Alaska Sporting Journal - Nov 2021

FISHING • HUNTING • ADVENTURE

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Volume 11 • Issue 6 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 Paul D. Atkins, Bjorn Dihle, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Mary Catharine Martin, Brian Watkins SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker, Malena Kennedy WEB DEVELOPMENT/INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines, Jon Eske

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 Lew Pagel enjoys some of Alaska’s best waterfowling in the tundra areas of the state’s western region. There are plenty of species to target, including swans and cranes. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 6 (PAUL D. ATKINS)

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BIGGEST BIRDS TO BAG

Alaska puts the big in big game hunting. And for some Last Frontier sportsmen and -women, their favorite hunts are for large birds like sandhill cranes and tundra swans (pictured). Longtime outdoor collaborators Paul Atkins and Lew Pagel have shared plenty of great harvests of these ace fliers and then savored the “filet mignon” and “porterhouse” of the skies at their dinner tables. Atkins has the details on how tundras and sandhills are hunted up north.

FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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FOR YOU, DAD

Grace Hunt has become quite the fan of bowhunting, and she can trace it back to roommate and Alaska Sporting Journal correspondent Brian Watkins, who let her try out his gear. And when Grace drew a tag for a cow moose, she headed out with a bow she received from her dad as a birthday gift for what would become an emotional experience for both Watkins and especially Grace, whose father was battling cancer at the time.

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The Editor’s Note Alaska Beat: Meet the new Fat Bear Week king, and more!

Outdoor calendar New feature – Tip of the Month: Applying for draw tags Pride of Bristol Bay: Spying sockeye salmon behavior

PREPARE FOR THE DOG DAYS

Looking for a new best friend and giving it a forever home? And want to train that pet to be a hunting dog? Scott Haugen has plenty of experience owning gun dogs. He’s trained his pudelpointer Echo to be not only a loving family member but a skilled retriever. But it’s not easy. Scott stresses the commitment level you’ll need to do this in our From Field to Fire feature.

LEARNING FROM ADMIRALTY ISLAND’S ‘BEAR MAN’

From the early to mid-20th century, Allen Hasselborg kept meticulous weather data for Southeast Alaska. Fast forward to today and the journals of the storied Bear Man of Admiralty Island are providing scientists a way to test the accuracy of climate change models. Mary Catharine Martin chatted with them in her latest Salmon State column.

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. 6

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Ripley, the editor’s nephew pup, is relentless when retrieving balls and other toys. Who knows, maybe he’ll race through the marsh for downed waterfowl someday. (CHRIS COCOLES)

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hose who know me understand – and have to put up with – my love of dogs. On many of my European adventures I’ve encountered lots of stray pups hanging around storefronts and restaurants. I have to pet and snap a pic of just about each, so that usually attracts a few eyerolls from travel companions, even ones who also are dog people. But I’m even more obsessed!

So when our From Field to Fire columnist – and fellow duke of dogs – Scott Haugen contributed his piece this month on whether hunting pup ownership is for you, I predictably geeked out. Haugen, who also writes a monthly dog column for ASJ sister publications Northwest Sportsman and California Sportsman, has enjoyed watching his dogs perform in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

“I just love watching a good dog work, and it all starts with discipline the moment they come home as a pup. What I love about Echo, my 7-year-old pudelpointer, is her high level of discipline and natural drive, which, when combined with her urge to please her human (me), it’s like magic in the field,” Haugen told me. “We share a tight bond and efficiently communicate in the field, which only enhances her ability to achieve points and retrieves that continue to amaze me. She’s one of the best hunting partners I’ve ever had.”

My canine partner in crime, Emma, won’t have gun dog on her future resume despite likely having some Labrador retriever genes. She’s a fantastic best pal but has zero interest in chasing any ball, stick or toy I’ll throw in her direction.

But when I visit my niece Ashley, she and her husband David’s pooch Ripley, a cattle dog mix, plays the part nicely.

Ripley can literally spend all day with you and a tennis ball and not miss a beat. He looks more like a shortstop or center fielder on four legs, catching line drives and popups on the fly and knocking down grounders without a glove.

When it was time to leave on a recent visit, Ripley, er, hounded me to keep playing catch. Ashley is convinced that with some training Ripley, despite his herding pup DNA, can be a skilled duck retriever or upland bird super dog in the field. But whether hunting companion like Echo, ball hawk like Ripley or lap dog and exercise partner like Emma, I love them all. -Chris Cocoles aksportingjournal.com | NOVEMBER 2021

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“

ALASKA BEAT TWEET OF THE MONTH

A Katmai National Park grizzly named 480 Otis took the Fat Bear Week title for 2021. (L. LAW/KATMAI NATIONAL PARK)

POUND FOR POUND FOR POUND: OTIS RULES FAT BEAR WEEK

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nother year of Katmai National Park salmon binge eating means the grizzlies there will have packed on plenty of extra pounds for winter. The king of those impressive ursine specimens? A big boy named 480 Otis, who captured the hearts of voters in the college basketball tournament-style contest known as Fat Bear Week.

Otis pushed his weight around early in the contest when he was voted through to the next round matched up with the defending biggest and baddest bear, 2020 champ 747. He then took down another hefty challenger, 812, in the semifinals before matching up with a behemoth named 151 Walker in the final.

Otis carried his weight against Walker, scoring 51,230 votes to 44,834 to take the title as the king of calorie intake. Until next year, Katmai bruins.

Bon appétit.

“

Today would have been my Dad’s 93rd birthday. Too many memories to share.

Our trip to Alaska was a gift like no other.

Dr. Ernest Hamilton touched countless lives as a professor. That fishing hat still resides with me where I can see it and remember all his life lessons and love!

-@ScottHamilton84 Oct. 7 Editor’s note: Scott Hamilton won the gold medal in men’s figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.

88 NOTABLE NUMBER

According to The Seattle Times, Alaska’s 2021-22 snow crab catch limit of 5.6 million pounds as of Oct. 8 was down 88 percent from the previous season’s total.

QUOTABLE

“Clem Tillion belongs to history now. Almost 100 years of his own history and a lot of great contributions to the state of Alaska. He was an outstanding person and a great teacher.”

–Rick Halford, former Alaska state senator, to Alaska Public Media discussing the life of Tillion, who passed away at 96 on Oct. 13 after serving 20 years in the state legislature and was known as a “fish czar” for his longtime work as a fisheries lobbyist.

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NCIS: ALASKA

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n 2020, actor Mark Harmon graced the cover of our July issue after he participated in the documentary The Wild, which focuses on the Bristol Bay community’s fight to block the Pebble Mine. Harmon joined director Mark Titus on a Nushagak River fishing trip during their collaboration.

In October, Harmon’s hit CBS crime drama show, NCIS, hit the road to film an episode in the Bristol Bay area. It was set in fictional Naktok Bay, which was part of a plot line that included, naturally, a shady company attempting to build a copper mine around the region’s salmon-filled waters.

Titus played a part in the episode as a consulting producer in Alaska, and Harmon’s NCIS special agent character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, donned a Titus Bait and Tackle cap throughout the show.

(And there was one final plot twist, as after the case is resolved Gibbs decides to stay in Alaska – presumably to spend a lot of time fishing – leading conspiracy theorists to speculate if his long run starring on TV’s longstanding No. 1 drama – Harmon is also an executive producer for the NCIS franchise – will end.)

For an actor who clearly endeared himself to the Bristol Bay cause after appearing in The Wild, Alaska has become a special place for Harmon, just as it did for his character.

At one point, Gibbs and another agent cruise through schools of salmon in a small boat.

“Take a good look around, McGee,” Harmon’s Gibbs tells his partner, actor Sean Murray, after hearing about the potential environmental damage done by the mining project. “This will all be gone soon.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

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Trevor Embry’s first-ever full-curl Dall sheep ram was a special moment. (TREVOR EMBRY)

FROM THE ASJ ARCHIVES – NOVEMBER 2019

A HUNTER’S REDEMPTION RAM

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fter literally days of watching them, none of those eight rams fit my expectations. I retired to camp and decided at first light I’d move on to greener pastures.

Fast forward to 3 a.m. and I woke up to a torrential downpour and shifting winds that made me quickly gather my belongings and break camp in the dark.

I was out of water and the descent out of the drain was too dangerous to attempt in the dark. So I instead climbed up to a glacial seep to drink water and wait for first light.

The rain broke right as the sun began to lighten the field of view just enough for glassing. I decided to look over the rams one last time while having breakfast before moving on. I finished my meal, bid the rams farewell and strapped on my pack.

Finally, the sheep hunting gods smiled on me for making the right decision. I noticed a lone ram coming around the peak of a mountain some 2 miles off in my direction. I broke out the spotting scope, and realized he was definitely worth a closer look.

I avoided the temptation to move in closer for an ambush, nervous that the other rams would almost certainly bust me and alert their incoming friend. I instead stayed in the cliffs and watched for two hours as this ram fed his way up the drain and made a direct line for me.

As he got to 300 yards I had made up my mind: I was looking at my first ram. I traded the spotting scope for a riflescope and followed him along the shale path he took up towards the cliffs I was hiding in.

He paused at 150 yards and a moment later he was mine. I dropped down to size him up, nervously covering the 150 yards as quickly as I could without losing footing.

I’m fairly certain I went a solid two minutes without breathing until I could confirm what I already knew.

I had killed my first full-curl ram. -Trevor Embry

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR*

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Resident caribou season opens on Nov. 20 in the Lime Village Management Area of Game Management Unit 19A in McGrath.

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Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1 Nov. 1-14 Nov. 1-14 Nov. 1-14 Nov. 15 Nov. 16 Nov. 20

Hunting draw application period for 2022 hunts begins Deer season opens in Game Management Unit 5 (Yakutat) Resident grizzly bear season opens in GMU 9E (all drainages into the Pacific Ocean between Cape Kumliun and border of Unit 9E and 9D) Resident late caribou season opens in GMUs 9C and 9E (Alaska Peninsula) Resident antlerless moose season opens in GMU 14A (Mat-Su Valley) Resident antlerless moose season opens in GMU 14C (Anchorage Management Area) Resident antlerless caribou season opens in GMU 19D (McGrath) Late goat season dates in GMU 7 (Seward) Deer season dates in GMU 8 (Kodiak Road System Management Area); bow and arrow, crossbow or muzzleloader only Resident goat season dates in GMU 15 (Kenai; may be announced) Late elk hunting season opens in GMU 3 (Etolin Island) Youth deer hunt season opens in GMU 8 (Kodiak Road System Management Area); bow and arrow, crossbow or muzzleloader only Resident caribou season opens in GMU 19A (Lime Village Management Area)

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 COVID-19 pandemic.

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THAT WAS AMAZING, GRACE! BOWHUNTER’S FIRST MOOSE, CALL TO DAD MAKE FOR PRICELESS MEMORY

BY BRIAN WATKINS

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here are times in a hunt when you feel the moment more than any other. It might come out of nowhere, but you know that it will be a lasting memory. It sinks deep into your body with lasting force. There’s a connection in your heart that you know will last forever.

I’ve had those moments and they happen out of the blue. Whether it be the perfect sunset, or perhaps the silence of the forest, these moments come without notice. This story is one that I cherish, but I’m sure the huntress holds deeper.

MY ROOMMATE OF NINE years, Grace Hunt, had started shooting one of my bows in 2012. Her draw length was shorter than mine, so she often left the range with huge welts on her forearms. When you shoot a bow with a longer draw length, it makes you “reach” for the bow as you settle into position. The forearm cuts the pathway of the string as you release, slicing into your skin. If you’ve had it happen, you know the pain. Grace powered through the pain of the “string bite” and still fell in love with shooting bows.

Grace’s father Dave bought her a brand new Bowtech for her birthday in 14

ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL

Grace Hunt first shot author and roommate Brian Watkins’ bow in 2012, and though she suffered “string bite,” became hooked on archery.

(BRIAN WATKINS)

NOVEMBER 2021 | aksportingjournal.com

With a special new Bowtech bow from her dad Dave, who was battling cancer back in Michigan, Grace set out to harvest her first moose in Alaska. (BRIAN WATKINS)

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2013. It was a special moment for her since her dad lived back in Michigan. He was visiting family and surprised her.

Instantly, Grace’s shot improved. And I’m not afraid to admit that she can often outshoot me. As Grace started to shoot more, her desire to hunt grew. She went with her cousin shortly after getting her bow and harvested her first pronghorn.

We put in for draw hunts and I suggested Grace try a tag I knew well. It had good draw odds for cow moose, and I had hunted the area years prior for bulls.

I knew where the moose would be. Grace is terrified of bears and this was a winter hunt, so that played into the choice as well.

We hunted a few evenings and turned up a few moose. Our hunt lasted the duration of a cold snap in which the ambient temperature hung around minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. We found a cow and made the stalk into 45 yards. Grace made a perfect shot, literally sending an arrow right through the cow’s heart. It was her first moose and second big game animal with her bow.

IT WAS A GREAT moment for Grace and

it became even more special when she dialed up her dad back home. Dave had been battling cancer, though he so wanted to be with us. When Grace called, her dad’s voice was free of any

Grace points to a trail through the snow as she tries to fill her cow tag. (BRIAN WATKINS)

Watkins (left) was moved to tears when Grace called her dad after she successfully got her moose. (BRIAN WATKINS) 16

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of the hardship he had been dealing with.

Dave’s excitement radiated through and you could feel how proud he was of his only daughter. It was one of those moments that you knew would last forever.

I fought back tears as the excitement and enjoyment they shared touched me deeply too. The phone call felt more special than the arrow hitting its mark.

GRACE’S DAD PASSED AWAY the following April. In anyone’s passing, it's hard to understand why. But the moments like that special phone call are the memories we can cherish and smile about as we remember them.

Grace was fortunate enough to draw that moose tag again this year. I know she will try again to make Daddy smile from above. We may not share a phone call with him this year, but we will still share that special moment with the knowledge that Dave’s in the woods with us.

It’s always important to cherish special moments like that. We get caught up in this fast-paced world, but hunting allows us to slow down and create those precious seconds that last a lifetime. ASJ

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OUTDOOR TIPS OF THE MONTH

Some of Alaska’s most epic hunts are only obtainable through the state Department of Fish and Game’s draw lottery system.

Our Arctic sportsman Paul Atkins applies for several of these each year – nowadays digitally – so he understands the process, along with the frustration of often not being drawn. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

TALKING TAGS FOR DRAW HUNTS Editor’s note: In this new column, our Paul Atkins will offer sportsmen and -women tips for making the most out of their Alaska fishing or hunting adventure. With the application period opening this month, he details putting in for draw tags.

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

A

ugust, September and October have come and gone. Your freezer is full of moose and caribou and you remember what great hunts both were. Rifles are cleaned and

put away, gear has been stored and you’re thankful for the hunting you did get to do. It’s time to settle in for winter.

For most Alaska hunters, this is the cycle of life, but if you’re like me and hunting is truly your passion, then you’re already starting to think about next season and what you will be hunting – or would like to hunt.

Whether we live here in Alaska or in the Lower 48, many of us find ourselves wanting, or sometimes wishing, we could hunt a particular species in a particular area. What might be common for some

might be a dream for others, whether it’s Dall sheep in the Chugach, goats in Southeast or maybe a coveted brown bear on Kodiak. All are obtainable with a little luck, while some require long-term planning. However, some of these hunts require a certain tag that can only be obtained through a drawing of some kind.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

Each year the state of Alaska has a permit drawing. As in most states, hunters can apply for certain tags to hunt a particular species in a specific

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area at a certain time. Some are easy to draw, while others are downright difficult. I personally put in for several hunts each year hoping to finally luck out and draw that special tag. Then, when spring rolls around, I anxiously check the computer to see if I drew it.

Here’s how it works: Each year the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow a certain number or permits to be applied for and obtained by hunters, both resident and nonresident. The number of tags allotted is based on the animal population surveys that biologists perform each year. These surveys determine the number of animals that

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

H

ere are a few strategies when it comes to applying: • Look over all the permits offered and find what interests you. You can even look at maps on ADFG’s website (hunt.alaska.gov) to get a better perspective.

• Choose a hunt with high permit numbers. It has been my experience that you can’t go wrong with most hunts here in the state, but some are a lot more challenging than others.

• Choose as many species as you feel comfortable applying for and can afford.

• Make sure your application is complete. Get the correct information in the correct boxes, type in the correct license number and then pay the fee. Accurate information will result in a better chance for being successful.

• Apply early. If there is a mistake, ADFG will contact you and help you correct it.

• Don’t give up on the application process. If you don’t draw this year, try again the next; you never know what can happen, and besides, you won’t get the tag unless you put in for it! PA

You can apply for a 2022 draw hunt tag from November 1 to December 15. If you’re lucky, you just may score a chance to harvest the bull, bear or billy of your dreams. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

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can be harvested from a certain area.

They then allow hunters to apply for these permits through a drawing.

The application period for applying for these hunts runs from November 1 through December 15 – based on last year’s information – with the results being posted usually in late February.

The drawing is species-specific and unitspecific. All Alaska big game animals are included, with some of the more coveted tags being for Kodiak brown bear, Dall sheep, mountain goats, muskox and plains buffalo – the one that eluded me for years. Moose are also included, along with caribou and grizzly in some areas.

HOW TO APPLY

Applying takes place online and is easy to navigate. Each submitter must have a current Alaska hunting license to apply.

If you do get lucky and draw a tag, you will be ineligible to hunt that species in the same area next year. Hunters who are successful may only receive one permit per species and the hunts are non-transferable. These applications do

cost money, but it’s reasonably cheap compared to most states (ranging from $5 to $20 per hunt number).

Nonresidents have a few more restrictions than do locals, particularly when it comes to certain species. Outof-state hunters must have a guide when it comes to brown bear, grizzly, Dall sheep and goat hunts; however, moose and caribou do not require a guide, something to remember when applying for certain tags that will take you to some remote wilderness.

It’s suggested that if you are applying for a permit requiring a guide, you should do so long before the application period begins. This way you can be assured the guide is available if you do draw. Hunters should only select reputable guides registered with the state

PREPARE ACCORDINGLY Hunters who plan to apply for a permit that doesn’t require a guide still need to do their homework. Most of these hunts will require a transporter of some kind, and whether going by boat

or plane, you will need to be in contact with someone who services the area.

Most transporters book early and often; if you’re lucky enough to get a permit, you’ll need their help.

Remember that a transporter is not a guide; their job is to get you safely from point A to point B. All transporters are not created equally, so make sure you choose carefully.

Also, don’t forget that if you are 16 years or older you must have completed a basic hunter education course to hunt in the state of Alaska. Additionally, some areas require a bowhunting education course. These archery-only areas are usually close to roads or near a town.

For more, go to ADFG’s website, which can be found at hunt.alaska.gov.

To those who are successful, I wish you the best of luck and another great year of hunting in Alaska. ASJ Editor’s note: Got a question for Paul to answer about an Alaska hunting or fishing trip? Send it to editor Chris Cocoles at ccocoles@media-inc.com.

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WHERE BIRDS ALSO BIG GA ALASKA ONE OF FEW STATES WHERE SANDHILL CRANES, TUNDRA SWANS CAN BE HUNTED

BY PAUL D. ATKINS

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s I think back on my time in the Arctic, there were many ups and downs, joys and discomforts, highs and lows – and just about everything in between.

Killing a big bear or moose were high on my lists, but there was also pleasure in the little things, such as how to pack for camp, gathering wood as soon as the bush pilot dropped us off, learning how to skin and gut a caribou Eskimo style – horns down, belly up.

Like most people who spend significant time up here, I loved it all, but there were surprises too; one in particular completely caught me off guard, which was my love for bird hunting. Here is one of those tales from long ago, with a little how-to advice thrown in there for fun.

AS WE SLOWLY MOTORED forward, the black water began to swirl, bubble and give off a gaseous smell that seemed to be seeping

up from the tundra and into the water. The narrow and winding slough went on forever and resembled a snake heading into an open field. But this wasn’t a field; it was the vast space of an Arctic marsh and we were looking for birds.

Like I did, you’ll discover that late-season waterfowl hunting can be tough in Northwest Alaska. The ducks and geese you found back in late August and early September are but a memory now. It was great while it lasted, though; the huge flocks moved in like waves and settled on the various lakes and ponds that make up the area. It was some of the best bird hunting in years, when you shot more boxes of shells than you can ever remember.

This was early October now and, as promised, cold weather took up residency above the Arctic Circle. The willows were a deep dark brown and the ice-lined banks of the river a telltale sign of what is getting ready to happen. Sheets of frozen water skimmed the surface in some areas, and they made a crackle sound as the boat moved up the slough.

The seasons don’t last too long up here, but they’re not supposed to either. With the change most birds have packed up and headed south; or at least the smart ones have. But until you go and look you can never be sure.

For some of us the hunter’s horn blows constantly and we do what we must do, go whenever we can and hunt whatever is available, especially when some of the bigger rivers and lakes prevent us from chasing the big boys in bad weather.

You know caribou are out there making their migration, but you can’t get to them when you need to. So, you go bird hunting instead.

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DS ARE AME

Some of Arctic Alaska’s most underrated hunting opportunities are for majestic birds like tundra swans and sandhill cranes. Though it does take some effort, swans leave the water with grace and speed. And often, just as soon as one group leaves, another takes its place. (PAUL D. ATKINS) aksportingjournal.com | NOVEMBER 2021

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Just as with Lower 48 waterfowl, setting up decoys – either along a river or in an adjacent lake – is essential for bringing in the big birds. It gives them a sense that all is normal – or at least makes them a little more comfortable. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

ONE OF THE BEST things about living in the Arctic are those “best-kept secrets” – those “small places” where a hunter can get away for a few hours. If it all goes well, then maybe you’ll get some shooting in. That was what we were doing on this first day of October.

To be honest, I’ve never been much of a waterfowler. Growing up in the Midwest, we just didn’t do it; I certainly didn’t, anyway. But when I came to Alaska many years ago, I met several people who did, and they were very good at it.

My good friend Lew is one of those people. Over the years Lew has taken me along on just about every “bird” outing we’ve had. He’s taught me the essentials of waterfowl hunting and the art of chasing the different species we have here in Northwest Alaska. I’ve learned plenty during that time, including how to set decoys, build an effective blind and – even though I’m far from perfect – do some calling.

We’ve taken a ton of ducks over the years, and it has been a blast, but 28

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it has always been the bigger, more challenging birds that have truly inspired us to further our pursuits in the Arctic marshlands. I’m talking about the mighty sandhill crane and the always tough tundra swan.

The toughest birds to bring down aren’t always necessarily the small, fast flyers – like pintail and greenwing teal. Sometimes it’s the bigger, more massive birds that will try your patience. For one thing, they’re smart, so getting close enough to shoot or even get a chance at one of them can be as frustrating as hunting any big game animal. I know it’s that way for me, as I’ve been trying for years.

LET’S BEGIN WITH THE sandhill crane.

These magnificent birds are huge.

There have been times while glassing the tundra for caribou that I’ve mistaken them for the deer family member. This is not something I tell many people, but from a far distance, their big bodies, long necks and head look more like a

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big game animal than a bird.

These incredible creatures are Alaska’s largest – or I should say tallest? – feathered game birds. They can be found in the marshes and swamps located throughout Northwest Alaska. Light brown in color and with a tremendous wingspan, sandhill cranes are numerous here in the fall. They’ll stop off before heading south on the Pacific Flyway. It’s during this time that we get to see them and try our luck at harvesting a few.

As far as hunting them, spot and stalk are two methods, but their eyesight is keen and you’ll usually get busted once you decide to leave and make your move.

I’ve found that blinds are the most effective. Good concealment – whether in a homemade job or a commercially bought blind – will help seal their fate, especially if there are numerous birds in the area.

Sometimes called the “Sunday turkey” in parts of Alaska, sandhill cranes make excellent eating, and many refer to them as the “filet mignon” of the sky.

Whatever technique you choose to hunt sandhills, you’ll need to make sure you have enough gun and are using a quality steel shot to be successful. A 12-gauge with a minimum of size 2 shot or BB has worked best in my experience (I prefer the latter).

Alaska does have a limit when it comes to cranes, so be sure to check the regulations. Up here in the Arctic it differs from other places, and you are allowed three per day and nine in possession.

You must have a valid hunting license and all the proper stamps.

AS FAR AS SWANS go, there are two species in Alaska, the trumpeter and his smaller cousin, the tundra. The trumpeter is the largest member of the waterfowl family and cannot be hunted, but the tundra variety, which is smaller – about two-thirds the size of a trumpeter – can be, even though they’re hard to distinguish at times.

Besides size, mature tundra swans have a distinguishable yellow spot on their black bill near their eye, but it’s tough to see while in flight.

Seeing a pair of sandhill cranes in flight is incredible. These huge birds have tremendous wingspans and their loud, rolling musical cries are very recognizable.

(PAUL D. ATKINS)

Much like hunting cranes, these birds are big and extremely hard to bring down. They’re smart too and seem to outwit more hunters than any other bird.

They have phenomenal eyesight and can see even the slightest movement or color disfiguration when you’re trying to hide yourself, even if you’re in a blind. Again, concealment with good camouflage is

the key in hopes of catching swans that are working the water and moving from place to place.

Swan hunting isn’t for everyone and there are some who find it a little taboo.

These magnificent birds are no doubt beautiful, and for some people it isn’t something they want to do or participate in. However, they’re great game birds

Swans are numerous in this region and will stay as long as there is open water. These birds decided to stick around after the first snow had fallen and ice started to form. (LEW PAGEL) aksportingjournal.com | NOVEMBER 2021

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Having a dog to gather your birds is a big benefit on any waterfowl hunt, but if you don’t have a retriever, chest waders will work for bringing in your bird. Author Paul Atkins says his waterfowl hunting pal Lew Pagel is proficient at this. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

that produce some of the finest table fare in the outdoor world. If the sandhill crane is the filet mignon of the sky, then the tundra swan is the porterhouse!

In my opinion and even Lew’s, bringing a swan down is one of the tougher challenges you’ll encounter as a bird hunter. Sloshing through the delta trying to get to where they are without being noticed is the biggest test. It’s been our experience that the best chance at harvesting one is to find a lake back from the main river where they’re holding up, then build a blind near that area in hopes of catching a “bevy” – or a group – making their way to a new location.

Swans have thick skin and, like cranes, you need to make sure you have enough firepower and are proficient at shooting to bring one down. They also tend to fly high; those that don’t are still pretty tough to land on the tundra if you’re not a decent shot.

As with cranes, you’ll need the proper licenses and a Federal stamp, and you’ll want to check the regulations for open units, as you can only hunt swans in four game units along the Bering and

Laydown blinds work great in the Arctic. Simply find a place close to water and lay down. If it’s a slow day, you can enjoy a bit of a rest too. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

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Chukchi Seas. The annual limit is three and you must have a specific swan tag to keep track of your harvest for reporting purposes.

AS WE EASED INTO the narrow channel,

the willows began to thin, making both visibility and hearing better. I turned to Lew and said, “Do you hear that?” An orchestra of thousands of swans mixed with the occasional sound of ducks could be heard in the distance. It was like an early Christmas present had come to the Arctic, with seemingly endless white specks dotting the adjacent lakes.

We made our way to shore, anchored the boat and then glassed the big lake where all the action was. With thousands of birds seated on the water, we wanted to get to them as fast as possible. However,

we knew that we needed to have a plan in order to limit the number of trips back and forth to the boat. We did so by grabbing as much gear as possible, including decoys, shotguns, food, water and as many shotgun shells as we could carry.

Finally, with waders secured we bundled up and made our way towards the willow-infested bank that lined the lake. This was going to be wild!

With Lew buried in his laydown blind and me hidden in a willow-induced cone, we waited for the action. It was slow going at first, but we knew with patience it would eventually happen.

While we waited, I grabbed my binoculars and noticed something across the big lake. It was a bull moose that looked to be chasing two cows. I hollered at Lew and said, “Do you see

There is never a dull day in the Arctic, especially when the birds are flying. On this trip Pagel and Atkins were able to take an assortment of waterfowl, including this sandhill crane and a variety of ducks.

(PAUL D. ATKINS)

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that?” He nodded his head.

Even though we both had moose tags in our pockets, we had more important things to do, which was to try our luck at getting a swan or two. It was moments later that it happened. A group of four birds left the water and started their accent in our direction. Now, I’d never killed a swan, even though I tried and missed plenty of times. Lew, on the other hand, had taken several, but I could sense his excitement too as they made their way towards us.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is always fun, especially when the sound of an enormous wing flap is approaching. Timing is everything, and we sprung from our hiding places and fired at the same time.

The sound of our shotguns echoed

across the delta as two large birds hit the tundra with a loud surprising thump.

I was actually amazed at this and for a moment was glad they didn’t land on top of me. Either way, I had just harvested my first swan.

As I walked up to my bird, it was beautiful and surreal all at the same time. I just couldn’t believe how big this guy actually was.

Swans and cranes are abundant here in Alaska, especially in the northwest part of the state. Hunting them on a cold Arctic day is truly underrated, and in my opinion rivals any big game hunt. But taking them down is a totally different story. ASJ

Swans are a formidable quarry, but can provide some of the best hunting in the outdoor world. In Alaska, it’s an autumn waterfowling experience like no other. (PAUL D. ATKINS)

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Editor’s note: Paul Atkins is an outdoor writer and author from Kotzebue, Alaska.

He’s had hundreds of articles published on big game hunting in Alaska and throughout North America and Africa, plus surviving in the Arctic. His new book Atkins’ Alaska is available on Amazon and everywhere good books are sold. It can also be ordered through paulatkinsoutdoors.com. If you want an autographed copy, contact Paul at atkinsoutdoors@gmail.com.

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HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW? BEFORE YOU GET A HUNTING PUP, HERE’S WHAT YOU MUST CONSIDER

BY SCOTT HAUGEN

M

y wife Tiffany and I recently passed up two dream jobs of teaching school in remote Alaska. That’s because we have two hunting dogs that couldn’t receive immediate veterinarian care, if needed.

Tiffany and I agreed to these terms before even getting our first pup and two years later carried over the same thinking to our next canine. We knew this was likely a 12- to 15-year commitment, and we’ve stood by it while putting our dog’s health care atop the priority list.

There are many factors to mull when deciding whether to take on ownership of a gun dog, a decade-plus-long responsibility. Proximity to vet care for their pudelpointers Kona and Echo weighed heavily for author Scott Haugen and wife Tiffany when two dream Alaska jobs came up. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

SPENDING SPREE ON HUNTING DOGS The past year has seen a nationwide record number of hunting dog sales.

While the pandemic led to a high percentage of these investments, I’d be curious to know how many people thought through the dog’s lifespan prior to making such a commitment, especially folks living in Alaska.

The biggest question you have to answer if considering a gun dog is this: “Do I have the time?” Meaning, do you have time in your life to devote over a

decade to raising, training, hunting with and caring for a dog?

If you like to travel, think carefully before buying a dog to hunt with. A gun dog is not like a lap dog that’s content laying around and spending time with strangers while you’re gone for a couple weeks. When we got our dogs – both pudelpointers – Tiffany and I knew our travels would just about come to a halt; or that we’d travel separately much of the time. We’re not alone in this thinking, as many devoted gun dog

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Tiffany Haugen’s ice fishing excursions are rewarded on the dinner table when she whips up a zesty dish flavored with falafel mix and dipped in tzatziki sauce. (TIFFANY

HAUGEN)

A FABULOUS, FISHY FALAFEL

BY TIFFANY HAUGEN

W

hen a trout meets a popular Middle Eastern fritter made from chickpeas, crunchy and flavorful goodness is created! Trout can be a bit bland, so dressing it up with a crunchy coating is always a hit.

An easy but unique coating is made by using dried falafel mix, which can be found in the bulk food section or international section of most supermarkets. The mix is already seasoned, so it’s quick to put together.

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Just a few ingredients and you’re on the way to a delicious fish fry.

Serve with complimentary favorites like tzatziki, hummus, baba ganoush, tomato-cucumber salad and fresh pita for flavors you won’t soon forget. Double or triple this recipe as needed for the quantity of fish you’re cooking.

Whether you’re fishing through the ice this winter or digging trout out of the freezer, this is a simple and tasty recipe you’re sure to love.

Two large fillets of trout 2 tablespoons panko (breadcrumbs) One egg, beaten Olive oil for pan frying

Skin and remove bones from trout fillets.

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In a shallow dish, mix panko and falafel until combined. In another shallow dish, beat egg. Heat ¼ inch of olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Dredge fillets in egg, then coat with breadcrumb mixture.

Place in a hot skillet and cook two to four minutes per side until trout reaches desired doneness. Serve with tzatziki if desired.

TZATZIKI

½ cup Greek yogurt ½ cup grated cucumber 1 teaspoon finely chopped dill or mint ½ teaspoon granulated garlic

In a small bowl, mix ingredients until thoroughly combined. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, and other best-selling titles of hers, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.

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Crates or kennels will be used by a dog its whole life and should always be a place of sanctuary they want to go to, not a place associated with punishment.

Crate training a puppy the moment it comes home will make its life, and yours, much less stressful. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

owners build their lives, jobs and even base where they live around their dogs.

SETTING EXPECTATIONS

Once you know you have the time to devote to raising a gun dog, be honest about what you want from it. We’d all love to hunt every weekend with our dog, but this is far from reality for most of us, especially if you live in Alaska.

Maybe you just want a dog that will sit in the duck blind with you a couple times in September, and then make sure he or she is a good family pet. Perhaps you’re searching for the perfect canine companion to chase sharp-tailed grouse in the Interior, forest grouse in the timber and ptarmigan on the tundra. Maybe you want a dog that curls up on your bed at night after a hard day of hunting; or a pup that sleeps in a kennel.

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Without getting into breeds, suffice it to say that there’s likely a dog out there to fit all your needs. You just have to make sure your expectations are realistic given where you live and what you want to hunt.

HOUSE FIT FOR A DOG

Preparing your home for a puppy is a very important step. If keeping your dog inside the house, you want a place where it can be crate trained from day one. We’ve found it ideal to have crates or kennels situated very near an outside door, as this helps with potty training. It’s also nice having an open pen inside the house, near the doorway and kennel, where the pup can play, explore, and rest.

Most gun dog pups are ready to be brought home at eight weeks of age. Potty training starts the minute you bring a pup home. Teaching a puppy to sit also starts

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on day one. Within a week your puppy will be sitting on command and responding to other verbal commands and body signals.

WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE? Immediately establishing who is boss is very important. If the whole family is going to have a part in raising a pup, be sure and not only use the same verbal commands and visual cues, but also the same voice inflections.

Consistency is critical when training a puppy, as they’re being taught your language. Remain patient and have fun. Remember, a puppy is looking for guidance and direction and only wants to please you, but you first have to teach it how this will be achieved.

Teaching restraint to a puppy is an immediate need. This is where the kennel and inside pen come in, as they’re places

FIELD of comfort and safety for a pup. The kennel will be used a dog’s whole life – be it for midday naps, when you're gone for a few hours or when your house is full of visitors. The playpen can be removed once the pup is potty trained and regularly goes outside to play and explore.

Potty training is one of the biggest challenges for new dog owners. A great approach is to take the pup outside every 30 minutes from the time it comes home, place it where you want it to potty, and give a verbal command of “go potty” as it starts to go. This connects the verbal

command with the current action the dog is performing – going potty – so it learns what “go potty” means. Praise the dog when it’s done by rubbing its ears and commending it or giving it a treat.

EXAMINATION TIME The moment you bring a pup home, play with its mouth, regularly massage its gums, rub and clean the inside of its ears, and rub between its toes. Just about every day of your dog’s life you’ll be inspecting it for something: plaque, split toenails, grass seeds, burrs, cuts, growths and more. The sooner you get them used to your hands being in contact with all parts of the body, the better.

You’ll also want to introduce your pup to water at an early age, which can

be tricky in Alaska. If you get a pup while snow is on the ground, introduce them to warm water in a bathtub. As ponds and streams warm up, get them outside. If the pup is reluctant to enter the water, start in shallow settings and walk them into it with a leash.

There’s a reason dogs are considered man’s best friend, but if looking to get a hunting dog, make sure you have the time to dedicate to proper training. The more time you spend with your pup, the stronger the bond will be and the more enjoyable your times afield will be together. ASJ Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, go to scotthaugen .com. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

Haugen and Echo enjoyed many great hunts for Canada geese while living in Hyder, Alaska. Echo has been goose hunting her whole life and, thanks to proper training and frequent hunting experiences, knows how to handle these big birds. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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THESE ARE THE DAYS OF SALMON’S LIVES

BY BJORN DIHLE

O

n July 22, news broke that Bristol Bay was having its biggest sockeye salmon return since records were first kept in 1893. More than 63 million sockeye had returned to the bay’s different watersheds and fish were still running. By the time the run was complete, almost 66 million fish had returned.

A few days later, I left town to guide a natural history brown bear film shoot in Southeast Alaska. One of the sequences we were trying to get was of a bear chasing salmon underwater. We had a camera in

underwater housing submerged near the base of a raging waterfall.

It could be operated from 100 yards away with an iPad. On its screen, I watched dozens of pinks and small darting and feasting Dolly Varden. In the middle of the frenzy was a salmon with a crimson body and green head – a male sockeye. It was swimming in place beneath the falls and waiting for the right moment to attempt climbing them so it could spawn in the small lake above.

Bristol Bay has the largest sockeye

run – not to mention the biggest wild salmon fishery – in the world. But in Southeast Alaska, especially where I was guiding on Chichagof Island, sockeye are far and few between.

I’VE GUIDED A HANDFUL of other bear film projects on salmon streams. Some, like this one, had me in the field for a month.

The main camera operator on this shoot paid homage to a spawned-out salmon by gently stroking its slimy flesh as it twitched in its final moments.

Guiding a brown bear film shoot allowed author Bjorn Dihle to spend a few days also studying Southeast Alaska sockeye and how they behave. It was quite a fascinating experience to see how these remarkable salmon act. (KRISTINE SOWL/USFWS) aksportingjournal.com | NOVEMBER 2021

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Chaney loves to catch a few Bristol Bay-area rainbows besides the watershed’s iconic salmon. (TRISTON CHANEY)

Alaska Panhandle brown bears are as dependent on fishing for migrating salmon as anglers, commercial fishermen and residents of the region who fight so hard to protect it. (JONNY ARMSTRONG)

A short while later, a young bear tore the fish apart and feasted on it.

Rain fell heavily and often. I spent many hours alone operating the underwater camera. Bears walked by – sometimes a few yards away. Most would investigate the camera once and, seeing it was not a fish, leave it alone. A few would move the camera around.

Once, when the camera was malfunctioning, a bear shook it and it began to work again. A day after I saw the lone sockeye another crimson salmon arrived and remained in almost the exact same place below the falls.

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I spent a lot of time being still, surrounded by salmon in various phases of spawning, death and decomposition.

The lifecycle of the sockeye salmon I spent hours watching was very similar to that of sockeye in Bristol Bay. The fish was born in the lake above the waterfall four or five years before.

Of the five species of Pacific salmon – pink, chum, sockeye, coho and king – sockeye are the most dependent upon lakes. This makes the incredible river, lake and tundra habitat of Bristol Bay a paradise for sockeye.

On the other hand, Southeast

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Alaska’s topography is generally steep; its short creek systems are more ideal for pink and chum salmon.

The Chichagof sockeye’s mother had used its tail to dig out one or more redds – underwater nests – in the gravel, then laid between 2,000 and 5,000 eggs.

Simultaneously, the sockeye’s father had sprayed sperm from his milt sacs onto the mother’s eggs. The eggs had an adhesive texture and stuck to the gravel and each other.

Afterward, the mother closed her nest by covering it with gravel. The father moved on and tried to fertilize other females’ eggs while the mother guarded her redds. Both were dead a week or so later – a fate all spawning salmon share.

DURING THE WINTER, THE sockeye and its brothers and sisters hatched. Called alevins, each possessed a yolk sac that sustained them until they emerged from the gravel in April or May. Now considered fry, the sockeye spent one to three years living in the lake and feeding on zooplankton and insects. There, it

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“(It) only took one sockeye to remind me how lucky I am to live in a world with wild salmon,” writes Dihle. (BJORN DIHLE)

escaped death numerous times from a host of predators.

One spring, the sockeye left freshwater and entered the ocean. Now a smolt weighing a couple ounces, it used the Earth’s magnetic field to guide it. It fed on plankton and small crustaceans – sockeye’s flesh is an orangish-red color as a result of their diet – and gained 99 percent of its 8-pound adult body weight.

After those one to three years, the sockeye began navigating back to its natal spawning grounds using its incredible sense of smell. Not all salmon return to their rearing grounds. A small percentage

stray and colonize new watersheds, which is an ecologically vital way to repopulate watersheds that have been extirpated of salmon or give existing stocks new genes.

Estimates vary, but for every 1,000 sockeye that are born, one makes it home to spawn.

I recognized around 10 different bears regularly utilizing the creek on Chichagof Island. Others would come out of the woods to fish during the night.

One study on Kodiak Island stated that an adult male brown bear ate 50,000 calories of salmon a day. An average sockeye contains around 4,500 calories.

These Chichagof Island bears are hungry and on the prowl. On Kodiak Island – the heart of Alaska’s brown bear habitats – it’s estimated that adult male bruins consume 50,000 calories worth of salmon per day during the runs. (BJORN DIHLE) 48

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I watched one bear catch and consume five salmon in 20 minutes.

It may be abnormal to get attached to an individual salmon, but I found myself rooting for that sockeye. I wondered what it was waiting for. Its odds of surviving to spawn decreased each moment it hung around. Bears would leap into the hole the sockeye was waiting in and come out of the froth of whitewater with a fish in their jaws. Each time it was a pink salmon.

After a bear moved on, the sockeye would return to its place beneath the falls.

AFTER THREE DAYS OF watching the

sockeye, one morning it was gone. It made me think about the millions of salmon returning to Bristol Bay and how, even though the bay’s run is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, it only took one sockeye to remind me how lucky I am to live in a world with wild salmon. Other salmon thrashed the water and prepared to leap the falls. Bears preyed upon them.

Ravens, eagles and seagulls scavenged guts and tattered carcasses.

Somewhere, in the lake above, I hoped the sockeye had found a female member of its species and was preparing to spawn. ASJ

Editor’s note: Pride of Bristol Bay is a free column written by Bjorn Dihle and provided by its namesake, a fisherman-direct 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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Allen Hasselborg on a skiff, circa 1932, and at his cabin (right) on Mole Harbor on Admiralty Island. For decades he kept meticulous weather journals that are being used today to test the accuracy of climate change models. (ALASKA

STATE LIBRARY HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS)

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HOW JOURNALS OF ADMIRALTY ISLAND ‘BEAR MAN’ ARE PROOFING CLIMATE MODELS

BY MARY CATHARINE MARTIN

E

very day for decades, bear hunter, guide and early 20th century Southeast Alaska homesteader Allen Hasselborg logged the temperature, rainfall and weather at Mole Harbor, on Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska.

Now, almost a century later, University of Alaska Fairbanks student Emily Williamson and UAF PhD candidate Chris Sergeant have a new study out that uses Hasselborg’s years of meticulous record-keeping to show the small-scale accuracy of a large-scale climate change model.

Sergeant took interest in the possibility of the study after paddling the CrossAdmiralty canoe route, which traverses a series of lakes and portages across Admiralty Island (Kootznoowoo, or, roughly translated, “Fortress of the Brown Bear,” in Lingít) from Mole Harbor to Angoon (Aangóon, or “Isthmus Town”).

“After the trip, I read Bear Man of Admiralty Island, and there was a passage about how he (Hasselborg) kept a detailed weather journal,” he said. “I went to the state archives, found the weather journals, and sure enough, there was a lot there. But it’s also a lot of work to reconstruct, so I started looking around for someone to help me out.”

He sent out an email to a UAF listserve, and Williamson, who will graduate from UAF with an ocean science degree

in 2022, took an interest.

After coming on board, Williamson scanned the journals, read them and learned about Hasselborg along the way.

He “had quite a sense of humor,” Williamson said, and would write a couple words describing what he was doing with his day along with his data.

“Hay,” for example, if he was collecting dry grass for his garden. Or Bulldog, which was the name of his boat. He had a one-word shorthand for “shot a bear.”

He also had a habit of writing his responses to a book’s author in the margins. Some of those were to the point. Hasselborg guided John Holzworth, the author of Wild Grizzlies

of Alaska, for example, and his copy of the book shows he didn’t think too highly of the book or the author.

During a section in which Holzworth said the country he and Hasselborg had walked through was “rough and broken,” Hasselborg crossed it out and wrote, “crybaby.”

“Rot” and “fiction” were other common reactions – with “fiction” his reaction to the book’s portrayal of himself.

“He was really committed to facts, and facts being really exact,” Williamson said. “He would annotate all of the books he had if he thought they weren’t exactly correct. It’s kind of fitting I’m using his data to fact check a model.”

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University of Alaska Fairbanks PhD candidate Chris Sergeant paddles in the rain while on the Cross-Admiralty canoe route. Hasselborg’s daily records for these moist parts covered from 1926 to 1954. (BILL JOHNSON)

AFTER WILLIAMSON DID THE work of

inputting the data, she and Sergeant were able to look into the accuracy of the model they chose: Climate NA, short for Climate North America.

“It’s easy software to use,” Sergeant said. “You click on a point on a map, and it generates a lot of data for you.”

It was data that they found accurately predicted temperatures and rainfall amounts in Southeast during the years Hasselborg kept daily records – 1926 to 1954 – years when only seven weather stations existed in the region.

Climate models – plus verifying local accuracy – is important not just for

predicting climate changes, but all their impact. Snow and rain estimates are often used to gauge stream flow. And, as the paper notes, salmon populations’ success is closely tied to stream flow, so “having access to high-quality climate information is critical for resource managers and users to assess habitat conditions over time and the potential for future change.”

A mountainous, glacial environment, the Panhandle is especially challenging, the paper notes.

“Climate change is occurring rapidly in Southeast Alaska ... A key challenge is determining the rate at which these changes are occurring, thus it is important to compare contemporary climate trends with historical data sets … This is especially challenging in topographically complex areas like Southeast Alaska, where mountains rise from sea level to hundreds of meters above sea level … A mosaic of mountains, glaciers, and narrow marine passages create dynamic micro-

Ryan Bellmore, Sergeant, Bill Johnson and Michael Humling (from left to right) at Big Shaheen Cabin, which was first built as the base for an early 20th century scientific expedition that Hasselborg served as a guide for. It was shortly after this trip that Sergeant, a scientist, read Bear Man of Admiralty Island and became interested in using Hasselborg’s weather journals to test how well the Climate North America model could predict past rainfall and temperatures. (MICHAEL HUMLING) 52

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Humling admires a cutthroat trout caught while paddling the Cross-Admiralty canoe route in Southeast Alaska, an area that Hasselborg knew quite well. (CHRIS SERGEANT)

climates combining wet and mild coastal zones with drier and colder continental conditions … making it difficult to discern the accuracy of downscaled climate patterns relative to nearby weather stations,” reads the paper.

“It’s so cool to be able to paw through these journals with our own hands, and then use it for science,” Sergeant said.

“And to think that someone just going out and taking the temperature every day, and looking at how much rain fell, they can contribute to climate change research almost 100 years later.”

“Snoop around your own local libraries and archives for the same thing, because there are really rare opportunities to help out scientists who are studying climate change,” Sergeant added. “The more we can dig up weather journals like this, the better we can confirm models of historical climate and how fast climate change is occurring in our environment. I think there are probably a lot of treasures out there like this.” ASJ

Editor’s note: The scientific paper is available to read for free at peerj.com/articles/12055.

Mary Catharine Martin is the communications director of SalmonState, an organization that works to keep Alaska a place wild salmon and the people who depend on them thrive. Go to salmonstate.org for more.

“The more we can dig up weather journals like this, the better we can confirm models of historical climate and how fast climate change is occurring in our environment,” says Sergeant.

“I think there are probably a lot of treasures out there like this.”

(BJORN DIHLE)

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Verle’s Westview Marina & Lodge

westviewmarina.com Now available for purchase is the 2022 Early Bird Drive-in Fishing allinclusive special package at Westview Marina & Lodge in Tahsis, BC. With a price of $1,900 USD for four fishers, customers save $200 each. The package includes four nights of lodging and three full days of guided fishing for salmon, halibut and lingcod. All meals are included. Says the team at Westview, “You will need your large coolers when you fish with us!”

verles.com Verle’s has the Big Chief front or top load package for you.

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Silver Horde

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Whether you’re cruising or trophy hunting, in summer or winter, the Sea Sport Explorer 2400 provides the best performance of any boat in its class due to the signature of the Sea Sport “Deep-V” hull design. The wide walk-around, built-in cockpit steps and a huge hardtop are just a few of the features you will find on a long list of standards. Features include a full dinette and galley, an enclosed stand-up head and increased bunk space. aksportingjournal.com | NOVEMBER 2021

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Black Hills Ammunition

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black-hills.com New for 2021 is the Black Hills Ammo 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain Dual Performance. Upon impact, the bullet expands quickly; the petals then fracture and continue penetrating, cutting through stressed tissue. Adequate penetration is assured by the projectile’s solid copper shank, retaining a uniform weight, which continues on to a depth of up to 27 inches. Velocity is 2,800 feet per second from a 22-inch barrel.

Western Spirit Ranches

huntsouthernidaho.com Western Spirit Ranches, a pheasant hunting and shooting preserve in Shoshone, Idaho, has been going strong since 1998. The preserve features 600 acres of farm ground and natural habitat full of rivers, streams and ponds. Western Spirit Ranches raises and releases only quality, hard-flying pheasants.

Solo, corporate and group hunts with highly trained guides and dogs are on offer.

Stocky’s Stocks

stockysstocks.com At under 24 ounces, Stocky’s new Carbon Hunter is sure to find its way into some very nice rifles. The UltraLite NextGen CF Hunter is a full-size hunting stock designed for any barrel you might want to run on it, from sporter to M24/Proof carbon (or even larger).

Truly the next generation of carbon fiber layup: they are stronger, lighter and more precisely machined than ever before.

CDNN Sports

cdnnsports.com The Rem Squeeg-E Operator Field Cleaning System is tailored to the AR and handgun enthusiast who needs the benefits of the revolutionary Remington Bore Squeeg-E cleaning system in a compact, ready go-bag. The kit contains essential cleaning tools for ARs, rifles, shotguns and handguns in .22/.223/5.56mm, .30/.308/7.62mm, .357/.380/.38/9mm, .44/.45 and 12-/16-/20-/28-gauge. Designed with help from former US Navy SEALs, the compact pack is constructed of heavy-duty, water-resistant canvas, and features quiet zipper pulls and MOLLE-mountable rear velcro straps.

Everything you need for field cleaning with the Rem Squeeg-E system without carrying patches.

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Leelock

leelock.com The new Crab Cracker tool from Leelock will allow you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep. Then use the “cracker” to crack them in half, separating the two clusters from the shell and guts.

The Cracker has been designed so that it sits nicely on top of a 5-gallon bucket, perfect for when you clean crabs.

The bucket gives you a stable base, which makes it easier to clean – the guts and mess go into the bucket, making cleanup a snap. Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle.

The Crab Cracker is a unique tool made from solid aluminum, and comes in handy for cleaning Dungeness crabs.

Vortex Optics

vortexoptics.com Western hunting demands an optic built for long range and the long haul, and the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 FFP delivers. You still get the core of the Razor HD LHT, including a stunning HD optical system and rugged build in a scope that’s among the lightest in its class.

PrOlix Lubricants

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Diversified Innovative Products

diproductsinc.com The folks at DIP Inc. are not content with the cheap plastic parts that many firearms companies produce to cut production costs for rimfire firearms. At DIP, they make drop-in metal replacement parts and accessories that are both high quality and affordable. All products are made in the USA. DIP manufactures parts for the following brands: CZ, Marlin, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Tikka, Steyr, S&W, Howa, Marlin, Sako, Anschutz, Henry and others.

Sage Canyon Outfitters

sagecanyonoutfitters.com A Sage Canyon gift card is the perfect way to give the hunter in your life exactly what they want! Gift cards can be used toward anything on the ranch, including bird packages, guides, lodging and much more!

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Peet Family Dryer

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peetdryer.com Introducing the only shoe dryer on the market that dries three pairs of boots or shoes at once. New multiport base with push-button digital display allows for easy operation. Works with all DryPort accessories (excluding Helmet).

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Nootka Marine Adventures Todd Vandivert

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nootkamarineadventures.com West Coast saltwater fishing at its finest with Nootka Marine Adventures! Gift certificates are available for three luxurious resorts on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Target salmon, halibut, lingcod, albacore tuna and more. Allinclusive stays with gourmet meals. The perfect gift for any angler!

American Turbine

americanturbine.com American Turbine manufactures six models of jets for welded aluminum and fiberglass boats. American Turbine produces repair parts for all domestic jets, as well as repair parts for Hamilton models HJ212, HJ213 and HJ241.

Boat Insurance Agency

boatinsurance.net The Boat Insurance Agency is an independent agency representing the best marine insurance companies. They carefully compare a number of policies to find the lowest premiums and best values for your boat insurance needs.

Boat Insurance Agency is owned and operated by Northwest boaters. They have the local knowledge needed to understand boating in the West, along with your special needs.

Contact them for an insurance quote and to learn more about the value and service they can offer.

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US Marine Sales & Service

usmarinesales.com US Marine Sales and Service is the Puget Sound’s leader in providing the friendliest service backed by years of expertise in both the salt- and freshwater environments. It is their goal to work closely with their customers to save them time and money while creating excellent value in their products and service. For over 30 years, the familyowned and -operated US Marine Sales and Service has been passionate about boating.

Stop by and check out their wide variety of parts and accessories. They also carry Yamaha boats, Yamaha WaveRunners, Yamaha outboards, G3 boats, SunCatcher pontoons, Weldcraft boats and EZ Loader trailers.

NOVEMBER 2021 | aksportingjournal.com

Field N Marsh Outfitters

northwesthunting.com Jeff Miller combines his love and knowledge of the outdoors with a passion for excellence and 20-plus years of hospitality management and over 30 years as a full-service outfitter to provide an exceptional experience for both his numerous day hunters, destination-oriented individuals and corporate groups.

Davis Tent

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Schooner Creek Boat Works

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Velocity Precision Engineering

velocitytriggers.com Velocity Precision’s Recoil-less Bolt Carrier is designed for accuracy and performance. Their unique patent-pending design is stronger and lighter than other low-mass bolt carriers on the market, and when paired with their adjustable gas block, you can expect recoil and muzzle rise to be nearly zero.

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2021

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Shell Shock Technologies

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Skagit Arms

skagitarms.com The Steen family is legendary in the Skagit Valley and beyond for their 35-plus years of service to outdoor enthusiasts in Northwest Washington. Family owned and operated, the Steens also hire employees as enthusiastic about the great outdoors as you! These folks (including the owners) don’t just talk outdoor sports – they participate! Mom and Dad still run Holiday Sports, while their son Anthon owns and runs Skagit Arms next door. Their daughter runs Holiday Market and Anthon’s daughter works in the Angler’s Drive Thru Espresso. Come see the local pros who will spend the time to answer all your questions.

Skagit Arms stocks great stocking stuffers, including ammo! All the best brands are in stock.

Outlander Charters

outlandercharters.com Give someone the special gift of a charter trip aboard the Uitlander, a 32-foot Allied Dominator with a bathroom and heater. Wintertime squid trips, springtime halibut combo trips and summertime tuna/ salmon trips. Gift certificates available and 10 percent off for active and retired military.

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Woodman’s Pal

woodmanspal.com Made in America since 1941, chop, clear, blaze, build and more with the lightweight, compact and superbly balanced Woodman’s Pal. Unique land management and outdoorsman’s multi-use tool. MSRP: $175.

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baitbuttons.com Bait Buttons are a simple and easy way to keep your baits – natural or artificial – in place on your hook.The Bait Button is a silicone disc that comes in a simple, easy-to-use dispenser.

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Pocket Ox

PocketOx.com Finally, a hoist small enough and light enough that you will actually carry it. Yes, they cost as much as your favorite boots. But drag a moose out of the beaver muck or put your ATV back on its feet just once and you’ll see that it’s worth every dime.

Underwood Ammunition

underwoodammo.com From Illinois-based Underwood Ammunition, the Xtreme Defender projectile uses optimized flute geometry, total weight and velocity to achieve a penetration depth up to 18 inches with a permanent wound cavity that is simply enormous. The nonexpanding solid copper body ensures no adverse effects occur to the projectile itself, despite encountering common personal-defense obstacles such as wallboard, sheetrock, sheet metal and automotive glass.

Full Forge Gear

fullforgegear.com Bags, gear and packs.

Full Forge Gear is bringing quality and affordable nylon gear for everyday life, from multipurpose bags to one-day backpacks to pistol and rifle cases.

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