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Local resident named top guide in B.C. and Yukon
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
VOL 118 NO. 14
Pan Am Games bound Page A16
CRAIG LINDSAY
Grand Forks Gazette
Marty Thomas of Grand Forks is the top guide in B.C. and the Yukon. Thomas was ecstatic and quite emotional when he found out he won the prestigious Leland award, which is presented by the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. (GOABC) to their top guide. Thomas received the award, which is a beautiful bronze of a sheep, as well as a cheque for $1,000 and some cool gear from Sitka at the GOABC annual convention in Kelowna on March 28. “The award has been around for about 16 years,” said Thomas. “It’s named after a young guy, Leland Bradford, who lost his life in 1998. They pick it based on letters received by GOABC from hunters.” Thomas said the Leland committee then narrows it down to 10 guides and from there the executive determines the top three. “At the banquet each year the top three are selected to go on stage and are all introduced,” he said. “They talk about what guides do and what the Leland award is all about. Then they hand out the award.” Thomas said that he had finished in the top 10 several times and even came runner-up a few years ago for the award but then had put it out of his mind. But, he said, he had such a good year guiding last year that he went for it again and urged his hunters to write letters into the organization. “I had seven rams I guided and usually four is a good year,” he said. “They notified me in early January that I made top three. On the weekend I got it. It’s a long time away from your family every year, so this helps balance the effort.” Thomas has been a guide outfitter for over 31 years. He also owns Alpine Taxidermy and has been doing taxidermy for 31 years as well. Thomas said the reason he believes he was selected was because of his love for the job. “You’ve really got to love what you do to be a good guide,” he said. “It comes from the heart and if you love it, it’s not so much like work.” Thomas works up in northern B.C. with a company called Prophet Muskwa Outfitters. He leaves every year in mid-July and returns in midOctober.
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I want some bunny to love (From left) Briseis Finstad, Pontiac Mace, Craig Tracy and Danica Roodzant got a chance to hold and pet some bunnies at the Easter Egg Hunt in City Park on Saturday. The Easter Egg Hunt was a big success with warm weather and an estimated 175 kids out. The event was sponsored by the River Valley Community Church and featured kids games, face painting as well as the hunt itself, of course. The bunnies were provided by James and Roma Hamilton. Craig Lindsay photo
During the season, Thomas is up at 5 a.m. or earlier every day while the wrangler, which is his son, gets the horses ready.
Marty Thomas, shown with wife Marlene, picks up the trophy and cheque for top guide for BC and Yukon at the recent Guide Outfitters of BC convention on March 1 in Kelowna. Submitted photo
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“My son (Mathew) has been my wrangler for four years, which is neat,” he said. “The day is filled with adventure. It’s not always good. You’ve got rainy and snowy and cold days. There’s lots of hiking and glassing (using binoculars) involved.” Thomas started guide outfitting in 1984 in the Flathead Valley near Fernie. He then guided on and off for Granby Outfitters. He spent 10 years in the Yukon. This year will be his 15th year with Prophet Muskwa. Thomas estimates that 80 per cent of his clientele are Americans and the rest are European, Mexican or Canadian. “We hunt everything: sheep, mountain goat, elk, grizzly bear, black bear and wolves,” said Thomas. Thomas said the key to a good guide is not only having heart and being strong-willed, but also having a good camp. “You need to get along with everyone in camp,” he said. “Everyone has to have a positive outlook. We have a cook, a wrangler and I’m the main guide and sometimes we have a secondary guide.” Thomas said the hunters fly into Fort St. John • See GUIDE page A3
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