Mountain Hunter Magazine Fall 2015 by Guide Outfitters of BC

pot-bellied

GOAT HUNT Feature Story

Eric Moland describes his 10 day Mountain Goat hunt with Collingwood Bros. Guides and Outfitters in British Columbia’s beautiful backcountry.

Also featuring...

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH HUNTING A TRIP OF A LIFETIME UNDER CHILCOTIN SKIES DISPLAY UNTIL

December 31, 2015

8.95

Vol. 26 | Issue 3 MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

INSIDE Mountain Hunter is the official publication of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC), Association of Mackenzie Mountains Outfitters, & Yukon Outfitters Association.

COVER STORY

Articles, photos, editorial submissions, comments and letters to the editor should be sent to:

POT-BELLIED GOAT HUNT

MOUNTAIN HUNTER:

Eric Moland

c/o GOABC, #103 – 19140 28th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia Canada V3Z 6M3 Tel: (604) 541-6332 Fax: (604) 541-6339 E-mail: programs@goabc.org www.MountainHunter.com

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

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BRIAN GLAICAR MARK WERNER MICHAEL SCHNEIDER AARON FREDLUND REG COLLINGWOOD COLIN NIEMEYER DARREN DELUCA LEIF OLSEN

President Past-President First Vice-President Second Vice-President Director Director Director Director

LOCAL PRESIDENTS: SEAN OLMSTEAD AL MADLEY CLINT LARSON MIKE LEWIS KEN WATSON BRUCE AMBLER MARC HUBBARD KEN ROBINS

Northern (Peace) Cariboo/Chilcotin Northwest (Skeena) Vancouver Island/South Coast North Central (Omineca) Thompson Okanagan Southern (Kootenay)

STAFF: SCOTT ELLIS JENNIFER JOHNSON AMANDA SAWYER CRAIG SWEETMAN

Executive Director Executive Assistant Marketing and Programs Coordinator Consumer Marketing Director

FEATURE STORIES

www.facebook.com/mountainhuntermagazine @MtnHunterMag

Frank Scarpino

Shannon Caraway

Colin Sands

DEPARTMENTS 2

GOABC President’s Corner

Conservation Matters

News & Views

From a Legal Perspective

Preferred Conservation Partners

Camp Cook’s Corner

Artist Feature

That Some May Follow

Guides Gallery

ADVERTISERS Ambler’s Bighorn Country Guiding................................10

Gana River Outfitters..............9

Ram Creek Outfitters............53

BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters..........................16

Gunwerks.............................45

Ram Head Outfitters.............16

Grand Slam Club/Ovis...........40

Redstone Trophy Hunts........26

Grand Slam Outfitters...........27

Rocky Mountain High Outfitters.............................26

Bonnet Plume Outfitters......17 Boone & Crockett Club..........33 Bugle Basin Outfitters...........22 Claw Mountain Outfitters.....27

iStockphoto: Natalia Pushchina Depositphotos.com: pictureguy, Irochka, belchonock, happymay, dimdimich Dollar Photo Club: mkinlondon, Lukas Gojda 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 PG Web Designs Printed in the United States of America by Forum Communication Printing - Fargo, North Dakota

48 UNDER CHILCOTIN SKIES

Cariboo Mountain Outfitters...9

President Past-President

41 A TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Big Country Outfitters..........10

DEAN SANDULAK DAN REYNOLDS

Eric poses with his “pot-bellied” goat

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH HUNTING

Besa River Outfitters............16

President Past-President Secretary

ON THE COVER

Beaverfoot Outfitting..............5

HAROLD GRINDE KELLY HOUGEN WERNER ASCHBACHER

THIS ISSUE

Collingwood Bros. Guides & Outfitters..........................33 Covert Outfitting................OBC Dallas Safari Club.................46 Double Eagle Guides & Outfitters...........................5 Elk Valley Bighorn Outfitters..22 Eureka Peak Lodge & Outfitters............................23 Findlay Creek Outfitters.......33

Gundahoo River Outfitters..17 HUB Phoenix Insurance......16 Kettle River Guides & Outfitters..37 Lehigh Valley Chapter SCI....10 Leupold & Stevens................5

Safari Club International...IFC Scoop Lake Outfitters...........53 Shadow Mountain Outfitters.27 Sikanni River Outfitters.........5

Little Dease Ventures............22

Silent Mountain Outfitters.......47

Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters..........................17

Sitka Gear.................................55 Skinner Creek Hunts..............23

McCowans Sporting Properties.............................47

Sonny’s Guiding Service........37

McGregor River Outfitters.....9

Sports Afield.............................12

Mervyn’s Yukon Outfitting...37 North River Outfitting..........22 Packhorse Creek Outfitters..47 Pelly Lake Wilderness Outfitters..........................37 Pioneer Log Homes..............54

South Nahanni Outfitters.......26 Tatlow Mountain Outfitters....47 Tuchodi River Outfitters..........9 Wholesale Sports...................IBC Wild Sheep Foundation.........11 Yukon Big Game Outfitters....23

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

GOABC

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Fall hunting season has begun and many hunters have already hunted, or are anticipating an upcoming hunt, with a member of the GOABC to have their dreams brought to reality. Having the opportunity to experience the emotions that the hunt evokes is something that we all can be thankful for. Being out on a frosty morning and hearing the distant grunt of a bull moose as he replies to a lonesome cow call, or bellying over a ridge as you sneak up on a band of rams, summons something inside that comes from a long history of man’s requirement to hunt. As I am writing this, stories of Cecil the lion are circulating in all the major news and media outlets. There have been questions around the legality of the lion hunt and whether the client and/or outfitter was following the game laws. This incident has brought forward many opinions pertaining to the ‘trophy hunt’ and raised questions regarding the morality around hunting for ‘pleasure’. Some people seem to feel that hunters should only hunt for sustenance and that hunting animals such as lions, or here in BC grizzly bears, is not morally correct. For me, hunting any species regardless of what it is, instills something deep within that I find difficult to explain to someone that does not understand it. I feel sorry for people that do not feel that desire or need to live off the land. I think the feeling is something that we as a species have had since the first rock was tossed, or the first arrow was shot at an animal. Each species that we hunt has its challenges that need to be understood to even pursue that animal in an effective manner. The hunt is about those challenges and I believe that every animal we hunt and take is a ‘trophy’. Hunters have played an integral role in the conservation of these animals. It is our dollars that have been raised to fund the management and conservation of these animals so that they will be here for future generations. Many of the GOABC membership have been instrumental in working on wildlife

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Brian Glaicar, President, GOABC

projects throughout the province including: prescribed burns, inventory or monitoring, habitat restoration and other wildlife conservation projects. Provincially, GOABC has also maintained a role at the Provincial Hunting Trapping Advisory Team to have input on management plans and harvest strategies for species throughout the province. If you are looking to book a hunt in the future I can assure you that you will have an enjoyable experience with a member of the GOABC. For those of you who have already returned from your hunt this fall I hope it was a successful trip. For those of you who are heading out for a hunt this fall I would like to wish you good luck and safe travels.

VIEWS

NEWS &

Scott Ellis, Executive Director, GOABC

The incident with ‘Cecil the Lion’ in Zimbabwe thrust trophy hunting onto the global stage. Trophy hunting is often a polarizing matter, with people supporting or opposing it on a variety of biological, economic, ideological or cultural bases. In BC we are blessed with a variety of big game species including mountain lions (cougars) and bears. These are all majestic wild animals and it is common for these animals to be in the news. This scrutiny is good. It ensures that government commits resources for wildlife monitoring and improving wildlife science. By my definition, I am a trophy hunter. I am a selective hunter who does not shoot the first legal animal I see. I have gone home with an unfilled tag in my pocket. I consider myself a successful hunter and have harvested many big game animals in BC and elsewhere. I prefer to eat wild game meat and have

values of conservation were taught to me long before I knew what the word meant. My grandfather used to tell me stories that if he did not bring home game from afield his family did not eat. He was a true gentleman that respected wildlife and understood that for us to eat, something would have to die. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has long recognized that the wise and sustainable use of wildlife can be consistent with and contribute to conservation, because the social and economic benefits derived from the use of species can provide incentives for people to conserve them and their habitats. Trophy hunting is part of hunting. While I have no desire to go to Africa to hunt a lion, I appreciate those that do. Regardless of whether we are talking about white rhinoceros or whitetail deer, hunting can benefit wildlife.

paid to have animals mounted – which I proudly display. I respect the animal I harvest in life and in death.

The IUCN states “Trophy hunting is a form of wildlife use that, when well managed, may assist in furthering conservation Hunting is an important wildlife management tool. When objectives by creating the revenue and economic incentives done properly, hunting generates important revenue that for the management and conservation of the target species supports wildlife and the habitat they depend upon in many and its habitat, as well as supporting local livelihoods.” ways. Wildlife populations across North America have Regardless of your motivation to hunt or where you hunt, benefited from the hunter conservationist. This is evident in all hunters need to understand they are held to a higher the healthy populations of bison, whitetail deer, black bears, standard by the general public and their actions could set off Roosevelt elk and many others. a social media storm. Hunting has a proud history and it is our I have been taught two hunting philosophies; you should leave responsibility to keep it there. it better than you found it and only take what you need. These

Straight shooting and safe travels. MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

NEWS & VIEWS As I write to you today from our base camp in the heart of the Mackenzie Mountains our 2015 season is well underway. The first two hunts have gone very well—the weather could have been a bit kinder to us but we really have nothing to complain about. There are no fires in the area and the cooler than normal weather has the caribou moving early. There is a lot of moisture so things are nice and green, the grass is growing and there should be lots of winter feed for the wildlife. We are seeing a very good crop of big healthy lambs this year, which bodes well for future years. The cool weather we experienced in July has given the caribou a break Harold Grinde, President, Association from the flies so they are nice and fat and have great antler growth—that too should of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters mean that they will winter well and have a good calf crop next year. It is a bit early in the season to see much of our moose, but the old cow that hangs around our base camp has a nice big calf at her side this summer. All in all, things are shaping up like we will have another great season in the NWT and things are also looking great for next year. As always we have had a mix of new and repeat clients come through our camp. We always look forward to seeing old friends return to camp to hunt with us again, and of course we never tire of meeting the new clients who, next time they come, will by then be old friends also. There are many reasons that I love being an outfitter—I get to spend the summer in magnificent country that I love, I earn a living doing something that I really enjoy, the air is fresh, the food is great and I meet some of the most interesting and wonderful people in the world. Wherever your hunts take you this year please take the time to enjoy the country, the wildlife, and most of all the people. Good Hunting!

Dean Sandulak, President, Yukon Outfitters Association

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

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SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL

to local hunters’ objections concerning BC’s allocation system.

SCI Hosts the North American Guides and Outfitters Associations Workshop The group also crafted a common set of Since 2001 Safari Club International Core Values and a Mission Statement. has hosted a workshop for Canadian and United States outfitter associations. The Workshop alternates between the United States and Canada and this year was held at the SCI AWLS Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

As I write this on June 19, 2015, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are proudly loading a full ton of raw elephant tusks, antique carvings and other seized ivory into a huge rock crusher parked in New York City’s Times Square. Soon someone will hit a switch and promptly convert $3 million worth of valuable animalproducts into coarse dust.

Canadian associations represented at the Workshop were from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland Labrador. Representing the U.S. were Ironically, the agency is accepting Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, proposals for re-purposing this dust The two-day event centers around Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico. into educational art projects or symbolic issues common to outfitters from - Safari Club International, John totems to help build public awareness both countries, with each state or Boretsky, Guide & Outfitter Liaison of the plight of elephants. The agency province giving an update from their is trying to send a message. But what jurisdictions. Both the Canadian DALLAS SAFARI CLUB that message is, and who’s supposed to Federation of Outfitter Associations and President Nixon was the first to declare receive it, and how it might allegedly the Professional Outfitters and Guides war on drugs. Drug abuse, he said, is make a difference, isn’t exactly clear. of America also hold breakout sessions public enemy No. 1. He vowed more to address items of specific concern to federal resources to prevent new addicts Will Asian consumers, by far the biggest market for ivory, see a Twitter post about each country. and rehab existing ones. That was 1971. Times Square and suddenly rethink the One study estimates the U.S. now spends This year conflicts surrounding hunting material values of a thousand-year-old $51 billion annually on its drug war. opportunities between resident hunters culture? Will the cartel traffickers have And, by all accounts, drug abuse has and outfitter sponsored tourist hunters an abrupt change of heart? Will African skyrocketed. were discussed. Marian Orr, the lobbyist triggermen decide to blow off tonight’s for the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides So now we’ve declared war on poachers. profits? Association, presented a successful Like Nixon, President Obama has legislative campaign maintaining promised more federal resources to Saving an elephant tonight requires opportunities for tourist hunters in prevent the indiscriminate killing and more and better game wardens. Law Wyoming while Scott Elliot, GOABC, black-market trafficking of elephants, enforcement efforts funded by hunters are among the best tools for sustaining discussed his association’s responses rhinos and other wildlife.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

wildlife populations against poachers. When managed hunting goes away, so do the animals. It’s a fact that too many animal lovers can’t seem to wrap their heads around. I am extremely confident that destroying elephant tusks isn’t the answer. Wildlife poaching is a serious threat. Taking it seriously should begin with international collaboration, resources, wildlife conservation and habitat related tactics. Surely we can do better than these publicity stunts. - Dallas Safari Club, Ben Carter, Executive Director WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) international headquarters is moving to Bozeman, Montana during the spring of 2016. Incorporated in 1977 in Iowa, then the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep moved to Cody, Wyoming in 1982 where it has operated to date. WSF has experienced record growth the last three years in fundraising, membership and program expenditures towards the foundation’s Purpose to “Put and Keep Sheep on the Mountain.™” Capitalizing on

this growth the WSF Board began epicenter of the outdoor industry evaluating mid size cities in April of and is home to many WSF strategic 2013 as a possible new headquarters partners. location. Eleven western cities from 5. Provides access to an Interstate Reno to San Antonio and Ft. Collins highway and major airport with to Missoula were evaluated using a direct access/flights to the west and comprehensive matrix and after a twoeast coast. year evaluation process Bozeman was deemed the best location for WSF due “Cody has been good for WSF and WSF has been good for Cody” WSF President & CEO, to five primary dynamics: Gray N. Thornton stated. “But it is time 1. Access to a young, vibrant labor to take WSF to the next level. Bozeman force of wildlife managers and provides the business, educational, marketers as potential additional social and philanthropic environment WSF full & part-time staff and to accomplish this goal while offering seasonal interns to build WSF quality of life for our staff that is second mission capacity. to none. We are thrilled to call Bozeman 2. Proximity to a world-class university our new home” Thornton added. where we have established a WSF has leased space in the Four scholarship for wild sheep biologists Corners region where an advance and have developed exceptional team of the Executive Vice President of relationships with department Development and Conservation Director chairs. relocated July 1, 2015. The official move 3. As a growing conservation nonprofit, Bozeman offers WSF a dynamic mid-size city for local membership growth and staff professional growth and enrichment. 4. Bozeman represents Montana’s fasting growing economy, is the

will occur April & May of 2016 with full implementation of the relocation to the new WSF International Headquarters at 412 Pronghorn Trail completed by June 1, 2016. - Wild Sheep Foundation, Gray Thornton, President and CEO CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 GRAND SLAM CLUB / OVIS In the last issue of Mountain Hunter, GOABC executive director Scott Ellis mentioned in “News & Views” that as a resident, he was able to pursue 18 of the 29 recognized North American big game trophies. I guess one could argue that British Columbia has 19 for the Super Slam of North American Big Game (it is normally a Rocky Mountain bighorn OR a California bighorn that counts for the Super Slam). At any rate, British Columbia is a big game hunter’s paradise, and even at that it becomes a bit of an understatement. There are a lot of fantastic outfitting companies in British Columbia, and all 19 of those species can easily be hunted by non-residents by virtue of booking with a BC outfitter. Conservation is also very strong in BC, and Grand Slam Club/Ovis firmly believes that the reason for this is evident. Hunting is the #1 conservation tool, and it is most definitely hunters who are paying for the vast majority of this conservation. GSCO also believes that our Super Slam program (which recognizes the 19 big game animals of BC) is helping promote hunting in BC. Whether one wants to

count it directly or indirectly, hunting is benefiting wildlife. We are proud to be a part of that. By the way, we know hunting is directly benefiting wildlife when our awards programs produce value for the different trophy types in BC, and our members spend the dollars that pay for conservation. This section of Mountain Hunter is titled “Preferred Conservation Partners.” GSCO is pleased to join with the others highlighted here in the amazing conservation efforts taking place in British Columbia. Each “partner,” which of course includes GOABC, is doing its part. - Grand Slam Club/Ovis, Dennis Campbell, Executive Director BOONE & CROCKETT Hunting and Conservation

and one of these uses is recreation, of which hunting is a wholesome form. So long as it does not interfere with the maintenance of a permanent breeding stock of any species this recreation is legitimate and praiseworthy. Preface, Hunting published in 1925

and

Conservation,

“There must be some force behind conservation more universal than profit, less awkward than government, less ephemeral than sport, something that reaches into all time and places where men live on the land, something that brackets everything from rivers to raindrops, from whales to hummingbirds, from land estates to window boxes. I can see only one such force: A respect for land as an organism; a voluntary decency in land use exercised by every citizen and every land owner out of a sense of love and obligation to that great biota we call America. This is the meaning of conservation.”

The chapters in the sixth volume of Boone and Crockett Club books present two aspects of outdoor life, which, to the uninformed, may seem opposed to one another. We have on one hand descriptions of hunting—of killing of Boone and Crockett Club member, Aldo animals —and on the other the advocacy Leopold, The Meaning of Conservation, of measures by which these animals 1946 may be preserved from being killed. - Boone and Crockett, Keith Balfourd, There is no conflict between these Director of Marketing two views. Animals are for man’s use,

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Love Affair HUNTING

y love affair with hunting, wildlife, outdoors and British Columbia, Canada started when I was just five years old. I would turn on the TV and watch Canadian Mountie with Daniel Boone, and Wildlife shows filmed in North America. It was an escape where I would dream of one day walking in the mountains and fields of North America with my hunting dog. I never was able to go hunting much as a kid as my dad never owned firearms; so I would go out hunting with family and friends whenever I could.

WITH

by Frank Scarpino I always dreamed of hunting elk and moose and walking the fields of Montana with my Chesapeake Bay retriever hunting pheasants. Finally after many years of traveling to many other places around the world, the first part of my dream would come true. A hunt in BC, Canada!

I had originally wanted to hunt elk but I ended up booking a moose hunt with Clint from Kispiox Valley Outfitters. I had recently moved to Vancouver, BC and went through the When I turned 18 years old instead of getting my driver’s process of getting my hunting and firearms licence. After licence, I got my firearms licence. My first gun was a Marlin many long walks with my Chesapeake Bay retriever (Tara) to 336 in 30/30. Yes, I also bought my first gun before my first car; keep my fitness up and going through the hunt over and over in my head – it was time! which was a 1976 Ford. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 After getting all my gear together and a plane ride to Smithers the first part of my dream had started. I met with Clint the following day and discussed my upcoming hunt. Clint also introduced me to my guides Grahame and his son Keifer. The next day we all headed up to a lake for a one hour float plane flight to our hunting cabins. The flight to camp was breathtaking, the scenery was all that I had dreamed about and watched on all the shows as a kid. We even spotted a few mountain goats up high on the mountains. When we landed we unloaded and started planning for our first day of the moose hunt. Once we arrived at our cabins we took out our rifles and checked that they were zeroed in. I fired one shot and hit exactly where I was aiming for. I was ready to go! The next morning only an hour into the hunt we came across a young bull moose around 35” only 20 yards away, but it was not the bull I was after. I watched him walk away to hopefully grow and live to his full potential. This was without doubt a good start to the hunt. The next 4 days we saw not one moose and decided to change camps and head to camp two. That night, Grahame called out a few cow calls and joked that hopefully there would be a moose outside the door the next morning. He always joked it was a dream of his to harvest a moose close to the cabin as it would be a little easier to pack out. How dreams come true! The next morning Grahame got up and got the fire going, put the coffee on, and took a walk outside. Seconds later he came bursting in the cabin saying he had spotted a bull out on the lake just in the tree line about 300 meters out. I grabbed my Remington .300 Winchester Magnum loaded with 180gr Winchester Accu-bonds and made my way up towards the moose. We got to within 200 meters of him and after having a good look at him Grahame was not sure if this was the one. Then the bull turned his head we got a good look at those huge long brow tines and Graham said “Yes! Let’s take him!” I got myself into position while Grahame gave out a cow call which brought him out of the tree line and broad side. He called out once more and the big old bull came to a stop and I let a shot off. Without doubt it was the best shot I had ever taken, straight through his heart and lung area, taking out both organs. He walked a few steps and dropped dead in his tracks. We rushed back to the cabin and got into the boat and headed out to him. He was very old and brown and coming towards the end of his life span. He had a lot of scars on him from past fights with other bulls. He had a 50’’ spread and would get close to making it in the Boone and Crockett record books.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

We took some photos and then the hard work began of caping I would recommend Kispiox Valley Outfitters to anyone; they and recovering as much meat as possible. That night we run a great operation and make you feel part of their family. enjoyed moose steaks and went over how it all unfolded. Hopefully sometime soon I can fulfill the last two parts of a The next day we prepared the meat and hide for the hike back dream that started when l was 5 years old and hopefully many to the other camp. The float plane could not land at this camp other hunts in between. due to too many rocks, so we spent the rest of the day fishing May all of your hunting dreams come true! for trout and rested up for the long hike back to the first camp. Once we got back to that camp I had one day left and I decided to try for a caribou. We headed up the mountain for higher ground in search of a bull with not much luck. We did however come across a nice 9-10 ft. grizzly feeding only a few meters away from us. We kept an eye on him just in case he decided to charge while we slowly moved away, which he did once he copped a good dose of our scent. It explained why there was no caribou nearby.

EDITOR’S NOTE: You can reach Kispiox Valley Outfitters at 250-842-6011 or www.bcguidedhunting.com

The hunt was the best time I had ever had and I will never forget it for as long as I live. To Clint, Grahame and Keifer - thank you for a great hunt and I hope to hunt with you again soon.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

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Kevan Bracewell, Outfitter T. 1-800-215-0913 F. 250-984-7538 PO Box 1419, Lillooet BC V0K 1V0 Canada Mountain Goat • Bighorn Sheep • Mule Deer • Grizzly Bear Black Bear • Cougar • Lynx • Bobcat • Canadian Moose Coyote • Timber Wolf • Upland Birds • Waterfowl • Freshwater Fishing

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FORMERLY RED APPLE CREATIVE

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

y father had a shop in the basement of our mid 19th Century home, and he taught me to use hand and power tools. I was a boy with more enthusiasm than skill, but through my father’s love and perseverance, I learned most of the skills that would be the foundation for my entire life.

half months, some of my instructors learned about this pistol I had made. They invited me to view their private collections, some of which contained muzzle loading firearms. I could see already that I was primarily interested in antiquity, though I credit the RCMP for any skill I had developed in shooting.

My Uncle Harry had several antique firearms – a percussion rifle, a percussion double barreled shotgun, and a Snider/ Enfield. It was this first contact with muzzle loading guns that kindled my interest in guns and shooting. When I was 14 years old I decided that I would build a flintlock pistol. My dad took me into town (London, Ontario), where we checked out a few gunsmith shops for parts, but even then they didn’t appear to be correct for what I wanted to create. So I made my own parts with a hacksaw and a file. My dad taught me how to use his lathe, and I bored a .50 caliber bore into a piece of shafting from Silverwood’s Dairy, supplied by my uncle who worked there. I learned how to drill and tap, make machine screws, and how to forge, harden and temper springs. I bought a piece of walnut from a hardwood supplier in town - $3.95 to buy enough wood to create two matching stocks. That was a huge amount for a kid who got a 25 cent a week allowance. But the pistol evolved and I fired it. I still have it - fifty-one years later.

Upon completing my training I was posted to North Central British Columbia. Over the next decade I was posted to several different places. Being single at the time it was easy to move where they thought I was needed. While I was stationed at Masset, QCI (now called Haida Gwaii) I had many opportunities to travel to Vancouver on prisoner escort and on one such trip I purchased a flintlock .50 caliber Thompson/Center “Hawken” rifle. In those days there was no bag limit or season on Coastal Blacktail deer. The .50 caliber was deadly, and I never needed a second shot, which was fortunate because even when I became well practiced it still took between ten and fifteen seconds to re-load. The only powder I could find was Meteor Fg Cannon grade black powder, but it worked just fine.

One of the men I came to know was the owner/operator of the local garage and service station. Having seen my pistol he asked me if I would build him a muzzle loader too. So I ordered some parts from a Dixie Gun Works catalogue and built a truer When I finished my education I was accepted and joined representation of a Hawken rifle than the commercial effort I the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and so I left home for owned. My interest in authenticity was increasing, so I began training in Saskatchewan. Over the course of those six and a buying books on these interesting and beautiful old rifles,

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

and I studied them for information and inspiration. His son-in-law then asked me to build him one too, but a long rifle like Davey Crockett’s. So again, I ordered the parts and in due course, produced a .45 caliber long rifle. A Military Policeman from the Naval Station then also asked me to build him a Hawken rifle and paid me to buy a set of parts for myself. So now you can see that this is starting to become profitable, and my rifles were also becoming more believable and authentic. Of course, during this period I was still working full time as a Mountie, and I married my wife Heather, and we had a wonderful little girl, Sarah. Now with Heather, Sarah, and our little dog, Scar, we moved to Squamish, BC, just a few miles north of Vancouver. Two years later with Heather eight months pregnant with Theresa, our second daughter, I left the RCMP for personal reasons and set up shop in the laundry room of our little house, opening a gun making business called “Taylor made Guns.” Yes, it was my name first, before the golfing company took it. During this time in what is know as “The Lower Mainland” I attended a number of black powder shooting events, known as “Rendezvous.” I began to meet some people that would become life-long friends. Heather’s parents lived in Victoria, BC, so we made a point of attending such an event at Sooke, BC, and that is where I met my friend, Gary Kangas. Gary was walking past my camp, and stopped to point out to me that my glasses were not period correct, which of course they were not. We ‘hit it off’ immediately, and a few days after our return home a pair of gold wire rimmed spectacles arrived in my mail from Gary. I had lenses made for them and I wore those spec’s for many years, until I no longer needed a prescription for my eyes, and I passed those frames on to another close friend who was in the same position as I had been those many

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 years prior. During a subsequent visit I contacted Gary and he took me to his home, introduced me to his charming wife Sybil, and then took me to meet another like-minded friend, Chris Wilcox. At that time, Chris was living in Victoria, and building English sporting rifles. Again, a friendship blossomed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was wonderful to meet another muzzle loading rifle builder. Throughout this time, my brother Daryl was also stationed with the RCMP here in BC, and we were able to get together often for shooting outings and hunting trips. To this day, he has always been one of my best advocates and supporters. An employment opportunity offered itself to Heather, and we moved our family to Prince George BC in October 1977. With two infant children I stayed at home and ran my small gun building business, taking employment with others as the need arose, while Heather developed her long career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. We bought our current home in 1978 and for the first time, I was able to build myself a decent shop. I continued to build muzzle loaders on commission,

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

taking orders from folks across Canada, a few from America, and even a couple from Europe. Though building black powder guns is certainly the most satisfying and rewarding aspect of my working life, it falls a long way short of paying the billsâ&#x20AC;Ś.the starving artist syndrome. So I have been fortunate in two ways: first, my wonderful wife has always supported me in my need to be creative, and second, I have always been able to provide service to others when I needed to. I fell back into a peace officer roll for a spell in the late seventies, working at the Correctional Centre. I was hired by Don Robinson of Robinson Firearms Manufacturing Ltd., here in Prince George building his Fraser River Hawken rifles. Don is a dear friend, an avid collector, and a talented gunsmith. I learned so much working in his shop, and I think I must have restocked every known modern firearm. I consider my time with Don as a paid apprenticeship. I taught high school for over ten years on an on call basis. I worked for the Ministry of Children and Families for five years, which came

very close to destroying me spiritually if not mentally. But all of this helped to pay for my daughters education, and I do not regret it a bit. In 2005 I opened a small business called Taylor’d Edge Sharpening Service. It was a fluke of fate that led me to this, and it has been a profitable and enjoyable sideline and a natural extension of my craft. People will not only pay me to restore their cutlery’s fine edge, but the satisfaction of providing this welcome service is rewarding in its own right. So with the wolf held at bay, I am able to spend my days working in my shop which is just about as good as it can get.

hundred pieces of functional historically accurate art. In 2007 I submitted one of my pieces to the prestigious Dixon’s Gunmaker’s Fair, in Pennsylvania. I entered the journeyman level, bypassing the beginner’s level, and won three ribbons: a first, second, and third. Also during this visit to Pennsylvania I was privileged to meet with two renowned collectors and to view their collections. These exposures have made a profound impact upon me both creativity and motivationally. I returned to Dixon’s Fair again two years later, with a second rifle, this time entering the Master’s category, and was awarded with two ribbons for my work - first and second place.

Over the past 51 years, taking inspiration from a growing collection of fine reference material, I have created over one Over the years I have always returned to the shooting events

that draw us together, and apart from the competition of shooting in which I have always done very well. I get to see my ‘children’ again and again. When one pours so much of oneself into a rifle, pistol, or fowling piece, it is always difficult to let it go, and seeing them again and again over the years is gratifying. It is also a measure of my own evolution as an artisan.

double barreled flint shotgun, a Southern Mountain rifle, a swivel breeched Buck’s Co. rifle, a Verner pistol, a Western PA .25 cal. rifle, another Jaeger in .58 cal., a JP Beck smooth rifle, and so forth…very, very cool stuff.

I’ve noticed that it is taking me longer to build a rifle these days than it used to. I’m not sure if it says something about my stamina, or my obsessing over tiny details. I hope it is the At sixty-seven years old it has occurred to me that my time latter. But I’m a long way from finished. to do this is without doubt limited. So I have tried to learn to say “no” to prospective clients, so that I can get to the many projects I’ve set aside over the years for my own. I have at least a dozen ‘builds’ I want to pursue that include another MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

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GUIDES gallery WANT TO SEE YOURSELF IN THE GUIDES GALLERY? Submit your photos to programs@goabc.org with the outfitterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, species, and harvested date of your animal.

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Gary Rope from TX with guide Jim Lancaster showing off this black bear taken with Copper River Outfitters

Guide Dustin Fehr with Larry Walker from KT showing off this mountain goat taken with Fehr Game Outfitters

Brian Talbott from WA with his Moose taken with Babine Guide Outfitters

Randy Hancock from AB with his grizzly bear taken with Moon Lake Outfitters

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Doug Minor of ID with his stone sheep taken with Love Bros and Lee

Pat Balbi from OR with his grizzly bear taken with Double Eagle Outfitters

Ken Stafford from OK took this bull moose while with Nahanni Butte Outfitters

Kenneth Vennegaard from Denmark took this caribou while with Nahanni Butte Outfitters

11. Jennifer Bailey from PA with her mountain goat taken with Moon Lake Outfitters

Jeff Skinner from MI with his wolf while with BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters

12. Guide Johnny Fehr with JB McNeil from TX showing off this moose taken with Fehr Game Outfitters

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l e l i e B d -t

T N U H T A O

by Eric Moland

or the last 10 years I had been wanting to go on a Mountain Goat hunt. The abilities of these animals to virtually walk straight up rock faces and disappear into the heavens had always intrigued me. So when the opportunity presented itself to go on a goat hunt with Reg & Ray Collingwood of Collingwood Bros. Guides & Outfitters I jumped at it! I arrived at Smithers fairly early in the morning. As I had some old friends in the area, I drove out to see them that afternoon, and got back to the hotel with plenty of time to get a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. After breakfast the next morning I walked

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF TO GO ON A GOAT HUNT WITH COLLINGWOOD BROS. GUIDES & OUTFITTERS I JUMPED AT IT!

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

out to my truck to find one of my tires flat. I was hoping this was not a sign of what the next 10 days would be like. Luckily the local Kal Tire was open early and I could get a new tire on immediately. I still got out to the float plane base in Smithers with time to spare. Upon arriving at the base I met my hunting guide. Willie had probably guided more goat hunts than I had ever seen goats! Once the plane was reloaded, off we went to the cabin that was located on a small mountain lake. The location

looked like something off a postcard and was truly picturesque. After the plane was unloaded we stored our gear and supplies at what would be our base only for the day. A short time later we could hear another plane approaching. It was Ray Collingwood coming to ensure we had everything we needed and to also bring in the third member of our team for the hunt, Richard. After lunch we formed a game plan that included canoeing across the lake, down a couple of creeks, across another small lake and eventually to a trail head. Once we arrived I was told we would load up and go “up” the trail to our camp.

Thankfully my two companions did not define what “up” really meant or I may have gotten on Ray’s plane and ended the hunt right then! The next morning we loaded everything we needed for the next 7 days into our packs including: tents, sleeping bags, clothes and food. Once everything was in the canoes we were off. (Did I mention how much I dislike Canoes yet?) Willie & I were in one canoe and Richard or “Rich” was in the other. Thankfully the lake was calm and Willie kept us right side up and going in the correct direction. About an hour or so later we were at CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 the trail head and started our trek “up.” For the next 8 or so hours “up” was the consistent direction of travel. I am not sure how Willie & Rich kept me going, but by the end of the day we had traveled somewhere around 10 miles and gained almost 5,000 feet of elevation. We hit the tree line and quickly found our camp. After a quick snack the tents were put up, supper was made and we were off to bed.

getting ready for this hunt. From a cardio point of view life was good. However my gym did not have any treadmills with a 60 degree incline nor was I carrying 75 pounds on my back when I worked out, so the old body was a bit sore after our initial trek. After breakfast, coffee and drugs we went on an easy walk to spot goats and everything started to loosen up. By mid-afternoon I was feeling pretty good which probably had a lot to do with us spotting 5 nice billies! Two were In the morning I discovered muscles singles and there was a group of three I was not previously aware I had, but way down the valley that we could barely they made themselves known. Didn’t see - even through the spotting scopes. really matter if I was moving or not – The two singles were very nice goats, but everything was sore. I had gone to the in locations only eagles could get to. gym and worked out pretty hard while

The next day we continued our search for goats and again spotted one of the singles who was still in the same place, and also a couple of nannies with their kids. We decided to go up and over the mountain to check out the back side as well, which was quite a trek in itself. After several hours of climbing we discovered a high mountain spring flowing literally out of the hill with some of the best water I had ever drank. We visited that spring regularly over the next several days as we searched for the right billy. Each day was much like the one prior. We would get up early. After a good breakfast and lots of coffee we would head out for the day to spot goats. We took our lunch with us, which usually was followed by a nice afternoon nap in the mid-day sun. These naps were cut short quite often by sudden rain showers and a few snow storms as well. Nothing predictable about the weather in the mountains especially in September except that it’s very unpredictable. Camp was fairly basic with our running water being a mountain stream near the camp. From our camp we were able to watch anywhere from 1-3 goats each evening on the mountain across the valley. There was one monster goat that didn’t move

THE GOAT WAS DIRECTLY ABOVE US AND HE WAS DEFINITELY THE ONE WE WERE LOOKING FOR

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much for the first 5 days; then one evening he decided to get up and go straight up and over the mountain he was on. What an amazing animal to watch! Willie & Rich were great to spend time with around the fire and on top of mountains. We all appreciated where we were and the amazing beauty that surrounded us. Even during the frequent rain & snow showers everyone’s spirits remained good as we walked from mountain top to mountain top. In the evenings I would look at where we had traveled each day through the spotting scope and was always amazed at how much ground a person can cover on foot. Definitely glad I did this hunt while I was fit enough to really enjoy the physical component of it. About day 7 we decided to get a very early start and head further down the valley to get a better look at the group of three goats we had been watching from a distance. About 4 hours into our “walk” we spotted a

huge goat above us a couple thousand yards away. We kept low and hidden by the trees in the bottom of the valley and started our stalk. About 30 minutes later we figured we were directly under this goat that seemed to appear from nowhere. Willie slowly made his way through the trees to a little plateau just in front of us and checked on the location of our goat. A few minutes later he returned to tell me the goat was directly above us and that he was definitely the one we were looking for. I asked him how he knew as we had not yet looked at him with the spotting scope, to which Willie replied “I could see his big pot belly with my naked eyes and it looks just like yours… He is definitely the goat for you!!!” After a bit of laughter we slowly moved to a position to get a good look at this “potbellied goat.” As we got to the plateau and looked up we suddenly realized we were busted, as the billy was also looking straight down at us.

As Willie looked through his binoculars, Rich helped me pile our backpacks up to use them as a shooting rest. I checked the distance with my range finder and it was 202 yards almost straight up. We all agreed this was a great billy and was what we had been looking for. A few deep breaths later I was looking at him through my scope. He was looking straight at us with his massive chest in full view. Willie told me where to aim and seconds later this huge goat collapsed on the ledge where he was standing. He was down! Unfortunately there was a fairly steep rock wall directly in front of us that was impossible for us to climb. We had to work our way down the valley a bit further in order to gain access to the next plateau, but within 45 minutes we were looking up at our goat. Rich climbed up the shale cliffs to free up our billy and help him down the rest of the way. When we got him to the plateau we confirmed CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 he was indeed exactly what we had been looking for. A huge mature male with a great shaggy coat, massive bases and 10 inch long horns!

Before long the canoes were loaded, but now we had to go up stream. We all put on the waders we had brought and started to drag the canoes up the stream. A short while later we were at the first small lake so could get into the canoes and paddle for a bit. While we were on the mountain the water level in the creeks had dropped making paddling up the second creek impossible. So again we jumped out and dragged our canoes for a while. Finally we were at the last lake and could see our cabin on the other side. We were all pretty exhausted at this point but we kept our eyes on the prize, so to speak, and made good time across the lake to the cabin.

one day to spare before our plane back to Smithers arrived; which gave us the opportunity to do a bit of work around camp, as well as get everything packed up for our return trip. The plane arrived as planned the next morning and we headed back. As we flew over the area we had been hunting it didn’t seem as steep looking at it through the airplane window, but we knew the truth!

After high fives and some pictures, the work began. A few hours later we were on our way back to camp with the cape, horns and meat in our packs. As evening approached we arrived back at camp, tired but still full of energy and excitement. We immediately put When we landed Reg Collingwood met the back straps in the nearby mountain us at the float plane base and helped stream to cool and then laid out the rest of us unload. After the paperwork was the meat and cape to cool. An hour or so done and everything loaded we headed later the fire was ready so I retrieved the in to Smithers for some lunch prior to back straps from the stream, seasoned starting the long drive home. Thankfully them a bit, and began to cook them over no more flat tires either. the fire. Needless to say there were no Willie and Rich finished skinning and Not only was the trip a huge success leftovers that night. prepared the hide for salting, while I bringing home my “potbellied billy”, stowed the meat and started supper. In the morning we broke down the but new friends were made as well. A Needless to say it was an early night as camp and loaded everything into packs huge thanks to Willie and Rich for going we were all pretty tired, but not before including: the hide, horns and meat. above and beyond what I expected to everyone had a hot shower. After 7 days Before long we were starting our descent make my hunt a success as well as to my camping in the mountains the luxuries which was as equally challenging longtime friends Reg & Ray Collingwood of a cabin and a shower was very much as coming up. Our packs were all for an incredible experience. enjoyed & appreciated. significantly heavier and going down Looking forward to our next hunt is hard on the knees. By late afternoon The next day was spent relaxing and together! we were at the canoes where Rich had recounting our adventures. We still had conveniently stashed a couple cans of beans for our return. I never knew cold EDITOR’S NOTE: pork & beans could taste so good. You can reach Collingwood Bros. Guides & Outfitters at 250-847-9692 or www.collingwoodbros.com

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

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with Shane Mahoney

Shane Ma honey is co nsidered o the leadin ne of g internati o nal autho on wildlife ri ties conservati on. A rare combinati on of histo rian, scien and philoso tist pher he bri ngs a uniq perspective ue to wildlife issues tha motivated t has and inspir ed audien around th ce s e world. N amed one the 10 Mo of st Influenti al Canadia Conservati n onists by O utdoor Ca Magazine nada and nomin ated for Person of the Year by Outdoor L Magazine, ife he has rece ived numer awards in ous cluding th e Public Se Award of rv ic e Excellence from the governmen t of Newfo undland and Labra dor and In te rnational Conservati onist of th e Y ear by Safari Clu b Internati o n a l. Born and raised in Newfou ndland he brings to h is writing s and lectu a profoun res d commitm ent to rura societies a l nd the sust ainable use of natural resources , including wildlife an d fish.

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THE AMERICAN BUFFALO AND

THE DEATH OF FREEDOM When the buffalo went away the hearts of my people fell to the ground and they could not lift them up again. After this nothing happenedâ&#x20AC;Ś.. Chief of the Crow Nation, Plenty Coups, 1928.

he American Buffalo (or Bison, more technically) may have been, at one time, the single most abundant large wild mammal on earth. The historical references to their immense herds are difficult to comprehend; such is the scale of their numbers and the sheer improbable spectacle the authors of these reports try to convey. Perhaps these images are also difficult for us to understand because they inevitably inspire in the sensitive reader a feeling of great sadness

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

that such a wondrous prospect must now be denied us all, forever. Indeed when Colonel R.I. Ridge rode through a herd amassed along the Arkansas River in 1871, he later reported to the great American conservationist, William T. Hornaday, that the animals stretched unbroken over a land area of 25 miles wide and 50 miles long. Experts believe that somewhere between four and twelve million animals were moving together in that awe inspiring assembly, filling the air with their noise and dust and making the earth tremble with their passage.

the Wichita and Arapaho, and numerous others as well, life was a nomadic existence at the centre of which was the Buffalo, irreplaceable and essential to their lives. True these Plains Indians hunted other animals but it was the Buffalo that formed the lynch pin of their survival, so much so that the elimination of the great beast was the most certain way of destroying these nations. These were warrior peoples who, like generations of Americans to follow, proved determined and capable in defense of their way of life and the homelands they cherished. So it was necessary that a combination of white settlement, market hunting, railroad expansion, and military operations eventually, over a thirty year period and By 1884, thirteen years after Ridge’s more, brought both the predictable Buffalo and the elusive encounter, the Buffalo was close to Plains Indians to their knees. In their passing, some measure extinction. In the fading thunder of its of the world’s freedom disappeared. passage there would be a brutal reckoning for the Plains Indians of North America and In the loss of this great intimacy between man and nature the loss of a unique ecological system that we have inherited one of the most agonizing lessons of our the massive migratory herds of Buffalo had own history as North Americans. Somehow figures like helped to create and maintain. In a perverse President Ulysses Grant and General Philip Sheridan could way these imposing realities and the haunting enthusiastically recommend against Buffalo Bill Cody’s (and images of skinned Buffalo carcasses rotting in others’) attempts to save the Buffalo. They did so to pave the the sun as far as the eye could see, helped foster way for ranchers and domestic livestock and force the once what we might term the Great Awakening. For proud indigenous peoples into dependency of a woeful kind, out of this cultural mayhem and animal slaughter and along the way assist the railroad barons who disliked the the seeds of a conservation ethic arose that would troublesome Buffalo which sometimes impeded the passage eventually coalesce into the programs, institutions of trains or caused damage in collisions with them. We are and policies that today we recognize as the North left wondering if there was not a better way. American Model of Wildlife Conservation. How can we What if we had listened to the rightly famous portrait artist make sense of this irony? George Catlin when he suggested in the 1830’s that a great Indeed, how do we measure our own view of history Nation’s Park for Buffalo and Native Americans be established when it often appears we are more alarmed at the loss in the still wild and expansive west? Perhaps today we would of the Buffalo than the human populations and incredible yet see vast herds moving across wide expanses; landscapes societies that depended upon it? Yet, we must ask, who made most productive by working with what nature provided has ever again spoken as eloquently for the Buffalo as did rather than what we forced upon it. Indeed, perhaps we would the Plains Indians whose lives were entwined with it? In still marvel at those extraordinary peoples who even their modern terms, is the White Tailed Deer more important than the traditions and culture of the modern American hunter; and, if the American hunter disappears, who will argue so strongly for the deer themselves? Surely the great lesson, so hard won, is that human traditions depend ultimately upon nature, just as do human economies and modern day nations. Lying in the shadow of this revelation is a second: that human cultures and traditions will be the driving force behind the conservation of nature. For the indigenous peoples who pursued the great migratory herds such a dependency was not only recognized but glorified, in their customs, their religion and their entire way of life. Dependence on the natural world was not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and wisdom. For so many of those nations, like the Blackfoot, the Dakota, the Comanche and the Crow, the Cheyenne and Tonkawa, the Gros Ventre,

enemies were forced to recognize as the greatest horsemen the world had ever known and whose ability to live within nature was extraordinary and beautiful in the truest sense of the words. Certainly changes would have come but they might have been more measured, more considerate of our inability to recreate what had emerged so naturally and which so naturally inspired those who might look upon it unfettered by greed and prejudice. So regrettably for indigenous cultures and for the once teeming Buffalo such ideas were to remain largely unknown until it was all but too late. There are many lessons residing in this great misfortune; lessons we should ponder as we consider the future of our own wildlife treasures…. and the treasured tradition of hunting. Is it necessary for us to lose something sacred before we can CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 achieve something great? There are always alternatives open to us as individuals and societies and we will be hard pressed to find in history examples of where preserving nature has been the poorer choice. We may arrogantly assume we are less dependent on nature now than in the time of the Plains Indians; but we will still expect the land to provide us fresh water and food and look to nature to maintain the intricate cycles necessary to sustain our lives and our economies. Bees may seem insignificant to Buffalo, but will we pollinate our world by hand as these small creatures continue their drastic decline? The reality is that without these systems left intact wildlife will not be part of our future and so hunting itself must end. In the absence of these things we will find this world less compatible to our nature, less inspiring to our cultures. Thus we will lose a sacred and irretrievable part of ourselves.

more tragically, however, we may also state that afterwards “nothing happened”. Of course, if our wildlife abundance is squandered and our hunting tradition is lost, things will still happen. The question is, how meaningful will they be compared to the wondrous lives afield that we have known? Apparently they were not of much meaning to Plenty Coups. Not one day should pass without us fighting to preserve our wildlife legacy and our cherished traditions within it. Indeed! For like the Plains Indians we too understand there is an unbroken line between our hunting enterprise and the wildlife we pursue and that between them flow a shared, inseparable future. Let governments take the stands they might; let the captains of industry move as they wish. The history of North American achievement is written by the individual’s hand. Every hunter has a responsibility to this

In such a world we will undoubtedly remark as Chief Plenty our greatest challenge: keeping the wild others with us so we Coups did so long ago, that something significant was lost may preserve freedom and wildness in ourselves. from our lives and that our “hearts fell to the ground”. Even

The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) wants to start a fundamental shift among hunters from caring about hunting to caring about all wildlife. Ranchers care about cattle and anglers care about fish, but hunters seem to only care about their 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.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Hunts Black bear Colour-phase bear Rocky Mountain elk Mule deer Whitetail deer Shiras moose Cougar Lynx Bobcat Wolf Turkey

full facility lodge with all amenities Tel 250.498.4176 • Cell 250.498.9013 info@KettleRiverGuides.com KettleRiverGuides.com Hunt for:

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I authorize you to proceed with printing

WILDERNESS OUTFITTERS LTD.

with changes indicated as shown

Please send an email approval or any changes to STONE SHEEP Amanda Sawyer at sawyer@goabc.org. MT. CARIBOU • MT. GOAT

Tel: (250) 845-3156 Cell: (250) 845-8810 Email: sonny@moosehunting.bc.ca Box 1483, Houston, BC Canada V0J 1Z0

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

from a LEGAL Michael Sabbeth is a lawyer and writer living in Denver, Colorado. He lectures on ethics and persuasion at law conferences and to the general public. His book, The Good, The Bad and the Difference: How to Talk with Children About Values, is available on Amazon.com (http://tinyurl.com/c5flmmu). He is currently writing the book The Honorable Hunter: Defending and Advancing Our Hunting Heritage. He can be contacted at michael@thehonorablehunter.com

“

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.

“

Juliet, Romeo and Juliet - Act II. Scene II

PART 1: A Trophy Animal ‘Trophy’ is used in many contexts: an athlete may have a trophy indicating excellence; a hunt may be memorialized by a trophy mount; and, indeed, a man may have a ‘trophy wife,’ unlikely to be displayed as a full mount or on a wall . Phrases such as ‘trophy hunter’ or ‘trophy animal’ are used in many contexts and elude precise meaning. The creation of the ‘trophy animal’ concept was developed, most notably by the Boone and Crockett Club, as a conservation measure. The rating and recording databases were designed to inform hunters of the measurements of a trophy or record animal so

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

PERSPECTIVE

the hunter would not shoot an animal ignorant of whether that animal would qualify for a record. The system’s purpose was to reduce hunting generally by creating disincentives for hunters to kill many animals of a species. The biological value of an animal is an inconsistent guide to a meaningful definition of ‘trophy’ animal status. Dr. Valerius Geist, British Columbia resident, renowned scientist, author, biologist and hunter, told me large ‘trophy animals’ in many species are shikars; defined as a lazy animal that does not reproduce. The animal’s biology prevents it from losing much body fat and, thus, although the animal and its horns get larger, it does not strengthen the herd. Many ‘trophy’ animals are too old to reproduce. The value of a ‘trophy’ animal as a source of meat may be also misplaced. Geist also pointed out that many “trophy animals” have terrible meat and thus would not be logically taken for consuming but could ethically be taken for other reasons. The meaning of a ‘trophy animal’ has evolved—perhaps devolved—from being based on quantifiable standards such as proposed by Boone & Crockett measurements into subjective realms of intent, use of the animal and a judgment of the hunter’s needs. The domain of the ‘trophy animal’ now includes gauging the hunter’s intent and the use of the animal taken—hunting for bone rather than meat. The ‘trophy animal’ phrase has now transmuted onto the hunter, resulting in even greater ambiguity of meaning. That precision of meaning remains elusive is illustrated by posing a few questions. If the meat of the animal with record antlers or horns is consumed, does the ‘trophy’ designation dissipate like smoke at a campfire? Does a record animal escape ‘trophy’ designation if it is taken for legitimate game management purposes? Does a hunter become a trophy hunter if the hunter consumes the meat but did not need it to survive. If it is a trophy only because it is beautiful, who is the arbiter of beauty? Is the killing exempted from the ‘trophy’ category if the animal is abundant?

PART 2: Clarity and Intent I select three examples to support my claim that the antitrophy hunting rhetoric harms animal survival and masks the intent to ban or severely limit all hunting. In 2014 Angela Oxley led an attack against an auction of a rhinoceros hunt in Namibia sponsored by The Dallas Safari Club. Please see my article, Black Rhinos and Strong Horses, published in the Summer 2014 issue of the Boone and Crockett Magazine, Fair Chase. Oxley said killing this rhino was ‘barbaric.’ Analyzing Oxley’s values gives clarity into the morality of her and her supporters’ character and agenda. Not barbaric to Oxley was that the aged rhino was killing other animals, including younger rhinos; not barbaric to her was that poaching would increase because funds were denied and not barbaric to her was that water supplies and animal habitat would not be improved. Her anti-trophy hunting rhetoric masked a desire for increased animal deaths. Priscilla Feral in Texas led a fight to ban trophy hunting on Texas game preserves of the scimitar-horned oryx, the addax and the dama gazelle. The ancestors of the animals were brought from near extinct herds in isolated parts of Africa to Texas where they thrived and became abundant. It was unclear whether the hunters consumed the meat. On the TV show “Sixty Minutes,” Feral stated bluntly (I give her credit for that) “I would rather all the animals die in Texas than that they be hunted outside their native lands.” That the animals were all dying in their native lands was factually and morally irrelevant to Feral. Again, anti-trophy hunting rhetoric masks an anti-hunting agenda. Note that facts, truth, consequences affecting the lives of the animals meant nothing to her or to Oxley. Cecil was the name given to a collared and magnificent ‘trophy’ lion killed in July by American dentist Walter Palmer near Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe. Initial media coverage claiming the lion was lured out of the park created an anti-hunting tsunami, with condemnation not only of Palmer but of all hunting. Lacking subtlety in moral or factual distinctions, shrieking protestors held signs stating, among other phrases, “kill hunters, not animals” “hunters are murderers” and “ban hunting.” Only a few writers pointed out the economic reality of game preserves or the hunters’ immense economic contributions to animal survival.

malevolent intent. One is that people should not interfere with Nature’s course and the other is the immorality of not consuming the meat of the kill. Every ideology, every belief, has a cost. The cost of the ‘let Nature take its course’ argument is high. Life, for game animals as for humans, is treacherous, capricious and drenched in death. Some people lack the moral character to accept reality. Animals die from many causes, and many of those deaths are gruesome and painful: food shortages; disease, injury, predation, poaching, among others. Nature’s course is not a romanticized abstraction; real suffering is involved. Nature’s course is not inherently moral or more moral than the hunter’s involvement. But judgment on the dedication to the ‘Nature’s course’ argument may be distilled from the fact that the advocates of Nature’s course do not live their lives in obedience to that ideology. If one of them becomes ill with cancer, injured in a car crash or gets lost on a mountain hike, the commitment to Nature’s course goes the way of the dinosaur. Fast. Every technological and medical protocol intervention is demanded. Second, the obsession of focusing on the consumption of the animal as the saving grace that mutes or moots the anti-trophy hunting attack is willfully ignorant and or overtly malicious, advanced by what Friedrich Engels, foundational thinker of communism and Marxism, called “honest fools and dishonest promoters” The focus on meat consumption is a somewhat clever rhetorical trick and misdirection that is heavy on emotion and light on reason. The argument intentionally ignores hunting’s positive consequences, not only in animal conservation but in human use and enjoyment of what is left of Nature’s wilderness. Focusing on consumption of the meat trivializes or rejects concerns for the health of the animal species and, dare I be blunt, promotes the death of the animals.

To be continued...

An examination of two of the most common and effective arguments made against trophy hunting, specifically, and against hunting, generally, illustrates conclusively their moral bankruptcy and MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

...I SLOWLY TURNED TO MY LEFT AND LOOKED UP THE HILL. THERE, ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE MY HEAD, WAS A VERY LARGE GRIZZLY BEAR!

A Trip of a I LIFETIME have been hunting since I was a teenager. I moved to Montana when I was 34 and had been trying for a moose tag since the first year I was eligible, but never had the luck of the draw. Finally, my husband and I decided to use an outfitter in Canada for a moose is difficult and slow. We had explained Even though we had booked the hunt hunt. this to the outfitter and he assured us during the rut it was unseasonably warm that he would be able to accommodate and dry. On day four Ken and I rode in We chose a 10 day, one on one, guided the side-by-side for several miles, then my needs. hunt with Opatcho Lake Outfitters. hiked about a mile into a logged clearing. Other than the pictures we found on We arrived at camp late on a Friday Ken went through his normal routine; their website, we really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any evening. After being shown our cabin, and telling me to find a stump to sit on and idea what we were heading into, but we all the features of the camp, we ate dinner get situated and ready before he began to were up for the adventure. with the other hunters. After dinner the call. After about the third cow moose call entire group sat and discussed where we I am disabled. Several years ago I broke we heard a wolf howl! We both chuckled would all be hunting and who our guide/ both of my legs in a work related fall, and that the wolf answered to the moose call. guides would be. My guide was the camp most of my left leg is artificial. I can walk owner and outfitter, Ken Watson. CONTINUED ON PAGE 42 very easily, although walking down hill

by Shannon Caraway

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 Ken took the opportunity to begin calling After we got back to camp that night wolves, as I also had a wolf tag. we sat at dinner and laughed at how a wolf was coming in to a cow moose call, The wolves returned a few howls, but we and how a bull moose was coming into could both tell they were moving away a wolf call. from us. No luck on a wolf. Ken and I both agreed that the moose hunting On day five we drove for a while then was probably not going to be successful rode the side-by-side high up into the in this spot, since we had switched to mountains. As we began to walk into calling wolves. We decided to head to another clearcut we came across an area another spot. where the soil was very sandy. There in the sand were some huge bear tracks. As No sooner had we walked about 100 Ken and I began examining the tracks, we yards, and the crashing of a bull moose noticed that the tracks were almost as big was heard in the trees. Ken and I both as my boot. I was absolutely amazed that froze. I got ready while Ken cow called a a bear could be that big! Ken was sure that few more times. The bull spent about 30 it was a grizzly track. Too bad I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t minutes teasing us as he crashed his way hunting bears! through the woods, then he was gone.

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We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anything the rest of the day, but sharing the pictures of those tracks back at camp sure stirred up some excitement. On day 6, after a long day of seeing nothing and hearing nothing, Ken decided to stop in a spot that sits high above the river. The cliff-side was straight down, but we were able to find a spot to sit and watch while Ken cow called. After the first call we heard a grunt, about 300 yards below us and across the river. Ken decided we needed to try to move farther down the hillside. I had to sit and slide on my bottom as the hillside was incredibly steep. All the while, Ken was cow calling and the bull moose was grunting. Then, he finally showed himself. He was huge! I definitely would shoot him if I had the luck of getting a shot. There were also 6 or 7 cows and a smaller, but very nice, second bull.

I was still trying to slide down the hillside to a stable spot. All of a sudden, I was stopped dead in my downhill slide! I must have let out an odd noise, because Ken jerked around to look at me and literally fell to the ground laughing. I had slid into a very narrow spot between two trees and my rifle ends had caught both trees! I choked myself!! We both laughed! My clumsiness had shown its way to the surface. The bull came out into the river, herded a cow back to the other side and around a bend they all went, never allowing me to get a shot! As we hiked back to the truck we had to stop several times, just to laugh! The whole way back to camp Ken just kept looking at me and laughing, and fake choking! At dinner all the hunters and guides died laughing. On day seven we had set up on a small half-circle shaped pond. The walk to our spot was again down a steep hill, but we easily found a good place to view the whole area. I was sitting on a stump watching the area while Ken was calling. This was it! We had two distinctly different bulls grunting and coming

towards us, raking and breaking the trees as they came in. One was off to my right, and if he cleared the trees it would’ve been about a 300 yard shot. The second was straight across the pond and when he cleared the trees, it would’ve been about a 150 yard shot. I stood up and moved a bit closer toward the pond and stood by a tree.

Ken fired a round above the bears head. The bear didn’t move. Ken fired a round into the tree next to the bears head, shattering splinters into his face. The bear didn’t budge. Ken said a few choice words and said “I am going to have to kill you bear!”

During this time we were both yelling at the bear, hoping to scare him off. The As we were waiting I heard some branches bear went back down on all fours, and crunch behind me. I slowly turned to my began walking along the trail, getting left and looked up the hill. There, about closer to us. At about 8 to 10 feet away 15 feet above my head, was a very large from us the bear stopped again. This grizzly bear! Ken was about 30 feet off to time he tossed his head from side to side my left at this point, and I was squared off and just looked at us. After about 30 with a grizzly. I aimed my rifle at the bear seconds, the bear walked off. and began yelling “Bear! Bear!” I am smart The bear wasn’t being bad - he was enough about bears to know that even if I hunting too. The bear had come to the had shot, I was in trouble. The bear was cow moose calls. He was just confused only 15 feet away from me, and he was as to why there was two stupid humans uphill. Double advantage for the bear. My standing there when he got to where his .280 suddenly felt totally inadequate for cow moose was supposed to be. Ken and I what I was up against. just looked at each other. Ken grabbed his Ken says “Shut up! We have two bulls back pack, threw it on his back and said coming in!” Instantly I screamed “Big “Let’s go! I think we need to be done here!” bear!” Ken turns and looks and says “Oh Up until now hiking in and out of shit!” Ken began yelling at the bear, only different spots Ken had left me in the to have the bear stand up on his hind dust. Several times he was a good 50legs. During this time I slowly began 100 yards ahead of me. This time, he moving closer to Ken. After all I am 6 was not leaving the slow moving hunter feet tall, but Ken is about 6 feet 7 inches behind. I laced my fingers in the straps tall and a lot bigger than I am! CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 of his back pack and I told him “You aren’t leaving me in your I bailed out of the truck and ran around to the driver’s side dust this time!” He laughed and we both literally ran up the of the truck to look over the hill. What a beautiful animal! hillside, out to the main trail, and back to his truck. Ken and I worked our way down a trail, hiding behind a few bushes and shrubs until we were about 200 away. Ken The whole way back to camp neither of us said anything. began cow calling. The bull moose began grunting and slowly We looked at each other a few times, laughed and shook our walking towards the base of the hill. He had a cow with him heads. As we pulled up to camp, the cook, my husband and and they just kept coming. The bull crossed the lower road son, and two of the other hunters and their guide were sitting and presented a great shot! Today was my day! on the front deck of the lodge. Ken parked right at the front steps. Both of us got out of the truck, not saying a word, and To make the whole event even easier the bull fell just about 5 walked into the lodge. Ken poured himself a shot of whiskey (a feet off the road. Ken was able to drive the truck right down large shot) and I made a gin & tonic. We both walked back out to him. Unfortunately, this is where the work began. on the deck, sat down, took a drink, and busted up laughing! We were back at camp by about 10:00am. My husband said that as As we retold our story everyone else sat in awe! My husband soon as he heard the truck coming in that early, he knew we had kept looking at me and asking if I was okay. One of the other been successful! He was jumping for joy when he saw my moose! hunters asked if I could rate my fear on a scale of 1 to 10. He Even though it started out slow, we were all successful. As the knew I was a retired Police Sergeant and had obviously had other hunters came back to camp that day and on day 10 with some harrowing experiences in my career. I assured him, this their trophies, we all agreed this was the trip of a life time! was number one. I was beyond scared to death! I must say, by far, this wasn’t just the best hunting trip ever, We spent the rest of the evening retelling our story as the other this was the best vacation I had ever had! I have never laughed hunters came in from a long day. The only thing I could think of so hard, and been SO scared, all in a 10 day period of time. But was what would’ve happened if we had met a bear being bad, I have an awesome story to tell the rest of my life. not our curious bear who was hunting. After the day we had, a great meal and a hot shower felt well deserved. I was exhausted! EDITOR’S NOTE: You can reach Opatcho Lake Guide Outfitters at On day nine Ken decided we would take a long ride east to a 250-964-6543 or www.opatcholakeoutfitters.com spot he had not hunted yet this year. As we started down a winding, twisted road, Ken slammed on the brakes. “There is your moose” he said as he looked down over a hill.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

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Tel/Fax 250.425.0711 5779 Lower Elk Valley Road, Sparwood, British Columbia Canada V0B 2G3 packhorsecrk@elkvalley.net • www.packhorsecreek.com MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

Chilcotin

UNDER

Chilcotin SKIES

f you have never been to the Chilcotin Wilderness, you are missing out on some of the most beautiful country in North America. An area rich with game and history, framed by the mighty Fraser and Chilcotin Rivers, expansive views of the Coastal Range, and what seems like three or four different eco systems in one. My travels have taken me here many times over the past ten years. There are those people in this world you meet, do business with, and become friends; and then there are those people you meet that become just like family. That is why I enjoy the company of the guides and the Madley family - they truly feel like family. There is something about climbing out of the Fraser Canyon on Highway 20 and seeing the sign that says, “Welcome to the Chilcotin.” It’s almost as if your blood pressure drops in half and you can’t fight the smile on your face, even if you tried. You can smell fall in the air, and as you stare north into moose country you know the next week will bring fortune to some, and great times to all. The day was finally here and we were looking forward to the prospects of some nice mature bulls. I have been fortunate enough to fill my moose tag for the past few years with boys at Tzazati, and last year the scouting reports from other hunters’ misfortunes meant that if the weather or wolves didn’t take a bite of the herd, things would be good this year. I always enjoy a hunt with my good friend and third generation guide, Garrett Madley. Garrett is a cattleman, a saddle bronc champion, and the kind of man you want by your side in the bush, as he is always up to the challenge. Prospects were sounding good as we listened to stories of the previous hunting group’s tales. No bulls had yet christened the pack saddles, which meant it was only a matter of time. It has always amazed me how animals so large can prove to be so elusive, and then you realize the awesomeness of these creatures as you see them run off the meadows and disappear into the timber without making a sound. The last few years the October rut has been a bit warmer, it was more typical to find us enjoying a sandwich by a lake in t-shirts, than huddled around a fire with a warm cup of soup CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

by Colin Sands

SKIES

“

THE BULL CAME IN HOT, HEAD DOWN, HIS ANTLERS SCOOPED AS IF HE WAS A BULLDOZER AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR ME AND GARRETT.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 come lunch time. In fact, suntans have been easier to find at least six separate paths through the tall grass. We noticed than the early morning frost. However, late summer weather fresh mud on the grass which meant we were pushing them. or not, it is hard to get in the way of Mother Nature, and let Garrett wisely decided to call it off for the day and strategize. me tell you the rut was on! Tuesday included a different area all together to allow things It was a warm Monday morning, not the typical hunting to calm down in the timber. We found fresh moose beds, lots weather, and Garrett and I had covered some serious country. of sign, and a herd of wild horses…but no moose. Tuesday By about 10:30 am we found ourselves going into “explore afternoon we pulled out some old maps that showed Garrett’s mode” as we call it. Explore mode happens when the moose grandfather’s trails, who was also a guide here. He had are burned off the meadows by the warm October sun and marked his trails that led into a large meadow. The meadow retreat into the deep dark timber. We found ourselves in a was still filled with evidence of a hay operation from many thick mossy forested area where a creek approaches a large generations ago. The next morning we left camp at 4:45 am meadow. In this dense forested area amongst the moss, we and set out for the meadow. found heavy sign of a very active bull; he had pawed up the The meadow was amazing - it had everything needed to moss and left his mark on his territory at least 20 times in a keep and hold moose. We set up near an old stack yard very small area. This many holes in a small area got our minds from 70 plus years ago with some old fence to provide going, thinking we may have a chance to catch a bull in the some back drop and we began calling. Silence for about timber. We explored further and found freshly broken sticks an hour and then a response, followed by another, this about four feet off ground and tore up earth where multiple bull was ticked off. Back to nothing for ten minutes, and moose had just moved through. We followed the trail, crossed then he started calling again like crazy. My adrenaline was the creek, and came to a small meadow where there were

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

“

GARRETT LOOKED AT ME AND ASKED “DO YOU WANT TO GO GET THAT BULL IN THE TREES?” MY RESPONSE WAS SHORT “YOU BET!”

definitely starting to flow. This game went on for over an hour but he was not getting closer and his calling began to taper off. One thing was clear, that bull was not going to leave those trees or his cows.

We set up and called and scraped; the bull immediately responded and began thrashing the tinder pine branches and crashing in the trees calling and coming closer. This went on for about 2 minutes; however it felt like an hour. We could

hear his hooves on the ground and what sounded like a small car driving through trees, branches and bushes were breaking everywhere. Garrett indicated he could see him from his vantage point in the trees at about 30 yards, but I did not have a clear view, no shot. Garret called again and the bull called and began to move. What happened in the next 30 seconds was what you always dream about but assume will We crossed the meadow, followed the creek, and found never happen. ourselves right back in the “outhouse” as we liked to call it, The bull came in hot, head down, his antlers scooped as if he although now at a different end with even more holes in the was a bulldozer and headed straight for me and Garrett. Then ground. We stopped and called, scraped an old hip bone on the bull emerged from the thick trees 10 yards in front of me a tree and immediately got a very quick and loud response. and was still coming. That moose dropped no more than 3 feet Garrett looked at me and said “He is in here and he wants to from where I shot him. play.” We moved roughly 20 yards further into the trees and found the largest opening we could, we needed some space CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 and didn’t want trees blocking a shot. We made the decision to go in. We had no other option, other than to come back earlier the next day in the dark and hope to catch him closer to a meadow, or get him to come out that day. We are young and impatient. Garrett looked at me and asked “Do you want to go get that bull in the trees?” My response was short “You bet!”

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51 We looked at each other with a look of bewilderment; we exchanged hugs and high fives. We then looked at each other; Garrett had a large grin on his face, I had a few tears combined with some laughter, and both of our hearts were still pounding. I have had the fortune of bagging a few moose in my day but this rivals all of them. When you have a 1,200 pound animal with 48 inch wide antlers coming at you less than 30 feet away, it takes a moment to regain yourself after the beast hits the ground. We did just that, and then surveyed his path of destruction left as he charged at us through the timber; the ground was tore up, the trees raked and debris was everywhere.

county music on the radio, and a few smiling glances at each other along the way.

The next day entailed the pack string being assembled. We rode horses in and ponied two horses to pack quarters, the timber was tight but minimal trail cutting was required. We headed out at 5:00 am and by 3:00 pm we had arrived back at camp. There is something about riding a horse in the Chilcotin wilderness that makes a person just relax and let your mind roll. There is even something better about riding that horse when you look behind you and attached to the rope in your right hand is another horse with half a moose and a set of Five hours later quarters were hung in the trees directly above antlers that will be a lifelong memory from an amazing hunt where he fell. A large amount of spruce branches were cut to and story, even after the meat is long gone. shade the meat from the October sun, and a fair amount of flagging tape draped to discourage the birds. A five mile hike EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE: in addition to the hour drive back to camp isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t so bad when You can reach Tzazati Mountain Outfitters at meat was hanging in the trees. Not much was said between 250-394-4287 or www.chilcotinoutfitters.com us on that drive; we had the windows down and some good

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Darwin & Wendy Cary 5615 Deadpine Drive Kelowna, BC V1P 1A3

Tel: (250) 491-1885 Cell: (250) 859 4327 Email: info@scooplake.com www.scooplake.com

David Harrison with first ram of 2015 WE HUNT:

Stone Sheep, Moose, Goat, Caribou, Elk, Grizzly Bear, Black Bear & Wolf WE FISH:

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Phone: 250-429-3238 | Toll Free: 1-877-726-2735 Email: hunting@ramcreek.ca | ramcreek.ca

Hunt

BIGHORN SHEEP, ELK, MOOSE, GOAT, GRIZZLY, BLACK BEAR, MULE DEER AND COUGAR IN SOUTH EASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

CAMP COOK’S

Corner

Mountain Schnitzel 4 or 5 large tender steaks (moose, elk, etc.)

oil for frying

10oz. can mushroom stems and pieces, drained

3oz. monterey jack or mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated

1/8 tsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. butter or marg.

sweet milk

garlic salt and pepper

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten with 2 tbsp.

1/8 tsp. pepper

water

1-2 cups crushed corn flakes

Pound steaks thin (like cutlets). Saute the mushrooms in butter, lemon juice, garlic salt and pepper to taste. On one half of each large thin steak, place about 1-2 tbsp. sauteed mushrooms and about 2 tbsp. cheese. Fold each steak over stuffing and lightly pound meat edges together with handle of a dull knife. If steaks are too small to fold over, use one for the bottom and one for the top. Mix flour, 1 tbsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper together. Carefully (so filling doesn’t fall out) dip steak in sweet milk, then in flour mixture and dip in egg mixture. Roll in corn flake crumbs to thoroughly coat. Fry in medium hot oil (1/4 in. deep) in frying pan until golden brown on both sides.

Ellie Wiens Stone Mtn. Safaris More recipes available from our cookbook “Recipes From the Kitchens & Camps of the Guide Outfitters of British Columbia”. Email info@goabc.org to purchase your own copy for $20 +shipping & handling.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - SPRING 2015 |

At the time of writing, it is August 27, 2015, exactly 79 years to the day since the world record Stone sheep was taken in BC. At the age of 61, LS Chadwick set out on a hunting expedition in northern BC. Leaving his home in Ohio in early August 1936, he ventured north, meeting his guides Walter “Curly” Cochrane, Roy Hargreaves, and Frank Golata near Dawson It wasn’t until tape touched horns that they realized that the Creek. The party travelled further northbound past Fort St. ram was something special. The body was indeed smaller, but both horns measured over 50 inches. This animal has since John by automobile, meeting their pack train on August 9. become a symbol of our province and has held a sort of magic From there, they ventured into wilderness, heading towards a that has captivated the hunting and non-hunting world for pocket of sheep residing between the Prophet and the Muskwa almost 8 decades now. Many beautiful sheep have been taken Rivers. These were the days when a hunting trip was truly an since that day in 1936, but none have come close in size to the expedition. Hunts were month-long affairs, and everything Chadwick ram. back at home was placed on pause. Epic trophy or not, I am always in awe of these old expeditions. They spent 18 days on horseback to get to the ram, passing It would’ve taken so much effort, planning, skill, and grit to through territory that was unbelievably beautiful and, at pull off this kind of an adventure. Things are different these times, dangerously rugged. Each of the day’s challenges days – forestry, mining, oil, and gas weave civilization into the would’ve been met and conquered with the knowledge in backcounty, and we travel with a satellite phone and GPS. But their heads and the limited equipment on the horses. the experience still feels wild, and the advances in technology On August 27, they settled into camp and spotted a band of have opened up these experiences to a broader audience. sheep on a nearby ridge. Their first glimpses at the ram did Today we can welcome people of all walks of life and many not take their breath away. None of the sheep looked that different abilities. interesting – certainly nothing of trophy quality. As outfitters, we still try and replicate those early experiences in They decided to get a better look at one of the rams and, upon some way. Trips are no longer a month long, so relationships are closer inspection, they were disappointed with its size, but built more quickly. The terrain is not quite as rough and remote, decided to take it for meat anyway – after all, they’d been living and technology moves us across it much faster. Sometimes on salted pork for 2 ½ weeks. Discussing his hunt in a 1937 there are record-winning trophies, sometimes not, but there is interview with Outdoor Life Magazine, Chadwick admitted always untamed wilderness and a taste of that same old grit. It that they had “not been too enthusiastic about our prize.” truly makes us appreciate those pioneer outfitters.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015

Some people watch hi-def. You live it. Nothing makes you feel more alive than being out in the wild, stalking your prey, every sense heightened by the thrill of the hunt. Because the wilderness is in your blood. It’s in ours, too. And it’s our mission to make sure you’re equipped with the quality gear and expert advice you need to make the most of your outdoor adventures.

As Canada’s outdoor outfitter, we’re as obsessed with hunting as you are. And we have the people and gear to prove it. WholesaleSports.com MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2015 |

“I took two species in my North American 29 quest with Kiff last year and we are going for more!! Thanks Kiff !” - Steve Torrence/ Torrence Racing

“Kiff and I have been successful every year together since 2008 and we will be again in 2015!!” - Jim Burnworth/ Western Extreme

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