Nathan liked hunting in general he especially enjoyed our family hunting trips.  Nathan and his big brother Jared have always had a special bond.  On our hunting trips, Nathan was always by Jared’s side.  After everyone left for collage, however, he was on his own.  In 2013, (Nathan had just turned 14), he ended up taking a super 386 point B&C caribou and his first moose, a 46 incher.  He was also drawn for a mountain goat permit in an area on the Kenai Peninsula.  It was an area that I had hunted in the late 70’s.  I was excited since I knew the area so well and was looking forward to hunting it again.  I hoped Nathan was as excited as I was.  We made plans for a mid to late September hunt.

Sheep Hunting and Birthdays

Sheep Hunting and Birthdays

All of my hunting friends as well as most of my sheep clients knew that August 10th, opening day of sheep season in Alaska, was my birthday.  When I first arrived in Alaska and discovered this fact I thought that it was kind of cool but after sheep hunting became my obsession then I felt it was pretty special.  During my first few years as a resident I only hunted sheep on the weekends so I really wasn’t in the mountains on my birthday, but in later years I would take leave and always celebrate my birthday in the majestic Alaska mountains chasing sheep. 

Airplanes and The Guide Business

Airplanes and The Guide Business

Airplanes are a necessity for most guide businesses in Alaska.  Whether it be getting clients into camp by using a flying service or as many guides do, use them to set-up and check on spike camps, fly-in supplies or for the numerous things needed done on a daily basis.  You really get dependent on them.  Operating in the bush in Alaska with the extreme weather conditions and bad or just short landing strips sooner or later you are going to have an accident.  You may remember my first job as a guide working for Tony Lee in the story “I Can Do This” he had an accident on my first day.  Another case in point is Gary Bishop, our chief pilot at the Dog Salmon River camp, was talking to one of our newly hired pilots about his personal safety record and the guy said with a cocky attitude, “I’ve never had an accident.”  Gary said, “If you work off airport in the bush it’s just a matter of time.”  The very next day the guy had an accident.  AAA was no different than any other guide operation.  On any given day during our season we would have two or three “super cubs” performing a wide variety of different tasks.  We also had flying services flying our clients in or out of base camps so there was a wide range of exposure.

A Special Sheep Hunt

A Special Sheep Hunt

Growing up in West Virginia in the late 40’s and 50’s, a female hunter was unheard of in our part of the woods.  I’m sure there were some out there, but I never saw a single one during my hunting trips.  In the late 60’s and early 70’s during the Women’s Liberation Movement, women were doing just about everything a man could do.  I was all for that as long as they were capable.  I have two daughters and wanted both of them to have the same opportunities as men, whether it be sports, the job market or whatever they wanted to pursue.

Looking For Caribou

Looking For Caribou

As Sagen opened the flap on the tent he said, “Rog, I’ve spotted five caribou on the bench across the creek and they’re coming our way!  They look like bulls but with the low light I can’t tell how big they are.  I don’t know if we have enough light but we should try.” I replied, “Get Rachel, I’ll turn off the stove and grab my stuff!”

Hunting Partners

Hunting Partners

I often spend time at my desk looking at old photos, reminiscing about my past hunts and the many people that I have hunted with.  God has blessed me with so many good hunting buddies that I got to thinking about, “What makes a great hunting partner?”

In Memory of Gary Bishop

In Memory of Gary Bishop

The flying community lost a great pilot Sunday February 4, 2018 as he took his very last flight.  Gary was a good friend to many and especially to those of us who knew him through AAA Alaskan Outfitters.  Gary started flying for AAA in the fall of 1991.  He was the chief pilot for the Dog Salmon River Camp until he retired in 2014.  I personally learned so much about flying “super cubs” from Gary.  He always knew he could count on me in short field landings and flying in bad winds but knew my weakness was flying in low visibility.  His super cub, 645 Romeo Fox, flew about 3 MPH faster than 36 Alpha, which was good because Gary would be ahead of me and would talk me into staying focused and keeping calm in those conditions.  I know he saved me more than once.