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Volume 12 • Issue 8 www.aksportingjournal.com PUBLISHER James R. Baker
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn
GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES media@media-inc.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles WRITERS Bjorn Dihle, Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Brian Watkins SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann
MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP 14240 Interurban Ave South • Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 382-9220 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com CORRESPONDENCE Twitter @AKSportJourn Facebook.com/alaskasportingjournal Email ccocoles@media-inc.com ON THE COVER U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye (far right) joined Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (far left) and guides from Rainy Pass Lodge on a memorable Alaska moose and bear hunt. Fye was wounded during a deployment of Afghanistan and participated with the help of organizations like Safari Club International and Outdoors For Our Heroes. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 8
FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE TAGOUT TWINS
The 2020 hunting season was an eventful one for Trevor Embry (left) and Brian Watkins. Last issue, Brian shared their pursuit of “Grass Chute Goats” – the billies of Southeast Alaska’s steep-as-hell mountains – and this issue he details their bowhunting expedition for caribou near Atigun Pass in the Brooks Range.
52
(BRIAN WATKINS)
FEATURES 21
PUSH TO PROTECT BRISTOL BAY FOREVER
News that the Pebble Mine’s permit has been rejected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that Democrat Joe Biden will take over in the White House on Jan. 20 was welcomed by those who have fought to block the mine and protect Bristol Bay’s salmon runs. And now there is a push to permanently prevent further mining projects in the pristine watershed. Tribal entities and lodge owners are among those who weigh in on the subject.
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SOAKING UP FISHING KNOWLEDGE
40
A VETERAN’S DREAM HUNT
Scott Haugen’s decades of fishing has made him very skilled, but even great anglers want to get better at their craft. So when a broken hook-setting hand sidelined him on the banks of the Egegik River last summer, he sat down and observed one of his fellow fishermen. Scott shares what he learned watching wily angler Jim Matlock, while in her half of their From Field to Fire column, chef Tiffany Haugen whips up a new twist on nachos with fish and potatoes. Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye, who in 2011 suffered a serious leg injury when he stepped on an IED during his fourth deployment to Afghanistan, has fallen in love with hunting. Sgt. Fye was honored to be invited to Alaska’s historic Rainy Pass Lodge for a hunting trip of a lifetime, thanks to organizations like Safari Club International and Outdoors For Our Heroes. Making it even more amazing, he was joined by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy for a moose hunt the duo will never forget.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 17 19 32
The Editor’s Note: On being a ‘serial snapper’ Outdoor calendar The Pride of Bristol Bay: A fisherman’s love of photography
Alaska Sporting Journal is published monthly. Call Media Inc. Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Inc. Publishing Group and will not be returned. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues) or $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Inc. Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168 or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered at Media Inc. Publishing Group, subject to availability, at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Copyright © 2021 Media Inc. Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 12
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EDITOR’S NOTE
The editor has developed a passion for taking pictures on fishing adventures. He captured this scene off the coast of Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. (CHRIS COCOLES)
I
don’t remember a lot about specific moments from classes I took in high school. Maybe that makes me old, or not wanting to relive some awkward moments in my teenage years, or even how I probably didn’t take academia as seriously as I should have. But there are some things that do stand out. I recently wrote about a fictional-story-writing English assignment that helped kickstart my love for writing, storytelling and ultimately journalism (Alaska Sporting Journal, October 2020). I also fondly recall the three years of Spanish I took – I knew just enough to somewhat communicate, or at least not look like a total gringo, on previous trips to Cuba and Spain – and the days when the class would beg our teacher, Señor Santos, to “Vamos a cantar!” (“Let’s sing”) before we’d croon tunes in Español. Then there was the photography class I took, which included some great projects. One our teacher assigned was to create a montage of pics about something in our family life; I chose one of my dad’s old cars as my subject (the final product still hangs in his garage that we’re maintaining after he passed in 2019). As it turns out, I chose the reporter route instead of becoming a photographer when I majored in journalism, but I still geek out with either my digital camera or the one on my iPhone in my travels (or when I force my dog Emma to sit and pose in front of whatever interesting landmarks we encounter). Our Bjorn Dihle’s latest Pride of Bristol Bay feature (page 32) profiles fisherman/photographer Chris Miller, and while I clearly lack his chops as a shooter, I’m glad I am a bit of a serial snapper with the camera on fishing adventures, whether that’s in my home state of California or on trips to Hawaii, New Zealand and Slovenia. Maybe I’ll see if I can find my high school teacher and have him grade my photo skills all these years later. And certainly as we all hope for a healthier and safer 2021, I hope there are more chances for me to be a camera clicker on the water. -Chris Cocoles aksportingjournal.com | JANUARY 2021
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YOUR MUST-STOP BEFORE HUNTING & FISHING ON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, ALASKA KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE, WHEN AND HOW!
OUTDOOR CALENDAR*
Two resident moose seasons on the Alaska Peninsula wrap up this month. (LISA HUPP/USFWS)
Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1
Nonresident black bear hunting (without the use of registered guides) opens in Game Management Unit 2 (Prince of Wales Island) Second brown bear season in GMU 5 (Yakutat)Â
Resident brown bear hunting opens in GMU 26 (Arctic Slope) Jan. 1 Resident caribou season opens in GMU 26A (Anaktuvuk Pass) Jan. 15 Last day of resident moose hunting season in GMU 9B (King Salmon) Jan. 20 Resident moose season ends in GMUs 9D and 9E (Alaska Peninsula) Jan. 31 Last day of goat season in GMU 6 (North Gulf Coast/ Prince William Sound)
Jan. 31 Last day of wolverine season in GMU 13 (Nelchina/ Upper Susitna) Feb. 1 Resident caribou season opens in GMU 26B (North Slope) Feb. 15 Wolverine season ends in GMUs 2 and 4 Feb. 19 ADFG draw hunting results expected to be announced Cancelled: Yukon Quest sled dog race, Fairbanks; yukonquest.com For more information and season dates for Alaska hunts, go to adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.main. Note: Check with local contacts on events that could be postponed/ cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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NEXT ON PEBBLE FIGHT AGENDA:
PROTECTING
WILD ALASKA
PERMANENT BRISTOL BAY PROTECTION
Brian Kraft (inset, right) operates two Bristol Bay properties making up Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge. Like many in the region, Kraft welcomed the news that the Pebble Mine permit application has been rejected. Now he and others are seeking to permanently protect the watershed from future projects. (ALASKA SPORTSMAN’S LODGE)
BY CHRIS COCOLES
I
t was a reason to give thanks, an early holiday gift, a stocking stuffer that wasn’t a lump of coal. For those who have fought to block the Pebble Mine, the late November news that the Pebble Partnership’s mining permit was rejected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was a relief. But those in the know realize that taking the battle and winning the war are not always one and the same. The proposed gold and copper mine, which critics have long argued could potentially very seriously harm Bristol Bay’s salmon runs, is temporarily comatose but likely not dead. “We should all celebrate and be thankful today,” Brian Kraft, owner of Alaska Sportsman Lodge, said after the news broke, and then added a prophetic follow-up statement: “And get ready to achieve long-term protections next.” And that’s the billion-dollar question
that has always hung over Bristol Bay’s $1.5 billion salmon industry: Can Bristol Bay be protected permanently? Following the Corps’ about-face from its initial environmental impact statement that would have approved a mine, Orvis president Simon Perkins said the watershed was “one step closer to being a protected American treasure that sustains local communities and industries and that outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy and experience for generations to come.” Still, it should come as no surprise that the Pebble Partnership did strike back on
Dec. 17, announcing its intention to appeal the decision after August 2020’s EIS appeared to get the project a step closer to becoming a reality. Pebble officials argue that the Corps’ conclusions about the mine’s potential damage to the Bristol Bay region are “contrary to policy,” they stated in a press release. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a finding this summer that Pebble would cause ‘significant degradation’ to aquatic resources in the project area, and on that basis issued mitigation requirements that were both extreme
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PROTECTING
WILD ALASKA and unprecedented in Alaska,” said Ron Thiessen, president and CEO of Northern Dynasty Minerals, the Pebble Parternship’s managing company. “Although we believe the USACE’s ‘significant degradation’ finding to be contrary to law and unsupported by the administrative record as established by the EIS, we set out in good faith to meet their demand for in-kind and in-watershed mitigation at a very high and unprecedented ratio for Alaska – and after a tremendous amount of professional effort and investment, we did it.” “For the USACE to summarily reject a (Compensatory Mitigation Plan) that is directly responsive to its requirements, to do it on the basis of what we believe to be largely minor and arbitrary deficiencies and without giving the proponent an opportunity to respond to those alleged deficiencies or otherwise amend its application is, we believe, without precedent in the long history of responsible resource development in Alaska.”
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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
The now confirmed election of President-elect Joe Biden offers Bristol Bay another perceived ally, much like the commander-in-chief he served. But after the Obama-Biden administration’s protections were reversed by the Trump administration, the cycle returned to concern about the mine becoming reality. The region’s Native leadership fired a post-Thanksgiving salvo that reiterated the importance of creating long-term protection for the Bristol Bay watershed. “There is an urgent threat to Bristol Bay that must be met with urgent action,” said Ralph Andersen, Bristol Bay Native Association president and CEO. “Although we are relieved that Pebble’s permit application has been denied, our people must be assured that no matter the political winds, our way of life is protected from the threat of mining in our region. This commitment ensures that those who depend on Bristol Bay can continue building a sustainable future free from this threat.” United Tribes of Bristol Bay president Robert Heyano said that Bristol Bay should be forever invulnerable to even
JANUARY 2021 | aksportingjournal.com
proposed mining sites and the usual federal permitting process. “Any protections that do not meet this standard are unacceptable,” he concluded. It would indeed be a game-changer, but keep in mind that as presidential administrations shuffle in and out of Washington, D.C., so do opinions on mining. Soon-to-be outgoing President Donald Trump hadn’t publicly condemned the Pebble Mine – his son, avid angler Donald Jr., did tweet his objection to the mine after he fished Bristol Bay with brother Eric – and has taken steps to authorize oil and gas drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite objections from conservationists and Alaska Native organizations. So for now, all is quiet on the Bristol Bay playing field. But the game isn’t over and there are only so many quarterback kneel downs that can be executed before the opponents will get another series of downs to run their playbook. “While it’s great that the Army Corps has denied a permit to the proposed Pebble Mine, Bristol Bay is far from safe. It’s imperative that one of Presidentelect Biden’s first acts be to restore Clean Water Act protections proposed by the Obama administration, which the Trump administration did away with after a closed-door meeting with Pebble’s CEO,” SalmonState executive director Tim Bristol said. “The vital next step is codifying Bristol Bay protections permanently via legislation. People across the political spectrum have called for this incredible region to remain intact. We urge President-elect Biden and Congress to act swiftly and decisively to enact lasting protections for this one-of-akind American treasure, which is home to a vibrant Native culture, provides thousands of American jobs, and produces more wild salmon than anywhere else in the world.” Kraft, the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge owner, entertains clients from all over the world and every walk of life. Sharing the waters that bring anglers to his business with a mine would be bad for business. In a worse-case scenario, it could devastate Kraft’s livelihood. “Thousands of us have looked forward to this day for well over a decade,” he said on Nov. 25, 2020. But there are still no guarantees every Nov. 25 thereafter will offer similar comforting thoughts. ASJ
FIELD
Being organized for a day on the water requires time and effort, and it is just one trait that elevates Jim Matlock’s angling skills to the highest level. That attention to details didn’t go unnoticed by author Scott Haugen, who calls Matlock “one of those expert anglers.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)
WATCH & LEARN WHILE SIDELINED WITH A WRIST INJURY, AN ANGLER OBSERVES THE TRAITS THAT MAKE A FELLOW FISHERMAN SO MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
H
appy New Year! The arrival of 2021 means now is a great time for Alaskans to relax, reflect on the past season and start preparing for upcoming adventures.
When it comes to fishing, going about it wisely can be a big benefit.
BE ATTENTIVE A few years ago I noticed myself taking
more of a passive approach to fishing. I still think the early morning bite is worth waking up for, even in Alaska, as is tediously managing gear and game plans. But when I’m on the water, I do
aksportingjournal.com | JANUARY 2021
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
25
FIELD
Don’t settle for ordinary, traditional nachos. Substitute potatoes and fish for something completely different, a hallmark of author Tiffany Haugen’s cooking style. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
ARE YOU A BOLD FOODIE? TRY FISHY ‘POTACHOS’ BY TIFFANY HAUGEN
O
ne of my favorite things about travel – be it 30 or 3,000 miles from home – is partaking in culinary adventures. Ask anyone in my family and they will tell you I always order something I haven’t tried before, whenever possible. And most likely, if I like it, I will try to find a way to recreate the recipe using the fish and wild game we have in our freezer. Potachos – a take on traditional nachos using fried potato rounds instead of tortilla chips – and loaded stuffed avocados beckoned me after a long day on a recent road trip. In this two-part column, I’ll start with my creation of fish potachos. Feel free to substitute in any type of fish or “nacho”
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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
condiment in this flexible recipe. It’s one you’re sure to love. One to two potatoes 1 cup fish chunks Two slices thick bacon 1/4 cup diced onion 1/4 cup diced jalapeño pepper 1/3 cup diced tomato 1/4 cup diced olive 1/4 cup cheddar or jack cheese 2 tablespoons crumbled Cotija cheese 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro Two lime wedges Olive oil for potatoes Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash potatoes and slice into ¼-inch rounds. Brush each potato slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, turning potatoes over midway to brown evenly on both sides. Arrange potatoes on a heat-safe platter and keep warm prior to serving. In a medium skillet, fry bacon on mediumheat until crisp. Remove bacon, chop into crumbles and set aside. Sauté onion and peppers in bacon grease for three
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to five minutes. Sprinkle sautéed onions and peppers on warm potatoes. Sprinkle cheddar or jack cheese on top and place back into warm oven. Using remaining bacon grease – or add olive oil, if needed – sauté fish three to five minutes or until it reaches desired doneness. To assemble potachos, remove warm potatoes from oven and top with fish, olives, tomato, cilantro and Cotija. Serve with lime wedges and pickled onions. Pickled onions 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion 1/4 cup vinegar of choice 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt In a small bowl, mix salt and sugar with vinegar until dissolved. Add onions, pressing down to fully submerge into vinegar. Let sit at room temperature at least 20 minutes before serving. If prepared ahead, refrigerate until ready to serve. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood and other best-selling titles, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.
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Now is the time to start preparing your fishing tackle, because the new season will be here before we know it. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
more observing than I used to. This past summer I was forced to do just that: observe. The day before heading into remote Alaska for two months of serious fishing, I broke my hand. It was my hook-setting hand, too. So, for the first few weeks I sat behind a camera and took thousands of pictures of fellow anglers. I stayed at two camps and photographed clients as they came and went. Some clients had never fished before. Some had never been to Alaska. Some were better anglers than I’ll ever be, and some thought they were good but missed the mark.
LEARN FROM THE BEST I enjoyed watching folks new to angling. They didn’t care how many fish they caught or how big they were. They just enjoyed every moment. They also didn’t force things. The confident anglers who didn't quite have what it took to put them in that upper echelon tried hard, but they missed keying in on the factors that would 28
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put them on the next level. Then there were a select few I’d call expert anglers. Jim Matlock is one of those. He has fished with Becharof Lodge (becharoflodgefishing.com) on the Egegik River for the past 13 years. He’s also a very accomplished angler back home in the Pacific Northwest. I rank Jim among the best anglers I’ve ever seen. Jim started out every morning prepared for the day’s fishing. He had multiple rods rigged and ready to go. He always had the proper weights, lines and gear for the water he fished. His bait box was strapped to his waist, as were key pieces of tackle, which kept him from having to wade ashore to rebait or replace gear, in turn maximizing his fishing time. When Jim hooked a fish, he enjoyed the moment. He was calm, collected and never in a rush. But if you watched Jim’s eyes while he fought a fish, rarely was he watching the actual fish. Instead, he was scanning the water
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and looking for other fish breaking the surface. He was always monitoring the wind and tidal influence, each of which can quickly impact where coho hold and travel in the shallow parts of the Egegik. When Jim fought a fish he did it right, getting it in quickly without horsing it. He kept both hands on the cork, gently led the salmon past his feet onto the gravel shoreline, and either tailed the fish ashore or gently knelt down with his pliers to pluck the hook and set the fish free.
DON’T SETTLE When the bite turned off, Jim changed location to find more fish. Many times anglers around Jim stayed put while awaiting the arrival of more fish. In the meantime, Jim would move up or downstream, where he’d continue catching coho. At the end of the day Jim washed out his bait box so egg residue didn’t taint the freshly cured eggs he’d add to it the following day. He tediously cleaned
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FIELD
KNOW YOUR WATER
his rods and reels, changed lines as needed, tied more leaders and prepared rods to fit the places he’d be fishing the following morning. Jim was the first person to bed each night and the first person with his waders on each morning. Frequently Jim would walk from camp rather than waiting for a boat ride to transport him to the prime fishing holes. He liked his alone time in remote Alaska, and he liked getting to the fish early.
Anglers like Jim are always aware. They’re continually reading the water, monitoring conditions and making sure all their gear is where it needs to be in order to catch fish. They have no “off” button. At the end of the day they’re tired because they’ve been so intently focused. That can be both mentally and physically taxing, especially if you have to cover a lot of water to find fish. By paying attention to the elements that must align in order to consistently catch fish, anglers like Jim are able to reach that upper plateau of elite anglers. Anglers who resist change and only go through the motions will struggle. Not
Jim Matlock’s smile says it all as he brings in one of the many coho he caught from this one place on the Egegik River. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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that everyone needs to be the best, as angling is not a competition. But if you want to improve, then be aware at all times, adjust your approaches, hone your thought process, and make the techniques fit the situations being fished. Those are good starting points to becoming the best angler you can be, and the offseason is prime time to start getting organized, because very soon the fishing season will be here. ASJ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular line of fishing books or to book an Alaska fishing trip with him, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
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HAVE CAMERA, WILL TRAVEL FOR BRISTOL BAY FISHING SHOOTER 32
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BY BJORN DIHLE
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Working as a commercial fisherman and photographing the fishing scene in Bristol Bay has been quite the ride for Alaskan Chris Miller, who loves what he does. (CHRIS MILLER)
hotographing commercial fishing takes a special sort of person – one who doesn’t mind the salty spray of waves, the blood and slime of fish and the “colorful” nature many fishermen possess. Chris Miller, an acclaimed photographer who lives in Douglas, Alaska, near Juneau, is such a man. Some say Neptune himself molded Miller in his own form and set him forth on his destiny to roam the oceans with a camera in one hand and a trident in the other. When asked about this legend, Miller gets a faraway look as he stares out on the ocean. “I’m a fisherman. I’ll only lie to you,” he says. It was a debt no honest man could pay that first brought Miller to Bristol Bay. He’d just graduated school and was wondering what his next step in life would be, as well as how to pay off college debt. Going fishing seemed like the natural thing to do. He’d grown up in Southeast Alaska and, since high school, deck-handed on gillnetters and seiners on the waters near his home. He’d heard stories of Bristol Bay’s sockeye fishery – how it was the biggest in the world and a crew member could make good money during the six-weeklong season. He packed his rain gear and camera and bought a plane ticket to King Salmon.
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS no stranger to the hard work and stress involved in fishing,
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Miller has that fishy feeling aboard boats like these harvesting Bristol Bay’s world-famous sockeye salmon run. (CHRIS MILLER)
A gillnet boat’s daily grind was nothing new to Miller. As a teenager, he was a deckhand on similar vessels. (CHRIS MILLER) 34
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Bristol Bay came as a shock. “My mouth was open half of the time during those first few days. It was insanity,” Miller says. There were boats everywhere, setting their nets atop of each other and on the verge of ramming each other. The scene was more akin to sharks in a feeding frenzy than the “gentlemen’s fishery” Miller was used to in Southeast Alaska. Miller soon learned that despite what appeared to be chaos, somehow it all worked. Between picking a seemingly endless procession of fish from the net and being sleep-deprived, Miller became fascinated with Bristol Bay. Maybe it was the flood of salmon, or the surrounding wild country inhabited by a dense population of giant brown bears, or the
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Miller’s photos capture the history of the fishing boats that have shaped this region. (CHRIS MILLER)
interesting people who lived and worked in the region. Since then, he’s returned 14 seasons and counting. One of the big reasons Miller keeps
coming back is photography. “The money wasn’t that great when I started. Salmon returns were half of what they are now. But it seemed like the
Miller knows Bristol Bay is something worth celebrating for those who work these waters and his photography reflects that spirit. (CHRIS MILLER)
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natural place to shoot (photographs),” Miller says. During Miller’s first season, he realized that photographing Bristol Bay wasn’t something a lot of people were doing. “Shooting” the bay presented some difficulties. When the salmon were running, Miller had no time to do anything besides pick fish. Still, during shoulder seasons, and one summer thanks to the help of a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, he amassed an impressive catalog of images. Miller applies the work ethic he learned from fishing to his photography. Not long after he began photographing Bristol Bay, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) contracted him to photograph fisheries across the state. Over the years, he’s traveled far and wide to document everything from mom-and-pop power trollers in Southeast Alaska to industrial pollock trawlers in the Bering Sea. “Once upon a time I dreamed of photographing every fishery in the state,” Miller says.
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IT’S A DREAM THAT still may come true, but
Miller is also invested in photographing a variety of other subjects unrelated to commercial fishing. His work often focuses on wild places, and the way local people balance recreation and conservation with their lives and the economy of the region. Frequently, Miller explores contested places like the transboundary watersheds shared by Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the last stands of old-growth forest in Southeast Alaska and the long-fought-over proposed road from Cold Bay to King Cove on the Alaska Peninsula. He’s often featured in the New York Times, Alaska Magazine and other publications. And despite his varied career, Bristol Bay still has a strong hold on him. He’s been considering a book project on the bay for years, as there are always more aspects of the place, its people and its fishery he wants to explore in greater depth with his photography. “I’d love to spend more time upriver, and in the lakes when the salmon are spawning. I want to get back and spend more time photographing setnetters on the Nushagak River. It’s a different, more family-oriented scene there,” Miller says. After some thought, he adds, “I think it would be kind of interesting to cover the enforcement side of things, too. It’s
With his great eye for details and creative imagery, the photographer’s work has appeared in local and national publications alike. (CHRIS MILLER) “My mouth was open half of the time during those first few days. It was insanity,” Miller says of the chaos that can take place with multiple boats fishing these sacred, sockeye-rich waters. (CHRIS MILLER)
super important to the fishery. Especially the fish counters at the counting towers.” Someday Miller might quit fishing the bay, but he says he’ll never quit Bristol Bay. “I’ll always have a connection to that fishery and place,” he says. “Even if I didn’t fish next season, I’d still be there photographing.” ASJ Editor’s note: Check out Miller’s work on his website, csmphotos.com, and follow him on Instagram @csmphotos. Pride of Bristol Bay is a free column written by Bjorn Dihle and provided by its namesake, a fishermandirect seafood marketer that specializes in delivering the highest quality of sustainably caught wild salmon from Bristol Bay to your doorstep. Go to prideofbristolbay.com for more information.
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MY HUNT WITH THE GOVERNOR A WOUNDED WARRIOR IS JOINED BY ALASKA’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MIKE DUNLEAVY, FOR A MEMORABLE MOOSE HUNT OUT OF HISTORIC RAINY PASS LODGE AS TOLD BY AIR FORCE TSGT DANIEL FYE
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Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel Fye, who in 2011 suffered a serious leg injury during a tour in Afghanistan, has developed a passion for hunting. With a boost from organizations like Outdoors For Our Heroes and Safari Club International, Fye was able to join Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy for a moose and bear hunt. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
wanted to serve my country after 9/11, so I joined the Air Force. There were a lot of hunters in my unit and I found myself developing an interest in hunting, but I did not come from a family of outdoorsmen and most of my friends did not hunt. I spoke about it and my wife even bought me a Winchester Model 70. I had a rifle and I wanted to hunt, but I struggled with figuring how to get started, and that rifle sat unused for many years! Then on May 27, 2011, during my fourth deployment, this time in Afghanistan, while conducting a joint dismounted operation with the Army, I stepped on an IED and was severely injured. I lost my left leg below the knee and my right leg had extensive damage. I was medevaced to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where I spent two and a half months as an inpatient at Brooke Army Medical Center, and then a couple years of therapy and learning to walk again at the Center for the Intrepid. The damage to my right leg required
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the use of a halo system, called the Taylor Spatial Frame. They used this device to straighten and stretch my leg to repair the damage and grow back most of the bone that was lost in the blast. I spent 13 extremely painful months with that device bolted to my leg, and within a week of its removal my leg broke again. I had to wear a very painful hard plastic clamshell brace for over six months before my leg would heal and I could be fitted with a IDEO brace, which finally allowed me to walk without the assistance of crutches or canes. With the new brace and the use of a prosthetic leg I was finally able to get around a lot better.
SOON AFTER THIS, I started receiving invitations for some of the hunting opportunities offered to wounded servicemen and veterans, but I had just
gone through a long, painful recovery process and was not ready for it. Then one day a friend I had met at the gym asked me if I liked to hunt. I told him I had never been hunting. He told me that he owned 400 acres of land on which he took veterans hunting and he invited me to come along. I decided it was time to try and overcome my anxieties, get out of my comfort zone and go hunting! His property was set up to take anyone hunting, no matter his or her abilities. I was able to harvest a nice nine-point buck, and that was my first animal I ever hunted. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to finally hunt and provide meat for my family. I was hooked! Then in the fall of 2019, I was contacted by my good friend Jason
Fye’s hunt took place out of Rainy Pass Lodge, located 125 miles northwest of Anchorage amidst the spectacular landscape of the Alaska Range. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
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Brown from Outdoors For Our Heroes (OFOH). Jason had heard of an amazing moose hunt in Alaska and asked if I would like for him to put my name in for it. Heck yeah, I would! Alaska has always been on the top of my list of places that I’ve dreamed of visiting, and so I jumped at the chance to hunt moose there. Several months went by and I had pretty much forgotten about it until Jason called to tell me that I was being considered for the hunt; and it was not just any hunt. It was a hunt based out of the oldest hunting lodge in Alaska, on horseback, and it was with the governor of Alaska. I thought there was no chance I would be the one selected for this amazing hunt. I felt that there were many veterans far more deserving of the opportunity. Jason put me in contact with Cody
Sgt. Fye (on his horse, Strudel) was joined by Gov. Mike Dunleavy (right) for the hunt and guided by Stevie Perrins (center). (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
Scriver of the Northwest Chapter of Safari Club International to help me with the next step, a video conference interview with representatives from SCI Alaska Chapter, and Steve Perrins of Rainy Pass Lodge (907-770-6304;theperrinsrainypasslodge .com), located 125 miles northwest of Anchorage. I did not know what to expect with the interview, but I was going to do my best to impress them in hopes of having a chance to go on this amazing hunt. I was honored to be considered for this hunt, and after I had mentioned this during what I thought was the interview, SCI Alaska Chapter director John Sturgeon told me that there must be a misunderstanding: “This is not an interview; you have already been selected. This is just our way of introducing ourselves and getting to know you!” Jason and Cody had known that I had
been selected for some time, but they saved the honor of telling me for the hunt donor Steve Perrins and representatives from the hunt sponsor, SCI Alaska Chapter. I was beyond excited to be going on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I HAD TO PREPARE for this hunt. I had only
ridden a horse once – a short trail ride during one of my daughter’s birthday parties – and I didn't have the hunting gear necessary for this type of Alaskan hunt. SCI Northwest and OFOH both helped me select the gear I would need, and they set me up with riding lessons. I learned quickly and found that I enjoy working with and riding horses. At first I struggled with mounting the horse, but I overcame this with a little practice, and after only a few lessons I was ready to experience Alaska, on horseback. I
would come to learn that riding on a trail and riding across the Alaska wilderness is a whole different story! Then the day finally came for me to begin my journey from Seattle, Washington, and embark on one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Just seeing the raw and rugged beauty of Alaska from the plane would have been enough for me, but Anchorage was just my first stop! I was met by Joel Helgerson of SCI Alaska, and after a quick stop to check into my hotel we spent the evening touring Anchorage and visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for my first look at a bull moose and other local wildlife. The next morning, I met Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy at the float plane dock where we would be departing
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for our flight to the Perrins’ Rainy Pass Lodge. Meeting the governor was a huge honor. He towered over my 6-foot-1 frame, but he was incredibly nice and I liked him right away. We had a short weather delay and I had to remove my prosthetic leg to cram into the front seat, but before too long we were loaded into a 1950s DHC-2 Beaver for an amazingly scenic flight into Rainy Pass Lodge. We landed on the lake in front of the lodge, where we received a warm welcome from Perrins, his family and all those who worked at the lodge. It was nice to finally meet the family who had made my dream of coming to Alaska a reality. We offloaded gear and got settled into our cabin where I was able to really get to know the governor, who is very
personable. It quickly went from hunting with the governor, to just me and a friend on a hunting trip. I had the same experience with the Perrins family and the entire Rainy Pass Lodge team. All of them are the most gracious and friendly people you will ever meet. I was already having an amazing experience and we had not even left the lodge yet! The next morning, guide Stevie Perrins took us out to sight in our rifles and familiarize me with my horse, Strudel, a beautiful Alaska mountain horse of the shorter, sturdier Norwegian fjord breed that I had no problems mounting or riding. From there, we packed our lunches, loaded gear and made our way up to a lookout point with a view of the whole valley. We spent the day glassing,
Glassing early in the hunt turned up some smaller moose and a black bear sow and her cub. But there were bulls nearby. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
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spotting a few smaller moose and a black bear sow with cubs. And later that afternoon I found a bull with several cows across the valley – about 5 miles away. It was getting late but we had a chance, so we mounted up and attempted to close in on him over rough terrain filled with thick brush, swamps and a river crossing. We gave it our best effort, but there was just not enough time to reach him before dark. He would have to wait!
IN THE MORNING, WE headed back up to the
lookout spot. Our guide quickly located the bull through his spotting scope and the stalk was on – back over the swamps through the brush and making our way down to and crossing the river. The water was up to our saddlebags
and I could not help but smile at this amazing experience – riding horses through the wilderness of Alaska, crossing rivers and rough terrain while going after a monster bull moose. I do not think I could have foreseen this ever happening nine years ago when I was laid up in a hospital bed, trying to survive my injuries, but that too has passed and here I was in Alaska! We got within 500 yards of where we had last seen the moose, dismounted and grabbed our rifles, making our final approach on foot. I was so excited that in the thick brush my feet sank a foot deep in the swamp, but the difficulty of the trek was barely noticeable. As we closed in on my bull, Gov. Dunleavy pointed to one of the cows. She was standing on full alert and had us busted dead to rights. Once alerted, the bull we were looking for stood up. He was 293 yards on the rangefinder, but the bull had us locked down tight and we could not get any closer. It was shoot from here or pass him up, so we set up a tripod, hoping to get
the solid rest we would need for a steady shot. My nerves were really starting to set in, and I'd never shot at that distance before, let alone on uneven ground and through thick brush. We counted at least five cows with the bull and I had to make sure I had a clear line of fire before I shot. I took aim and I pulled my first shot. The adrenaline had gotten to me and I heard the governor say he thought I had shot high. I saw that the bull was still standing there, and with my next and final shot, I finally took down my first bull moose! We gathered our horses and made our way down to my moose. This was my first time to ever walk up to a bull moose, and it was a huge mature bull, with antlers measuring 60 inches wide. I will never forget the feeling when I walked up to this monster bull. I stood in awe of the sheer size of him and in the realization that I had taken this amazing trophy. Once we had returned to the lodge to gather more pack horses for the pack out the next morning, we spent the rest of the day skinning and quartering the bull
“I could not help but smile at this amazing experience,” Fye says of the hunt. “Riding horses through the wilderness of Alaska, crossing rivers and rough terrain while going after a monster bull moose.” (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
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and prepping the meat to pack out. This completed the moose hunt and marked the time that Gov. Dunleavy had to head back to town.
NOW IT WAS JUST me and my guide Stevie, who is my own age and a great person to hunt with. We really hit it off, and at this point, hunting with Stevie was more like hunting with a friend than hunting with a guide. The two of us headed up to the lookout spot hoping to find a grizzly. Later that afternoon Stevie spotted one close to where I had taken the moose, but it would be dark before we could make it to him. We called it a day and hoped that we could find him early the next morning. We loaded our horses early and headed toward the spot where we had last seen the bear. I was getting much more comfortable on the horse and more confident in the saddle. I wasn’t as nervous crossing over the same terrain where I had taken my moose or managing the steep descents into the valley. I was even starting to feel like I
was meant to be on a horse. The river crossing was still the best part and we were going to have to do that at least two more times to make our way to within 350 yards of the bear. He had found the moose carcass and was dragging it into the brush. We dismounted, hitched our horses and made our way on foot to the edge of a small swampy clearing that was 78 yards wide. We set up to wait for the bear on the opposite edge of where I had taken my moose and where the bear had entered the brush. About 15 minutes later I saw
him come through the brush towards the remaining moose carcass. This was my first chance to really get a good look at him. He was beautiful, and he looked huge. I waited until he turned broadside and shot, hitting him just behind the left shoulder. He reared up, turned to run into the brush and Stevie placed a backup shot into his right side. I went to take a second shot, but he was already gone. Stevie tracked the bear, which had only gone about 15 yards, and found him piled up in the brush just a few minutes later. I could not believe I had taken not
only a monster bull moose but also this incredibly beautiful brown bear. We skinned my bear, then headed back to the lodge. I had tagged out and this completed my amazing Alaskan hunting adventure.
WORDS TRULY CANNOT EXPRESS how amazing this experience had been for me. To be able to say that I hunted the pristine wilderness of Alaska on horseback, slept in the historic Rainy Pass Lodge, plus enjoyed an adventure with the governor of Alaska, is something I will cherish, remember, and
The governor (far left) and Fye (far right) celebrate the hunter’s prize. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL)
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talk about for the rest of my life! I got to meet the most amazing people, I made new friends, and, again, words cannot express my gratitude to all of those who created this experience on my behalf. Steve Perrins and his family are amazing and they run a first-class hunting operation. I deeply appreciate and I am forever grateful for their kindness and generosity in providing me this hunt. I would also like to thank my guide Stevie Perrins for taking me on a once-in-
a-lifetime hunting experience. He is an incredible guide, and I am happy to have him as a friend. Another thank you goes to Gov. Dunleavy for carving some time out of his busy schedule to join me on this amazing Alaskan adventure. Alaska is a beautiful state, and I hope to return to visit with my family someday. I would also like to thank SCI Alaska Chapter for sponsoring this amazing adventure, for taking care of me in
Fye and guide Stevie Perrins also teamed up to score a bruin. “I could not believe I had taken not only a monster bull moose but also this incredibly beautiful brown bear,” Fye says. (DAN OLSON/SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL) 50
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Anchorage, and for making sure that my meat and trophies made it home with me. It was great to meet and get to know directors Joel Helgerson and Chad Riedel, and president Jeff Garness. You have helped change my life and given me an experience I will never forget! ASJ Editor’s note: For more information on Safari Club Alaska’s outdoor adventures with veterans, check out aksafariclub.org/ sci-alaska-chapter-warriors.
THE FURTHER OF ADVENTURES THE TAGOUT TWINS
For buddies Brian Watkins (left) and Trevor Embry, a hunt off the Dalton Highway near Atigun Pass started off with some frustrating misses but ended in a double bull harvest. (BRIAN WATKINS) 52
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AFTER THEIR SUCCESSFUL ALASKA GOAT HUNT, ARCHERS EXPERIENCE FRUSTRATION AND ELATION STALKING ARCTIC CARIBOU BY BRIAN WATKINS
F
rustration. That’s the name of the game when it comes to bowhunting. Hunting with a bow brings the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. From blown stalks, to missing an animal, to wind shifting. They say a bow hunt starts where a rifle hunt ends.
OUR AUGUST WAS FILLED with hunting.
After a successful goat hunt in Southeast Alaska (Alaska Sporting Journal, December 2020), we made our way
north to hunt caribou off the Dalton Highway north of Atigun Pass. My buddy Trevor had to work the week in between, but I was able to get some extra time off, so friend Dave and I headed north, with Trevor planning to catch up with us a couple days later. On the way up, the biggest bull I have ever seen was feeding in an area I didn’t expect to spot one. I was shocked at where he was and immediately had “bull fever.”
The caribou had a double shovel, long tops and a mess of horns on his bezes. He was quite literally the perfect bull. The only problem was, I couldn’t keep composed. I was shaking like it was my first animal ever. My mind raced and my heart pounded. It’s the rush every hunter loves to experience – heavy breathing and sheer adrenaline. I snuck within 50 yards of the bull, but as I ranged the animal, he took a few steps forward. It didn’t
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Arctic Alaska is also muskox country, as the hunters discovered during this caribou-centric adventure. (BRIAN WATKINS)
compute in my head that he might be past my 50-yard pin as I released an arrow. I shot just under him and watched the bull of everyone’s dreams trot into the thick brush. Frustration. We saw more caribou but didn’t get a stalk in. It was a couple of days of chasing animals in rifle range but with bow in tow. Finally, Trevor met up with us and we were dead set on getting a caribou down.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Dalton Highway cut through a desolate landscape, but they provide good access for bowhunters. Riflemen can’t hunt within 5 miles of either side of the corridor. (BRIAN WATKINS) 54
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THE FOLLOWING MORNING, WE spotted a bull and made a plan to cut him off as he was meandering around. Trevor went up one draw and I headed up the other. Trevor took the better route for the caribou, as I had already missed a shot. As luck would have it, the caribou headed my way. I sent an arrow at 40 yards on a perfectly broadside bull that
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aksportingjournal.com | JANUARY 2021
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Spotting caribou (center, right) in this vast country is one thing, but getting a good shot at a nice bull is another matter entirely for archers. (BRIAN WATKINS)
“Even with the lowest of lows, you are there to get the highest of highs,” writes Watkins (left, with his friend Dave Moore). “That’s easier said than done.” (BRIAN WATKINS) 56
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Embry had to work and joined his buddies late in the far north of Alaska. But it all worked out in the end when he found success with his bow. (BRIAN WATKINS)
should’ve been an easy kill. I heard a weird whistling noise as I let the arrow fly and it struck the ground between the bull and me. I still don’t know what happened, but we believe one of the blades from my mechanical arrow had popped out and sent the arrow in a tumble. More frustration. That said, it’s important to keep a positive attitude when bowhunting. Even with the lowest of lows, you are there to get the highest of highs. That’s easier said than done and it took Trevor and
Dave there to keep me going. We spotted two bulls about half a mile away and feeding in an area that was easily stalk-able. We set out to cut the bulls off. Trevor and I did the same move as the previous day, splitting up to increase our chances. I went in one draw and he went in another. As I crept along, I spotted a bull just 25 yards away. He lay down as I saw him. I saw the other bull lying right next to him. I motioned for Trevor to come next to me so we could try and double up on the
Yes, caribou hunting can be frustrating, if not downright disappointing. But as Embry and Watkins discovered, sticking to it not only makes for a successful experience but provides a freezer full of meat. (BRIAN WATKINS) 58
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bulls. We stood there for close to an hour without movement from the bulls. After our patience grew thin, we started to make bird calls to get the bull’s attention. That didn’t work, so we started to sing a Beatles song, “I am the Walrus.” “Coocoocahoo!!” Finally, the bulls stood. I took the first bull and Trevor the second. Within a week of hunting together, we were able to double up on goats, then caribou! It was a thrill of a lifetime. This was the highest of highs. ASJ
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