Trophy Hunter

Trophy Hunter

During my last hunting trip while sitting in a Redneck blind waiting for that giant trophy whitetail to magically appear I got to thinking about what being a trophy hunter really means. Over the years the name “trophy hunter” has been beaten up pretty badly. Most of the hunting organizations, who are truly trophy hunters, try to stay low key and don’t even want to put the size of the animal harvested in print. I remember the last big hullabaloo was when an American doctor shot a lion that was “according to the news” a pet. I don’t remember all the details but it started out as a guided hunt in an open area but the lion ended up dying in a sanctuary. They even gave the lion a name. The anti-hunters and media made such a big deal out of it that most of us really don’t know what actually happened. Stories like this, true or not, give all hunters a bad rap. The same people that spread that story are now busy allowing monuments to be torn down, watching cities being burned and dictating what we can and cannot say. WOKE is in and I guess I’m about the most UNWOKE person around. The old white guy. I can live with that but this craziness must stop.

Covid-19

Covid-19

No matter what you think about Covid-19, and we all know there are many different opinions, it has changed the way we think and, in my view, not for the better. This man-made virus has taken many loved ones and tanked our economy. It has also taken its toll on Alaska hunters especially the guided ones. Last year the Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed down non-resident spring brown bear hunting in game unit 9 and, many villages in the State barred non-locals from coming into their communities. This really hurt the guide industry and some resident hunters. 2021 has been better but some hunters are still afraid to travel, even some residents. Saying that, my family still hunted sheep and moose in 2020 and planned our 2021 moose hunt like there was nothing going on.

Another Alaskan Hunting Adventure

Another Alaskan Hunting Adventure

I wish I could write a story without drama but that doesn’t seem to be my norm. This hunt was no exception. When I was thinking about a title for this story, the first one that popped into my head was, “The Hunt From Hell,” but I’m grateful as it could have been worse.

Be Careful Out There

Be Careful Out There

A couple of weeks ago I did a podcast with Caleb Martin, Executive Director for the Alaska Outdoor Council. We mainly chatted about my guiding career in Alaska. His final question was, “If I had one piece of advice to give to someone who is new to hunting or new to hunting in Alaska, what would it be.” There was a long pause as my brain was trying to engage. As I sat there thinking about everything that is involved in hunting in Alaska I stammered around and finally said, “Be careful out there.” At the time I was not pleased with my answer but that was all that I could come up with for one piece of advice. Later that afternoon when my wife came home, I asked her that same question and without hesitation she said, “Find a good hunting partner.” My response was, “great answer!” Why didn’t I think of that!

A Cold November

A Cold November

Because of Covid-19, 2020 will be a year we will always remember! It affected our lives in many ways. The loss of loved ones, the mask wearing, lock downs, the election, our travels and for hunters, many cancelled hunts.

Finally, A Big Moose

Finally, A Big Moose

Every year since I retired from the guide business, we have tried to go on a family hunt. Our family hunts usually include my son-in-law Sagen, my grandchildren, Sagen’s brother Thor and his children. It’s mainly a moose hunt with caribou thrown in if anyone gets drawn. Sagen and Thor were born in Alaska and grew up doing family moose hunts. Most of you know moose is my least favorite animal to hunt but I have always enjoyed being with my grandkids no matter which animal we were hunting. We have shared so many wonderful memories.

The Old Gray Mule Ain't What He Used To Be

The Old Gray Mule Ain't What He Used To Be

It didn’t look like I was going to get to go sheep hunting this season so I had planned to post a story about hardcore sheep hunters. However, the weather broke, so my son-in-law Sagen, grandson Jared and I made a quick trip in to an open sheep area. What I found out on this trip was at age 76, my days as a hardcore sheep hunter are pretty much over.

Black Bear Hunting With A Little Excitement

Black Bear Hunting With A Little Excitement

Before I started guiding, spring black bear hunts were some of my favorite hunts. Once I retired, I started hunting them again with my grandkids. My preferred area is the beautiful Prince William Sound. Nothing is more spectacular than a sunny day with gorgeous snow covered mountains dropping down to the blue ocean waters. My five grandkids that like hunting all share wonderful memories of that area. All five have harvested bears in the six-and half-foot class with my grandson Greg at the age of eleven taking the largest, a 7’1”.

Brown Bear Hunting 101+

Brown Bear Hunting 101+

I have never written a story specifically about how to hunt the different species but have written about how I personally have hunted them. Years ago, I gave talks about how to hunt Dall sheep during “Sheep Days” at the Alaska Chapter of The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS), now known as the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF). Those talks were well received so I hope this story will be as well.

Bear Hunting Around Cold Bay

Bear Hunting Around Cold Bay

Back in the late summer of 1979 my friend and local taxidermist Brent Jones asked me if I wanted to go brown bear hunting that fall with him and another friend of his, Dwight Felmlee. I jumped at the offer. I had hunted sheep with Brent in ’74 and had been hanging around his taxidermy shop in my spare time. Brent was a super hunter with an Assistant Guide License so I felt like it would be a great hunt. We were going to hunt in the Cold Bay area and I had never been that far down the Alaska Peninsula.