Mountain Hunter Magazine Fall 2016

A SHEEP HUNTER IS BORN Also featuring...

THE MYSTICAL KING OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MY B.C. GRIZZLY H UNT HUNTING THE GREAT NORTH

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DECEMBER 31, 2016

Vol. 27 | Issue 3

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

THIS ISSUE

FEATURE STORY

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

A SHEEP HUNTER IS BORN!

MOUNTAIN HUNTER:

Kelli S. Thornton

c/o GOABC, #103 – 19140 28th Avenue Surrey, British Columbia Canada V3Z 6M3

ON THE COVER

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Kelli is “kicked out” of the <1 Club

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FEATURE STORIES

@MtnHunterMag

10 THE MYSTICAL KING OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Tim Westbrooks

President Past-President

MY B.C. GRIZZLY HUNT

HUNTING THE GREAT NORTH

Craig Merhoff

Dave Fenn

2

GOABC President’s Corner

32

Conservation Matters

3

News & Views

52

Artist Feature

6

Preferred Conservation Partners

59

Camp Cook’s Corner

16

Guides Gallery

60

That Some May Follow

28

From a Legal Perspective

ADVERTISERS Ambler’s Bighorn Country Guiding................................15

Habitat Conservation Trust Fund....................................5

BC Trophy Mountain Outfitters..........................19

HUB Phoenix Insurance........35

Rocky Mountain High Outfitters.............................45

Beaverfoot Outfitting............13

Kettle River Guides & Outfitters.27

Roundwood Log Homes......30

Besa River Outfitters.............9

Larry Erickson’s Alpine Adventures.......................59

Safari Club International...IFC

Big Country Outfitters..........35

Leupold & Stevens...............13

Bonnet Plume Outfitters......27

Little Dease Ventures.............31

Shadow Mountain Outfitters.30

Boone & Crockett Club..........15

Love Bros. & Lee...................35

Bugle Basin Outfitters...........45

Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters............................58

Covert Outfitting.....................9 CHRIS MCKINNON DEAN SANDULAK

Dallas Safari Club..................36 Double Eagle Guides & Outfitters...........................9

McCowans Sporting Properties.............................45 McGregor River Outfitters......5 Mervyn’s Yukon Outfitting...59

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DEPARTMENTS

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Scoop Lake Outfitters............58 Sikanni River Outfitters.........14 Silent Mountain Outfitters......27 Sitka Gear..................................26 Sonny’s Guiding Service..........19 South Nahanni Outfitters.......31 Sports Afield..............................29 The Man Called Red................30 Tuchodi River Outfitters..........31 Wholesale Sports...................IBC Wild Sheep Foundation.........18 Yukon Big Game Outfitters....14

Ram Head Outfitters..............5

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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GOABC

PRESIDENT’S CORNER ONE WORD: POLITICS - WHY SHOULD WE CARE? I’m writing this as I sit at fifty-five hundred feet with my morning coffee, at the kitchen table, looking out the window of a cabin my oldest son Rene just helped me finish building. I sit here and wonder if his children will be able to enjoy all of this.

Usually one doesn’t know what one has until it’s lost. I can honestly say that the board of GOABC is very aware of current industry issues and does not take things we value for granted.

Every issue that threatens our way of life gets passionately debated until we have a position that is best for our industry.

Today these battles are happening in the legislature or in government board rooms (filled with people that might have different agendas, or that just simply don’t know what we do).

Politics are a significant part of wildlife management. Elected officials have to balance public interest from a regional, provincial, or territorial perspective considering national laws, economic interests, international pressures, and special interest groups when making decisions. It is increasingly more complicated when it is regarding large predators, such as, grizzly bears or wolves. The debate quickly becomes an emotional one. One that is certainly not based on the truth, facts, rational thinking, or science for that matter.

Neither grizzly bears or wolves care about any of this. They need food, habitat, and what’s needed to reproduce in order to maintain a stable population. The biggest threat to any population is that no one is watching and the circumstances change to the point where any of the above mentioned needs are impacted. Who knows what really goes on out there.

Michael Schneider, President, GOABC

generation. Sustainable use is the term. Something humans did much more constantly when their lives depended on it. We can’t all be old timers and care as much as they do; but as outfitters, we have extensive knowledge of our guiding areas because we have each spent thousands of hours there each year, and when we see a trend, it’s real.

I noticed a common trend when I was attending local meetings this year. The stories told to regional staff received limited traction and government was focused on what they believe they should be managing for, not what was brought to their attention. This is where GOABC comes in, and through your board and committees we elevate these concerns, and present them to government. The most recent examples would be government’s moose enhancement strategy, advocating for the grizzly hunt, and managing all predators in balance with ungulates.

The answer is the people who spend a considerable amount of time around wildlife and their habitat. When an old timer who traps, hunts, homesteads and outfits, tries to discuss wildlife concerns with someone that makes wildlife management decisions, they should listen. His story is more accurate to Politics are part of wildlife management, and we do our best what is happening to the populations than any model can to ensure your voice is heard. estimate or predict.

More importantly that old timer will manage what he takes from the land so that there is something left for the next

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

Wishing you all a safe and successful season.

VIEWS

NEWS &

Scott Ellis, Executive Director, GOABC, with daughters Sydney and Samantha

I am returning from a workshop called Crucial to

hunting community) must be united and collaborate to help

Conservation in Atlanta, Georgia, which was hosted by Safari

ensure the future of our activity/industry.

Club International (sponsors include Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, Hunter Legacy Fund, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wild Sheep Foundation). There were representatives from Alberta to Zimbabwe and from the south Pacific to Europe. We discussed and debated the many aspects of hunting and the information surrounding what we do as hunters. It has been one year since our “ground-zero” and the hunting world has changed in the post-Cecil era.

Hunting the “big five” is threatened in Africa, mountain lion and black bear hunting is threatened in several western states, and grizzly bear hunting is threatened in British Columbia. We now realize how small the hunting world is and the threats are exactly the same regardless of species or location. It is not

Hunting groups must not divide themselves based on the reasons they hunt. If we are going to draw a line in the sand it must be on the right to hunt. Sustenance hunters are no better than trophy hunters; bow hunters are no better than rifle hunters and resident hunters are no better than those who travel to hunt; and those that use dogs are not better than those who do not. There should be no adjective to describe hunters. We are all hunters.

I have not harvested an animal that qualified for the record book. My family has always enjoyed the wild game I have brought home and I have been blessed to hunt in some amazing places. I have passed on legal animals and came home with the tag in my pocket.

about the science or the population (of the species) but the

Dennis Campbell’s Preferred Conservation Partners column

emotions surrounding life and death.

(page 7) states “never apologize for being trophy hunters.”

The hunting critics use the same tactics regardless of jurisdiction. Anti-hunters think hunting is a thing of the past, a cruel, brutal and barbaric act. They often target hunters with vicious attacks.

Dennis has always been resolute on this position about trophy hunters and I think this is good advice. In a recent statement from the World Wildlife Fund they support trophy hunting, even of endangered species, if it benefits the local community and the species. The IUCN’s position is that “well managed

The grizzly bear hunt continues to come under scrutiny in trophy hunting can – and does – positively contribute to British Columbia. The debate is not about the science and or the conservation…” We should ponder these thoughts as we hunt population of grizzly bears. Unfortunately, the tough wildlife this fall season. decisions to close or open a hunt are not based on science but politics. Similarly the decision to cull or manage predators is also not based on science. Therefore, minorities like us (the

I was drawn for a resident grizzly bear tag and hope to harvest my first bear this fall. I am a trophy hunter and proud of it.

Straight shooting and safe travels.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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NEWS & VIEWS

Harold Grinde, President, Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters

Today is one of those mornings in the Mackenzie Mountains when I get a chance to play catch up in the office. The mountains are mostly covered in a shroud of fog, there is a light drizzle coming down and I am thankful for a cozy cabin and a warm fire. We are just a couple of days into our 2016 season and so far so good. We have had some really hot weather, a lot of afternoon thunder showers and even some smoke from fires in the Mackenzie Valley. There is still quite a bit of snow in the high country and the rivers are running a bit higher than normal for this time of year. We really have not been out scouting that much yet, but we have seen a lot of big healthy lambs with the ewes, as well as some groups of really good old rams. We are always eager to see how the game has wintered and to see the first rams of the season come into camp.

We had a great time hosting another youth camp at the end of June. This year we hosted twelve young teenage boys from various communities in the North West Territories and Nunavut. There were also three youth leaders and two Dene elders who came to help with the kids. Needless to say camp was full of kids, laughter and great times. We were able to take the boys on several challenging hikes where they fished, canoed, played games and generally had a great time in this little piece of paradise. We were able to teach them a bit about wilderness survival, a bit about the outfitting industry, and hopefully a bit about life.

On another note I would like to ‘use a bit of ink’ letting all of you know that we are making good progress on our history book.

The Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters (AMMO) made a decision quite a few years ago to gather stories from all of the outfitters who have operated in the Mackenzie Mountains and publish them. We also added some stories from bush pilots, cooks, guides and government personnel who have worked in the region over the years. The book has been a long time in the making and thanks to the dedication and hard work of the author, Paul Deuling, we are getting close to being ready to publish “Voices from the Mackenzie’s.” This year will mark the 50th anniversary of outfitting in the Mackenzie Mountains. We are really hoping to have this very interesting, and informative book, ready for all of you to read and enjoy before next season rolls around. It is quite amazing that after 50 years things really have not changed that much here in the Mackenzie Mountains.

The area is still virtually untouched; there are no new roads and no new mines or developments of any kind. Yes technology has made life easier, and some of us are using helicopters for access, we have satellite phones and internet, but the game is still abundant and those of us who are blessed to outfit here are still sending home happy clients year after year. Come and see what the Mackenzie Mountains have to offer!

Good Hunting!

Harold Grinde - President, AMMO

Chris McKinnon, President, Yukon Outfitters Association

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

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We can declare that the workshop was a success. One thing also was apparent. It SCI, GOABC Work Together For Hunting was a beginning, not an end. All of us in SCI and GOABC are partners in the hunting community need to continue preserving hunting and its culture for our efforts on behalf of hunting. There future generations. We work together are many in the world who would end throughout the year on behalf of hunting immediately if they could. hunters, guides and outfitters.

Together, we must stop them.

SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL

Nowhere was this more apparent than this past August when we (SCI and GOABC), as well as others in the global hunting community, met for several days in Atlanta, Georgia at the Crucial to Conservation Workshop.

The goal of the Workshop was to produce a unified message on sport hunting that is accepted and promoted by the professional hunting industry and by major hunting organizations worldwide. A secondary goal was to increase cooperation among hunting organizations to increase public acceptance of sport hunting as well as the betterment of hunting and the perpetuation of the sport.

It was a pleasure to work with GOABC Executive Director, Scott Ellis at the workshop, which as far as I know was the first of its kind in the history of the hunting industry.

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I thank Scott and everyone else at GOABC for your efforts to help preserve our common hunting heritage. Together, we cannot, must not, fail.

- Safari Club International, Philip DeLone, SCI CEO DALLAS SAFARI CLUB DSC Objects to Petition for Leopard Uplisting In light of a recent petition submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider the listing status of the African leopard, DSC firmly reasserts its stance on well-regulated hunting’s critical and integral role in wildlife conservation.

Anti-hunters readily step to the podium to spout misinformation and demonize hunters who legally take game. But, how many times have they opened up their wallets to truly make a difference where conservation actually happens?

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

Now is the time for these groups to put up or shut up. Put up cash, put boots on the ground, get your hands dirty – anything other than the tried-and-true method of emotional manipulation of a misinformed public and bogging down the work and progress of the USFWS. Contrary to the popular outcry from animal rights groups that well-regulated hunting is one of the main causes in the decline of leopard populations, scientific evidence tells another story that includes habitat loss, human-leopard conflicts and depletion of prey base species.

Removing hunters and the much needed revenues generated from the system of conservation will have little to no effect on these pressing issues.

While anti-hunters have difficulty comprehending how the legal hunting of some animals benefits the species as a whole, there is a successful precedent for this system of conservation – the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

A century ago, many of the big-game animals routinely hunted now would have been considered ‘endangered’ then. Through rigorous management, scientific policymaking and revenues

generated by hunters, these animals have rebounded and flourished across the continent. This success is always ignored by those who only want to ban hunting completely.

annually into drawings to win their first sheep hunt. The 2016-17 program includes a drawing for three Dall’s sheep hunts. The hunts will be drawn at the <1 CLUB beer reception during the Sheep Show™ that has quickly become one DSC will continue to advocate for of the most enjoyable and sought after sustainable use over senseless, events at the show – the last two years emotionally-driven rhetoric. DSC has the have been shoulder to shoulder packed pride of knowing our efforts are paying events with an energy that rivals rock dividends for the future of wildlife. concerts. <1 CLUB members who take - Dallas Safari Club, Ben Carter, their first ram are “kicked out” of the Executive Director club…it is the only club you join in the hopes of being booted out!

WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION WSF Launches International Version of <1 CLUB…the <1 iCLUB Launched in 2012 with the first sheep hunt drawing at the 2013 WSF Convention the <1 CLUB “for aspiring sheep hunters” has been one of the fastest growing and most popular membership and hunt drawing programs created by the Foundation.

The <1 CLUB is for those who have not yet taken a wild sheep ram but want too.

WSF just launched a companion program for those who have not yet taken a wild sheep or goat outside of the North American continent – the <1 iCLUB. Membership like the <1 CLUB is only $25 for current WSF members.

For our inaugural year we are offering a snow sheep hunt, a Mid Asian ibex and a Balkan chamois for three lucky <1 iCLUB members. The hunts will be drawn during the <1 CLUB/<1 iCLUB beer reception January 20, 2017 at the Sheep Show™ in Reno. For complete rules and to join visit https://www.wildsheepfoundation. org/Page.php/cp/<1%20CLUB.

<1 CLUB members must be members in - Wild Sheep Foundation, Gray Thornton, good standing of WSF and are entered President and CEO

GRAND SLAM CLUB/OVIS Mixed Messages!

Grand Slam Club/Ovis (GSCO) has made a conscious effort over the last few years in two particular areas. We have deliberately promoted our mantra, “Hunting IS the #1 Conservation Tool.” We have complemented other organizations with similar slogans, such as RMEF, which has the theme “Hunting Is Conservation,” and the Boone & Crockett Club (B&C), which has now trademarked a mantra, “Where Hunting Happens, Conservation Happens.”

The other conscious effort we make is to never apologize for being trophy hunters.

B&C, by virtue of its record book, naturally cannot shy away from trophy hunting … and neither can SCI. The outfitters of GOABC certainly have to embrace trophy hunting. Of special note is an article

by Phil Phillips in the NRA publication American Hunter, July 2016, titled “Trophy Hunting is Good for Conservation, Says IUCN Report.” It seems that the IUCN has incorporated trophy hunting into its language. Considering the reputation the IUCN has, it would seem they are embracing trophy hunting as well.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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PREFERRED CONSERVATION PARTNERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Now to the ‘mixed messages.’ Because of my position with GSCO, I read everything in our industry I can get my hands on. That includes publications from dozens of similar organizations and their chapters. I have chosen to not purposely name any organization here, but most people reading this are going to understand. For some time now, there have been a few individuals pushing to drop the terminology “trophy hunting.”

With this column, I strongly urge all other sister organizations and any individual representing them to back away from this rhetoric.

Am I being too overt here? Am I stepping on toes? Probably, but we MUST stop sending mixed messages.

If any conservation organizations are ashamed of the fact that we are trophy hunters, then they should rid themselves of any semblance of it. I beg of all of you to stop sending “mixed messages.”

- Grand Slam Club/Ovis, Dennis Campbell BOONE & CROCKETT Hunting Technology Advancements in technology benefit mankind. Since the invention of the

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wheel, empires have been built as the result of our ability to shape our world to better fit our needs. Technology has also advanced our abilities in hunting; from the Clovis point, to the bow and arrow, to the gun.

Technology can also have an effect on the hunting experience and challenge our notions of fair chase. Mechanized travel, such as by boat, airplane, or other motorized vehicle is a good example. Their use can increase our comfort and advantage while decreasing the reasonable chance of game to escape. Transporting ourselves, and our equipment to the area where we are hunting, is one thing. But most hunters would agree that from this point (unless physically limited) the final stalk should be done on foot. Other technologies have certainly made us better and more efficient marksmen relative to taking game quickly and humanely, which are positive advancements. On the other hand, when technology becomes a substitute for basic skills in the field (i.e., buying skill), this is where technology moves us farther away from hunting and closer to shooting.

Why should we care? The majority of non-hunters still support hunting. Merely

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

killing or shooting is another story. It is difficult to maintain any credible claim that hunting is a rewarding, worthwhile, and ethical activity if the participants are seen as more preoccupied with inventing cooler and slicker ways to kill things with less effort.

Regardless of public perceptions and support, when the challenges of hunting are eliminated, we who are in charge of passing on this great tradition and ensuring its survival, risk losing the special nature of the hunting itself. Most hunters agree that the uncertainty and the “noguarantees” character of hunting is one of its most powerful attractions, and that the most memorable experiences come from an honest, hard fought effort, not the sophistication of the technology used to take an animal. The marketing and attraction may be powerful, but inevitably each of us will have to choose if easier is better or necessary.

- Boone and Crockett, Keith Balfourd, Director of Marketing

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Mystical King

THE

OF BRITISH

COLUMBIA

by Tim Westbrooks

IT TOOK US ABOUT ONE MINUTE TO FIND OUR FIRST TRACK, AND THOUGH IT WAS A DAY OLD, IT ENDED UP BEING THE ONE WE BAGGED OUR FIRST LYNX ON.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

T

here is no bond as strong as that between a father and son. Though I have fulfilled only one of these two roles, after twenty-two years of life, I firmly believe this cliché to be true. I look up to my dad as a mentor, a role model, and simply a friend, and our relationship would not be what it is today if it weren’t for the experiences we’ve shared in the great outdoors. Dad discovered a love for hunting at a young age, and he passed this love, with equal intensity, down to me. I can still remember bitter cold mornings at five years old, going out and sitting in the woods with him. This was a brutal way to learn about white-tailed deer, but in the end, my dad succeeded in teaching me to love the sport.

Though we primarily hunt deer in the mountains of east Tennessee, my dad has always had an interest in North American cats. Our hunting property has a fairly substantial bobcat population, of which Dad has harvested a few over the years, but in order to obtain other trophies he has had to travel to other parts of the continent. When I was young, he harvested a mountain lion in Colorado, so the last item on his cat to-do list was the Canadian lynx hunt. I recently graduated from the University of Tennessee, and as a graduation present, my dad flew us to Prince George, British Columbia for a guided lynx hunt.

Before this trip, I had never been on a guided hunt, so I didn’t know what to expect. When we landed in the Prince George airport, we were greeted by our guide, the gentle giant, Ken Watson. Ken immediately welcomed us with open arms, helped us with our luggage, and talked to us as if we were old friends. I was blown away by the house we stayed in; I had pictured a small tin cabin like the one we stay in when hunting in Tennessee. Ken and Crystal’s home was absolutely wonderful, complete with a hot tub, queen sized beds, television, Wi-Fi, and any other luxury you could ever want or need. Each morning, Crystal prepared an amazing breakfast and packed a lunch box filled with sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. When we returned from a long day of searching for tracks, she always had a different meal ready for us to devour.

These various amenities made our trip a relaxing experience, balancing out the adventure of the actual hunt.

I’ll admit, I was nervous our first day hunting, but this nervousness was soon washed away with excitement. Harley, Ken’s best hunting dog, was the first one to the truck, trying to get into her box long before we even had our boots on.

Once we had everything packed up for the long day ahead, we hopped into the old green Ford and headed out to lynx country. It took us about one minute to find our first track, and though it was a day old, it ended up being the one we bagged our first lynx on. This first morning ended up being very fruitful.

We searched the rest of this first road to see if the cat had crossed again, then set out the dogs on the track. K.C. and Vicky returned not too long after we set them out, but Harley kept running through the woods. Ken at first thought this was just Harley looking for a scent, but his tracking device told him that she had treed a quarry. He asked us who wanted the first shot at a lynx, and my Dad gave CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 me the honours. Ken rolled his skidoo off the truck, loaded his pack with supplies in the event we shot a cat and drove me off to where Harley was located. This is when the nervousness kicked in again. I’m not a bad shot, but like any hunter, I have had my share of missed trophies over the years. I knew this could potentially be my only chance at bagging a lynx, and though I tried to stay calm, I couldn’t help but have a bit of pre-shot anxiety.

When we arrived at the tree Harley was barking up, Ken could already see the cat hunkered up in its branches. It took me a moment longer to see him. Ken told me the cat was very low in the tree and could jump at any moment. He also said that it was a big mature cat and that I should take the shot.

Looking back on this first morning, I realized the sincerity of something my Dad told me before we even flew to Prince George. The reason he has such a passionate love for cat hunting, is the mystical spirituality of these creatures.

When we told locals that we were in their home city to hunt lynx, they looked at us like we were crazy. Only a handful of people knew they inhabited the land and even fewer had ever seen one. For five more days we searched for lynx, and we were blessed to see two more and harvest the larger one. I am extremely proud to say I have harvested a lynx, but I can honestly say that this hunt was not at all about the kill. The most exhilarating moment of the week was the second cat we treed (and decided not to shoot). We watched it for about an hour, admiring the way it curiously observed us, as it had probably never seen humans before. These animals are so unique, so obscure, and so concealed in the dense woods of North America, that seeing them is a very transcendent experience. I will go lynx hunting again,

not to necessarily harvest another cat (though I certainly will if it turns out to be a very mature tom), but to simply chase and watch another one of these creatures.

After my dad harvested his lynx, we went to another guide’s home to celebrate the week of hunting. There at the kitchen table sat seven cat hunters, a rare breed of men and women who are misunderstood by most of the world. They don’t hunt out of bloodlust, but for the conservation of a species and the thrill of seeing one of the most secretive animals on the planet. Anti-hunters do not understand this passion, nor do they understand that it is the hunters who actually care for the lynx the most and promote their existence. I joined a select group that week, and we sat around that table sharing a fifth of Jack Daniel’s and stories of adventure. I encourage anyone looking for the thrill of a lifetime to reach out to Ken and Crystal Watson. They will provide you with a wonderful hunt and show you a part of the world most people have never even imagined.

EDITOR’S NOTE: You can reach Opatcho Lake Guide Outfitters at 250-964-6543 or www.opatcholakeoutfitters.com

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

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Ph: 250-412-5209 SSIKANNI IKANNI Outfitters R RIVER IVER facebook.com/sikanni

MIKE & DIXIE HAMMETT P.O. Box 11, Pink Mountain, BC Canada V0C 2B0 Email: sro@sikanniriver.com www.sikanniriver.com

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

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GUIDES WANT TO SEE YOURSELF IN THE GUIDES GALLERY?

gallery

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

Brian Vanderhoof from Virginia and his guide Ryley Hunter show off this cougar taken with Bugle Basin Outfitters

Ray Brittain from Georgia with his mountain goat taken with Beaverfoot Outfitting

Jason Hairston from California with his Dall sheep taken with guide Jeff Baher, Brady Lough, and friend Brendan Burns with Nahanni Butte Outfitters

Ronald Poffenberger from Maryland with his wolf and guide Brandon Ponath of Love Bros. & Lee

Terry Dowers from Washington with his moose taken with Kent Maitland of Eureka Peak

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

Joaquin Arizpe from Mexico with his mountain goat taken with Nahanni Butte Outfitters

Keith Martel Jr. from Michigan with his mountain goat taken with Love Bros. & Lee

John Ross from Wisconsin showing off his black bear taken with McGregor River Outfitters

Endre Lellejord with his Dall sheep taken with South Nahanni

Carli Kitsch from Washington with her black bear taken with guide and owner Stuart Maitland of Eureka Peak Lodge and Outfitters

Wayne Bowd from Alberta with his grizzly taken with Whatshan Lake Guide Outfitters

Adrian Gonzalez from Mexico with his moose and guide Josh Lancaster of Nahanni Butte Outfitters

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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B.C.

MY

Grizzly

I

HUNT

’m a retired general surgeon who we then walked up further to glass for loves alpine skiing as does my wife bears. We didn’t see any bears, but we Martie. While our home base is did see mountain goats and with Shane’s Klamath Falls, Oregon, we spend our coaching I became fairly proficient at winters in Eden, Utah where we ski, spotting them. On the second or third day and I also teach alpine skiing, at Powder of hunting we took a small boat across Mountain. In March of 2008 while in Eden, I received an e-mail from a friend (Lance) about a deal on a spring grizzly bear hunt. Lance had forwarded a notice from Brian Glaicar of Monashee Outfitting who had unsold tags available for the 2008 spring grizzly hunt. Lance had successfully hunted moose with Brian and he highly recommended him, but he wasn’t interested in hunting grizzly.

I had done a spring black bear hunt in Oregon in 2002 shortly following my retirement but I had never given much thought to hunting grizzly, primarily because of the cost. I looked at Monashee Outfitting’s web site and I was impressed and intrigued.

I shared this interest with my wife (Martie) who questioned my sanity, which over our 43 years of marriage isn’t that unusual. On May 21, 2008 we headed for Revelstoke where I was greeted by Shane Hoyt, who was to be my guide for the next twelve days.

Monashee Outfitting is only accessible by boat, so Shane came across in a small boat, into which he loaded us and our gear and headed to camp. After Martie and I were established in the cabin we had lunch fixed by Doug, the camp chef.

That afternoon, after confirming that my rifle was dead on, Shane took me up

by Craig Merhoff

runoff and we had no way to cross it.

While we watched, the bear left that clear-cut and walked east to the larger cut we had been glassing earlier. We the lake and walked to a meadow where decided to leave and to return the next bears had been seen. We set up along day to get a better look at the bear and to the edge of the short second growth find a way to cross the creek. and glassed for several hours during which time a beautiful grizzly sow with On our way back, in an opening along two cubs, that Shane judged were three the road we spotted a five foot black year olds, came out at 300 yards. They bear. He was the biggest black bear we weren’t shooters and no boars came in, had seen. As I carefully rested my rifle so at dusk we walked the quarter mile and acquired a solid site picture on the back to the boat. As we untied it and got bear’s chest, Shane was telling me to ready to leave, a different grizzly sow quickly make my shot because it looks with one cub appeared fifty yards away like he is going to jump. When I hit him, having followed us out. The thought the bear jumped forward into the brush of being followed by her was a little along the road. Looking through the scope as the recoil settled, I saw that the spooky. bear had landed in a small tree below the Some days we drove roads to vantage road. It took a bit to find him as he was points and glassed and on a few days farther away than either of us thought, we loaded the ATV onto the barge and but it was a one shot kill. His hide was took logging roads up into the Monashee perfect with thick fur and no rubbed mountains from the lake to glass. On spots. We skinned and quartered him about day ten we drove up a moderately and headed back to the lodge. Not only steep drainage and into a large logged was the meat delicious, this majestic open area that had small second growth. black bear will be forever remembered I spotted a solitary light brown six foot in our Oregon home. grizzly that Shane felt was most likely a sow. We walked up the road and glassed The following day Brian accompanied us into an older clear-cut where I spotted back to where we’d left the two grizzlies. a big dark grizzly boar that Shane said The only problem was getting across was definitely a shooter. The problem the creek. Brian went up the creek and was that we had less than two hours of found some trees that had fallen across daylight left and the bear was over five it. We could now make it across the creek hundred yards away which was beyond but by that time it was too late to make a my 400 yard max comfort zone. It was stalk, so we returned to the lodge.

also across a wide, deep, fast moving rode tandem up to an avalanche and creek that was choked with spring a road into the Selkirk mountains. We

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

WHEN I HIT HIM, THE BEAR JUMPED FORWARD INTO THE BRUSH ALONG THE ROAD.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 The next day we returned and found the big bear where we had left him, snoozing and occasionally digging roots or eating grass. It was too early to make a stalk, so Shane and I climbed up the steep clear-cut above the road which allowed us to glass a larger area while keeping an eye on ‘my bear.’ All was going according to plan when at about 1:00 PM the bear got up and headed east, not to be seen again by us.

Brian, meanwhile, had been glassing contiguous terrain to the west of us and had watched a grizzly boar move into the top of the clear-cut which ‘my bear’ had so rudely evacuated. This bear was smaller, but still a shooter; however, he spent all of his time near the top of the clear-cut where he was obscured by thick brush which made a stalk impossible unless he moved down into the open. As day twelve progressed, the situation was looking grim for getting a shot at a grizzly. A few hours before dusk, Shane and I crossed the bouncing logs across the creek and moved down the road to the bottom of the clear-cut were the bear was last seen. We set up for a 300 yard shot, if he came down, but the bear was a no show.

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

Shane and I, occasionally aided by Brian or by Dustin Roe, had worked for twelve days to get me a shot at a grizzly. We saw some grizzlies as well as a lot of magnificent country; I harvested a black bear, and I made new friends. I talked to Brian the following morning before heading back to Oregon, thanking him for a great hunt, even if I didn’t get to harvest a grizzly. He had tags available for the following year and I decided to return the following spring.

I arrived at camp in May ready to hunt. Brian and Steve Leuenberger joined me. Steve operates Ram Creek Outfitters out of Wardner, BC and had already guided all of his clients for their grizzly’s that season. Steven decided to help Brian with his remaining clients.

The following morning after a very filling breakfast, Steve and I crossed the lake and headed northwest in Steve’s truck to the canyon where Shane and I had seen several grizzlies the previous spring. About a half mile below the main road, the lower part of the avalanche could be crossed on foot, or by wrestling a quad over it. It was then about a forty-five minute

drive, pulling a small trailer behind Steve’s quad, to where we set up to glass for bears. The quad was severely tested getting us to our camp with the trailer but we made it.

We set up two tents and spent the afternoon glassing. There was a small grizzly sow and what we decided was her recently run off three year old cub which was wandering around, apparently still confused as to why he/she was suddenly independent. There was also a black bear, but no grizzly boar seeking the sow.

The following morning we all accompanied Dustin Roe to the rifle range. The previous day Dustin’s Gunwerks 7mm had hit the ground and he needed to check the Huskemaw scope for zero and it was off. After he made the necessary adjustments, Dustin offered to let me shoot his rifle, which I did. Dustin is roughly 5’8” and I’m 6’4” so the stock was quite short for me, but off of a bench I shot it just fine and it was dead on. Dustin suggested that we take the rifle with us in case our only shot was beyond my comfort range of 400 yard maximum, with my CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 rifle. Steve took the rifle despite having expressed his doubts about the validity of shooting long range for bears.

made the parallax adjustment at 20X and dry fired several times on a small bush and there was no movement of the sight picture with any trigger squeeze. I returned the scope to 5X so The following day Steve, Brian, and I returned to the place I’d be able to find the bear when he appeared. where we had started on day one, arriving at the spot from which we had previously seen bears around noon. Steve and I returned to my sandwich and watched the bear dig up Brian set up their Swarovski spotting scopes and I sat down and eat grass and occasionally rest. The little three year old against the trailer tire to eat my lunch, knowing that we would wandered over to where the boar was and the boar exploded be there for several hours waiting for a bear to appear as there out from his resting spot and chased the little bear up the were none, other than the recently ‘kicked out’ three year old. steep draw. I thought to myself, well so much for that bear.

I was only four bites into my sandwich when both Steve and I was dismayed, but Brian said that sometimes when bears Brian announced that a bear had come into the block from the are disturbed that they will return to their previous spot east and that he was a large boar. I presumed that we would watch the bear until the wind settled and then Steve and I would make a stalk.

I was most surprised when Steve tapped me on the shoulder and announced that “we were through screwing around and that it was time to get serious,” by which he meant that I would be shooting this bear from our position on the road across the canyon. I thought that he was kidding, but both he and Brian were quite serious that I was going to kill this bear using Dustin’s rifle from where we were set up. We waited until the bear had moved further west through some dense brush and into a more open area where they could watch him after I made the shot. I put my sandwich down and we made a place for me to lie down on the edge of the road where I could rest the rifle across a pack. We ranged the bear and then adjusted the Huskemaw scope for the distance. The place from which I’d be shooting would be close to level with where we anticipated that the bear would eventually be. With negligible wind, we made no windage changes. I focused the scope and

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

once the disturbance is past. Such optimism I thought, but then Brian has watched a lot of bears so maybe he’ll return, which he did. Having run off the smaller bear, the big guy returned to his spot and finished his nap. A short while later, he headed west and came out to where we wanted him. I put down my apple and assumed the prone position on the edge of the road.

Steve made a short video of me describing my grizzly hunting experience. For me, this was day twenty-one of grizzly hunting including my previous trip. My emotions were like those I had experienced as a young kid on Christmas morning and I stayed on that high for the next week.

With the pictures done, we skinned the bear, took the meat, and walked out to the quad. That night, back at the lodge, we enjoyed some adult beverages; ate burgers and some barbequed back straps as we recounted the hunt. It was a wonderful evening spent with two good guys who I will always remember.

The bear moved out into a good opening and with both Steve and Brian watching him through their spotting scopes. I loaded and waited until he was completely clear of any brush or trees. Brian asked me how I was feeling and I replied that I was feeling good and that I could do this. As the crosshairs My drive home to Klamath Falls was uneventful. I had a lot settled on the bear’s chest, I squeezed one off. of time to reflect on how much of my success was due to the After I shot, I worked the bolt and reloaded. The bear was knowledge and hard work by Steve and Brian, who got me not visible, having stepped downhill behind a small group of the shot at the bear, and to Dustin who supplied the rifle that trees. We watched for nearly an hour without seeing the bear allowed me to take a long shot with complete confidence in and only then did we go after him. We took the quad down the outcome. They are all good guys who I regard as friends to the creek and crossed on two bouncy logs that were on the and with who I would enjoy spending more time. That’s surface of the rapidly flowing creek. Once across we walked important because when doing a guided hunt for bears, or down the logging road paralleling the creek past clear-cut for that matter any game, one spends a heck of a lot more blocks. Then we ascended the hill, inside the tree line, until time with guides and with the support staff in camp, then one we were well above where the bear had been when I shot him. does actually killing and dressing the animal. I also thought We then quietly walked in a line, loaded rifles at port arms about scheduling a moose hunt with Monashee Outfitting in one step at a time, out into the block until we spotted the bear a few years, and I later did, but that’s another story. below us. He was motionless and no respiratory movements were evident when we glassed him. Steve yelled and with no response from the bear, we approached downhill slowly, with EDITOR’S NOTE: Steve yelling until we reached the bear and it was obvious You can reach Monashee Outfitting Ltd. at that he had died. The beautiful dark brown dense spring fur 250-814-0001 or www.monasheeoutfitting.com was unrubbed and perfect.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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YUKON HUNTS DALL SHEEP MOOSE CARIBOU GRIZZLY

Contact: CHRIS & SHARRON McKINNON PO BOX 89 Calling Lake, AB T0G 0K0 (P) 780-331-2440 www.huntbpo.com chris@huntbpo.com

ALBERTA HUNTS BLACK BEAR WHITETAIL DEER TRAPLINE TOURS

Contact: CHRIS & SHARRON McKINNON PO BOX 89 Calling Lake, AB T0G 0K0 (P) 780-331-2440 www.huntmco.com chris@huntmco.com

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27

from a LEGAL Michael G. Sabbeth is a lawyer in Denver, Colorado.

He lectures on ethics and rhetoric. He has written the book The Good, The Bad and The Difference: How to Talk with Children About Values, available at Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/c5flmmu He is currently working on the book No More Apologizing!

Arguments to Defend and Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. Visit his website www.thehonorablehunter.com and his Facebook page www.facebook/thehonorablehunter.

PERSPECTIVE

Society of the United States, the European bureaucrats and so on know this reality. That’s the horror of it all. They know but they don’t care. Why don’t they care? Because they are committed to an ideology—a pathologically lethal ideology— which does not value the animals. It values human narcissism and vanity, and is lubricated with big money.

Much of the anti-hunting attacks illustrate a morally defective character. The human actions that kill animals are many and varied. Bribery, corruption, incompetence, the lust for power and money are easy to understand. But the perversion of altruism, of doing good, is more difficult to grasp and accept.

In her important book, Cold Blooded Kindness, psychologist

Loving Animals to Death!

In my article, If Anti Hunters Had Compassion, They’d Support Hunting!, I showed that hunters have more compassion for animals than anti-hunters and that anti-hunters display feelings of moral superiority that are unsupported by evidence. Anti-hunters unceasingly attack hunters’ motives: trying to get a trophy (a vague term), bloodlust, why kill those beautiful animals? Why won’t a photograph of the animal be sufficient? It is therefore fair and proper to evaluate the morality and efficacy of the anti-hunters’ policies as well as the motives and the moral character of the anti-hunter.

Barbara Oakley writes “during the twentieth century, tens of millions [of] individuals were killed under despotic regimes that rose to power through appeals to altruism.”

A psychological process Oakley terms ‘empathic distress’ can then lead to a pathological altruism as a means of relieving one’s own distress by helping—or giving the appearance of helping— others, including animals. A consequence is, and this is a key point, that the need to feel good is so strong that it subverts the moral discipline to evaluate whether any good is actually achieved. No dispassionate analysis is made of their so-called doing good. Selfcriticism does not exist. Reality becomes an annoyance. Feeling good becomes more important than doing good. Compassion becomes weaponized: the anti-hunter not only presents himself Consider this statement by psychologist Carl Gustav Jung: (herself) as more caring but as a better person!

“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.” Jung asserts Oakley writes: “Pathologies of altruism and empathy not only that idealism—including caring—can become a disease. underlie health issues, but also a disparate slew of humankind’s No law, no matter the intention, can override the most fundamental law of economics: give something value and it will be protected; eliminate its value and that something will be exterminated. That law’s reality may be unpleasant, not nice, sad or whatever but it is as immutable as gravity. That’s life, as Frank Sinatra sang, and anyone who asserts otherwise engages in a fatal abstraction. Ignore this law and animals die.

most troubled features, including genocide, suicide bombing, self-righteous political partisanship, and ineffective philanthropic and social programs that ultimately worsen the situations they are meant to aid.”

To evaluate the moral deficiency of the strident anti-hunter, focus on consequences, not pieties.

The reality is that airline bans will kill more lions than a thousand Walter Palmers. These Animals die where hunting is banned. Banning lion hunting, insights help evaluate the morality of antiranchers can no longer feed the animals. They die. Not only hunters. do they die, they die hideous deaths from disease, predation, starvation and dehydration. Death from hunting, in comparison, is more humane and moral. As concession blocks in Tanzania close down, for example, lions and leopards die. Paraphrasing Winston Churchill’s words about Great Britain’s appeasement of Hitler, “governments have chosen animal protection over conservation and have gotten neither.”

Here’s the point. It’s a difficult point to absorb. It’s a difficult point to write. The anti-hunters, the Human

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

The Man Called Red “Red Sorensen’s ‘The Man Called Red’ is hard to put down.”

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

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Mountain Hunter Magazine

Story ConteSt

South Nahanni OU T F I T T E R S L T D .

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www.huntnahanni.com NORTHWEST TERRITORIES – CANADA MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONSERVATION MATTERS

TM

with Shane Mahoney

WILDLIFE & PRIVATE LAND: CONSERVATION’S ENDURING CONTROVERSY Shane Ma honey is co nsidered to of the lead be one ing intern a tional auth on wildlife o rities conservati on. A rare combinati on of histo rian, scien and philoso tist, pher, he br ings a uniq perspective ue to wildlife issues tha motivated t has and inspir ed audience around th 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 P of the Year er son

by Outdoo r Life Maga he has rece zine, ived numer ous award including s the Public Service Aw of Excellen a rd ce from th e governm of Newfou ent ndland an d Labrador Internatio and nal Conserv ationist of Year by Sa the fari Club In ternationa Born and l. raised in N ewfoundla he brings nd, to his writi n gs and lectures a profound commitmen to rural so t cieties and the sustainabl e use of na tural resources , including fi sh and wildlife.

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PART 2: THE CONFINEMENT, HUNTING AND COMMERCIAL USE OF WILDLIFE Thank you to Sports Afield for permission to reprint this article.

Editor’s Note: Private land issues and the privatization of wildlife have become major debates within conservation circles. In a series of articles, Shane Mahoney examines this controversy and comments on what has become a divisive issue not only between hunters and non-hunters, but among hunters themselves.

In his first article the author laid out the general issue of wildlife conservation on private land and called for a comprehensive wildlife policy for all lands, public and private.

This article deals directly with one of the most polarizing issues, the confinement and commercial use of wildlife on lands legally owned by private individuals.

Our North American system of conservation rests fundamentally upon the principle that wildlife belongs to the public collectively and is managed by the state, province or nation for the collective good. This Public Trust Doctrine is a deeply rooted and legally recognized concept that is based on the belief that wildlife, being important to all people and produced naturally by the landscapes of North America, should be part of the national inheritance of every citizen. Managed by government (the trustee) on behalf of the citizenry (the beneficiary), wildlife is thus meant to be equitably shared with all citizens and made available to them for traditional uses such as viewing, hunting and trapping. This arrangement has been long enshrined and accepted as the bedrock of the famous North American Model of conservation, a systematic approach to wildlife use and management that has been hugely successful, for wildlife and the public’s enjoyment of it.

MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016

However, whether citizens wish to use wildlife in these traditional ways is not the critical issue. The critical issue within the Public Trust arrangement is that the use of wildlife by one citizen should not be unfairly advantageous to the individual or disadvantageous to the public at large. In its purest application, therefore, it is easy to see how the Public Trust Doctrine can be seen as inconsistent with the private ownership of wildlife and the deriving of privileged status or economic benefit from its use. This is not a particularly difficult issue to adjudicate if the wildlife is free ranging and on public lands. However, the issue is anything but simple when private properties are involved. Here the Public Trust Doctrine collides with a formidable and equally cherished notion of North American society, that of private property rights and the ownership of products derived from personal investment and toil on those properties.

Private land and wildlife are iconic symbols of our North American society and when their boundaries cross or become confused a public reaction is inevitable.

The confinement and use of traditionally hunted native ungulates, such as elk and deer has become a particularly rancorous debate. For many citizens, “owning” such animals or selling them for personal gain is a foreign and disturbing notion.

Hunting these animals behind fences is also something that many citizens, hunters and non-hunters alike, take exception to, claiming it is unsportsmanlike and offers the animals no ultimate chance of escape. But here’s where things get even more complex. It has been partly the demand for wildlife hunting opportunities that has led to a growing trend at raising deer and elk on private land, and in some cases, importing exotic ones, and marketing them for personal commercial gain. Hunters may be understandably divided on the issue as they have certainly been part of the motivation for land owners to develop fenced hunting opportunities in the first place. Land owners, from their perspective, see making wildlife a paying crop as one way to keep their land profitable and prevent its sale for development.

While the extensive use of high fences to restrict wildlife (ungulate) movement began in Texas in the 1930’s, this trend has been increasing and today many American states and Canadian provinces have native ungulates being raised behind fences on private land. Although often referred to as such, this is no longer a “Texas Model”; it has gone continent wide. Such properties manage the captive animals for a wide range of commercial opportunities, from paid hunting within enclosures large enough to provide the natural forage and space for animals to exist without supplemental feeding, to selling brood stock, meat and antler velvet from much smaller acreages where animals may not only be fed but

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 also genetically manipulated through selective breeding and agencies, including wildlife specialists. Culling of both captive artificial insemination. Hunting is often permitted in these and wild populations has been required. We remain uncertain much smaller enclosures as well. as to the impact this disease has on the viability of free ranging wildlife populations.

It is important to understand that this is not a small enterprise.

Some individual states now have hundreds of such operations This is also true of Bovine Tuberculosis. This disease was first and tens and even hundreds of thousands of ungulates within recognized as a problem on game farms in the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and fenced enclosures. These operations have led to some of the since then has been discovered in free ranging white-tailed most troubling developments facing wildlife conservation deer, mule deer, coyotes and other species. Michigan has today and include a host of biological as well as social issues had a particularly challenging time with Bovine Tuberculosis that must be debated forthrightly in the public domain. One of in a high density white-tailed deer population, leading to the most critical biological issues has to do with communicable very significant expenditures by that state to deal with the diseases which can be passed between wild and captive problem. This disease is certainly transmissible to humans wildlife and also, in some cases, between wildlife and man. and has been contracted by workers at game farm facilities.

Such diseases have the potential to negatively affect wildlife Were it to become more widespread it could impose great conservation by diverting money away from other wildlife pressures on a host of government agencies. needs, by causing mortality in the diseased populations, and The future may see many more serious issues along this line, by causing human illness and inducing negative reactions as the number of captive animals increase and the inevitable towards wildlife, captive or wild. escapes and contact between captive and wild ungulates Chronic Wasting Disease is a case in point. First recognized occurs. There are many other diseases that may move among captive mule deer at a research facility in Colorado between captive wildlife and free ranging populations and in the 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has now been increasingly we are seeing the movement of such diseases reported in 16 states and two Canadian provinces and is from animals to humans. We all need to accept that the certainly present in both captive and free ranging elk, mule growth of the captive wildlife industry freights many risks for deer and white-tailed deer. While it is debated how much of wildlife, risks we need to collectively address. While diseases a risk CWD is to human populations, it is closely associated are an important factor to consider, so are the broad threats with diseases such as kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease to the Public Trust Doctrine that privatizing wildlife entails. that certainly are; and the management of the disease in We grapple here with one of the twenty-first centuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great captive and free ranging wildlife is now a daunting task conservation dilemmas. Private land must be a place where which consumes precious resources by various government wildlife can thrive; but to whom should the benefits derive?

The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) wishes to create 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 are concerned for all animals and their well-being. 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 2016

Hunt North Central British Columbia Moose ~ Elk ~ Grizzly ~ Black bear ~ Mule deer ~ Whitetail ~ Cougar ~ lynx ~ Wolf

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Please join us in conservation, education and protecting huntersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights.

Next DSC Convention January 5-8, 2017 biggame.org

G R E A T E S T H U N T E R S C O N V E N T I O N O N T H E P L A N E T TM

A SHEEP HUNTER IS

Born

by Kelli S. Thornton

ON AUGUST 12TH MY SHEEP QUEST BEGAN...

T

he <1 Club – a club where Wild Sheep Foundation members like myself fantasize about the day we will officially be “kicked out.” The members are comprised of both men and women who have never personally harvested a wild sheep ram. These are the dreamers…and many of them are the professional hunters and guides who spend every chance possible on the mountain making their client’s dreams become a reality.

Jack O’Connor said it best -

the mystery and magic of the mountains, the rocky canyons, the snowy peaks, the fragrant alpine meadows, the gray slide rock, the icy dancing rills fed by snow bank and glacier, the sweet, clean air of the high places, and the sense of being alone on the top of the world with the

“

“

Sheep hunters are romantics who love high places and solitude. To them the wild ram embodies

eagles, the marmots, and the wild sheep themselves. The sheep hunter is willing to climb until his lungs are bursting, to walk until his legs are dead weary, to grow hungry and thirsty for great rewards. There is no half way.

O’Connor provides profound insight into the heart and soul of those men and women blessed to be inducted into the sheep hunting & conservation community. These words evoke a much deeper and more meaningful spiritual message now than ever before. This past August in British Columbia I was blessed with a magnificent harvest, a Stone’s sheep

surrounded by dear friends and my best friend, and hunting mentor, my husband Gray.

This was not my first trip to British Columbia nor was it my 1st sheep hunt. In August of 2014, we booked a Stone’s sheep CONTINUED ON PAGE 39 MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 and Mountain Goat hunt with Golden Bear Outfitters. On day one of our hunt Gray harvested an exceptional sheep and on day two I harvested a beautiful billy. I returned home - a “Mountain Hunter” and even though I did not pull the trigger I had hunted sheep! I’d become a “Sheep Hunter!” In January 2015 my husband surprised me with my own Stone’s sheep hunt he booked at the Sheep Show™.

special this fraternity is. And so, the long awaited sheep hunt commenced and life as I know it changed forever.

quite frankly I did not understand. I had only just completed my 3rd hunting season in Texas but I was blessed to have had the opportunity to hunt Africa. Plans were well underway to travel that next year to New Zealand for Tahr, Chamois and Arapawa Ram.

nonetheless we eventually were given clearance to take off and we landed around noon into Tatsamenie camp to kickoff this long awaited adventure. Our British Columbian family, Greg and Fay Williams of Golden Bear Outfitters, their daughter Melissa, son & guide Blake and his wife Kelsea, granddaughters Mercedes and Novah, and their beagle and camp companion “Tuffy,” greeted us.

On August 12th my sheep quest began filled with mixed emotions on so many levels. As we drove away from our home I began to cry. These were not tears of sadness rather tears of being overwhelmed with excitement and the unknown. I cried all the way to Bozeman. I could not believe this moment For the last several months Gray and I have been training both had come. I suddenly found myself questioning my mental physically and mentally in preparation for our trip back to and physical abilities. Why? I had trained and trained hard, I super natural British Columbia. Only this time I will be the one had all the right gear and mentally I was ready for this exciting hunting the majestic Stone’s sheep not only as my first Stone’s adventure. I had pushed myself towards this incredible but my very first sheep. My training endured a few obstacles challenge and yet somehow at that very moment a surreal along the way, from foot surgery to an unruly “work” schedule sense of calmness embraced me. volunteering for WSF. In spite of it all we managed to get There were many calls from special friends we received ourselves in better sheep shape than we were the year prior. that morning wishing me a successful and safe hunt. I could “Late to bed and early to rise” seems to be my motto these days not believe this moment had come. Driving through the with so much happening right now in our life. Within just mountains that morning was a spiritual time. It became a 2 days before departing to British Columbia we signed papers time of reflection and appreciation. An opportunity for me to with a real estate agent to sell our mountain paradise in Cody, not only thank God for the many blessings He had bestowed Wyoming. but also to reflect back on the road traveled and the amazing journey that had finally led us to this point.

The idea of moving away from Cody is bittersweet to say the least. Wyoming was a choice and a choice that we both made We departed from Bozeman early that next morning and together eight years ago when this little southern gal led by her arrived in Juneau around midday. It was overcast and started leading man made her way northwest to a place where notable to rain shortly after our arrival. We booked an overnight legends such as Teddy Roosevelt, Jack O’Connor, Jim Zumbo and accommodation at a quaint hotel, freshened up and were off Lefty Kreh have written about. Snowcap peaks, alpine meadows, to downtown Juneau to the Red Dog Saloon where we enjoyed blue ribbon streams and more wildlife than people - a place we the local Alaskan brew and our favorite piano man. We finished have been proud to call home! It has been very good to us! off the evening with a lovely dinner and a Pinot Noir at an exceptional restaurant, SALT, before heading back to the hotel.

In 2005 I attended my first Sheep Show™ convention in San Antonio. It was known as FNAWS then and my knowledge of Early that next morning we shuttled over to Ward Air, a wild sheep was non-existent. My hunting career was still in private air charter company that would fly us in to British its infancy and sheep hunting was on a whole other level that Columbia. Usual Juneau weather caused some delays but

As I look back on that time, I needed to grow as a hunter and as a conservationist before I could even begin to comprehend the fascination of sheep hunting and appreciate the extreme We spent the rest of the afternoon organizing our gear and limits that men and women will go through for the privilege hunt details. The plan was to pack for six days. Blake had just to stalk and harvest these magnificent creatures. gotten married in February and his new bride, Kelsea, would be joining us on the hunt. Greg’s plan was to fly us out in the Years later here I am! I am one of those insane sheep hunters. morning to another lake and we would hike/climb in from I have evolved not only as a mountain hunter but also more there. This was going to be a true backpack hunt. Knowing importantly as an active steward. It was a process I feel that I that everything you will need for the hunt will be on your needed to go through in order for me to appreciate just how CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 back it was critical that the pack was not only well-planned but that you ensured it was strategically structured for optimum travel. Some tough decisions had to be made. The majority of gear brought to B.C. included an entire arsenal of photography equipment including collapsible reflectors, multiple batteries, tri-pod and a 400mm lens. I decided to leave behind the 400mm lens and other miscellaneous items.

I weigh barely a 100 pounds and my pack in relation to my body weight was getting quite heavy.

That evening we enjoyed an Alaskan king crab feast that Gray and I brought with us from Juneau. It was an incredible evening of fellowship and celebration for the exciting and lifechanging hunt that was about to begin. The next morning we awoke to blue skies and crisp alpine air. We had a quick breakfast, gathered up our gear and began to load Gregâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Piper PA12. Greg decided to take Blake and Kelsea first and would then return to take Gray and me. It was a beautiful morning to fly and we saw an incredible population of mountain goats along the way. As board member of the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance, it was wonderful to see such thriving and healthy billies, nannies and kids. A testament to the great work British Columbia has done managing this resource. By the time we all arrived at the drop off location it was mid-morning. Blake suggested we scale down our packs and leave enough food for two days in a game bag that he would secure in a tree.

It was now time to begin our climb. Over the next six hours we climbed gaining over 2000 feet in elevation over some of the most gnarly and treacherous rocky shale. The one thing I had not truly trained myself for especially with the extra weight from a heavy pack. There were many areas along the way that challenged my balance and surefootedness. This was not a race.

The best thing for me to do was to take my time and to be very selective with which rocks to climb. We eventually made it to the top. It was a vast alpine plateau not unlike a boulder-strewn moonscape with intermittent grasses and glacial fed runoff.

As we hiked across this plateau we came upon periodic seeps caused from glacier melt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an excellent water resource for not only sheep but for us as we adventured into their mountain top realm. We decided on a nearby sandy patch to set up our camp. As we began organizing our tents we noticed off in the distance about 400 yards was a feeding group of ewes and lambs. For the next thirty minutes or so this group continued to get closer to our camp. I grabbed both the binoculars and camera so that we could sit and enjoy glassing and photographing the sheep.

The sheep continued to get closer and eventually came within 10 yards of the tents. There were two young heavy based rams CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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THE SHEEP CONTINUED TO GET CLOSER AND EVENTUALLY CAME WITHIN 10 YARDS OF THE TENTS. MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40 approximately 3-4 years in age that you knew in a few more years would be outstanding rams. The herd continued to move on and we stood in awe as they faded in the distance. These sheep appeared to have never been hunted so there was no human pressure or fear. We were living amongst them and this was such an incredible opportunity that had presented itself.

continued east to basically make a high mountain loop around our camp. Blake could see a small group of rams that were pretty far away and thought we should probably get a closer look. As we walked across a scree field we literally bumped into the ewes and lambs we had seen the prior day. It became a stand off of note with 100 yards between us. We stood still for what seemed liked hours praying that this group would somehow carry on.

With a few more hours of light and well beyond the 6 hour Finally they gave up on us and wandered off without causing any minimum B.C. same-day airborne wait, Blake asked us to disturbance to the group of rams we spotted previously. gather our packs, binoculars and for me to grab my Huskemaw scoped Kimber .308 Winchester rifle. I was reluctant to follow We hiked in a single file line to minimize as much exposure his instructions. What if we saw a legal ram this early into as possible. Unbeknownst to us there was a shallow valley the hunt? My hunt would be over but I wanted to experience that had another small group of rams that we were not able to sheep camp and at least for more than just one day! Yes I see. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before Blake spotted them. While glassing was there to hunt sheep but it is so much more than pulling this new group the first group left their beds and joined their a trigger. This is what I read and dreamed about. Despite my brothers. They were about 600 yards away and we wanted to hesitation, I grabbed my Kimber and we officially started the get in closer. We snuck in another 150 yards but there were so hunt. We hiked west of camp and climbed over a couple of many rocks there was no way we could be confident that the grassy knolls where we stopped to glass down into a couple of shot would have a clear path. Gray and Kelsea decided deep ravines. You would think there would be sheep but we to stay back as Blake and I belly crawled until we did not see any signs. It was getting much cooler and the sun got to a spot that I was confident would was beginning to go down so headed back to camp for a quick have a clear path and a firm rest. freeze-dried dinner and off to an early sleep. We arose to a We ranged our location to be beautiful sunrise, brilliant blue sky and crisp alpine air. Blake 375 yards. There were had boiled water for coffee and tea. The mornings are what I 2 rams we were loved most. I could feel the adrenalin high building inside me, watching. the warmth in my hands from the fresh brewed cup of tea and O n e the sweet smell of maple brown sugar oatmeal.

After breakfast we gathered our gear and packs, making sure not to forget my <1 Club shirt, and started day 2 of the hunt.

We started out hiking back towards the valleys we had glassed the evening before and

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was a 9-year old white ram with very nice extended lamb tips but he had thinner bases. The second 11-year old ram had a dark beautiful coat, and beautiful twisting horns. Blake wanted me to shoot the white ram but both rams were superb.

The two began to spar, their heads collided and the sound of the impact echoed in the valley. Tears ran down my face as I watched this incredible act of nature. Blake leaned over to me and said â&#x20AC;&#x153;take the shot when you are ready.â&#x20AC;? I took a deep breath with more tears running down my face, I said to CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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I SAID TO MYSELF “JUST SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER” AND I DID. IT WAS A PERFECT SHOT...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43 myself “just squeeze the trigger” and I did. It was a perfect shot, I quickly reloaded and the ram spun around, I pulled the trigger once more and the sheep fell immediately to the ground. As I looked through my scope I began to cry. Blake said those words I remembered hearing a year ago but this time he was speaking to me, “You just got yourself a beautiful Stone’s sheep!” Yes, I did! But it was not just my Stone’s sheep it was our ram. Each one of us played a pivotal role in the hunt. There were many tears, hugs, and excitement.

As we approached our ram my team allowed me an opportunity to privately give reverence and thanks to God and as I kneeled down beside the sheep I gently stroked the hair on his back with my tears falling on his coat. I thanked him for the experience and for the nourishment from his body that we would receive from this harvest. Within a few moments my team joined me for beautiful photos and together we field dressed our ram and carried him back to camp; which amazingly was less than a mile away. We had truly hiked and camped within their mountain realm.

It was late and darkness was approaching soon. We had a superb Mountain House dinner and Kelsea served a wonderful dessert, raspberry crumble. After dinner the sky lit up with the Northern Lights, something I had always heard about but had never seen. Kelsea said to me “Kelli, God is congratulating and blessing you with the Northern Lights.”

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It was a wonderful way to end such a special and spiritual day.

By the next morning the weather had rolled in and we quickly broke down camp following breakfast and loaded up our gear. I was determined to carry our sheep off the mountain.

My pack was brutally heavy and the weight was certainly slowing me down. I carried all my gear and equipment I initially brought in plus the horns and cape. Gray, Kelsea and Blake divided up the meat among their packs and we headed down the mountain. The descent was terrifying and the added weight became a real challenge. There were moments of blood, sweat and tears on the way down and there were times when I needed my husband to just talk me through it. I soldiered on and by the grace of God I carried our ram off the mountain and it took three (gratefully) weather-delayed days to recover to where I could finally move my body without pain and depart again for Gray’s goat hunt. Taking your first ram is a life-changing experience only a sheep hunter knows and understands. The commitment you made to yourself is fulfilled. You have a greater respect and appreciation for the species and their habitat. With my husband, Gray, by my side, my guide, Blake Williams and his beautiful bride Kelsea, I pushed myself to limits I never thought imaginable. Our ram taught me more about myself than I realized. I became a better person up on that mountain that day!

EDITOR’S NOTE: You can reach Golden Bear Outfitting at 250-827-3648 or www.goldenbearoutfitting.com

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MOUNTAIN HUNTER MAGAZINE - FALL 2016 |

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Great NORTH

by Dave Fenn

THE

S

ince writing a term paper in seventh grade, I have been absolutely fascinated by moose.

Their look, their size, and the rugged country and temperatures in which they thrive makes them unique. A lot of time passed before I had the time and resources to go on the moose hunt I had dreamed of for years.

as it is all flown out for native villages or charities or to take home. So after attending my sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifty year wedding celebration, we left western Washington with a freezer in the back of the pickup.

The two and one half day drive took us through central British Columbia, then on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse.

The drive is spectacular, with beautiful vistas of dark green spruce and bright The hunt I booked with Widrig Outfitters yellow poplar covering giant mountains out of Whitehorse, Yukon was not my and valleys. first moose hunt, but it was farther north than any other. The first unexpected part The second day of the drive also involved of the adventure began a couple weeks a little unexpected adventure as we before our planned departure in mid- attempted to get to Fort Nelson on the September. My hunting partner, Duane, second day. At around dark, snow started broke his arm badly enough to end his to fall. A strange road and snow in chance to make the trip. My friend, September is a little unnerving for a guy Chuck, had been a serious hunter, but from the rainy west coast. An obvious had not hunted for years. So, I asked if local cruised past us doing about sixty he wanted to give moose hunting a try miles per hour in the snow, and we tried and in short order, he was all in. I would unsuccessfully to keep up. We ended up not have to make the trip by myself. following a semi down a steep grade at ten miles per hour, but finally made it I believe that if you shoot it, you should to Fort Nelson. The rest of the trip was eat it. No meat is wasted in the Yukon uneventful except for the bears, wood

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bison and caribou along the highway.

We cruised into Whitehorse and the next day, Black Sheep Aviation flew us into base camp. The flight north over the mountains, rivers, and lakes presented more amazing wilderness scenery. There, we met Chris Widrig and my guide Deb. Widrigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunts are by horseback, most being from spike camps scattered around his hunting territory. Working with the horses is also part of the hunting adventure. Without these amazingly tough mountain horses, it would be nearly impossible to hunt that rugged country or retrieve the trophy and meat.

There is not a great amount of grass in any one area, so sometimes the horses wander and it takes some time to round them up, saddle, and pack.

The next morning, we saddled up and rode to a high spot to glass for moose.

Within about five minutes, I spotted a little white spot on a hillside well over a mile away. Deb set up the spotting scope and sure enough, I had spotted the

inside of the palm of a nice bull lying in the arctic birch and willows with a cow.

We mounted up and rode up the creek bottom to within a quarter mile of the bull. We snuck through the brush to get

sacks of meat together and put them over her saddle. Packing up the entire bull on the horses took a lot of time, and it ended up being quite late when we set off for base camp. We set off with Deb leading

through the dark, sometimes on a trail, and frequently through brush as tall as me while seated on a horse. This amazing mountain horse took me right back to camp in pitch darkness. And standing by

her horse, while ponying the three other pack horses, and me following. Not long after we started down the trail the rope holding the sacks of meat over the saddle slipped, the sacks dropped, and her horse spooked and ran down the trail with the pack horses following. Deb Before we could finish skinning and rode my horse and attempted to catch boning, darkness gathered and we had them, but to no avail. to leave the moose to head back to camp for the evening. Day four, after horse We determined the horses had headed roundup and saddling, we headed back for spike camp, not base camp. By now to the bull with the pack horses. Our plan it was almost dark, so it was agreed I was to pack the meat, cape, and antlers would let my horse find his way and and take them to base camp. Because of Deb would walk. To say the least, it was the amount of meat, Deb had tied two an interesting ride; a ride that took me

the camp were two of the pack horses.

I unpacked them, started a fire to cook something and soon Deb arrived. We were very concerned about Duffy, the horse that was packing the antlers. But not long after, he came walking into camp with his pack in fine shape.

closer. As we came over a small rise we could see a cow moving away with the bull following. I lined up for the perfect shot, and down the bull went. You might think this is the end of the story, but the real adventure was just beginning.

The next morning, we rode back to base camp with the intent to move camp closer to where Deb had seen a caribou earlier.

An all-out snow storm delayed us until evening to make the move. The morning of day seven we were concerned as two CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 of the pack horses had not been seen in a while. We rode out, occasionally stopping to glass for caribou. During a stop for lunch we heard a bull moose grunting, so Deb gave a few calls. A young bull came out of the brush and up the hill to see what we were. He circled us at about 25 yards and then left. It is always a thrill to have those giant ghosts of the north come for a visit. We finally spotted some caribou across a big valley and rode closer. We crawled to the top of a ridge in a foot of snow to get a good shot.

There was a huge bull bedded down a couple hundred yards from us. I lined him up in my cross-hairs and took a shot. The bull ended up scoring a 360, what a nice caribou. We pushed him off the ridge and then slid him in the snow to the bottom of the hill where we could bring the horses. More skinning and boning, but no pack horse, and another ride to camp in the dark.

gear. We headed for base camp with Deb leading on foot and darkness arriving. The swampy end of the lake had to be crossed, so Deb rode double with me for a while, then walked the rest of the way to camp. She is one tough lady. If I had to walk that far in that country, they may have had to bury me there. We arrived at base camp about nine o’clock to the great relief of Chris as the flight out had been changed to the next day without us knowing about it.

I considered this a wonderful, and true wilderness hunting trip.

The two lost horses were found when the pack string was trailed out for the winter, a seven-day ride. The next season, Chris found the equipment we could not pack out of spike camp undisturbed. I was able to shoot a very nice moose, an awards recognition caribou, and got to hunt in a spectacular When we returned to camp, the two horses wilderness area. Chris Widrig runs a were still missing. Day eight started with wonderful, well organized outfit. The the two pack horses still gone. We took old testament to that is we have been back faithful, Duffy, packed the caribou and two more times. When Chris asked for a came back to spike camp. Still missing comment, I said “All in all, it was a great two horses, we packed what we could of adventure.” the camp on Deb’s saddle horse, leaving a saddle and two pack boxers and some EDITOR’S NOTE: You can reach Widrig Outfitters Ltd. at 867-393-3802 or www.widrigoutfitters.com

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Gundahoo River Outfitters

MUNCHO LAKE, BC

QUINTIN THOMPSON AND ARTHUR THOMPSON

Box 2941 Rocky Mountain House, AB Canada T4T 1P2 Phone 403-391-7879 Toll Free 1-866-GRO-HUNT Email info@gundahoo.com www.gundahoo.com

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c i t s i t r A tions a e r C IF L D L I W

E

A

rt is defined as something that is created with imagination and skill that expresses important ideas or feelings. The art of taxidermy can be dated as far back as ancient Egypt, during which time cats and dogs were mummified. It is the art of representing the animal in its natural and alive state, to preserve the essence of the animal forever.

Craig Stolle has always had a very strong connection to nature; everything he enjoyed and many of his most cherished memories involved it. From the highest peaks in British Columbia, to the plains of North Africa, Craig has admired the wildlife that inhabits their vast lands, waters and skies. His taxidermy and antler carvings assimilate all of natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory and splendor.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52 Craig Stolle’s art wasn’t always wildlife mounts and antler carvings; but he has forever been inspired by wildlife and nature. He has had a passion for art and creating beauty with different mediums: sketching, painting, and carving. Craig was born and raised in Campbell River, a small coastal city situated on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. He began dabbling in art in his early years in school by drawing and painting. His teachers noticed his skill and passion and were quick to encourage him to pursue it. He later began traveling the province, hunting and experiencing all of the beauty and wildlife it had to offer.

He flew into remote areas, rode in on horseback, and backpacked many miles while pursuing sheep, caribou, elk, moose and deer. He spent a considerable amount of time studying the live animals that he came across to recognize and identify the particular things that made each animal unique.

In the early 1990s, while Craig’s current job at the pulp mill had become very slow, he began doing taxidermy work as a hobby for friends and himself. He started attending seminars and courses on taxidermy, focusing on birds and fish. He started creating scenic builds with the animals, and asked his friends to bring him pieces they found while on their trip, such as pieces of wood, rocks, or anything to recreate the memory of the animal.

In 1992, Craig and his wife Brenda welcomed their son, Tanner, into the world. Many of Craig’s fondest memories and inspirations include time spent outdoors with him. Craig taught Tanner to hunt and fish and he watched with CONTINUED ON PAGE 57

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 54 admiration the day Tanner harvested his first deer. Craig was also proud to be present when Tanner harvested his Boone & Crockett Roosevelt elk and to this day, Tanner regularly out-fishes his dad on their annual fishing trips.

In 1995, Craig attended a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation convention where he noticed a booth that featured antler carvings. He was always interested in discovering new ways to express his love of wildlife through art, and was inspired to create his own carvings. He started by practicing on antler sheds he already had at home and enjoyed using the antlers as his canvas. Craig used these boney structures to recreate images and memories he had from his time spent in the wilderness. He refers to them as “nature’s canvas” and enjoys creating a stronger remembrance of the animal.

Each antler is unique, which makes each piece one of a kind and original.

Craig continued to mainly use antlers he gathered in the wintering areas he visited each year in northern British Columbia.

Dawayne has received awards such as World Champion and Master of Masters at the World Taxidermy Championships, and National Champion from the National many different mounts, winning second Taxidermists Association. Craig admired place in the novice division for his Dawayne’s attention to detail, exceptional chukar partridge and widgeon, and first scenic builds, and the mounts movement. place for his first life sized bobcat. Craig Craig has continued to follow his work also entered a bald eagle and won first and is consistently inspired by it. place, the highest scoring bird in the In 2009, the pulp mill Craig was competition. Craig clearly had a gift for employed at shut down. With the the art he pursued. support of his loving wife, Brenda, Craig In 2007, he attended seminars and decided to make his taxidermy hobby competed at the World Taxidermy his full-time career. Craig continued Championships in Reno, Nevada. He gathering inspiration from cherished was very interested in courses on memories such as annual fishing trips African mounts, as they seemed to be with his son Tanner to the west coast the most challenging. The challenging of British Columbia, and guiding for nature of African mounts was due to the moose in central British Columbia each quality of the skins when Craig received September. Since becoming a full-time them. They were often rock hard, and taxidermist, Craig has remained very had been harvested many months prior busy year-round capturing the essence to him receiving them. Craig partook in and beauty of the wildlife he brings back African animal seminars, among many to life for his clients. other seminars, during his participation at the championships. This year, he competed with a customer’s black tailed deer mount, and won third place. He was very surprised and humbled as he was up against competitors from fortyseven states and twenty-two countries.

His future plans are to reduce the amount of commercial taxidermy he produces, and shift his concentration to custom and unique pieces. Craig is thoroughly enjoying carving antlers and would like to expand his interest in carving to wood or stone. His passion and love for nature During his time at the World Taxidermy and wildlife will always be evident in Championships, he met his mentor, any art he produces. This is why Craig’s award winning Dawayne Dewey, owner work will continue to turn heads and be Craig entered his first taxidermy of Dewey Wildlife Studio in Wyoming. admired by fellow outdoor enthusiasts. competition in 2006, the Western To view more of Craig Stolle’s amazing work, please visit his website: Canadian Taxidermy Championships.

He entered in multiple divisions with

www.artisticwildlifecreations.com

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

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David Harrison with first ram of 2015 WE HUNT:

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LARGE WILD MOUNTAIN GUIDE AREA

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by Mark Werner The Lost Art Of The Horseman Since the Spaniards brought horses to North America in the early eight century, hunting was forever changed. Using horses while hunting gave the hunter the advantage of speed and agility when chasing their game. Often game migrated large distances and the terrain was rugged, using horses allowed the hunter to cover more ground, more effectively.

Using horses while hunting As hunters we feel a deep connection to nature and the animals evolved from horseback that thrive in it. We feel a need to experience the solitude, hunting to more of a ‘fair the adventure, and the beauty that nature has to offer. When chase’ method. The hunter you incorporate the use of horses into your hunt it adds to the used horses to transport experience. himself and his gear to a remote location (‘packing There is something to in’), set up camp, and hunt be said about ‘going on foot or horseback. It was back to your roots’ a common sight to see pack and hunting as our strings of horses headed in ancestors did. Riding and out of the mountains a horse into the vast loaded up with supplies, wilderness, followed by a pack train, loaded equipment, and antlers. with all the gear and With the progression of technology hunters utilize horses less food you require. Some and less. Is the art of the horseback hunt becoming obsolete? outfitters will continue Hunters and outfitters are now able to charter a bush plane, to operate with horses use a motorized boat, and quad, to get deep into the back merely because it is an country. These motorized modes of transportation require important part of their less maintenance, less training, and less time. Horses require outfitting tradition. The pastures for grazing, farrier services, and vaccinations. Not Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia just celebrated to mention the training and skill necessary in developing its 50th anniversary, and the questions is, in another 50 years a quality pack or mountain horse. These horses must have will we still be utilizing horses to hunt? I think so. the temperament and training to carry even the most novice rider. Guides and clients develop relationships with If you have any historical stories you would like to share, please email info@bcguideoutfitters.com horses, fighting over the ‘good’ horses, like kids fight over a favorite toy.

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FOR THOSE WHO TRULY

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Don’the miss t Washington Sportsmen’s Show® in Puyallup, WA Pacific NW Sportsmen’s Show® in Portland, OR Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show® in Redmond, OR Visit www.thesportshows.com for show dates, hours, locations and more.

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