The Changes in Alaska Hunting

Alaska hunting is certainly undergoing a change today, indeed it has always been changing, but more so now than ever before it is becoming super competitive, and some times combative. Prices have obviously went through the roof, and when big money gets involved, many individuals leave their ethics behind. Airplane hunting is the norm in Alaska these days, and no I don't mean that guys are shooting animals from the airplane, rather the planes are being used constantly to search for and locate animals for the hunters, and everyone is glossing it over as if it is a perfectly normal way to hunt. Perhaps it is, but we don't buy it! While scouting the country from the air before season, or prior to a hunt is one thing, and this is certainly acceptable, the non-stop battalion of Super Cubs flying all season and constantly ruining the efforts of other hunters on the ground is not acceptable at all, it is simply disgusting. The philosophy of this outfit is hard work, knowledge, preparation, and consistent effort produces results, and personal satisfaction. The present system utilized by the state of Alaska often sets guides in stiff competition against one another, and the wilderness experience that hunters dream of is often upset by the appearance of planes overhead and hunters in the same valley, in pursuit of the same game. Hunters should be aware that the Alaska of the 1940's and 50's does not exist any longer. There are outfits with so called exclusive permits to hunt in the National Wildlife Refuges and Preserves, but even these guys have to compete with residents who increasingly seek out these areas, due to less commercial pressure.

Sometimes the future doesn't look so bright for the wilderness experience of hunting Alaska, but it is still above and beyond the wildest dreams of most hunters coming in from the lower '48. Our philosophy is to remain light and mobile in the areas we hunt. If there is one thing I have determined, that is you cannot expect to hunt out of luxury camps year after year with the same great results time after time! Getting locked into a location is exactly that, if it is good this year, great! If not, then it isn't so great. We are backpack hunters, and yes this means small tents, and no showers. Freeze dried Mountain House is par for the course, since steaks and potatoes don't work well in the backpack. We look for hunters that are more interested in hunting, than in great food. By the way, it is much cheaper to feed everyone with normal staples than it is freeze dried, so don't think we are taking the cheaper route. For guys that want gourmet food, we can offer this and a camp cook for the right price. As backpack hunters we are very mobile, and able to pick up a camp and move at any moment, and we are not beyond spending the occasional night out on the slope if that is what it takes! We stress patience and the use of optics, and we don't run all around the country just for the fun of it, but we are not tied down to an unproductive area either. My belief is simply this, if you are in decent physical condition (this means you can carry 60 pounds on your back for 5 miles over rough terrain), you are mentally determined to go the extra mile, and you don't fall apart psychologically when the weather socks us into the old expedition tent for two days straight, then you are halfway to success, and an unforgettable Alaskan experience.