Getting Too Old For Backpacks

Getting Too Old For Backpacks

I haven’t written any current stories because I haven’t been on any hunts since starting the blog.  That changed on September 2.  I went on a backpack sheep hunt with my grandson Jared and son-in-law Sagen.  I have been on over 50 sheep hunts and I will have to say this was one of my hardest.  I didn’t want to think it was my age but maybe it was just the 20 hours of fighting alder, devils club, willow and blow downs on the climb in and reversing it after one day of hunting.  That will get you no matter what age you are.  I have decided however, no more long backpack hunts.  So follow us on this short story with lots of photos of what I call a “brutal” hunt.

Where Were You On 9/11?

Where Were You On 9/11?

Everyone has a story about September 11, 2001, the day that changed America forever.  They know where they were, what they were doing, etc.  I thought I would share my story as a guide.

Hunting with My Wife

Hunting with My Wife

As our 54th wedding anniversary approaches I’m reminded of the anniversary that Karen and I spent in the gorgeous Wrangell Mountains.  We were high school sweethearts so we have been together a long time.  In our younger years, I could never convince her to join me on a hunt.  We had no relatives in Alaska so she never felt comfortable leaving our daughters.  She has always been reluctant to fly in small planes for basically the same reason.  In addition she has always had a full time job and vacation time was limited.  Hunting wasn’t her first choice for a family vacation.  However, after our daughters were grown and on their own, I finally convinced her to go on a hunt with me.  She was only interested in hunting sheep and caribou.  So for her first hunt, we decided to go on a caribou hunt.  I personally love caribou hunting as it is a lot of fun.

Check out my special memories.

Back on the Mountain

Back on the Mountain

Here it is August 10 opening day of sheep season and my 72nd birthday and I’m at home.  It feels a little strange as I have spent at least 35 of my last 50 birthdays chasing sheep.   I’m going later this year with my grandsons Jared and Nathan and my son-in-law Sagen.  We drew a late permit hunt in Carpenter Creek in the Chuguch Range so we will be going after the 26th.

I did want to post a sheep hunting story today so I chose one that is special to me.  It was with Jared and his dad Sagen.  It was actually a quest to get Jared one of those beautiful full curl rams.  It took us three hunts.  He was quite the hunter at 13 walking in 26 miles before we even started the hunt.  That started our quest.  Follow us along on the hunt as you read, “Back on the Mountain.”

God Saved Me

God Saved Me

This story could have ended much differently and had a title like, “Three Strikes You’re Out.”  With my airplane accident, getting stuck in the mud and now turned up-side down in the raging ocean it could have gone either way.

AAA’s guides had crossed the bay for fourteen years in the Zodiacs with no major problems.  Even this trip, had I left 30 minutes earlier we would have been on the other side before the seas flared up and there would be no story.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  That God has a plan and I am a part of his plan.

I became a Christian or was saved when I was 9 years old.  I prayed prayers of gratitude all the time but for whatever the reason I normally didn’t pray for things or ask for help.  I guess being young, dumb and independent made me think that God had made me strong and I could do most anything myself.  But I will say when you know it is over it is almost too late to ask for help.  I was at that point and I know that when I prayed for God’s help, He rescued me.

Read my story on how God Saved me.

AAA Alaskan Outfitters Wrangell Mountain Area

AAA Alaskan Outfitters Wrangell Mountain Area

After Brent and I formed AAA Alaskan Outfitters in December of 1983, our first order of business was to obtain hunting areas.  We were thinking of Cold Bay and the Wrangell Mountains.  Steve Black had let Brent use his Cold Bay area the fall of ’83 and Brent was working with him to possibly transfer that area to AAA.  Both Brent and I had flown into the Wrangell’s with Ken Bunch to hunt Dall sheep.  We decided since I was more familiar with Ken, I should be the one to contact him to see if he was interested in selling his area.  Ken’s area in the Wrangell’s had a great sheep population, good goat and moose numbers and we could also hunt grizzly.  It was a great hunting area. 

I Can Do This

I Can Do This

This story would not happen in today’s world and I for sure would not have had to walk out.  The Satellite phone has changed everything about what could be an emergency.  I worked for four different guides in 1983 and none had radio or telephone communications.  All of these guides are still in business today and wouldn’t even think about not having a Satellite phone.  Most have multiple phones.  Single sideband radios were the only option back then.  Many times the signals were not very good and in some areas no signal at all.

After my being involved in this particular incident, Brent and I made sure that we had some type of communication for AAA Alaska Outfitters.  We purchased a portable single sideband radio from Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage.  Like I said, some days the signals were so bad you couldn’t use it but that usually didn’t last but a day or so.  It was better than nothing!

As soon as Satellite phones came out we purchased one.  It weighed 28 pounds and cost $4,200. They charged us $2 a minute but it was a great feeling when I landed my cub at camp and could call Karen to let her know that I had made it.  If you ever stop by Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage ask Antonio to show you that big phone.  He still has it there.  I personally think Surveyors Exchange is one of the best places to rent or buy a Satellite phone in Anchorage.

Hope you enjoy my first guiding experience.

Becoming a Sheep Hunter

Becoming a Sheep Hunter

Over the years many friends and acquaintances told me that I should write a book.  My wife has always been my biggest supporter and was always telling me to write it down, keep a journal, but that didn’t happen.  The problem is, I’m a good story teller but not a good writer.  English and writing have never been strong points for me.  My oldest granddaughter Jaime Rapp, who has her Master’s Degree in 20th Century American Literature and has taught English at Cal State, volunteered to be my ghost writer.  Man, I should have taken her up on that offer.  I have written a few short stories for the Alaska Professional Hunter Association so maybe one of these days I’ll get that book written.  My grandson Jared told me after writing my blog for a few years I will have my book.  Again we will see.

This story has been laying on my desk for at least 15 years.  I occasionally worked on it and even told numerous people that I was working on a book.  This was to be my first story.  One of my decisions I had to make was whether to write about Alaska hunting in general or write a sheep hunting book.  I choose sheep hunting because sheep have always been my real passion.  Once I began guiding I wasn’t able to devote the time needed to become the sheep hunter that I wanted to be.

It’s crazy how sheep hunting can get into your blood.  It is the hardest hunt physically and because of the terrain which is beautiful, can also be the most dangerous.  I guess it’s the challenge!  It is hard for me to explain but every year when I start to see that little shade of red on the beautiful mountains and the weather starts to cool, my thoughts are always about those big rams. 

Becoming a Sheep Hunter is the first of at least six stories that will follow this next year.  Follow along as I climb after those beautiful Dall rams.

What's a Duck Worth

What's a Duck Worth

All decisions have consequences.  "Don't do anything stupid!"  Strike two!

Friday the 13th Bear

Friday the 13th Bear

Since people are still black bear hunting I thought this would be a great time to post a bonus black bear story.  My granddaughter Jordan Juliussen-Johnson wrote this story when she was 11 years old.  It was her summer activity story for school.  Her teacher really liked it and at the urging of her mother, Michelle, she decided to submit it to the Anchorage creative writing contest sponsored by the Anchorage Daily News and received an Honorable Mention Award.  She also gave a copy to my wife and me for Christmas.  Since the Alaska Professional Hunters Association had been seeking ways to interest young people in the field of hunting, I thought they might be interested in publishing Jordan’s story.  They accepted it and it was published in the 2004 Spring Issue.  Her story was the main reason she was asked to audition and was selected for the ZOOM project (a televised children’s program on PBS) “Fishing with My Grandpa” which was filmed in Anchorage and Kenai.  

Jordan took a caribou in our Western Alaska area the following year and seemed to love hunting.  However, while Jordan was away at college, she called us one evening telling us that she had watched a video in class showing how they killed cattle and that it was pretty brutal and sad.  She said she didn’t think she would ever be able to eat meat again and for sure wouldn’t be able to kill an animal.  I told her that was a normal feeling and that was fine if she didn’t want to hunt anymore.  I told her that she may change her mind again later in life and that hunting is not for everyone.  She still loves to fish and is an excellent fisherperson. And, she does eat a little red meat now and then, so who knows.    

We just attended her wedding this past April.  She married a fine young man, Nate Johnson who loves Alaska, fishing and hopefully hunting.  We are looking forward to taking him on his first ever hunt this fall.  Jordan was a beautiful bride.  She is the first of our grandchildren to get married.  Hopefully when she has children of her own, I will be able to share and pass along my passion for hunting with my great grandchildren.

The following is an eleven-year’s old perspective on her black bear hunt.  Enjoy.