Mountain Hunter Magazine Spring 2014

BRITISH COLUMBIA, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, NUNAVUT, YUKON TERRITORY CONVENTION ISSUE 2014

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FEATURE STORIES

It’s Not Always About Taking the Trophy A Tale of Two Brothers

Contents

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Convention Issue 2014

Articles, photos, editorial submissions, comments and letters to the editor should be sent to: MOUNTAIN HUNTER: c/o GOABC, #103 – 19140 28th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia Canada V3S 6M3 Tel: (604) 541-6332 Fax: (604) 541-6339 E-mail: info@goabc.org www.MountainHunter.com

advertisers Babine Guide & Outfitters..............................37 BC Guided Hunting.........................................IBC BC Safaris..............................................................31

www.facebook.com/GOABC1966

BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters....................34

@GOABC

Bear Paw Guide & Outfitters..........................53

MOUNTAIN HUNTER is published three times a year by the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia 2 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

4 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

Canada - $50 CDN USA - $50 USA International - $65 CDN

Canada - $85 CDN USA - $85 USA International - $125 CDN

Beaverfoot Outfitting.......................................31 Besa River Outfitters.........................................36 Big Country Outfitters ....................................56 Bonnet Plume Outfitters.................................36 Boone & Crockett Club....................................24

All prices include tax.

Bugle Basin Outfitters........................................5

44

Canada North Outfitting.................................44 Cariboo Mountain Outfitters.........................21

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BRIAN GLAICAR President MARK WERNER Past-President AARON FREDLUND First Vice-President MICHAEL SCHNEIDER Second Vice-President REG COLLINGWOOD Director DAVID BERANEK Director MIKE YOUNG Director SEAN OLMSTEAD Director

LOCAL PRESIDENTS:

LEIF OLSEN Northern (Peace)

STUART MAITLAND Cariboo/Chilcotin

CLINT LARSON Northwest (Skeena)

DARREN DELUCA Vancouver Island

KEN WATSON North Central (Omineca)

NEIL FINDLAY Thompson

MARC HUBBARD Okanagan STEVEN LEUENBERGER Southern (Kootenay) STAFF:

SCOTT ELLIS

JEANA LES

JENNIFER JOHNSON

AMANDA SAWYER

Executive Director Policy & Communications Assistant Office Manager Receptionist

features

Claw Mountain Outfitters...............................47 Copper River Outfitters...................................45 Dallas Safari Club...............................................37

Dream Catcher Robert Gray

6 Double Eagle Guides........................................37 Elk Valley Bighorn..............................................34 Eureka Peak Lodge...........................................53 22

A Tale of Two Brothers Cody Shoman

Findlay Creek Outfitters..................................36 Gana River Outfitters........................................34

It’s Not Always About Taking the Trophy Paul Jensen

Grand Slam Club/Ovis.....................................25

38 Grouse River Outfitters....................................52 Gundahoo River Outfitters.............................37

Fortune Smiles in Spatsizi Keith Holley

Lehigh Valley SCI...............................................31 48

Can You See It?

54

Little Dease Ventures...................................OBC

Nancy Hecox

DAN REYNOLDS President

TIM MERVYN Past-President

Mountain Hunter is the official publication of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC), Association of Mackenzie Mountains Outfitters, & Yukon Outfitters Association. All rights reserved. Articles and advertising in Mountain Hunter do not necessarily reflect the view or directions of the GOABC. The GOABC reserves to the right to refuse any advertisements.

Designed in Canada by Sherri King Communications (formerly Red Apple Creative) • sherriking.com Printed in the United States of America

by Forum Communication Printing - Fargo, North Dakota

Mervyn’s Yukon Outfitting.............................53

On the Cover Mark Gibson from Montana with a 10” billy

Nahanni Butte Outfitters................................45 Pelly Lake Wilderness Outfitters..................51 Ram Creek Outfitters........................................14 Ram Head Outfitters...........................................5

departments

Ram Head Outfitters (plane for sale)..........47 Redstone Trophy Hunts..................................47

GOABC PRESIDENT’S CORNER

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NEWS & VIEWS

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PREFERRED CONSERVATION PARTNERS 10 CONVENTION 2014

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ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2013

16

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS 18 LELAND AWARD

20

CONSERVATION MATTERS™

28

GUIDES GALLERY

McCowan’s Sporting Properties..................34 McGregor River Outfitters..............................21

taken during his hunt with Pelly Lake Outfitters.

HAROLD GRINDE President

KELLY HOUGEN Past-President WERNER ASCHBACHER Secretary

Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters...................46

26, 27, 32, 33

Rocky Mountain High Outfitter & Guides..... 56 Safari Club International (SCI)..................... IFC Scoop Lake Outfitters......................................24 Shadow Mountain Outfitters..........................5 Sikanni River Outfitters....................................21 Silent Mountain Outiftters.............................21 SITKA......................................................................51 Sonny’s Guiding Service.................................46 South Nahanni Outfitters...............................46 Sports Afield........................................................44 Tuchodi River Outfitters..................................36 Wild Sheep Foundation..................................35 Yukon Big Game Outfitters............................51 Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 1

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Brian Glaicar

Well, here we go, my first crack at writing an article for the News and Views section of Mountain Hunter. After 11 years on the Board, I have taken on the role of President. I do realize that my predecessor has devoted an outstanding amount of time and dedication to the role, and though I have a few different ideas, I hope to continue on building the reputation this association has for being a leader in wildlife conservation and the guide outfitting industry.

As I sit here at my camp preparing for the upcoming spring bear season, I reflect back on the last 16 years I have spent working as a guide outfitter. It has not been easy and there have been tough times, but I have no regrets and I am proud to say that I am a guide outfitter. The issues that

have affected this industry are not new; it seems that the issues have been there for as long as I can remember. Whether it is habitat for wildlife, the anti-hunting movement, or government bureaucracy, the issues have been present since I started with the association.

variety of issues. They will be outlining conservation projects that are taking place from around the world and talking about competing uses on the land base. This will be an opportunity for everyone to share their ideas and work together for the conservation of wildlife.

I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead for the industry as we look forward. The GOABC has made a lot of progress in dealing with these files over the past years.

Whether it is the oil and gas conflict, or the Certainty Needs legislative and policy changes, we have made some great strides forward. Yet as the spring bear hunt starts, I am thinking about the anti-hunters and what their next steps may be.

For those of you who are looking for a hunt with a member of the GOABC, you can be sure of the work that they have done to ensure that you have the best hunt possible.

Whether we have been working with the biologists on populations surveys and monitoring, or working with government to reduce the red tape that may affect your hunt, we have been working hard on all aspects of making your trip more enjoyable and rewarding.

In June we will be hosting our International Wildlife Management Symposium in Richmond with speakers coming in from around the world to present on a

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Brian Glaicar President, GOABC

Your story could be worth $1,000!

Mountain Hunter™ magazine is pleased to announce our first ever story contest. Any story submissions received between January and December 2014 will be eligible for the contest. The winner will receive $1,000 from the GOABC, and the featured outfitter will be provided with a complimentary half page advertisement (design not included). Second and third place stories will receive $500 and $250 respectively, and the featured outfitters will receive complimentary third page and quarter page ads.

All stories must be of guided hunts taken with members of the GOABC in the BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. The Marketing Committee for the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) will review all submissions and announce the winner in spring 2015.

Send your submissions to admin@goabc.org or call 1.877.818.2688

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mountainhuntermagazine.com

NEWS & VIEWS

At this year’s AGM, Mark Werner’s term as President came to a close, and we welcomed Brian Glaicar as the new President of the GOABC. Brian has been on the Board of Directors since before I started at the GOABC in 2008, and on the Executive for several years now. He brings a wealth of knowledge on wildlife management and the Harvest Allocation Policy, and an understanding of the importance of public relations. Congratulations to Brian on being elected as President!

For the first time in many years, our Board will be without Dixie Hammett. It was great to have the opportunity during Convention to recognize Dixie’s many years of service.

Dixie has a real passion for wildlife stewardship, and her contribution to the Board has always been very patient and thoughtful. To commemorate her 9 years on the Board of Directors, the GOABC presented Dixie with a special Service Award, and she also received her second

Lady of the Year Award (her first was in 2005).

Since Brian moved from Vice President to President, Aaron Fredlund was nominated to fill the Vice Presidential vacancy. Aaron has been on the Board for 2 years now, and has significant experience in dealing with the impacts of pipelines, which will certainly be valuable in the months and years to come.

Although the leadership of the GOABC changed with the recent election, the direction remains the same. It’s a new chapter of the same book. We are still following the Strategic Plan as a guide for the future, as we advocate for legislative and policy changes to improve business certainty for our industry.

The new Executive also maintains the same vision for wildlife stewardship. In June 2014, we’ll be hosting the second International Wildlife Management

Symposium, Stewardship in Action, to discuss conservation projects from around the world and managing competing interests on the land base. This theme reflects some of the key outcomes of our first symposium, Managing Wildlife in the Next Century. At the first symposium, we learned that budgetary constraints for conservation projects and sharing the land base would be critical issues in this century.

We anticipate that this will be a great forum for sharing of knowledge and experience, and encouraging collaboration.

If you are unable to join us in Richmond, watch your mailbox for a complimentary copy of Conservation Matters™ II, which will be released this fall.

Straight shooting and safe travels.

Scott Ellis Executive Director, GOABC TM

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NEWS & VIEWS

I have just arrived back home in Alberta after spending the past 3 weeks in the Mackenzie Mountains guiding on spring wolf hunts. There is so much about the spring hunt that I enjoy. Of course, the mountains are an amazing sight in their covering of snow—frozen rivers that fill the valleys with translucent blue ice can, in sharp contrast, be open water babbling over the rocks as if winter had not yet arrived. To travel for mile after mile over valleys full of river glacier that is heaved, cracked and yet ever growing—ever changing, always leaves me amazed at the depth and power of winter’s cold. In contrast, the sections of open water that somehow have remained open all winter in defiance of the cold seem to give promise to the coming spring. In April, the sun warms the back of your neck, but I cannot help but wonder at the unforgiving cold of January when the sun does not even break the horizon in some of these valleys. Somehow despite the contrasts and the extremes of the northern winter, the animals have learned to survive and even thrive in this harsh yet beautiful land.

Of course there are other aspects of the spring hunt that I love. These spring hunts are about the only time that I get to be “one of the boys” and actually work as a guide rather than be “the outfitter.” I am blessed to go out every day and face the challenges of showing the clients a great time while keeping them safe and comfortable. Anyone who has challenged their wits against wolves knows, being successful in harvesting a wolf in a fair chase hunt is probably more a result of good fortune than great skill, and must be viewed as a bonus to the wonderful experience of the hunt.

Once again this year we were very blessed to guide clients that “got it”—they enjoyed every moment of the hunt. Whether cooking breakfast in a crowded cabin, melting snow for water, or stopping to examine tracks in the snow, they enjoyed the moment. Telling hunting stories while warming a frozen sandwich over an open fire may not be high on most peoples’ bucket lists, but it is a memory we will all cherish forever. Starting the snow machines at –30°C and driving off in the crisp cold air to see what the day has to offer is something I do not see how anyone could forget, nor is having a nap in the warm sunshine of an open slope on a frozen mountain. The sounds of a pack of wolves howling from the timber on all sides of where we were hiding in a clump of willows will surely be branded into our minds forever.

These memories as well as the deep bonds and lifelong friendships that are born and nourished at such times are the real “trophies” of the hunt. I hope and pray that each and every one of us that hunt will come to understand this—that we will all “get it.” Wherever you plan to go hunting this coming season, please take the time enjoy every aspect of your hunting experience and pass on your passion to someone from the next generation.

Harold Grinde President, Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters (AMMO)

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It is the time of year that I find it hard to be in my office.

With spring getting underway, the urge to be outdoors grows stronger. I just came back from a flying trip that involved three small planes and two friends of mine. We flew all across the Yukon Territory, over to Norman Wells in the NWT, into northern BC and back home to Dawson City in the Yukon. It was an incredible trip and a strong reminder of just how lucky we are here in the Yukon, NWT and BC to have such vast areas that have been virtually untouched by development.

This winter seemed to pass by more quickly than the previous one and overall it looks like it was a good one after talking with fellow outfitters at our AGM, which was held in early April. We had good attendance at that meeting, and it was great to see everyone again. There was no change in the Executive, so it looks like another year of meetings for myself and the rest of the Executive to deal with the challenges our industry faces.

It has already begun with myself and two other YOA outfitters attending the Thinhorn Sheep Summit held in Vancouver on the 9th and 10th of April. This was put on by the Wild Sheep Foundation and was very well-attended by reps from industry and governments along with concerned associations. It was great to see such a gathering of knowledge and information with all parties working towards ensuring healthy populations of thinhorn sheep for now and years to come. Thanks to everyone who took the time to attend and for all of those that made it happen.

Well done.

With the upcoming season drawing near, I would like to wish everyone a safe and successful season.

Dan Reynolds, President Yukon Outfitters Association

Ram Head Outfitters LTD.

HUNT THE MACKENZIE MOUNTAINS OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Backpack • Helicopter • Hunts Dall Sheep • Fannin Sheep • Mountain Caribou Moose • Goat • Wolf • Wolverine WINNER

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1981

2001 FRANK GOLATA AWARD

OUTSTANDING OUTFITTER OF THE YEAR

STAN SIMPSON • 780-848-7578 P.O. Box 89, Warburg, AB Canada T0C 2T0

www.ramheadoutfitters.com

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dream I

t is funny how something from your childhood can end up on your bucket list. Reading an Outdoor Life magazine at about ten years old instilled in me a desire to hunt a Dall sheep. The picture of that magnificent ram that some lucky hunter had taken is still in my mind.

Fast forward 40 years, and I was finally in a position to start the arduous task of looking for an outfitter. I searched the ads in Mountain Hunter™ and on the internet and talked to a few outfitters before settling on Ram Head Outfitters.

After speaking with guide outfitter Stan Simpson, I learned that he had an opening for a sheep and moose combo hunt, and that I would be able to bring my girlfriend Joan along as a non-hunting companion.

We’re from Drayton Valley, Alberta, so we first met the Simpson family at their home in Warburg, Alberta. What a great family!

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After talking with them, we decided that we would drive to the Northwest Territories so we could bring back the meat and trophies.

It sure did add to the adventure. Travelling up the Canol Road to Mile 222 and through the Mackenzie Mountains was definitely an experience to remember.

Time passed slowly, but our day to leave finally arrived. It was August 25, and after a satellite call to base camp, Stan flew out and picked us up. We arrived at base camp and met our guide, a young fellow by the name of Tee Jensen. After lunch we sighted in my rifle and got everything ready to head out with the horses in the morning.

Saddled up, we took a short ride and then climbed up a drainage and found a band of rams—what a magnificent sight! The biggest ram was 35 inches, and it was decided that we would keep looking, as it was still the first day.

The next day we took a short helicopter ride

and set up camp on a mountain slope. After camp was all set, we took a walk and found another band of rams. There appeared to be two that warranted a closer look, but we would have to come back the next day as the 12 hour rule was still in effect. You cannot hunt in the Northwest Territories until 12 hours after flying.

We awoke to rain and fog and a pretty strong wind. You could not see very far, so all we could do is wait it out. By noon it had cleared some, and Tee decided we would take a two hour hike to see if we could find the rams. It was still raining and the wind was not in our favour if the rams showed up where they had been the day before.

Tee decided we would take a slight detour and angle in on the spot where the rams had been feeding. We were moving along slowly up to the edge so we could get a look into the bowl. At about 250 yards a ram popped up over the edge. We all got real close to the

catcher

by Robert Gray

ground and waited for the rest of the band to come up into view.

Tee looked the rams over and put his pack down as a rest and made sure we had the right ram, as two were very close in size.

After the shot, the ram went back down over the edge. We ran to where the ram had gone over and he was lying down, but his head was still up. I shot again but hit the rock pile he was laying behind. He jumped up and started to run, but after one more shot he was down for good.

Finally…my 40 year quest had been fulfilled. Sitting holding that 9 ½ year old, 37.5” ram was one of the best feelings in my life. After many photos and skinning it for a life-sized mount, we were loaded up and headed back to camp. We arrived back at camp just before dark. It had been an incredible day…and the hunt had just begun!

The following morning, Stan and Meghan

came with the helicopters to pick us up and take us back to base camp. We only stayed there for a couple of hours, and then the gear was loaded to get the pack string ready for the 19 hour trail ride to Moose Camp.

Our first stop was Grizzly Camp after about 5 hours, as we would be spending the night there.

The next morning we got all the horses ready for an 8 hour push to Willow Camp.

Tee set one of the packhorses up with empty pack boxes in case we ran into a caribou that was big enough to fill my tag.

He must have had a gut feeling because around 11:00 a.m. he told me to get off my horse, tie it up and grab my rifle. There, on the side of the mountain, was a really nice caribou. Tee got me set up on his backpack and ranged the caribou at 380 yards. After the shot, the caribou started going around in circles and after the second shot, he was down for good.

Tim, the other guide, and Joan continued on with the pack string while Tee and I rode the horses up to the caribou. At the beginning of the hunt, I had bought a caribou tag but was only going to shoot if it was a really nice one. This caribou was that and more. After high fives and picture taking, we caped it out for a shoulder mount and boned out the meat. With everything loaded on the packhorse, we made our way off the mountain for Willow Camp. It was sure nice to watch those caribou horns on the back of the packhorse as we rode. When we arrived in camp, it was just before dark, and we were pleased to see that Joan and Tim had camp all set up for the night.

It was real frosty the next morning, but clear skies and sunny. After camp was taken down and horses packed, we headed out on the 6 hour journey to Moose Camp.

The trail took many twists and turns, CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

and we crossed the river a bunch of times, but early in the afternoon we arrived at our destination.

The next morning was September 1st, which was opening day of moose season. We rode out to a vantage point and started glassing. It wasn’t long before the guides, Tee and Tim, were showing us moose. We probably saw 20 moose that day, just not the one we were after.

On day two we rode out to a different vantage point and shortly after setting up, Tee and Tim had a moose spotted that was worth a closer look. We rode the horses down into the valley, tied them up and proceeded on foot.

During our stalk, the moose snuck off and we never did see it again. By the time we rode back out the valley, it was time to return to camp for the night, where we enjoyed another great meal and a good night’s sleep. We would try our luck again in the morning.

The next morning Tee and I went out alone to another vantage point. At about 9:00 a.m., Tee spotted a really nice bull with four cows by a pond. It was decided that we would make our way over there to get a better look at the bull.

It proved to be a hard-fought battle to get over to where the bull was. The river took a few attempts to get across, but finally we got to the pond where Tee had spotted the bull earlier in the day. It was getting late in the afternoon, and we could not find the moose.

Tee decided we would ride up that side of the mountain and look from a different vantage point. While we were riding, he spotted the bull bedded with his harem at about 700 yards. After tying up the horses, we stalked the moose to about 180 yards. The bull and cows didn’t even know we were there!

After the first shot, the bull just stood there.

Tee assured me it was a good hit and told me to shoot him again if he turned. With a few more shots, the moose was down for good.

Walking up to the 64 inch Alaska-Yukon moose was unbelievable. The thing was huge.

Another round of high fives and picture taking commenced, and then we laid all the meat on a tarp to cool.

It was getting late and probably would be dark by the time we got back to camp. The lights at camp were definitely a welcome sight. We removed our wet gear and went for supper,

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which was just what we needed after a great day!

On day four, our group returned to retrieve the trophy and were relieved to find that there had been no unwelcome visitors during the night. Deboning the meat and removing the horns from the cape took a couple of hours, but soon we were packed up and headed back to camp. Again, seeing that moose rack on the back of packhorse was a beautiful thing to behold.

The following day we were taken back to the truck by the helicopter. Later in the day, all the trophies and meat were also flown out. It was hard to believe that my long-anticipated Mackenzie Mountains adventure was coming to an end.

Joan and I had a great time and were very impressed with the scenery. Joan collected rocks and was amazed by the plant life.

Although we are interested in different things, we both had the best trip of

our lives.

I would like to thank Ram Head Outfitters and their staff for the hunt of a lifetime.

We went as clients and came back feeling like family. You guys helped me fulfill my dream.

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE You can reach Ram Head Outfitters at 780.848.7578 or www.ramheadoutfitters.com Mountain Hunter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Convention Issue 2014 < 9

preferred conservation partners SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL Safari Club International (SCI) is proud to join GOABC as a Preferred Conservation Partner. SCI has approximately 50,000 members who hunt wildlife species throughout the world, including British Columbia. These efforts contribute millions of dollars to the conservation and management of species worldwide.

SCI’s missions include the conservation of wildlife, protection of the hunter, and education of the public concerning hunting and its use as a conservation tool. SCI also hosts the SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention (February 4–7, 2015, Las Vegas, Nevada) the premier hunting show in the industry.

SCI carries out its conservation mission in part through Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF). SCIF funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services. More specifically, the conservation mission of SCIF is to conduct and support scientific and technical studies in the field of wildlife conservation, to assist in the design and development of scientifically sound wildlife programs for the management of wildlife and sustainable-use hunting, and to demonstrate the constructive role that hunting and hunters play in the conservation of wildlife and in preserving biodiversity worldwide. ~ Safari Club International, John Boretsky, Guide and Outfitter Liaison

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Fueled by unprecedented growth in its annual convention, Dallas Safari Club (DSC) has allocated a record $1.2 million for 2014 grants to support conservation, education and hunter advocacy

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efforts worldwide. DSC has more than doubled its annual grant totals since 2010. Over the past five years combined, DSC has allocated $4.5 million for projects ranging from researching African lion population dynamics to improving habitat for desert bighorn sheep in west Texas, and from educating youth to lobbying Congress for beneficial legislation.

These figures do not include $350,000 raised in January by auctioning a hunting permit for a black rhinoceros. Those proceeds were not routed through DSC but will go directly from the buyer to Namibia for crucial rhino conservation and anti-poaching initiatives. “We’re looking forward to selecting worthy projects to fund with this year’s $1.2 million,” said Ben Carter, DSC’s Executive Director. He added that specific grant announcements will follow in coming weeks.

Carter thanked the organization’s supporters, volunteers and staff for their ongoing devotion to DSC, conservation, education and hunter advocacy. ~ Dallas Safari Club, Ben Carter, Executive Director

WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION The Wild Sheep Foundation’s (WSF) focus on mission effectiveness was recognized during the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (USFS) Joint Awards Reception held during the recent 79th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Denver, Colorado where WSF was presented the Joint Conservation Leadership Partner of the Year Award for 2014.

“To be so recognized by our agency partners before our industry

peers for accomplishing our mission is truly an honor,” Gray N. Thornton, WSF President & CEO stated while accepting the award with WSF Conservation Director Kevin Hurley. “Wild sheep will only thrive through partnerships and collaborative efforts.

WSF will continue to work closely with federal, state, tribal and provincial partners to accomplish our mutual wild sheep and wildlife conservation goals” Thornton added. ~ Wild Sheep Foundation, Gray Thornton, President and CEO

GRAND SLAM CLUB / OVIS Hunting is the greatest conservation tool. In our last installment for this column, we attempted to drive home this fact, mentioning that one of GSCO’s “Purposes and Objectives” is to “encourage the use of legally issued permits, tags and/or licenses for the hunting of wild mountain sheep, goats, and other North American species.”

A year ago, GSCO combined our three publications under one title, SLAM QUEST and we recently changed the name of our 2015 convention to the GSCO Slam Quest Convention. We realize that many conservation organizations shy away from being overt about what we do. The words “Slam Quest” most definitely denote hunting toward a goal. GSCO proudly embraces anyone’s Slam Quest, because we know that either directly or indirectly, they are benefiting conservation.

We encourage all like organizations to embrace this concept with us. Furthermore, let us as leaders in the industry continue to promote conservation and donate as many dollars as possible to worthy conservation projects. However, let us never lose sight of the fact that we are hunters. Without members who hunt, none of our organizations would exist. We are all conservationists,

whether we donate millions directly for conservation projects or if we only purchase an elk or deer permit each year for our traditional outing. ~ Grand Slam Club/Ovis, Dennis Campbell, Executive Director

BOONE & CROCKETT CLUB Conservation is being hijacked. To gain popularity for their beliefs, preservationists are now calling themselves conservationists, and the groups they represent are being referred to as conservation organizations in the media. Dictionaries are now defining conservation as “preservation and protection.” Consequently, the successful track record of conservation is being confused with and undermined by preservationist philosophies that pose a threat to effective wildlife conservation.

For the record, these are two different philosophies. Conservation is the wise and prudent use of natural resources without waste. It includes protection from illegal and unethical use. Preservation is non-use protection. Preservationist ideology includes the belief that our current wildlife diversity and abundance happened by accident and not by active management. This belief is based on the notion that if we remove human access, use, and active management from the equation and set aside protected areas; wildlife and natural systems will thrive on their own. This is not realistic thinking in today’s world full of people, with more on the way. ~ Boone and Crockett, Keith Balfourd, Director of Marketing Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 11

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2014 Convention Photos by Emilie Berthiaume Mountain Hunter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Convention Issue 2014 < 13

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F THE YEAR 2014 Its a Big World Out There

by Peggy Osbourne peggyosborne74@hotmail.com petportraitsbypeggy.weebly.com Peggy Osborne has been residing in northern BC for the last 35 years.

Her love of animals, both domestic and wild reflects in her art.

Working mainly with coloured pencil allows her to pay special attention to detail and create the realistic portrayals.

She currently resides on a small acreage north of Fort St. James, BC with her husband and small family of dogs, goats, and chickens.

Tom Grey

by Brogan Didier Tel: (250) 401-1188

Starting at a young age, Brogan Didier could operate a pencil before he could talk. Through his eyes, even then, objects, dimensions, nature and wildlife could be broken down into pencil lines, brush strokes and colors.

Growing up in the heart of the northern Rocky Mountains, Brogan was inspired and amazed with the beauty of Mother Nature. Spending as much time hunting, fishing and guiding as possible, he’s seen more drawing and painting ideas than he’ll ever have time to put to paper.

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Dempsey Callison 2014 Leland Award Winner

A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD JUST FOR GUIDES

Guide for Little Dease Ventures

POSITIVE ATTITUDE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSONABLE

The recipient of the award will receive a special bronze sculpture from Rick Taylor and a cheque for $1,000 from GOABC. Second and third place winners each receive a cheque for $750 from GOABC.

LELAND AWARD Mike Danielson of Little Dease Ventures referred to him as “the legendary Dempsey Callison.” Jim Peterson of Tahltan Outfitters announced: “He is one tough son of a bitch!” At 75 years old, Dempsey began last season with two sheep hunters, then guided for moose, caribou, and goat.

Every hunter was successful.

Dempsey hails from a long line of outdoorsmen, and spent much of his childhood living far from any roads. He was 17 when George Edzerza offered him his first guiding job, hunting saddleback The Leland Award recognizes professionalism in the ranks of guides in British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories. It was first established in 2000 in memory of Leland Bradford, a talented and skilful assistant guide who died in November 1998 at the young age of 22 years.

The committee will be looking for those qualities and traits in a guide that help make your trip a special and memorable experience.

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rams, moose, caribou, and bears near Atlin.

He went on to guide for Red Sorenson in the Toad River area, and for Arnold Edzerza at Rainbow Lake. At 31, Dempsey was allotted one of the last remaining hunting areas in British Columbia, on the Liard Plateau. In the late ’80s, he guided for Bill Moynihan, whose area he eventually purchased. Renaming the business Golden Bear Outfitting, Dempsey hunted Stone rams, caribou, moose, goats, black bears, and grizzlies on the Stikine River, Level Mountain, Highland Ranch, and at the

magnificent Tatsamenie Lake. After almost forty years of guiding, Dempsey sold his outfit to Greg Williams in 2007, and made a feeble attempt to retire!

NOMINATION DEADLINE: December 31, 2014 WHO CAN BE NOMINATED?

HOW TO SUMMIT NOMINATIONS

Any assistant guide employed by a member of GOABC in 2014 is eligible for the Leland Award. The Leland Award recognizes a guide’s professional attitude and treatment of clients, ethics and standards, and knowledge of the area and its wildlife.

WHO CAN SUBMIT NOMINATIONS? Any client of a GOABC member in 2014 can submit nominations for the Leland Award. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2014.

Dempsey is a ruggedly handsome man, with a strong handshake, and a calming spirit. He’s a gentle soul, with a headful of wisdom under his bandana. Bonnie Prudden said, “You can’t turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again.” At the age of 76, Dempsey will be guiding again this fall.

Nominations can be submitted to GOABC by mail, email or fax, and must be received by December 31, 2014.

For more information, ask your guide outfitter or contact: Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia Suite 103 – 19140 28th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia V3S 6M3 Ph: (604) 541-6332 • Fax: (604) 541-6339 info@goabc.org • www.goabc.org

Grizzly • Black Bear • Moose • Mountain Goat • Wolf Family Owned & Operated

Eric and Kelly

Box 1885, Station A Prince George, B.C. V2L 5E3 E-mail: info@mcgregorriveroutfitters.com Phone (250) 963-0262 Fax (250) 963-0233 www.mcgregorriveroutfitters.com

Silent Mountain OUTFITTERS INC. Your Ultimate Backcountry Experience in Outdoor Paradise

British Columbia hunts for:

Elk, Black Bear, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Shiras Moose, Mountain Goat, Grizzly, Cougar, Bobcat, Lynx, and Wolf

Tom Kotlarz Tel: 250.464.9565

silentmtn@gmail.com silentmountain.ca Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014

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a tale of two brothers

by Cody Shoman

M

y brother Kyle and I took off from the main camp at Scoop Lake Outfitters in northern BC on the morning of our first hunting day and headed for base camp. It was our first ever Stone sheep hunt, and we were more than a little excited. We left from base camp the next morning on horseback, heading to where our guides, Tyler and Gino, had already set up camp. They had seen a ram that they wanted a better look at, but after hunting there for two days, the ram seemed to have disappeared.

While picking up camp to move on, we learned that Tyler and Gino were born on the same day, in the same hospital within a couple hours of each other, and had been best friends as long as they could remember. They were basically “brothers,” just like Kyle and I! We thought it was pretty neat having “brothers” guiding brothers on our hunt!

The next morning (day 3) we went for a longer hike to a place where we had a good vantage point to see a lot of country. After an hour or so of glassing, Tyler spotted a ram on the skyline. When the ram finally got up and started feeding, another one came into sight, and both appeared to be nice rams. Kyle, Gino and I watched the sheep for most of the day while Tyler went back and helped our two packers (Hans and Peter) pack up camp and move it closer to where we

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wanted to be.

We woke up to rain and fog the next morning (day 4) and spent half of the gloomy day in camp, unable to find the sheep. On day 5, we were able to get to a good position to see the face where the two rams should be. After just sitting down to start glassing, Tyler spotted a band of ewes and lambs. Not more than 10 seconds later, I found the rams! They had moved a little ways from where we had last seen them and had picked up another smaller ram.

The four of us watched the sheep while we figured out what our next move would be.

The sheep continued to feed along the face of the mountain, and then moved around the corner to where we couldn’t see them anymore. Tyler went out to get a better view of the other side of the mountain while Gino, Kyle and I kept an eye on where they last were in case they came back over to our side. When Tyler returned, he had a rather dismayed look on his face. Just as he had reached where he could see the other face of the mountain, the sheep started moving faster and disappeared around the corner again.

There was a decision to be made. The sheep were now 2 miles away, maybe more if they kept moving, and they were likely getting farther from our camp as we spoke. Was it worth chasing them? Would we find another sheep, let alone two if we hunted more from where we were now? If we didn’t go after these two, it meant that Kyle and I would have to go our separate ways to increase our chances of each getting a sheep...what should we do?

Gino got on the horn and called Darwin Cary, owner of Scoop Lake Outfitters, with the satellite phone and his response made the decision easy. Gino returned to us with a grin and said, “We’re goin’ after ’em!” Darwin had told him that the mission was the sheep and he would figure out how to get us out of the backcountry after we got them! I could see that Kyle was as happy with the decision as I was!

The following morning, day 6, the six of us moved camp again to get closer to where we thought the sheep would be. Kyle, Hans and I went to where we could see where the sheep

were last spotted. About 2 hours before dark, I spotted the smaller ram. He walked up the mountain a little ways and laid down. We carefully watched the area all around where I had first spotted the smaller one, hoping the other two would be close by. After about 20 minutes, Kyle broke the silence. “There they are!” he whispered as he pointed just below the small ram in the trees, and we watched them walk out.

Kyle and I watched them as Hans made trips back and forth to camp to see if Tyler and Gino were back yet from scoping out a different area of view. They all had been unable to see the sheep from where they were looking, so they were very happy to hear that we had found the sheep. We all returned to camp, with the exception of Gino, who stayed to watch them bed down for the night on top of the hill. When Gino returned, he and Tyler talked a bit and decided that tomorrow was the day…

Kyle, Gino, Tyler and I woke at 3:30 a.m. to a drizzling rain, which was getting to be a normal occurrence for us. We got our packs together and headed out. We hiked for about 2 ½ hours until we reached a steep drainage.

We started climbing and took our time to be as quiet as we could. About 300 yards from the top, we stopped all of a sudden. I looked up and Tyler had his binos up looking to our left and all he said was, “Shoot him!” I turned to the left and one of the rams was 150-175 yards straight across a little drainage from us in an opening in the trees.

Gino instructed Kyle to shoot the first sheep, and I would get the next opportunity.

I got on him and waited. Kyle got his scope on the sheep and his shot rang out. It was a good, clean shot and the sheep dropped.

Instantly we started looking for the other ram to appear from the trees after the shot.

After about 10 minutes of waiting and watching for the second ram, it was decided that he had either snuck out on us or hadn’t been with the first ram when Kyle shot. We were only about 400 yards from the top so Gino and I went up and checked over the mountain. As we peered over, we saw the smaller ram bedded down. He was only about 100 yards away and was a legal ram, but after seeing the size of the one that was still left out

there, I decided that I would wait for him.

We looked around a little more and decided to back off and help Kyle and Tyler with Kyle’s sheep.

After taking pictures, we were wet and starting to feel the cold as the adrenaline wore off. Kyle and I started a small fire just down from the sheep to warm up and dry off, while Tyler and Gino got ready to cape and clean the sheep. Tyler went back up to our packs to radio the packers, but when he looked up, he saw two rams standing 300 yards away!

He quickly yelled for me to get ready to shoot and checked out both of the sheep. The front one was the big ram we had been looking for! I laid down on a pack and steadied my rifle. Tyler said “Shoot him!” and I pulled the trigger. The ram dropped! We all jumped up, gave high fives, and hugged each other in celebration. The dream we joked about had just come true: we just got a double on Stone sheep!

We pulled the sheep together so we could get a picture and started comparing the rams. They were almost identical. They were the same length, had the same bases, and both carried their weight out on their horns evenly. They were both 10 ½ years old and looked as if they had the same genes... brothers?

To get a double on rams like this is not something that happens every day. Let alone two nice rams like we were fortunate enough to take. Kyle and I both understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. We will always be grateful to have had this amazing opportunity!

A deep heartfelt thanks goes out to our grandfather, John Kautzman, who made this all possible for Kyle and I. He took us out hunting from a very young age, and taught us all we know, and instilled in us love and appreciation for hunting and the great outdoors.

EDITOR’S NOTE You can reach Scoop Lake Outfitters at 250.491.1885 www.scooplake.com

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Want to see yourself in Guides Gallery?

Submit your photos to admin@goabc.org with the outfitterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and the species, score, and harvested date of your animal.

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Mountain Hunter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Convention Issue 2014 < 27

co About Shane

e of is considered on Shane Mahoney ies on ational authorit rn te in g in ad le tion the . A rare combina on ti va er ns co e wildlif pher he ntist and philoso of historian, scie ildlife issues perspective to w brings a unique audiences ed and inspired at iv ot m s ha at th the 10 Most . Named one of ld or w e th nd arou ationists by adian Conserv Influential Can d nominated a Magazine an Outdoor Canad or Life e Year by Outdo th of on rs Pe r fo erous s received num Magazine, he ha ice rv g the Public Se awards includin ve go rnment lence from the Award of Excel and d and Labrador an dl un fo ew N of e Year by servationist of th on C l na io at rn raised Inte ional. Born and at rn te In b lu C Safari s writings d he brings to hi in Newfoundlan ment to rural ofound commit and lectures a pr of natural sustainable use e th d an s ie et soci fish. ing wildlife and resources, includ

Thank you to Sports Afield for permission to reprint this article.

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I

n the mid-1990s during an address delivered to a major hunting audience, I recommended we bring into common usage the practice of referring to ourselves as hunter-conservationists. I thought that doing so would help establish in the minds of both hunters and the general public the notion that hunting was so tightly engaged with the issue of wildlife conservation that it was impractical to speak of one without the other. By constantly pointing to this relationship I also hoped that as hunters we would come to emphasize the conservation side of our movement; yes, even more than the hunting side!

I fervently believed then, as I do now, that it is the conservation of wildlife that matters most.

Some 15 years later and more than a hundred years after the rise of the conservation movement in North America, perhaps we need to reflect on whether this term really does apply to us, as individuals and as a collective.

For while it does seem to me that the term hunter-conservationist is being used with considerable frequency in our public events and written communications, I remain unconvinced that this talk is not cheap. And while I can certainly point to strong evidence of the great conservation work some hunters and some hunting based organizations do, I often times wonder if the reference to conservation is merely a convenient argument for many hunters and that deep down they are mostly concerned with their opportunity to hunt, rather than with the fate of wildlife.

conservation matters

™

with Shane Mahoney

The Most Important Question Every Hunter Must Answer Are You Really a Conservationist?

Some might argue that this is how it should be, pointing out that without hunting there would be no wildlife because hunters pay for conservation and without hunter’s support wildlife would simply wither and disappear, right? Well, that is true to an extent, but perhaps not to the extent that, as hunters, we might like to think. First of all, in the larger scheme of things, much public money is also invested in wildlife conservation, both in the United States and in Canada. Certainly the excise taxes paid on such things as hunting permits, arms, and ammunition and boating supplies put enormous amounts of money into conservation programs, at the state level certainly, and at the provincial level in some cases. However, there are a great many programs and significant human resources devoted to National Parks and wilderness areas, wildlife refuges and

many other institutions of the national governments of both countries that are largely, if not entirely, supported by public dollars.

Furthermore, even the great PittmanRobertson fund that has for so long helped support wildlife in the United States derives a considerable amount of its tax revenue from firearm purchases by individuals who are not in any way associated with hunting.

Thus while hunters may rightfully refer to the considerable funds they help derive for conservation, we simply cannot continue to suggest that we pay all that freight. It is just not true. By overstating our case we undermine our position and that, I would argue, has a very real cost for hunting.

But this question of who pays is not the main point for consideration. Even if all the money for wildlife conservation came from taxes on hunting equipment exclusively,

would this necessarily mean that all hunters are dedicated to conservation?

Or might it simply be that most hunters don’t even think about this when they purchase their hunting rifle. They simply pay a tax, period; and that’s that. Indeed, let us ask another telling question. What percentage of hunters even knows that the taxes they pay go, in part, to support wildlife conservation? It is probably not nearly as high as we would like to think and lower than we would like to know. In my view, paying a tax established in 1937 on a rifle or ammunition today does not make anyone a conservationist, regardless of whether they hunt or not.

So what does make somebody a conservationist and how would you know one if you met one? Now, there’s a question CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 29 2014-05-23 9:11 AM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

worth pondering! Be forewarned! Pursuing it may prove an uncomfortable exercise and opens up a landscape of difficult personal challenges. Still, if we want to be known as conservationists, shouldn’t we be able to articulate what we mean by the term? What if, as hunters, we are ever asked? What will we say? What would you, as an individual hunter or outdoorsman say?

Will we respond that the term refers to someone who pays an excise tax or books a safari in Africa? Would we include taxpaying individuals who shoot retired circus animals in a tiny enclosure or who use living, sentient creatures (think gophers) for target practise? Would we include young persons who before their late teens have shot dozens of species about which they know absolutely nothing? Would we include hunters who pursue awards and who make their decisions on which animals to hunt based solely upon the checklist of which animals qualify them for the award? Is this what a conservationist does?

conservationist? Is the elderly gentleman who has never hunted but who subscribes to many outdoor publications and who contributes modest sums of money to his local environment improvement committee and has helped launch recycling in his neighbourhood a conservationist? Is the conscientious anti-hunter who works to purchase and preserve habitat or protest the polluting of a great trout stream a conservationist?

Well, the answers to such questions may be troubling, but the importance of deciding is critical to all of us, and I would argue is especially critical to those of us who hunt.

Despite the fact that I may not agree with some of the personal positions or actions of the fictitious individuals above, I cannot easily determine who is a conservationist and who is not. The problem is that most people in society don’t see conservation, in any sense, as something sufficiently relevant that they would become engaged in the debate in any way. In this sense, maybe all Indeed; let us go further afield with this the individuals above are more aware of and line of questioning and jump the hunting interested in wildlife and conservation issues chasm altogether. What about the person than the majority of society. Furthermore, who hikes, bird watches, helps clean up regardless of the positions they take polluted streams, works on behalf of on hunting generally, or on particular wilderness, fights for humane treatment of “hunting” practices specifically, any or all animals, but is not a hunter? Is this person a of the individuals we are discussing might care deeply about wildlife and may well give some portion of their time and money The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia g amon shift l menta funda a to causes that help (GOABC) wants to start protect wildlife and hunters from caring about hunting to caring about all wildlife habitat into care rs wildlife. Ranchers care about cattle and angle the future. about their

about fish, but hunters seem to only care sport. Hunters must be committed to the responsible use of wildlife resources and passionate about preserving a diversity of wildlife species. The GOABC is a strong supporter of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, which stipulates that law and science should manage wildlife. This model is the result of hunters and anglers who were dedicated to conservation. As anti-hunting pressure becomes louder, it becomes increasingly important to continue and enhance the legacy of the hunter conservationist.

In my view, the act of purposefully engaging in programs or institutions that help ensure the future prospects for wildlife is one clear criterion by which to determine a person’s con– servation identity.

It is not the only one, nor is it a

foolproof one. It becomes far more credible where such engagement is aligned with a personal philosophy that holds wildlife and the natural environment as significant social values, and personal valuations indicate these issues matter significantly with respect to the quality of our lives. Most critical, I think, is whether we recommend to others, by our thoughts and actions, that working to help conserve wildlife is a noble act, one that contributes to our status as citizens, that enlightens our children to the truly important things in life, and that makes our nations better, stronger and more progressive.

As hunters, we need to decide whether our movement is serving foremost our interests or the interests of wildlife. For while I contend that anyone can be a real conservationist, whether they hunt or not, I remain convinced that hunters must lead society in the fight to keep the wild others with us. I cannot escape the responsibility I owe to wildlife, not only for the inspiration and beauty they have so often and so freely given to me, but because on occasion I have taken their full and sentient existence onto my own. Beyond all others who engage nature, hunters do it most deliberately and with the greatest consequence. If in seeing them fall we do not sense the gravity of our decision nor accept the debt we have honourably incurred, then we must never argue any special role for our tradition or ourselves.

What must set the hunter apart is a lifelong commitment to wild creatures and for the places they roam in freedom. The ties that bind our movement must be the lives of wild things, not their deaths. In this crusade, all citizens can engage and all can become conservationists. While I regret but see no shame in the actions of non-hunters who ignore the conservation crusade, for hunters I see the shame most clearly. No individual who takes the lives of wild things can stand outside the struggle for their existence. To do so signals our commitment to ourselves, a selfish and cruel standard of indefensible proportion.

30 > Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 Shane's article Spring 2014.indd 4

2014-05-23 9:11 AM

:11 AM

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Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 31

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Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014

> 37

it’s not always about taking the trophy

by Paul Jensen

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A

fter driving a little over 1,900 miles from my home in Minnesota, I arrived on the bank of the Liard River in the Northwest Territories, where I would leave my truck and head over to Nahanni Butte Outfitters’ base camp. The original plan was for a boat to pick me up and take me the 30 minutes or so by river over to camp, but much to my surprise and delight, guide outfitter Jim Lancaster, sent the helicopter over to pick me up instead. It was my first

helicopter ride and the bird’s eye view was spectacular! It was September 13, 2012, so the fall colors were blazing, and I quickly realized just how big this country was.

After shuffling all my gear to the bunkhouse, Jim introduced me to my guide, Tyson Musil, a young man from southern British Columbia. My first thought was: how in the heck will I ever be able to keep up with this guy? You see, I am 5’8”, 180 lbs and was just two months shy of my 60th birthday at the time. Tyson was

over 6 feet tall, probably around 240 lbs, long-legged, and built like a tank. Just two years earlier, I was hunting in northern BC where my 19 year old guide, Shale, had a similar physique. It took me three steps just to match his two strides, so I thought, Here we go again. But just like with Shale, Tyson took very good care of this old man and we had an awesome experience. The only big difference was that this was Tyson’s first time guiding for Nahanni Butte Outfitters, but he was no stranger to this type of CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 39

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

hunting and terrain: he had guided in the Yukon and in BC so the only thing new to him, and me for that matter, was using the helicopter to get to and from our hunting area.

I had booked a combination caribou and mountain goat hunt with Jim shortly after returning from a very successful 2010 hunt in northern British Columbia, where I harvested a beautiful Rocky Mountain elk, a Canadian moose and a huge mountain black bear.

Although I was extremely tempted to go back to the same area again, the thought of having a helicopter drop me off on the mountain rather than riding a horse for several hours just was too appealing.

Besides, I had always wanted to experience flying in a helicopter, and I believe the NWT is one of the few places where it is legally acceptable.

That first evening, after enjoying a delicious steak dinner, Jim suggested that Tyson and I should head out to our spike camp as the weather wasn’t looking very good for the next day. We would only have our little pup tent for shelter, but when the weather broke, we would be able to start hunting. So we quickly grabbed our gear, loaded it into the helicopter and our adventure began.

Our spike camp was some 50 miles west and very near the Yukon border. In fact, when Greg dropped us off he told us that the next mountain over was in the Yukon and off limits. As the helicopter lifted off, it became very real that Tyson and I were now isolated on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, just a little bit scary to say the least. With little daylight left, we quickly pitched our small tent, organized our gear and began glassing the area. Within minutes it started to rain, so we crawled into our sleeping bags.

Around 7:30 the next evening, the rain stopped and the fog started to lift, so we started glassing. Tyson spotted a herd of caribou with a good bull about a mile away and on the other side of a deep ravine.

He felt we could get to them before dark, but I was hesitant, knowing my lungs and body were still acclimating to the 5,000 foot elevation and fearing I would not be able to keep up with this guy who was 36 years my junior. So I suggested we let them bed down and go after them in the morning. Somewhat disappointed I’m sure, Tyson agreed and we kept glassing, spotting a white wolf across an even deeper ravine straight out in front of us. Tyson let out a wolf call. Unfortunately, the wind direction carried the sound toward the herd of caribou that eventually disappeared over the horizon.

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The next morning was frosty with a bright clear sky. We had oatmeal, filled our water jugs and headed for the spot where we had last seen the caribou. Hiking down into the ravine wasn’t bad, but I was definitely sucking air on the climb back up. As we approached the ridge 45 minutes later, Tyson spotted a small group of young caribou. We climbed on up to the high points and glassed for most of the day, only spotting a cow and calf moose and the four young bulls. Around 4:00 p.m., we decided to work our way back to camp, glass from there and put together a plan for the next day.

Shortly after we got back to camp, I was glassing the horizon in the opposite direction and located a herd of caribou.

They were sky-lined so I could see a good bull with some pretty nice antlers. I signaled Tyson and we were on our way.

The terrain was flat but boggy, so the walking was tough—especially following my long-legged guide. Throughout the day, we drank all of our water, and not having a chance to refill caught up to both of us in the form of leg cramps. As we approached, Tyson could see two cows so we belly crawled another 50 yards and then we could see the big bull’s horns.

He was bedded down with 9 or 10 other

caribou, so we waited for him to stand.

Once they all stood at 240 yards, we had to wait for him to give me a clear shot. It seemed like forever, but after a couple minutes, the other caribou cleared and he turned toward me, so I put the crosshairs in the middle of his chest and squeezed the trigger. Not allowing quite enough for the brisk crosswind, I hit him right behind the front shoulder, taking out one lung. It was a mortal shot, but it took two more shots to put him down after he sprinted to the ridge.

My first thought was He’s a beauty.

I counted 31 points, a huge shovel, several points on the bez, lots of long tines and heavy mass. He was just what I was hoping for! After taking many different pictures, Tyson caped him out and we quartered him, carved out the back straps and took out the ribs (as is required in the NWT).

While Tyson finished skinning out the head, I went after the inside tenderloins.

The big bull went down at 5:00 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. the helicopter came and set down right beside us. We loaded everything into a large net and attached a cable so Greg could fly everything back to the base camp at once.

Both Tyson and I were thinking that it was going to be a long, dark walk back to

our camp, dehydrated and gimpy. To our surprise, Greg said, “Hop in and I’ll give you a ride back to your spike camp!” It was totally awesome! Oh, how I was loving this helicopter hunt! Back at camp, we had a little Mountain House and a couple of rum and cokes to celebrate the harvest of a magnificent animal.

We woke up to a cold breeze but clear skies, so Tyson called base camp to schedule our move to goat country. After a little breakfast and tearing down camp, we got to watch that same white wolf while waiting.

Our next helicopter ride was a little over an hour. The scenery was spectacular as we flew over mountains, valleys, and huge areas of sheer wilderness.

At the float plane stop, Greg maneuvered the helicopter to land right on the boat dock, using only the small joy stick as his control. I was very impressed by his skill and was grateful to have such a talented pilot.

While adding some fuel, we met Jim’s business partner, Clay Lancaster, and another guide named Don Burt, who said they had been watching some goats through their spotting scopes on a distant CONTINUED ON PAGE 42 Mountain Hunter – Convention Issue 2014 < 41

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

mountain. With enough fuel to continue on, we were off to our goat camp.

This part of the trip was probably my favorite because we flew along the mountain faces and saw goats in some pretty incredible spots. It was almost mind boggling to think that these creatures could live and survive on what appeared to be sheer cliff faces. We did see numerous goats, but most were in places that were not reachable, at least not for this old guy.

Greg dropped us off in an area he thought would hold some good goats that would be reachable by climbing to the top ridge and spotting the goats from above. Our camp site had a flat spot just behind a ledge where we could pitch our tent and be out of the wind. The goats would probably be over the ridge 500+ feet above us and on down along the sides of the mountain.

Since there is a 12 hour “no hunting after flying” rule, we were unable to hunt the remainder of the day so we glassed the area above, across and down below. We spotted several goats, most in areas no man could reach, a grizzly climbing around on the mountain straight across from us, and a cow and calf moose down below by the river.

After another Mountain House dinner, this time beef stroganoff (probably my favorite), we looked up at the ridge 500 feet above us and there was a nanny goat with her kid bedded down. Our hope was that a billy might show up the next morning so we could get a shot. Otherwise, I was in for some serious mountain climbing the next day.

We were up at 7:30 a.m. and on our way up the mountain by 8:00 a.m. Greg had said the weather looked good for the next couple of days, so we wanted to make the most of it. Right away we spotted a young nanny bedded on our slope and another one just up over the first ridge. It took me about 45 minutes to reach the top, and then it got really interesting. It was very steep, but I have to admit, I was amazed at all the little shelves and benches there were. Sometimes you had to go down in order to go up and vice versa, but if you took your time, you could find a way to scale the mountain side. A couple of times Tyson took my pack while I shimmied along a narrow ledge, but I was actually able to keep up… well, sort of. Our plan was to get up to the very top ridge and follow it down, looking for a billy along the way. Tyson climbed on up to the top to check it out and discovered that it just wasn’t possible. So we glassed for a while and called Jim, who said he would send the helicopter back to move us that afternoon.

Soon we were on our way again, seeing goats, but most were in unreachable spots so Greg decided to drop us on Goat Mountain, where we would be able to walk the tops for miles in several directions. We were now at 6,500 ft elevation, where it was much colder with snow and a lot more wind. We did stop at the river down below so we were able to fill all our water bottles. Now it looked like melting snow would be our only source for additional water. We pitched the tent in a gusty wind and added another layer or two of clothing. Glassing the area, we saw several goats with a bunch of nannies and kids right down below us, over a sheer cliff of over 2,000 ft. Plus there were goats bedded down in

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nearly every direction we looked.

That night was brutal. It snowed, it sleeted and the wind tried to blow our tent down.

I have no idea how or why it was still standing the next morning. I do know that a Thermarest mattress and a Cabela’s “Summit” sleeping bag are worth their weight in gold up in the mountains. For the entire trip, I was never cold while in my sleeping bag, even with snow underneath my Thermarest. I even learned that the best way to dry out wet socks or t-shirts was to put them in the sleeping bag with me overnight: probably didn’t smell the best, but dry stinky socks sure are better than wet ones!

Most of our water was frozen that next morning, so we had to pour a little out of each bottle in order to get enough water for our hot oatmeal. Fortunately, the skies were clearing so a warmer sun was on its way.

As Tyson was getting ready to boil some water, we both heard a wolf howl, which we thought was strange considering our altitude. Shortly after, we spotted a large black wolf running on the ridge above us, unaware of our presence.

I grabbed my rifle and my pack and laid down for a shot. Unfortunately, my rifle scope was still cranked up on high from checking out the goats the night before, so I struggled to find him in the scope. By the time I realized I needed to crank it down, the wolf had turned and was running back up the ridge. All the while, I could hear Tyson yelling, “Shoot! Shoot!” My shot at the wolf was a bit off, reaching only his tail.

This was one time when a light trigger failed me (or maybe it’s the other way around). I also broke the golden rule of “always keep your scope on its lowest power.” I guess it was just one lucky day for a big black wolf!

We did run up to the ridge and got to see a smaller white wolf running straight away at 500 yards. I dropped to the ground and tried a Hail Mary shot, only to have my rifle recoil and give me a big dose of “scope rash.”

We started out walking along the flat tops and then dropped over the edge and began side hilling along, over and around boulders.

That’s when my left knee started sending sharp pains up my leg. It had been a little tender having twisted it in the bog during the caribou hunt, but now it was all I could

do to try and keep up with Tyson. I’m not sure, but I think some of these guides must have a bit of goat in their blood in order to cruise through the terrain they cover.

After a couple of hours, Tyson spotted a goat and determined that it was a billy. He was a little over 300 yards away, bedded down and facing away from us. Tyson asked me if I was comfortable with the shot. Seeing a small ridge 75 yards closer, I suggested that we try to get closer. We made it to the ridge and just as I raised my rifle for the shot, the billy stood and dropped out of sight.

My guess is that since it was pretty calm, he heard us and moved closer. Tyson appeared a little upset with me for not taking the shot at 300 yards. If I had it to do over again, I would have. I had practiced 300 yard shots and I was pretty confident, but I had never actually taken a shot at an animal at that distance.

So I assured Tyson that the goat I’d missed was my goat and I was okay with that. I told him that it isn’t always about taking a trophy animal. What was most important to me was that I got to go to where the goats live.

I got to see these magnificent animals on their terms in their world. I had an awesome experience and I was completely satisfied going home with a memory as my trophy.

We did continue hunting, spotting another billy a good 500 yards out. We laid on the snow watching him for over 3 hours, thinking he might get up and feed. But every time he got up, he just laid right back down. Eventually, we tried belly crawling over the snow and boulders, getting within 425 yards of the goat, when he must have heard us and stood and dropped out of sight. We tried to hurry down and get a look over the edge, which was straight down some 2,000+ ft, but only got a quick glimpse of him.

By then my knee was starting to swell up and I knew it was over. As much as I wanted to keep going, I knew the only smart thing for me to do was call the hunt off. I just did not want to do any serious damage to my knee. It was a tough mile and a half walk back to the camp but Tyson, being the professional he is, took my backpack and strapped it on to his and carried my rifle, which is something I will always appreciate. A little disappointed,

Tyson called Jim the next morning and the helicopter came and picked us up for our return to Nahanni Butte base camp.

I can honestly say that when I first learned that a helicopter was used for hunting up in the Northwest Territories, I was a little skeptical about the ethics. Now after experiencing it, I can honestly say that 80 to 90% of the area would not even be accessible without a helicopter. The Mackenzie Mountains are rugged, very isolated, and absolutely massive. To access this area by traditional means such as by horseback would reduce the “huntable” area immensely and increase the risk of overharvest. Use of the helicopter allows access to nearly all 9,700 square miles of this roadless wilderness territory.

The only advantage the helicopter gave us was the amount of time it took to get to and from our hunting area. All the actual hunting was done on foot, and our small pup tent was the only shelter we had for our ten days on the mountain. A spike camp isn’t for everyone, but riding a horse for hours over treacherous terrain just to get to and from a hunting cabin isn’t for everyone either.

After a few days of gimping around at camp, the swelling went down in my knee and all appeared to be good. I now own an elastic knee brace, which should come in handy on my next adventure with Nahanni Butte Outfitters in September 2014. I have decided to return for a chance at a giant Alaska/Yukon moose and another helicopter-supported adventure. And yes, if time permits, I will head for the mountains where the goats live to try again. Jim recently told me that only 2 or 3 guys have failed to get their goat in all his years at Nahanni Butte Outfitters, so I plan on making it happen this time.

A special thank you goes to Jim and Nadine Lancaster of Nahanni Butte Outfitters for an awesome experience. Your planning, attention to detail, and friendship are very much appreciated. And thank you to guide Tyson Musil: your hard work and dedication made this hunt everything I could have ever asked for!

EDITOR’S NOTE You can reach Nahanni Butte Outfitters at 250.846.5309 or www.lancasterfamilyhunting.com

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Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters Stan Stevens Recent Trophies

Phone # 250-719-8340 www.mmo-stanstevens.com mmostanstevens@gmail.com Facebook Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters

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fortune smiles in spatsizi

by Keith Holley

In Pursuit of Mountain Trophies in British Colu mbia

G

et down, get down, they’re moving!” We had just started moving into position for a shot when my guide, Max, halted the three of us and we hunkered down again to wait. Three mature Stone sheep rams had just stood up from their beds 1,200 yards away and were slowly moving our way. Another band of six Stone rams grazed undisturbed on the steep slope 500 yards below us. We were on a remote mountainside in northern British Columbia, in the Spatsizi Wilderness. It had taken four days to get to this place from my home in Idaho, and a year and a half of anticipation for this moment before that. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

I was thinking about the elements of a successful hunt. What is more important:

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preparation or just plain luck? I prefer to believe that we create our own luck by hard work and being prepared. However, undoubtedly Mother Nature and lady luck also play a role in big game hunting. This time, all the elements were coming together.

It looked like I was going to get a shot at the trophy ram I had been dreaming about.

My trip had started by flying to Smithers, BC, where I spent a night before flying by floatplane to the base camp of Collingwood Brothers Guides and Outfitters. There was another hunter in camp as well, and we hit it off right away. The two guides I would be hunting with were from diverse backgrounds. Max was a French Canadian cowboy and part-time guide, and Kurt was a young Aussie with experience guiding big game hunts in Australia and North America. That afternoon we checked zero

on our rifles and the wranglers fitted our saddles. The outfitter, Reg Collingwood, informed me that I was headed to a remote valley where no one had hunted in many years. It would take two days on horseback to get there.

The next morning our group of two hunters, guides, wranglers, and packhorses headed out. The next two days were uneventful, but memorable for the incredible scenery.

The Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park is a protected wilderness area encompassing over 1.7 million acres. The name comes from a native language and means “red goat,” referring to mountain goats that roll in the ferrous dirt common on some of the mountains. Our journey through the park took us through beautiful valleys, over high passes, and past an incredible waterfall.

Along the way, I saw Stone sheep, mountain

goats, and a grizzly bear. None of the sheep we glassed were mature rams, so we continued to our destination. On the second day, my group split off from the other hunter, and we broke trail into a remote valley full of tall willows and beaver dams in the bottom, with slopes covered with balsam, and peaks reaching well above tree line. We made camp at the first open field we found that had wild grass to graze the horses.

Day four was really the beginning of the hunt.

We had not seen any sheep yet in the valley, but Max had picked out a mountain that looked promising. The plan was to ride up to tree line, and then start hiking. Despite finding some game trails, going up them required a lot of bushwhacking, and we ended up walking as much as riding. After tying up the horses, it was all on foot as we made our way up to the ridge.

By late morning, we neared the top and were rewarded for our efforts with breath taking views. Even better, we soon spotted six bedded sheep on the next ridge. Max and Kurt studied them through the spotting scope, and determined that there were two very good rams in the group. The problem, however, was that they were 1,300 yards away and we had no good way to close much of the distance. The ridge we were on ran roughly parallel to where the sheep were bedded. Between us was a steeply sloping drainage of mostly broken shale, and no real cover: typical sheep country.

We decided to move further up the ridge to get a little closer, hoping the sheep would come closer to us. After another hour of side-hilling around a peak, we emerged at another vantage point to find that the six rams were grazing undisturbed on the steep hillside 500 yards below us. Unfortunately, the two big rams were not among them. They were still bedded on the opposite ridge 1,200 yards away, along with a smaller ram.

For the next hour, we glassed the sheep grazing below us. The best of the group was a very respectable mature ram with heavy bases, probably 9-10 years old, but hard to tell as he was broomed off on both sides. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind that; total horn length was not as important to me as other features. Occasionally I looked across the ridge at the bedded rams. Even from that distance I could admire the two big fellas, one dark and one light, each with magnificent full curls flaring out at the ends. After a while, Max CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 Mountain Hunter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Convention Issue 2014 < 49

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asked me what I would like to do. Although it was still early in the hunt, I didn’t feel like I could pass on this opportunity.

“Let’s try to get in position for a shot at the broomed ram,” I said. Neither guide had any qualms about shooting this ram, assuring me he was a fine trophy.

Right when we started moving, Max told us to get down and just like that our plans changed. My adrenaline was flowing as we watched with amazement. Over the next 45 minutes, the three rams across the canyon gracefully moved down the mountain, leaving dark trails in the loose gray shale.

The other six rams continued to feed undisturbed in the patch of green below us.

“Looks like you may get your pick of the lot, mate,” Kurt whispered. At that moment, I was more worried about the shot. My rangefinder told me the rams below were 450-500 yards, but the 35 degree downward angle had me more worried.

I had been practicing out to 600 yards at home, and was confident with my shooting platform. I was carrying a custom GA Precision Non-typical in .308 Winchester, topped with a Nightforce scope. New for this trip, I also had the Leica Geovid HD-B range finding binoculars. I had found the ballistic information this gave to be very reliable.

Eventually all nine rams were clustered right below us. We continued to observe the animals and discussed the attributes of each in hushed voices. There was no question in my mind. The Spatsizi is known for dark-coated Stone sheep, and the darker ram was the one I wanted. I belly-crawled to the edge of an overhang where the muzzle just cleared the rocks.

Max and Kurt kept watch just above me.

Although I had a steady rest lying prone, my boots were two feet above my head.

“Grab my legs if I start to slide off the mountain,” I whispered to Kurt. It didn’t feel like much of an exaggeration. Once I was in position, I checked the range once more: 445 yards. I dialed the elevation turret and watched through the scope, waiting for a clear broadside view. Exhaling and try to stay calm, I had my window.

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With a quick prayer, I gently squeezed and felt the gun recoil. I recovered my sight view to see the ram tumbling down the hillside. He came to rest and did not move.

Max and Kurt erupted with excitement behind me. I was stunned, almost in disbelief, at my good fortune and what we had just accomplished.

As we began the steep descent from our perch, a rain squall passed over and briefly dampened our enthusiasm. The skies cleared shortly thereafter, and we took time to admire the old ram and take a bunch of pictures. The shot had hit high on the right shoulder and exited cleanly on the lower left side of his chest. He had ten years of growth rings, heavy bases, and a dark coat.

I felt so lucky to have been in his pristine mountain world that I almost did not want to leave. We still had a long hike ahead of us, and when we finally slogged into camp after dark, we were all exhausted.

The next day was a rest day, and we enjoyed some excellent wild sheep steaks.

In the afternoon, Max and I went scouting down the valley. To that point, we had not seen any goats in the valley, and Max was thinking of leaving the next day. However, 15 minutes out of camp we spotted a billy sky-lined on a mountain top. Out came the spotting scope, and we eventually watched five goats on that mountain. Max turned to me and smiled, “We’re going up there tomorrow.”

The following morning, hiking up the barren moonscape of loose shale high above tree-line, we saw numerous goat beds and tracks, but no animals. Eventually we found ourselves on top and looking over an impossibly steep back side of the mountain. The fog rolled in and visibility dropped. Glassing was impossible for a while, so we rested and waited it out. In the afternoon, we crept around the top of the mountain, looking down each successive face but seeing nothing.

I was convinced the goats had left the area, but finally Max returned from scouting a side face with good news. He had spotted the goats on a leeward mountain face far below us. There was a series of granite

outcroppings which provided cover, and we stalked from each rock formation to the next to get as close as we could. Finally, we crouched behind a stone pile and there was open space between us and the goats who were 475 yards away.

Max and Kurt studied the animals for a long time, finally reporting that two were excellent trophies. Although I had studied how to field judge mountain goats before the trip, I had a hard time judging trophy quality at this distance. One appeared to have slightly more mass at the bases, so that was the tie-breaker. Crouching behind the rock on one knee, I had a solid rest across my pack. My first shot was true, hitting behind the shoulder, and the billy reared up on stiff front quarters. I quickly put a follow-up into him, and watched through the scope as he did a back flip and tumbled down the mountain.

“God, please let him stop,” I thought.

Finally he stopped rolling—right before getting to a ledge—and the high-fives were exchanged once again. The other goats were hardly disturbed, and took their time wandering off as we approached, a testament to the remoteness of the territory and lack of hunting pressure. The old mountain monarch was 12 years old with 9 1/2 inch symmetrical horns. Fortune had smiled on us again: not only with another magnificent trophy, but also with where he had come to rest! Packing the goat out required a lot of side-hilling to get back to the horses, but we didn’t have to go back over the top of the mountain.

Although my hunting was over, I enjoyed a few more spectacular days in beautiful country. Big game hunts aren’t always successful, and even if they are, sometimes the experience doesn’t live up to all of our expectations. Once in a while, however, everything comes together as it did for me, and the experience cannot be matched.

EDITOR’S NOTE You can reach Collingwood Brothers Guides & Outfitters at 250.847.9692 or collingwoodbros.com

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can you see it?

by Nancy Hecox

“Can you see it?” asked Rob D’Lerma, my guide and my friend.

“No,” I said meekly. I really wanted to say yes, but I didn’t want to lie either. It was late and there was very little light. I was afraid that without a rest and a chance at a good shot, I’d have to pass on what might be my only opportunity.

We had just piled out of the stand and ran into the field, having witnessed this bull elk pursuing a cow. He wasn’t paying attention to us, but he was quite interested in her. The cow, however, kept looking at us. Luckily, a mule deer diverted her attention and we were able to make our approach at.

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I

started hunting with BC Guide Outfitters, owned by guide outfitter Mark Werner, in 2012. My husband and I first met Mark at the SCI Show in Las Vegas two years prior and booked a moose/bear hunt for his Dome Creek site in north central BC. Mark seemed like a great fellow and we felt comfortable making the 16 hour drive from our home in Washington State. We wanted to be able to harvest the meat and put it in our freezer, if we were successful. And on the first hunt with Mark in 2012, we were. My husband took a nice bull moose on the second day, and we spent the rest of the hunt enjoying the scenic camp on the lake and bear hunting for me. I never did shoot a bear that year, but not for lack of trying. If I had not kicked the metal shooting stick, this story might be different.

We decided to go back because I wanted to hunt an elk. Mark, in his consistent spirit of generosity, offered to let Ray hunt a whitetail, but I decided to get a bear tag instead and be the only hunter.

We met at the Prince George airport, picked up other hunters and caravanned to the camp on the lake. I was anxious to get hunting, but glad to have the opportunity to see that camp again. It’s a place of true beauty.

The next day Rob took us to the “ranch.” This hunting area is about a 2 hour drive from the main camp and sits along the mighty Fraser River. The forested area holds deer, bear, and elk. The three of us had a ranch house to ourselves and we’d venture out at the crack of dawn to our stand. The “stand” is actually an old falling down farmhouse with many interesting relics.

I am a bit unreliable with my “stay still” ability so my guide, Rob, gave me his phone with the game Angry Birds on it to make my fidgeting tolerable to my fellow hunters. I did run down the battery several times.

On the third night we got excited when we saw a cow emerge from the forest’s edge. She acted like she was being chased, but we didn’t see her pursuer. It was very exciting to come back and try again. I badgered Rob about going into the forest, but he wisely said no.

He thought we’d spook the herd that settles between the river and the field. I felt anxious waiting, but followed his instructions anyway.

On day 5 of our hunt, it all started to happen. Rob and I were standing in the “kitchen” of this old house looking at the mule deer feeding out into the field. My husband was looking out the “living room” windows and came to tell us the cow elk was out again…and this time there was the bull. His head was down in typical scenting fashion and he was intent on chasing the cow. I put a shell in the chamber of my

30.06 Remington and out the door we ran.

Luckily, there was a lot of cover until we got to the fence. We first tried setting up so I could shoot off the fence. It was a 350 yard shot, which I felt I could do if the shot was clear, but it was not. That cow elk had come to a copse of trees right in the middle of the field, and she was staring us down. The bull stopped behind the trees and as luck would have it, the mule deer moved toward her. Then all eyes were off of us.

Rob grabbed me and started to run across an open area. My heart was pounding and I was really scared.

I was healing from a terrible injury to my left knee: two months prior I tore my ACL and sprained the MCL. I had no confidence that I could run on uneven ground with a loaded rifle. I just sucked it up and took a chance. It was getting dark and we had very little time.

We were 150 yards out and Rob said, “Can you see it?”

“No,” I said and I felt so sad. By this time my heart had stopped pounding and I had lost hope, thinking that this chance at this elk had passed.

Rob was undaunted. We moved closer. The cow elk was nowhere to be seen, but the bull elk was at the edge of the forest with the river beyond.

“Can you see it now?”

“No,” I said again.

“Look through your binoculars. We are 120 yards away. He is directly in front of us.”

“I can see him!!!”

“Shoot off my shoulder,” Rob said.

“Really?” I said, but there was not time to argue.

I rested my rifle on Rob’s shoulder and shot. The flame from the shot blinded me. My shot, we later found out, killed that elk on his feet. I had taken out the atria of his heart.

We gutted the animal and draped coats on the antlers, eager to look at this beast in the first morning light. On our return the next morning, as the sun was rising over the meadow, we got a look at our magnificent bull. It was a 7X8 and measured 316 6/8 SCI non-typical.

Thank you Rob, Mark and crew who fed me well and looked after a couple of (dare I say it?) senior hunters who loved the whole experience. I have a moose/ whitetail hunt booked for 2015.

EDITOR’S NOTE You can reach BC Guide Outfitters at 778.349.0105 or www.bcguideoutfitters.com

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Guided Hunts in Northern BC Stone Sheep

Mountain Caribou

Mountain Goat

Grizzly Bear

Canada Moose

Wolf

Lynx

Wolverine

LITTLE DEASE VENTURES Mike & Carol Danielson

PO Box 66 Dease Lake BC V0C 1L0 • mandc@littledeaseventures.com • Tel: 250.771.3819

www.littledeaseventures.com