Alaska Yukon moose are one of three members of the family included in the Super Slam category (the others being Canada and Shiras), and are also the largest of the species. Atkins has taken several over the years, but this bull from 2014 will always be one of the greatest during his time in Alaska. (PAUL D. ATKINS)
Teacher hours and time at school, specifically during the fall seasons, just don’t allow for such things. But if you love hunting and/or adventure, you usually find a way. In the end, things sometimes seem to work out. I believe it was famed author and hunter Peter Hathaway Capstick who said, “I wouldn’t walk across the road to shoot the biggest bull in the world if I had to do it alone.” I feel the same way. Hunting big game is better served with friends. Living here in Alaska has helped me immensely, but more importantly I’ve had a lot of good friends who have accompanied me and shared in this success – something I wouldn’t trade for two slams. I’m currently at 15 animals in my quest for the Super Slam, and even though I may never get there, at least I was lucky enough to take one 68
American Shooting Journal // February 2018
from each of the 10 categories. It’s a goal that is obtainable with a little research and planning. MY SUPER TEN BREAKDOWN is a mixed bag. Eight have been taken with bow and two with a rifle. Two of those 10 have been guided and the rest selfguided on do-it-yourself-type hunts. The Super Ten really has no starting place for me. If I had to pick one, I guess it would be with whitetail deer. Growing up in Oklahoma, they were king, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I took a good buck on my own property. Yes, I’ve taken several others in places far and wide, but that deer means more to me than any other, especially being able to share that evening with my son and nephew. It was truly special and one of my favorite hunting moments of all time.
My first taste of something different was pronghorn antelope. I lived in Kansas for several years and was lucky enough to draw one of the first tags allocated back in the 1990s. It was a fun afternoon that day in the sunflower field, where my broadhead found its mark on what I considered at the time one of the most challenging big game hunts I’d ever been on. There were no blinds and no decoys, only spot and stalk with very little cover. I can still picture the buck standing there on the edge of the field, quartering away as my arrow found its mark. Foot-sore and tired after hundreds of failed attempts, this hunt gave me a satisfaction like no other. A FEW YEARS LATER I moved to Alaska, which was a game-changing decision. It opened up a whole new world,