Alaska Sporting Journal Aug 2019 by Media Index Publishing Group

FISHING • HUNTING • ADVENTURE

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Volume 11 • Issue 3 www.aksportingjournal.com PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles WRITERS Paul D. Atkins, Greg Brush, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Brian Watkins

The Port of Garibaldi encompasses three coastal towns, including Bay City, Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. Besides housing RV parks and lodging, restaurants, seafood processing, a lumber mill, and commercial and charter fishing, the Port’s harbor has moorage for 277 vessels. The Port’s property also features the Lion’s Club Lumbermen’s Park and an antique train display. A walking path is also a popular draw for locals as well as visitors to Garibaldi.

SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Celina Martin, Jake Weipert WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Kelly Baker, McKenna Boulet ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES media@media-inc.com ON THE COVER Several hunting seasons are set to open in August in Alaska. EZ Limit Guide Service’s Greg Brush and daughter Kendra show off a big brown bear. (EZ LIMIT GUIDE SERVICE)

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP WASHINGTON OFFICE 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

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 3

FEATURES

THE WAY BACK In a past life, Gwen Grimes was a successful police officer who took pride in her job in law enforcement. Then a reckless driver plowed into her stopped Wasilla Police Department patrol car, resulting in a serious career-ending injury. But Grimes’ story is about finding a new path to happiness. Find out how this homesteader who got through 21 days in scorching Mexico as a participant on the survival series Naked and Afraid now plans to help brother and sister officers going through similar trauma.

FRIENDS OF KODIAK, UNITE Brian Watkins and three of his buddies braved snow, treacherous slopes and a lot of hiking on a quest to harvest Kodiak Island mountain goats. As you might expect when you see the words Kodiak and goats, this wasn’t an easy hunt, but the camaraderie, the company and the fresh seafood the guys ate every night made all the pain worthwhile.

PLUGGING AWAY ON THE RIVER Using plugs to catch Alaska salmon is a popular method for anglers, but mainly for Chinook. Our Scott Haugen is the go-to guy for learning how to make these lures irresistible for coho. Get Haugen’s proven plug casting tips in our Field to Fire feature, which includes Tiffany Haugen’s smoked salmon dish with a sweet kick.

(PAUL D. ATKINS)

TO THE MAN CAVE, BATMAN

Satellite TV. Pool table. Wet bar. For some guys, their house must have a man cave for when buddies come over. But Paul Atkins prefers a different decor for his dream room. He’s filled the soaring walls of his 1,200-square-foot den with the trophy mounts of game he’s killed. Take a tour and learn how to make your own shrine to the animals we not only hunt but exalt by giving them such an honored place forever.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 17 33 39 67

The Editor’s Note Outdoor Calendar An Alaska family’s African plains game hunting adventure The Gear Guy: Food for thought

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 © 2019 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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Alaska homesteader Gwen Grimes (left), here with daughter Mackenzie, caught the travel bug – the good kind – when she participated in a 21-day survival challenge in Mexico. (GWEN GRIMES)

EDITOR’S NOTE

have some vacation time I want to use this fall and plan to make good use of my passport and visit another country. After speaking to Gwen Grimes, an Alaska homesteader who completed a 21-day challenge in Mexico that was chronicled on the Discovery Channel series Naked and Afraid, I was reminded why I love traveling abroad (and led me to wonder yet again, why the hell didn’t I start earlier than when I hit 40?!). When Grimes had finished her 21-day challenge along the coast of southern Mexico, she had a free day before she began her trip back to Alaska. It proved to be one of the highlights of her stay there. She was invited to visit one of the local villages to get a glimpse of locals’ everyday life. Grimes, who lives on a homestead in Eagle, on the Yukon just west of Canada, was delighted to get some perspective at the riverside location. “They had us go at night so we could see the bioluminescent fish. It’s one of the few places in the world where they have these microbial organisms that glow a greenish-yellow color in the water and leave these stripes. We were able to swim with them,” said Grimes, who also witnessed local fishermen ply their trade while using fire to coax jumping fish into boats. Grimes then went back to the town she was staying in and was one of the guests of honor at an outdoor party. “We had so much fun that night. It was a pretty cool adventure.” That was Grimes’ first international trip save for visiting Canada, and she caught the bug to do more exploring. She recently got back from a two-month backpacking tour of South America, presumably now bitten by the same travel bug as I was about a decade ago when I made my first venture outside of North America. Grimes’ experience in Mexico is just one of two features this month about Alaskans getting a taste of adventure Outside. Soldotna fishing guide Greg Brush and daughter Kendra discovered new thrills abroad too, plains game hunting in South Africa, a safari that Greg wrote was “such an incredible trip that I have already rebooked for 2020.” “Traveling, man; there’s where it’s at,” Grimes told me. “It’s an incredible life-changing experience to interact with different cultures.” I couldn’t agree more. -Chris Cocoles

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ALASKAN’S ROAD TO RECOVERY RUNS THROUGH MEXICO HER LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER ENDED BY INJURY, NAKED AND AFRAID COMPETITOR GWEN GRIMES HAS FOUND PEACE, NEW PURPOSE IN LIFE

BY CHRIS COCOLES

fter what she’d been through, how low she’d gotten and how empty she felt, there was no way Gwen Grimes was going anywhere. Never mind that she was suffering through triple-digit Mexican heat coming from her snow-covered Alaska homestead, being ravaged by bugs and bitten by a tarantula. In other words, a miserable place to spend 21 days with no clothes and just a few tools to help you get through.

Grimes, just a few years removed from having her law enforcement career ruined in a car accident caused by a reckless driver, agreed to participate on the Discovery Channel series Naked and Afraid when the show contacted her with an invitation. It was one of two phone calls that have given Grimes a second chance. “That was one of the questions production had asked before they even sent me out into the field. ‘What would be one thing that would make you tap (out)?’” Grimes, 48, says. “I said noth-

ing’s going to make me tap. I don’t care what you throw at me.” Fate threw Grimes an unwanted changeup four years ago. In an instant, that car that smashed into the rear of her patrol car while she was on duty with the Wasilla Police Department. Injuries suffered in the wreck effectively ended her career as an active-duty police officer. “Everything’s gone. Completely gone,” was how she describes the aftermath. So maybe this was an opportunity to get something back.

Four years ago, Gwen Grimes’ law enforcement career as a patrol officer in Wasilla all but ended due to injury, but after appearing on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid, she was revitalized. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL/GWEN GRIMES)

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Grimes (right) and her Naked and Afraid partner Jon Hart completed their 21-day challenge in the blazing heat of southern Mexico. “I was proud of myself for accomplishing it on and not letting that stuff crush me or beat me,” she says. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)

AS A KID GROWING up in western Oregon, Grimes’ family didn’t totally live off the grid, but it was certainly off the beaten path. Halfway between Eugene and Florence on the Oregon coast, Grimes grew up in the ultimate rural household. She was so far away from civilization, she referred to the little “Podunk town” of Elmira as the closest to the family home. And even that community was a 45-minute drive. “We were pretty poor. We hunted, trapped, fished,” Grimes says. “In the morning, before I’d hop on the bus to go to school, during hunting season my dad would wake me up at friggin’ four in the morning and we’d go out and hunt until it was time for me to go to school.” Grimes, the oldest of five siblings, experienced even more of a “country” upbringing when her dad moved the family to Point Hope, Alaska, a North Slope community of mostly Native Alaskans on the Chukchi Sea. “We were the only white family out there. (But) we actually integrated really well into the community out there,” Grimes says. (Point Hope would become a rather sentimental place to Grimes and her family. “I was reassigned to Point Hope when I was a North Slope Borough po22

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

lice officer, so it was like coming home. Being welcomed back into the community. That was pretty cool. And my brother also is a police officer up there. And he’s stationed at Point Hope right now. So it’s cool because of the deep family ties to some of the communities that are up on the slope.”) Alaska would become home for Grimes, who would have a family and ultimately nine years as an officer on the North Slope. But the widespread coverage area she was working – her schedule was two weeks on and two weeks off – and the chance to be closer to her kids prompted a move to Wasilla, where she joined that Mat-Su Valley community’s police department. Things were going well in Wasilla also three years into her stint there. “I was the department’s hostage negotiator, so I was gearing my career up. I was doing patrol work, I was a field-training officer for rookies coming in,” she says. “I was doing all this cool stuff. It was awesome and I was having fun. Then, bam.” Officers around the globe are sometimes injured, or worse, in the line of duty, a risk of the job. But Grimes was seriously hurt not in a shootout, a fight or even while engaged in a high-speed

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

chase. She was simply stopped at a traffic light on Main Street in Wasilla. “Out of the blue the inside of my patrol car just exploded. Glass in slow motion was just flying around my face. I felt this really sharp pain in my upper chest. I thought I’d been shot because it felt like this instant explosion and then this searing pain,” she says. “I didn’t realize at the time that I’d been hit from behind by a ¾-ton pickup

Growing up almost off the grid in Oregon before her family moved to Alaska, Grimes was used to hunting and fishing. These days she is comfortable on the Yukon River adjacent to her homestead in remote Eagle. (GWEN GRIMES)

Grimes (with her boyfriend Nate and fellow Alaskan Naked and Afraid participant LeeAnn Duncan) has finally found peace after the shoulder injury that made it impossible to continue her active-duty police officer career. (GWEN GRIMES)

trip that had been traveling 55 mph and not paying attention to anything. Didn’t see the red light, and without even putting on his brakes he hit me at full impact while I was in a dead stop.” The point of impact most affected Grimes’ left shoulder, which was pulled by her seat belt and caused severe nerve damage. She would lose 40 percent of usage in her left arm. And the news gets worse when you consider that Grimes is a natural left-hander. “So with that lack of sensation and that nerve damage, I can’t fire a handgun anymore so I can’t keep doing police work, because that’s kind of a critical aspect of being a cop,” she says with a sheepish laugh. “I was not ready for that to happen.” It got worse. While she was eligible for disability, it just didn’t pay as much as she made working for the force. It became too expensive to raise her kids in Wasilla. So she settled on the homestead in Eagle, hard on the Yukon River just west of the Canadian border. She was able to build a house on the property, but it wasn’t the easiest of transitions. Grimes felt alone. She’d spent most of her savings in a desperate attempt to save the Wasilla home (she’d lose it to foreclosure). “I lost my house, my job. I lost everything, so it was like you were at the bottom of the bucket and everything looked grim,” she says. “All of your friends kind of shied away from you, because copwise, you were kind of the leper now. 24

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You got hurt and, holy crap, they could get hurt too. So it was in the forefront of their minds that this happened to this person and could happen to them too.” One thought was constantly in the back of her mind: “I’m not ready to be done being a cop.” So what next?

IF THERE’S ONE MOMENT in Grimes’ Na-

ked and Afraid appearance – her episode, brilliantly titled Baked Alaskan, premiered in March – it was that damn tarantula. After Discovery Channel producers found out about her story and offered her a chance to participate, Grimes took it. She and partner Jon Hart, a Pennsylvania endurance athlete, were dropped off in a southern Mexico coastal forest, where the heat index – even in spring – can rise to as much as 130 degrees. “I went from Eagle, where I think it was 20 degrees outside and snowing,” Grimes says. Climbing a steep ridge to get to a drinking water source was as difficult a task as she would face upon the partners shedding their clothes and studying a map. Over what would become a successful 21-day stay, Grimes and her cohort caught elusive crabs from the beach – “We figured out that you couldn’t catch them by yourself. One would find them and the other would come up and stab it with a stick,” Grimes admits – gathered fruit and berries and finally got a

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

fire started to help fend off flesh-eating sand fleas and ants. They made the duo miserable over an entire fireless night. “I was covered from head to toe. I felt like a meth addict. I had scabs all over my body. It probably took six months to heal from all those,” she says. “That was the hardest part. Just constant aching pains.” But it was another insect friend that would define Grimes’ three nude weeks south of the border. One night of sleep was interrupted by a tarantula’s bite. “Son of a bitch. That hurt. Something just bit me,” Grimes, channeling her inner Forrest Gump, called out in the middle of the night. Grimes, who was also temporarily sidelined when she severely stubbed her toe earlier in the challenge, enacted her spider revenge when her stomach was rumbling for protein – any protein. Granted, when they found a big, hairy arthropod hanging on a tree branch, there was no way to know if it was the same spider that hanged its fang into the Alaskan. But why not conclude it was so you can play out the ultimate eye-for-an-eye result? And then, hungry and not picky about foraging for a food source, they ate the tarantula. “It was so nasty. Just like burnt ass,” Grimes says of the taste. “The thought never crossed my mind to eat a tarantula until one bit me.” They were so close to completing their challenge as day 21 beckoned. It

started with another brutal climb and descent from a ridge while carrying limited water sources. And when they got to the beach, they faced a swim over raging waves crashing into the shore and then a swim through the choppy waters to reach their extraction point boat. As crazy as it sounds the lesser concern for Grimes was probably that bull sharks inhabited the bottom of the sea. Remember that her barely working left shoulder makes it impossible to make a typical swimming motion. “The first time we’d gone out we tried to get into it and it wasn’t happening. One (wave) whitewashed me onto the bottom of the ocean, and I knew there were bull sharks down there. I am not that familiar with ocean swimming,” Grimes says. “We had to wait down there for about five hours for the tide to go out enough that the waves weren’t so bad that you couldn’t physically go into them.” “By the time we finally got those breakers past the reef, my arm was just shot. I couldn’t move it anymore and the nerves were too inflamed. I was doing the one-armed dog paddle.” But she made it. And nothing felt sweeter than exchanging hugs and high-fives with Hart, devouring the watermelon and cantaloupe the producers brought for them, a much-needed meal

of chicken enchiladas, and the extra day she spent drinking beers and bonding with the local villagers. “I was proud of myself for accomplishing it on and not letting that stuff crush me or beat me. It was something I needed to do and I did it,” she says. “I love challenges and it was an epic challenge. It tested everything – physical, mental, spiritual. It was an incredible inexperience.” A couple years after Grimes felt like her life had no purpose, 21 days on a television show she’d never heard of would change everything. And then the phone rang again.

NAKED AND AFRAID CHANGED Grimes’

life. After her episode aired, she was contacted by a representative from The Wounded Blue, which helps brother and sister law enforcement officers injured or traumatized on the job. “He said, ‘You’re an injured officer. We’re an organization that’s for you. That’s what we do. We help wounded officers. It’s like a lifeline,’” Grimes says. “They were interested in having me as one of their peer support counselors. I’m like, ‘Holy crap! That would be fantastic! I’d love to do that.’” The plan is for Grimes to train for her position this fall, then become The Wounded Blue’s Alaska representative

Gwen and Nate are starting their own nonprofit organization to help wounded warriors and law enforcement officers, Wyldwoodz Wilderness Retreat. She’ll also train to counsel injured law enforcement officers through a national organization known as The Wounded Blue. (GWEN GRIMES) 26

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for officers who endure similar trauma that she suffered. “I’ll be able to talk to them through all the things that happen when you get injured in the line of duty. I didn’t even know there was any help available when I got hurt. I felt cut off, abandoned, alone,” she says. “But there is an organization around there to help and now they want to be a part of it. At least I have direction now. I’ve got something to where I can keep helping other people.” The helping hands part has spilled over to her home life as well. Grimes and her boyfriend Nate, a wounded veteran, are establishing their own nonprofit group, Wyldwoodz Wilderness Retreat. Grimes will soon be an empty nester, and she and Nate plan to build a cabin on their homestead, which will house disabled veterans and police officers. Eagle seems like an ideal place for healing injuries and PTSD symptoms. “There’s nobody up here, it’s quiet, you’re not running into people and there’s no drama. There’s no internet unless you go to the library. Nothing. It’s remote,” she says. “I wanted the peace. I needed the peace. I needed to be able to mentally deal with all the crap that I’ve done in the last decade.” The hope is any broken men or women who visit her retreat can spend a day fishing, hiking or biking, or that she counsels through the pending gig with The Wounded Blue, can have someone who understands that sh*t happens in combat or on duty. Grimes had an informal chat with a friend and colleague who recently visited her homestead. The man was involved in a shooting and opened up to someone who can relate to when something goes bad. “He said, ‘This is the place where I can come and find peace and just let everything go,’” Grimes recalls. “This is the place where people can come, heal mentally and kind of get away from that rat race down there.” ASJ Editor’s note: For more on The Wounded Blue, go to thewoundedblue.org. Wyldwoodz Wilderness Retreat’s website is wyldwoodz.com. Check out discovery.com/ tv-shows/naked-and-afraid/ for more on the Discovery Channel series. 28

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

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K E N A I G U I D E.CO M FOR CALLS IN ALASKA

AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE

ALASKA FATHER, DAUGHTER EXPERIENCE PLAIN GAMES BOWHUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

BY GREG BRUSH

laska is one of the top hunting destinations in the world, and for good reason: The scenery, the challenge, and the species available are like no other place. As Alaska bowhunters who have taken world-class trophies such as moose, caribou, and black and brown bear, my daughters and I look forward to our Alaska hunts, but we also dream of far-off adventures in distant lands. Years ago, I proposed such a getaway to one of my daughters. “Let’s plan a hunting trip Outside next year!” I said. Apparently I wasn’t dreaming big enough, as my youngest daughter Kendra quickly replied, “Yeah; let’s go to Africa!”

SAFETY FIRST Africa can be really dangerous, right? Or is it? This is something I badly needed clarification on, as providing safety for my daughters while traveling is always priority one. For this very important topic, I chose to avoid the internet. Just imagine the many rabbit trails produced by searching “Is Africa dangerous?” on the worldwide web! Instead, I called my good friend (and Alaska Sporting Journal correspondent) Scott Haugen, a renowned outdoor writer, TV host and dedicated family man who has hunted Africa 14 times, nearly half of which were with his children. When queried about where to go, Scott instantly had a suggestion.

Alaska guide service owner Greg Brush and his daughter Kendra hunted warthogs and several other plains game species during a memorable safari in South Africa. (GREG BRUSH)

“It’s a no-brainer,” Haugen told me. “South Africa provides a great safari for first-timers and is an extremely safe destination. South Africa is easily accessed from North America. By choosing the bushveld of the Limpopo Region, you can avoid the puddle-jumping small planes and extreme driving distances on the run-down, dirt roads commonly used to access super-remote hunting locations in other countries.”

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Thabazimbi or directly to a B&B in Johannesburg for a scrumptious dinner and good night’s rest prior to heading to their hunting property the next morning. In effect, my daughter and I would be within their control from the moment we arrived in Johannesburg to the time we departed 10 days later, which provided a lot of “peace of mind” for this dad.

SEEKING A QUALITY HUNTING EXPERIENCE

Kendra and Greg have done plenty of hunting in their home state, but Africa can be a bargain hunt compared to guided ventures in Alaska and in other areas of North America. (GREG BRUSH)

Finally, he added, “Petty theft exists in South Africa’s bigger cities, but if you avoid roaming the streets of Johannesburg alone as a naive American, you and yours will remain safe!” Another great asset, in the form of a friend whom I deeply trusted, was my daughter’s pediatrician, a soft-spoken gentleman of nearly 80 years old who has pursued game worldwide and bowhunted Africa numerous times. Doc Russell, as he is known in our community, gifted me his trademark ear-to-ear grin when I told him I was considering taking my youngest daughter bowhunting in South Africa. He then confirmed what Scott had told me about its relative safety. “Hunt the Limpopo Region, as it requires no malaria or yellow fever vaccinations,” he said. That was nothing short of sweet music to my ears.

MAKING PLANS I also contacted a few American-based booking agencies, as well as several well-respected safari companies – not 40

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only by phone but in person at trade shows. After all, when addressing a topic as critical as my children’s safety, I wanted as many opinions as possible. Once again, South Africa and its Limpopo region, located in the country’s northeast corner, continued to pop up in conversation as an extremely safe destination. Neil Summers of Bowhunting Safari Consultants (bowhuntingsafari.com), the premier booking agency for archery hunting worldwide, also confirmed that South Africa was a very safe country to travel about. When I began soliciting actual safari companies, I queried Dries Visser Jr. of Dries Visser Safaris (driesvissersafaris .com), who put to rest what little safety concerns remained by informing me that a DVS company representative would be awaiting my group’s arrival. The greeter would have a large “Brush Party” sign in hand for us to see immediately after clearing customs at Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. From there, their rep would either drive us the scenic three-hour trip to their gated hunting concession near

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Next, I addressed my need for a quality experience because I had heard so many horror stories about Africa’s “high fence” hunts. Those two words have a very negative connotation amongst most American hunters, conjuring visions of a poor, naive animal with almost pet-like qualities fully contained on tiny tracts of land to ensure they cannot hide from disgusting slobs who think they are real hunters. Make no mistake: There are indeed “canned hunts” like these in Africa, just as in America. Once again, the key to avoiding this negative experience lies in knowledge acquired from solid research be asking all the right questions. For example, after spending many days reading up on bowhunting in Africa, I discovered that high fences are actually a legal requirement in some countries. But even where they are not mandated by law, high fences are commonly used in South Africa for the purpose of keeping free-ranging sheep and cattle – as well as poachers and predators – off land intended for valuable wild game. Ranchers in Africa seek to properly manage their land and protect their investment, much like ranchers do in Texas. All of this is neither here nor there; what’s really important is that you ask a few very direct questions of your potential safari company, like what I asked Dries: “How much land do you operate and how many hunters will be in camp?” “We have over 50,000 acres, with 40,000 acres dedicated to bowhunting only,” Dries said. “We never gunhunt our animals on these 40,000 acres and operate 25 pit blinds and 10 tree stands, taking only six to eight hunters at a time in camp.” He revealed these telling details in such a calm, matter-of-fact tone that it left me somewhat quizzical to just how

Kendra with her gemsbuck, one of six different species of plains game she harvested with a bow. (GREG BRUSH)

“South Africa provides a variety and abundance of game that cannot possibly be matched in North America, Alaska included,” author Greg Brush writes of the kudu and other game Kendra scored on this father-daughter adventure. (GREG BRUSH)

CONSIDERING AN AFRICAN HUNT?

ike you most likely, my initial thought when considering a safari was simply, “Why hunt Africa when Alaska has such great hunting?” The reasons are many. First, Africa is unlike any other place in the world! The scenery, the people and the culture make traveling to Earth’s second largest continent a must-do adventure for any big game hunter. Plus, the timing of Africa’s peak hunting actually occurs during our offseason, when most Alaska hunters are still dreaming of fall seasons for moose, caribou, goats, etc. Indeed, May through August is a great time to hunt Africa. South Africa’s mild weather at this time is another plus. Most of Africa’s prime hunting occurs during their winter, which coincides with Alaska’s summer, when hunting opportunities are minimal. South Africa’s winters are much different than Alaska’s. In fact, they are quite pleasant, offering sunny blue skies, morning temperatures in the 40s that quickly rise to a very comfortable 70-ish range by midday. For any seasoned Alaska hunter who has persevered through sideways Kodiak rain, Alaska Peninsula typhoons or the froze, icy goat cliffs of Prince Wil-

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liam Sound, that’s music to their ears. The abundance of game on a South African safari is another great reason to choose a trip there. Put bluntly, you will never get bored while hunting Africa! Most importantly, perhaps, is the incredible value that an African safari can provide compared to other hunts. For example, an unguided, DIY drop hunt for Alaska moose or caribou now costs $2,500 to $4,000 per person, just for bush plane airfare. A guided hunt for moose is about $12,000, while chasing brown bear runs approximately $25,000. Hunting in the Lower 48 isn’t much better, to be honest. An average Midwest whitetail hunt will run you $2,000 to $3,500 per person and a guided elk hunt is even more expensive, varying from $4,000 to as much as $15,000 per person. And this is just for the hunt. In the U.S., nonresident licenses and tags often add another grand to the price tag. Bear in mind that this fee is for the mere opportunity to hunt; a shot is far from guaranteed, as success rates can be exceedingly low with Alaska or North American game. In contrast, when bowhunting relaxed plains game on huge tracts of land over water holes in South Africa, the more common question becomes, “What species of animal will I take today?”

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Costs for plains game hunts with well-known, quality outfits can run as low as $2,995 for a seven-day/four animal package. Occasionally, outfitters will run specials or donate packages to pro-hunting organizations like SCI, which allows lucky hunters to score incredible deals on auctioned hunts. Just be sure to do your homework and ensure the hunt is provided by a well-respected, reputable outfit that utilizes large tracts of land and registered PHs. For Kendra’s safari, I purchased a father/daughter package. I was included as an observer. We opted to lengthen our trip via the daily rate and added an extra animal by simply paying a trophy fee at the completion of the hunt. In this way, we experienced a custom-built hunt for two that met our personal needs exactly, without breaking the bank. Be aware that airfare, transfer fees, tips and dipping/shipping are generally not included in safari quotes. But then again, most of these additional expenses aren’t included on a North American guided hunt either. Make no mistake: bowhunting Africa is not cheap. However, all things considered, a South African bow hunt is an incredible value that simply cannot be matched in Alaska or the rest of North America. GB

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From bull elephants to giraffes, you never know what critters you’ll share the terrain with in South Africa. “My daughter and I ... commonly saw between 30 to 100 animals and up to 15 different species per day, sometimes more,” writes Brush (GREG BRUSH)

much dirt that really is. Later that night, a quick Google search revealed 40,000 acres to be just north of 62 square miles! That’s enough dirt to even impress an Alaska hunter!

KEEPING IT FAIR In regard to whether this high-fence hunt is fair chase or not, Dries chuckled at my insinuation that his game might be naive.

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Sure enough, Kendra and I discovered the very first day that the animals we pursued were as alert, wired, and downright edgy as any we have bowhunted. If you clear your throat, move suddenly or slightly sky your bow while drawing, the gig is up. Likewise, much like whitetail hunting, if the wind swirls a bit, forget about it. Furthermore, you haven’t seen string jumping until you’ve

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witnessed a seemingly relaxed impala drop to the dirt at the moment you release your arrow! No doubt, these critters are very wild and this hunt is definitely fair chase.

ANYONE CAN DO IT The next myth is that “Africa is for elite hunters only.” In actuality, nothing could be farther from the truth. While

Africa’s famed “Big Five” species are probably best left for more experienced hunters, the fact of the matter is that South African plains game is perfect for any Alaskan, even those men, women and children brand new to hunting. There is no need to splurge on expensive, upper-end critters like sable or roan on your first safari since “common” plains game like warthog, wildebeest and gemsbuck are magical to first-time visitors and offer superb trophy potential. South Africa provides a variety and abundance of game that cannot possibly be matched in North America, Alaska included. While sitting over water in Africa, my daughter and I, as well as other members of our group, commonly saw between 30 to 100 animals and up to 15 different species per day, sometimes more. This abundance of animals achieves several goals that are not only instrumental to a new hunter’s satisfaction, but also to their success. First, lots of critters helps keep the hunter interested, which makes hunting fun. This is critical since we know that if you want to extinguish the smoldering

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Kendra and her PH, Hein, evaluate the scene. (GREG BRUSH)

flame of a rookie hunter, let them sit in a tree stand or blind for days on end with no animal sightings. But the plethora of game you will see on a South Africa plains game hunt also serves another key purpose. It minimizes “buck fever” as the professional hunter – Africa’s term for what Alaskans call

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guides – will slow everything down by calmly explaining the animal’s demeanor, its angle, the distances, and the locations of their unique kill-zones. In this way, all scenarios can be discussed and dry-run shot opportunities can be visualized prior to ever shooting, allowing a hunter’s heart to settle down a little. While walk-and-stalk and tree stand hunting are options, it is my opinion that blind hunting over waterholes provides the perfect opportunity to not only view myriad gorgeous animals up close and personal, but to also take close-range, high-success shots at relaxed game. Where we hunted, the blinds were designed by bowhunters for bowhunters, which means that shots ranged from 12 to 22 yards, averaging a mere 17 yards. Now that is a manageable shot for almost anyone! Finally, a plains game hunt means that multiple animals can be taken on one hunt. On my daughter’s safari, for example, she shot six arrows and took six magnificent trophy big game animals. It allowed her to gain the bowhunting confidence and experience in

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RECAPPING A GREAT HUNT Often in life, when embarking on a much-anticipated adventure to a new land, the tendency to create unrealistic expectations can occur. With our South African safari, I didn’t want that to happen. Since I wasn’t sure what to expect, I kept an open mind and crossed my fingers while boarding our 16-hour Atlanta

to Johannesburg flight, quietly praying for a positive experience with decent success to come. After all, since I had done my due diligence through extensive research, the rest of the equation was now out of my hands. As promised many months prior, our transfer agent was waiting for our group in the airport with a broad smile and a big welcome sign. He promptly loaded our gear and drove us to the B&B, where a scrumptious steak dinner and a good night’s rest awaited. The following morning, after coffee and breakfast, the same driver picked us up for the nearly three-hour drive northwest to our hunting concession. That ride was magical in itself, as the beautiful scenery, many warthogs and baboons – plus driving on the “wrong” side of the road – further cemented the fact that we really were on the African continent. After passing through the town of Thabazimbi, the paved highway morphed into gravel and the countryside became exceedingly wild looking. Nearly 15 miles of dirt washboard road later, we finally arrived at a majestic and large electronic entry gate. It was a not-sosubtle statement that our chosen outfitter didn’t believe in cutting corners. The lodge grounds, fully landscaped and perfectly groomed, also gave testament that we had booked a true five-star operation, as did the clean,

You can have a great experience at the lodge here, including some gourmet meals from chef Able. (GREG BRUSH) 50

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thatch-roofed, private chalets that we were individually escorted to by Elana Pretorious, the camp manager. I found out later that Elana was also a licensed PH who just happened to have over 350 bow kills to her credit. Her husband Cobus, lead PH who was awarded 2017 Bowhunting PH of the Year in South Africa, later humbly told me he has taken over 1,300 big game animals with a bow. We were clearly in good hands! After unpacking, we all met at the archery range behind the lodge, to not only verify that our bows had survived the long flight, but also to let our assigned PHs look over our setups and see what archery aptitude they were dealing with. With everything in order, we reconvened at the main lodge for drinks prior to a wonderful outdoor meal by the fire pit that featured an eland cordon bleu that was nothing short of heaven. In fact, three helpings of it and a 9.9 on the hunting anticipation scale translated to a fitful night’s rest that evening for me. There is neither time nor space here to go over each day’s hunt, but I will say this: The very first day represented a level of hunting success – for every member of our group – that I could not have remotely imagined. And it got better each day! The sheer number of animal sightings and the quality of the game we took created a scenario that each evening my hunting pals and I rolled into camp nearly euphoric with incredible trophy photos and exciting tales of success. The PHs? They were naturally happy for our success, but their humble, calm demeanor suggested that our exceptional trophies and outstanding success was nothing out of the ordinary. What a hunt! Everything I had ever heard about hunting Africa was true. In fact, it was such an incredible trip that I have already rebooked for 2020 so that my oldest daughter and son-inlaw can also experience the magic! I’m not saying hunting in Africa trumps hunting Alaska. But it’s close! Check it out; you won’t be disappointed. ASJ Editor’s note: Greg Brush owns and operates EZ Limit Guide Service in Soldotna, Alaska. For more, go to ezlimit.com or call (907) 262-6169.

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‘A TEST OF WILL AND ENDURANCE’

Four friends got the challenge they hoped for on Kodiak Island during a grueling mountain goat hunt. As they’d find out, spring hunting entails ascents and descents through deep snow. (BRIAN WATKINS)

AVALANCHE DANGER, WET WEATHER, IMPENETRABLE THICKETS – ALL PART OF FOUR HUNTERS’ QUEST FOR KODIAK ISLAND MOUNTAIN GOATS BY BRIAN WATKINS

ack Frost once said, “If goat hunting was easy, it’d be called sheep hunting.” There couldn’t be a truer statement about goat hunting. Sheep hunting is often seen as the crème de la crème

of the hunting world. In all honesty, I’d say goat hunting is far more favorable. The season is longer, the cost is less, and while the terrain is generally more dangerous, you don’t have any full curl rules to drive your anxiety and people aren’t so worried about it. aksportingjournal.com | AUGUST 2019

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Steep mountains are second nature to seasoned goat hunters, who perhaps risk more for their quarry than other sportsmen. “You’re a slip away from death. You walk along trails that are more narrow than your body,” writes author Brian Watkins. (BRIAN WATKINS)

I often tell people that the best goat hunters have the shortest memory. Goat hunting isn’t just physically draining. Being tangled in alders, stuck in willows or pushed back by raspberry bushes can drive a man insane. Some of us go back every year into the world of mis-

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ery even though we vow to never do it again. It’s a test of will and endurance, and often you question your sanity as you drive through the thick brush. At least once a trip, every goat hunter asks, “What the hell am I doing here?”

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You have to forget the misery and remember the joy to go again. After you push through the brush, you’re suddenly in the cliffs amongst the goats. You’re a slip away from death. You walk along trails that are more narrow than your body. You trudge through

When you’re all in for eight days of goat hunting, a dry home with great meals and good people makes it more tolerable. (BRIAN WATKINS)

The guys got to experience a special surf-and-turf experience on the high seas: crab and the chance for goat meat. (BRIAN WATKINS)

Breaking bread – or at least cracking crab legs – together at a table during a goat hunt is something few get to relish. (BRIAN WATKINS) 60

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Success can have consequences – scope bite for this hunter. (BRIAN WATKINS)

waist-deep snow to go further ahead. The mountain weather is usually windy and your footing is slick. It’s an adventurer’s dream.

I EMBARKED ON A spring hunt for moun-

tain goats with three others, all of whom have a successful history of chasing the species. This trip was a little different than what we were all used to. Instead of sleeping on the mountain,

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we chartered a boat to the southern end of Kodiak Island. It allowed us to be more mobile for the goats, but forced us to hike up from saltwater every day. It granted us a warm bed and a cooked meal when we got back after a day’s hunt. With all of us being used to a freeze-dried meal and Snickers bars to get through a mountain hunt, this was a nice change. Our transporter cooked omelets in the morning, made lunch for the afternoon and cooked dinner in the evenings. We ate halibut, venison and salmon for dinner. Every day we would check crab pots and keep five to 10 keepers for a post-dinner dessert. The pots would be filled with tanner crabs, but we could only keep those that were greater than 5½ inches across the body. We missed the good weather by a week. Our 10-hour boat ride to the south side of Kodiak was amazing. Flat seas and sunshine for our day of travel quickly turned to rain and snow for the rest of the week. One thing about the island is that you don’t have weather days. Since the

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weather is typically crappy, you still get your gear ready and head out. Our plan was to use our bows unless we weren’t having luck. Fellow hunter Nick Muche even brought a recurve. Throughout the week, we only mustered up two chances. One was a stalk blown by a slip on a rock, the other a close encounter in which we couldn’t get a goat down. With how much it rained and snowed, we were soaked all week. But we pushed on and broke out the rifle. Nick Muche was able to close the distance on this goat after hiking up from the boat. (BRIAN WATKINS)

Despite the struggles, all four of the hunters successfully brought their own goat off the mountain. (BRIAN WATKINS)

“We must go back next year and retry our luck in the waist-deep snow.” (BRIAN WATKINS)

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

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To harvest a goat with a rifle isn’t extremely hard. You just need to be physically apt and stubborn enough to keep pushing on. Some of the areas we went to were terrifying. You must imagine a nearly vertical avalanche chute that you dig each foot in to get support. The mountain can decide at any second to break free and instantly kill you. It’s a feeling of fright and takes a certain mixture of luck, stupidity and stubbornness to successfully cross. All around those chutes are 3,000foot vertical cliffs that you edge along. We brought mountain axes and crampons to get through them, but they are only tools to help and don’t prevent slides. We would take the boat through the bay daily until we found goats. Every day would turn up a new obstacle. We worked as a group to strategize a game plan, then one of us would put the stalk on a goat. Using wind and terrain in our favor, we successfully closed the distance down to within 200 yards each stalk. With one rifle, it kept us bowhunting while one guy would chase a group with the rifle. We must go back next year and retry our luck in the waist-deep snow. Luckily, we did go four for four on goats and were each able to harvest a magnificent animal to make this a trip to remember. ASJ Headed home after success on the mountain. “It’s a test of will and endurance, and often you question your sanity as you drive through the thick brush,” Watkins (nearest left) writes. “At least once a trip, every goat hunter asks, “What the hell am I doing here?”(BRIAN WATKINS)

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“

hat do you want to eat?” I asked Lew before our trip to the Eli River. “The same as usual, but you can surprise me if you want,” he replied. “The same as usual” meant a cooler full of stuff from AC, or Alaska Commercial Grocery, and a few extras, if we had them. When it comes to gear, food is as important as having a good pair of waders. Many don’t take food into consideration until finalizing the last details of a hunt. But once you get into camp you’ll wish you had. Grocery stores are far and few

between once you hit the tundra, so you might as well have what you need and be able to enjoy it. Dried foods have always been very popular, especially with mountain hunters who look at weight as a do-or-die factor. But for the everyday hunter who may only hunt the rivers, tundra and various other low-lying places, they have become a necessity as well. And to be honest, they are quite good. Personally, I love them!

MREs (Meal, Ready-to-eat) are self-contained individual field rations with

enough calories to sustain a person all day. They’re some of my favorites, especially while out hunting. Each year Lew and I buy a couple cases for our extended and daily trips here in the Arctic. MREs are easy to prepare, and the taste plus the variety make them very appetizing. I also like the fact that you never know what you might get other than the main course. Mountain House (mountainhouse .com) has been a long-standing food staple in the outdoor world, especially for extended camping trips and backpacking excursions. They’re actually the

After a long day of hunting or fishing far afield, an MRE can hit the spot. Unless you’re counting calories, these easy-to-use rations are very economical and come in many different varieties. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Probably one of the most popular and longest standing dried food companies on the market is Mountain House. Their tasty meals come in a variety flavors, are easy to make and don’t take up much room. (CABELA’S)

number one-selling brand and can be purchased at just about any store that sells outdoor gear. Just add water and you have a meal that’s ready to go, and they taste good too. A very popular and new brand here in Alaska is Heather’s Choice (heatherschoice.com). Based in Anchorage, Heather’s Choice is a backpacking food

Heather’s Choice is an Alaska-based company that is taking the outdoor world by storm. These are quality products that serve the needs and wants of the serious hunter and outdoorsman. (HEATHER’S CHOICE)

company dedicated to making delicious, ultralight, nutrient-dense meals and snacks for hunters and adventurers alike. The meals are made with the highest quality ingredients like salmon and grass-fed bison, they are high in protein and will sustain you on any adventure. Lew and I have tried them all and have been very satisfied each time out.

So if you’re looking at what to bring on your next hunt, camping trip or just a day in the bush, I suggest you take a look at these. And remember that it doesn’t hurt to bring a box or two of Pop-Tarts. Blueberry is my favorite! ASJ Editor’s note: Follow Paul Atkins on Twitter (@AKTrophyHunter).

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ALASKA

Author Paul Atkins’ version of a “man cave” contains all of his hunting memories in one place where he can cherish the great times he’s spent afield in Alaska and beyond. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

THIS IS MY MAN CAVE EVERY OUTDOORS LOVER NEEDS A SPECIAL ROOM TO KEEP MEMORIES OF THEIR ADVENTURES

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

“

he hunter’s horn sounds earlier for some, later for others, and for many, not at all.” Robert Ruark, one of my favorite writers, penned those words many years ago in his book, Horn of the Hunter. If I’ve read that book once, I’ve read it a hundred times. Like many who make Alaska their home we live here for that sound, the adventure and the freedom that the Last Frontier offers. Like most of us, the reason I hunt is because of my father. His influence during endless outdoor excursions with me in tow is the biggest reason I love to pursue big game and have a true passion for the outdoors.

Up until I was 7 or 8, I went with him everywhere, but when he started traveling north and west to hunt elk and deer, I had to stay home. I couldn’t go, but waited in anticipation upon his return. On one particular trip to Alaska he brought back a caribou and had it mounted. It was the only caribou I had ever seen, other than on television. That

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

G T

mount hung in our house for many years, and still does. Each day I would walk by and admire it, vowing someday I would have one of my very own. That was many years – and many mounts – ago. These days, hunting for me isn’t so much about hanging a head on the wall, even though it used to be. Don’t get me wrong: I still mount those that are true representatives of the species and am excited to see them when I get them back from the taxidermist. But what it’s really about these days is the memories made during the adventure. Most hunts result in food for my family and/or spending time with them or friends in the great outdoors. It also helps me as writer to share those experiences with others and in some cases pass on the advice I’ve learned in my pursuit of big game. I’ve been very lucky, to say the least.

Atkins’ pursuit of an Alaska mountain goat was agonizing. When he finally got it done, he wanted to preserve the highlight of long years and hard hunts. (PAUL D. ATKINS) 74

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

WE ALL NEED A place to call our own, a place we can go to reflect and count our blessings – a man cave of some kind, a place that only has meaning for one person, me, the hunter, in this case. My trophy room was a dream for many years, but after careful planning

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Paul Atkins is not only a hunter who harvests wildlife to fill his freezer; he also creates memories of the hunts with an assist from taxidermists he trusts. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

TIPS FOR PICKING A TAXIDERMIST

axidermy is a true art form and the right taxidermist can create the most incredible pieces that truly reflect that time spent afield. Now, not all taxidermists are created equal. If you’ve seen some of my earlier stuff, you’ll know why. These days I only choose those who are either hunters themselves or have ventured into the places I have been. Sounds cliché, but you wouldn’t want a fish guy creating a muskox mount. There are many great taxidermists out there. If your plans include a man cave and ultimately getting some work done, then I suggest you follow a few simple steps when choosing the right one for you. Remember that cheaper is hardly ever better, and if you really want it done right, pay the few extra bucks to have it done by a quality professional. It will last forever and, more specifically, each time you glance up you’ll relive the day you took it. 1) Use somebody who is familiar with the animal itself. Most taxidermists are hunters and it should make you feel better if they have actually pursued the animal you’ve harvested. They know what the eyes and nose should look like on a bear or sheep, the way the ears should be set on a moose.

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

2) Location is another important factor. If you take an animal in Alaska and time and money permits it, I would have it done by somebody instate. Again, a good taxidermist will know the finer details of what the animal should look like and make it as real as possible. I had to learn the hard way. Long before I moved to Alaska I came up here to hunt. On my first outing, I got lucky and took a pretty nice caribou bull. I wanted to have it mounted, took it back and had the local guy mount it. It looks like a Jersey cow. 3) Price can be a big factor and should be considered before making your final decision. This is often the most limiting factor for us as hunters and some taxidermy work, depending on what you choose, can be very expensive. Taxidermy as a whole is pretty much a business, but in the end, you usually get what you pay for. There are bargains out there, but make sure you do your research before you decide who to use. 4) The reputation of the person doing the work also has to be considered. Any good taxidermist will have a good reputation for producing quality mounts. But how do you make sure? Usually they will have a website that tells a little

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

about their business and includes a few pictures of their previous work, so check there first. If you like what you see, give them a call and schedule a visit. Being able to see a finished product or one in progress could be a deciding factor in your decision. 5) Ask a lot of questions. It’s your money and your animal that will be mounted, so you have every right to ask as many as you want. Several come to mind. Do you have insurance in case something happens to my mount while in your shop? Do you guarantee your work? How long have you been doing this? Lastly, you need to ask about the time frame. Good taxidermists are usually backlogged and good work usually takes some time. I’ve seen anywhere from six months to one year, but you still need to ask. I once had a blacktail deer mounted that took almost three years to get back, and if not for my constant contact with the guy, he might still have it. In the end if you’re satisfied with their answers, use them; if not look elsewhere. Remember, choose a taxidermist that has the ability to make your animal look the way it did the day you took it. Since it’s an investment, even though he or she will only have it for a relatively short time, you will have it forever. PA

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One of the most unique pieces in the author’s collection is a smaller Dall sheep ram he took many years ago in the Brooks Range. It’s mounted on an authentic backboard pack used in the old days. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

and saving it came to fruition a couple of years ago. I make my living as an outdoor writer and teacher in Alaska and have a home there. Alaska has been very good to me and I’ve been lucky enough to make a ton of those “memories” with the end

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

result ending up on my floor or hanging on the wall. The problem was that I didn’t really have a floor or wall in Alaska to hold them all. As many of you know, I grew up in Oklahoma and spend my summers there, but I’m usually waiting in great anticipation of August when I head back to Alaska. This means doing some early-season sheep hunting or fishing. In order to store all our stuff, my wife Susie and I decided to build a house on the old farmstead that has been in my family for generations. I knew from the beginning that I would need a trophy room. However, I wanted something that could be used as an office and also be enjoyed by the whole family. We all visualize what the perfect man room looks like or what we want it to be. I knew mine had to be big. My room actually measures 40 by 30 feet, giving me 1,200 square feet of floor space. It also has a lot of wall coverage and provides plenty of room for what I intended. With a cathedral ceiling on one end and a loft on the other, the actual walls

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

measure 22 feet high. The loft doubles as a TV room, as I film almost everything these days and being able to view the coverage from the previous year in Alaska or wherever my exploits have taken me has been a big bonus. Probably the most important and beneficial thing I did was add plywood behind every piece of sheetrock throughout the entire room. If you’re like me, you’ve tried to hang a head by finding a “stud,” only to miss several times, resulting in several unwanted holes and a mad wife; plywood will solve those problems. I used ¾-inch board behind each piece of sheet rock and it has made all the difference. I can hang anything anywhere at anytime without the thought of digging another hole. I was also able to space things out and group things together like I wanted. I included an alcove to harbor my bow case and gun safe. This is probably one of my favorite spots. Everything is in one area for easy access and safety. I also have two other platforms coming out of the walls. They are mostly empty

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The man cave is adorned with skulls of all kinds. It does take time to get them clean and presentable, but is worth it for the finished product. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

now but are reserved for two full-bodied grizzly mounts still at the taxidermist, as well as other relics from adventures to come. Lighting was another issue I took into careful consideration. Good light is the key to a good man cave, and I placed mine strategically in the ceiling and along the walls. These included 12 canister lights and tracking lights to illuminate my heads from all directions. My furnishings are a mix and match

of various things we have found at flea markets from Montana to Alaska and all points between. My favorite is the glass case that came from a general store in Kansas. I use it to encase my bear skulls, shed antlers and odds and ends I’ve acquired during my journeys. As a writer, I wanted bookshelves lining one wall. As a collector of signed first edition books and hunting magazines, this was a must in my man cave. My bookshelves are just as important to me

as my trophies hanging on the wall. Finding a great book written by a great author that is signed and in good condition is an adventure in itself. I also have kept every magazine I’ve ever been published in. I cherish those and count my blessings that I’ve been as fortunate as I have been. Last, but not least, there is a small half bathroom in a corner. Every trophy room needs one and I’m glad we included it in the plans. And there is still a lot of room on my

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aksportingjournal.com | AUGUST 2019

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

The cape and head are usually the last load packed out of the field, or they should be. If it’s a good bull or ram, take the time to cape them out and bring them home. You’ll be glad you did. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

walls; my hope is to add more trophies as luck, time and money allows. Being able to walk in, sit at my desk – either to write an article or just to hang out – is very special to me.

THE ANIMALS IN MY room are memories that allow me to reflect on those special days afield. Whether is it’s my big moose I took with my good friend Lew that early morning long ago or the muskox we arrowed while we darn near froze to death, they all take me back to an incredible time usually spent with incredible people in some of the most beautiful country known to man. Some people dream of a place of their own; I know I did. It took years to accomplish, but it happened with time, money and a lot of effort. ASJ Editor’s note: Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author from Kotzebue, Alaska. He has written hundreds of articles on big game hunting, and fishing throughout North America and Africa, plus surviving in the Arctic. Paul is a monthly contributor to Alaska Sporting Journal.

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AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

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FIELD

Author Scott Haugen’s Mag Lip casting setup for catching coho on plugs is pretty simple, with one exception. The two duolock snap swivels enhance the lure’s action when fished. As coho aren’t leader-shy, braid can be tied directly to your plug, or other offering. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

GET PLUGGED IN HOW TO SLAM ALASKA COHO WITH PLUGS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

ast August I sat on the banks of a clear, remote, Alaskan river and watched my three buddies catch coho after coho. It was their first time to Alaska and I loved seeing them enjoy the magical experience. The bite finally slowed down after nearly two hours. After not getting a bite for several minutes, they decided to move upstream to see if they could find more salmon. When asked if I wanted to join them, I declined and waded into the exact spot they’d just been fishing. “What are you doing; there aren’t any fish left in there,” one of my buddies spouted, rather sarcastically. They had all been fishing cured

salmon eggs, slowly drifting them along the bottom. They also fished multiple spinners. Both methods had produced loads of coho that they caught and promptly released. Eager to see if a different presentation would work, I tied on a 3.5 Mag Lip. I made five casts and landed five bright coho, all from the same exact spot. My buddies stood there with open-jawed looks, not believing what had just happened. I was glad I’d set up a camera and captured the action on film, just so I could remind them once in a while of what actually took place.

CASTING PLUGS FOR SALMON used to be popular in the mid-1970s. Today, there’s a plug fishing resurgence, and

the Mag Lip has a lot to do with this. A Mag Lip floats, and as it’s reeled in it dives and exhibits a skip-beat action fish can’t resist. The plug also contains a rattle, a proven bonus when it comes to luring salmon to strike. I do a good bit of traveling throughout remote Alaska each summer and I fish multiple streams. My travel rod of choice – one that allows me to fish a variety of methods – is a G.Loomis Escape GLX Series three-piece spinning rod. This 7-foot rod has a fast action, medium power, a lure weight rating of ¼ to ⅝ ounce, plus a line weight of 10 to 17 pounds. I use a Shimano Stradic CI4+ spinning reel, which gets spooled with 30-pound Maxcuatro in high-visibility yellow. This bright braid makes casting

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ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

FIELD

Want to put a little savory and sweet into your summer salmon catch? Try creating a smoked salmon candy using Tiffany Haugen’s recipe. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

SMOKED SALMON CANDY IS DANDY BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

ith coho season upon us, now is the time to start thinking about preparing these salmon in different ways. Smoked salmon is a favorite of many anglers and home chefs. Whether you have a fresh-caught fish or one in the freezer from a previous trip, smoking it up results in a treat everyone will enjoy. Smoked salmon candy comes out like a salty, sweet and caramelized jerky. The recipe can be tailored slightly to individual tastes, but the desired end results feel much drier than other smoked fish preparations. Chopped small it can be used like bacon bits to top soups, salads or mac and cheese. There can be a difference in how fresh and frozen salmon absorb the brine, so if you have a previously frozen fillet, try the recipe using the least amount of recommended salt. If your final product is too salty, simply soak the salmon candy (before glazing) in cold water one to two hours, drain and put it back into the smoker and dry to desired consistency. Glaze with honey or maple syrup the last 15 to 30 minutes of smoking time, if desired.

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2 to 3 pounds salmon fillets 1½ cups brown sugar ¼ to ⅓ cup kosher salt ½ tablespoon granulated garlic ½ tablespoon granulated onion ½ tablespoon white pepper 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ cup honey or maple syrup for glazing (optional) Wood chips Remove skin from salmon fillets and remove any protruding bones if desired (bones are also easy to remove after smoking, but it can get messy with the glaze). Cut fish into thin strips, ½ to ¾ inch. Belly meat can be cut into longer, thinner strips. In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine brown sugar, salt and seasonings. Place a small amount of the dry brine in the bottom of a shallow dish or crock. Add one layer of fish pieces and cover lightly with more dry brine. Continue layering fish pieces and dry brine, taking care to finish with a layer of dry brine. Cover and refrigerate 12 to 18 hours. To ensure even brining, gently rotate fish around in the brine at least four times during the brining process, taking care to keep pieces separated. Once fish has

AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

brined, it needs to air-dry to achieve the best texture. Prepare smoker racks by placing them on an elevated plate or baking sheet (to catch drippings). Remove each piece of fish from the brine and wipe it clean of excess liquid. Do not rinse fish unless you are looking for a more mildly seasoned end product. Place fish on smoker racks, taking care to keep uniform pieces together; if smoking belly meat, put it on one rack. Keep thicker pieces of fish together to make rack rotation easier during the smoking process. Air-dry fish four to six hours and turn fish over two to three times. Use a standing or tabletop fan to expedite this process. Once fish is dry to the touch, it is ready for the smoker. Smoke fish between four and eight hours, keeping smoker temperature under 165 degrees until it reaches desired consistency and doneness. Rotate racks occasionally during smoke time, if needed, to keep an even temperature. For best results, replace smoke chips at least once during the smoking process. Glaze fish two to three times, with honey or maple syrup during the last 15 to 30 minutes of smoking. Remove fish from smoker and let cool slightly. Smoked salmon candy can be eaten right away, but for best results place in a sealable baggie or covered container to allow flavors to develop overnight in the refrigerator. Fish will keep in the refrigerator up to one week but should be vacuum-sealed and frozen for long-term storage. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Smoking Salmon & Steelhead, send a check for $20 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other cookbooks can also be ordered at tiffanyhauge. com. Tiffany is part of the online series Cook With Cabela’s. Also, watch for her on The Sporting Chef, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

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and keeping track of your presentation easy, especially when in poor lighting conditions. A uni-knot joins the braid to a 15-pound P-Line CXX Xtra Strong leader, which should be 2 to 3 feet long. The thin braid allows the lightweight Mag Lip to be cast far. When fishing with a floating plug like the Mag Lip from shore, you’re casting into deeper water and retrieving it into shallow water. This means as soon as the plug hits the water, reel fast to get it diving. Don’t reel so fast that the plug dredges the bottom and gets hung up, rather just fast enough to get the current working with you to keep the plug down. If you reel too fast the plug will bounce off the bottom, so slow down. If the line is too slack, reel a bit faster and point your rod tip upstream. The Mag Lip will dive deeper into the strike zone. As the plug gets closer to shore, the water gets more shallow. This means you’ll need to reel slower in order to keep the plug off the bottom. Raising your rod tip as you slow the reel also helps the plug ride higher as it approaches you in shallow water. When casting upstream into a current, you can regulate how quickly a plug dives by how fast you reel, as well as how low to the water and how far upstream you hold your rod tip. Reeling fast with the rod tip pointed upstream and nearly hitting the water will result in the plug sinking faster than if the tip of the rod was held waist-high and pointed directly in front of you. The more you fish plugs, the more efficient you’ll become at feeling and seeing how they react to current flow, water depth, and different retrieve rates. Once you get the presentation down, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to master, and how effective it is when it comes to catching more coho. ASJ

Haugen, who has been fishing remote waters throughout Alaska for 29 years, loves casting plugs for coho. He took this limit of fresh silvers from the Egegik River last August. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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AUGUST 2019 | aksportingjournal.com

Editorn’s note: Signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Bank Fishing For Salmon & Steelhead, can be obtained by sending $15 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or from scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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