It Was a Big Deal!

Not too much longer now, and I will be looking down on a ram of my own.
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Ray, I hope you do realize that when you go on that sheep hunt in August that we need a blow by blow account and lots of pictures. How are you doing with your exercise program?
Al
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Al, I plan on writing up a nice long story. I'll even mention your history in it since you and your friend started this hunt thirty years ago.

My fitness has been going well, but took a huge blow this week with a nasty head cold. I am fortunate to work in a five story building where I can take breaks every hour to get in a stair climbing work out. I am looking forward to spring when the hills open up and are not covered in avalanches and ice. I found a used "high performance" Kifaru pack a couple of weeks ago that fits me like no other and can carry more weight than I can pick up off the ground. My rifle is tuned and ready for a summer of practice.
 
Al - I may never get that far north but it sure is fun reading about your adventures up there. You must have had a heavy load or two to bring back the meat and horns from where you started that hunt, but, at least, it sounded like it would have been downhill ?
sarge
 
Again, Al, I've enjoyed reading your posts of past experiences. To add another comment, it is a "big deal" to make a solo hunt into the wilds. Your post brings to mind previous backpacking hunts I've made for high-country mule deer and elk -- despite my late Dad's admonition that "You really shouldn't do that, just think about what could happen."

But, as Gordon MacQuarrie once wrote, "You've got to suffer!"

But alas, the modern style of big game hunting has changed a whole lot since we cut our teeth. It's all about creature comforts ... I don't know whether this is a function of aging "boomers" or younger guys growing up on the couch watching "Friends" on TV. While flying thousands of miles of pipeline right-of-ways the past few years (quit that gig -- way more dangerous than solo hunting), I've seen literally hundreds of elevated deer stands, some with a stovepipe, no less. It seems that stalking and still hunting are lost arts.

Thanks again for sharing the essence of true hunting.
 
Great story Al, I was in the GREATLAND myself for 8 years and remember
the feeling of that first solo ram, all the preperation was almost as fun as the hunt.
Hope for more great hunting stories.
Dave M
 
Not too much longer now, and I will be looking down on a ram of my own.
Click to expand...

Ray, I hope you do realize that when you go on that sheep hunt in August that we need a blow by blow account and lots of pictures. How are you doing with your exercise program?
Al
Click to expand...


Al, I plan on writing up a nice long story. I'll even mention your history in it since you and your friend started this hunt thirty years ago.

My fitness has been going well, but took a huge blow this week with a nasty head cold. I am fortunate to work in a five story building where I can take breaks every hour to get in a stair climbing work out. I am looking forward to spring when the hills open up and are not covered in avalanches and ice. I found a used "high performance" Kifaru pack a couple of weeks ago that fits me like no other and can carry more weight than I can pick up off the ground. My rifle is tuned and ready for a summer of practice.
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Hey Ray,
When you go hunting in the Tok Management Area this fall, it will be 39 years ago that this control hunt was started. Like I told you, Darrel was the great writer and I had just a small part in it. I can still remember standing before the Alaska Fish and Game board back in the spring of 1974 and reading this proposal to them. I'm so glad that they accepted our vision and that it has been so successful.
Al
 
Al - I may never get that far north but it sure is fun reading about your adventures up there. You must have had a heavy load or two to bring back the meat and horns from where you started that hunt, but, at least, it sounded like it would have been downhill ?
sarge
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Hi Dick,
I found out very quickly that it was much easier on my knees carrying a heavy load up hill instead of down hill. Some times depending on where I hunted, I had to negotiate more than one mountain range to get in and out. The heaviest load I ever hauled out was about 140 pounds (the cape and horns weighed 30 pounds of that total). Dick, I even recall burying my tooth brush to lighten the load. That one took me quite a while to do. How many times does one rest with 14 air miles to walk out?
Al
 
Again, Al, I've enjoyed reading your posts of past experiences. To add another comment, it is a "big deal" to make a solo hunt into the wilds. Your post brings to mind previous backpacking hunts I've made for high-country mule deer and elk -- despite my late Dad's admonition that "You really shouldn't do that, just think about what could happen."

But, as Gordon MacQuarrie once wrote, "You've got to suffer!"

But alas, the modern style of big game hunting has changed a whole lot since we cut our teeth. It's all about creature comforts ... I don't know whether this is a function of aging "boomers" or younger guys growing up on the couch watching "Friends" on TV. While flying thousands of miles of pipeline right-of-ways the past few years (quit that gig -- way more dangerous than solo hunting), I've seen literally hundreds of elevated deer stands, some with a stovepipe, no less. It seems that stalking and still hunting are lost arts.

Thanks again for sharing the essence of true hunting.
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Steve, I sure did appreciate those comments. I found out years ago after reading about the lives of some of our naturalists like; Sheldon, Muir, and Audubon, that there indeed was magic about going solo. Yes, one must always weigh or factor in the "what if's" however, in the ultimate scheme of things that becomes insignificant. All I can tell you is that I am thrilled that I made the decisions that I did and when I did it.

No one can take all those memories away.
Al
 
Great story Al, I was in the GREATLAND myself for 8 years and remember
the feeling of that first solo ram, all the preperation was almost as fun as the hunt.
Hope for more great hunting stories.
Dave M
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Thank you, Dave. I, for one, would look forward to any story that you might consider writing about your hunting experiences. As for the preparation, I do understand!
Al
 
Yes the Tok management area was where I got my first solo ram in 1995,
I left a few items on the hill as well, to make room in the pack.
Good luck hunting Steve .
And thanks again for the story Al , they can never take the memories for sure.
Dave M
 
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