1999 - The Year of the Caribou

As the last year of the century, it was an okay year. But I can truly say as we look at the 21st century, hunting will get better. Overall, 1999 was good, nothing really exceptional, few disappointments, some hectic days but nothing 15 years outfitting experience couldn’t handle.

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We spent Christmas in Spain, and then went hunting with Francisco Rosich. A great time was had by all. Ruth and Chelsea were treated royally and truly enjoyed themselves. Joel got to take a silver metal chamois, 16-year-old ibex, wild boar, and a feral goat. I got to climb many new mountains, enjoying the scenery, culture, animals and food. It was great. Thanks, Francisco and Merlijn.

Our winter wolf hunts were a great success with seven clients taking four wolves, six lynx, a wolverine and several martin and beaver. We have lots of wolves again plus the rabbit cycle is high so there are lots of lynx and probably will be lots of wolverine. The rabbit cycle is due to crash so now may be your best time to get a lynx and wolverine. These hunts are almost booked but call to check availability. Dates are Feb. 12 – 19, 21- 28, and March 2 – 9. Later dates in March can be arranged (Great wolf hunting but trapping season is closed ) See our home page for complete details or ask for a winter wolf newsletter.

Spring break again had us snowmobiling. The 120 mile trip in was uneventful except for Christy’s little trip into the willows. We arrived at Ceaser just at dark and Ruth and Donn were waiting with a hot meal (isn’t life great). The next few days were spent joy riding, hill climbing, cutting firewood and skidding logs for a new cabin at North Camp. Evenings were spent trying not to get caught cheating at cards. Great fun. Our visitors, Terry Vanderscaaf and daughter Christy, and my daughter, Chelsea’s boy friend, Glen Martin added life to the party and I believe, had a great time.

Spring Bear

I still haven’t got my Hovercraft built so was unable to take an early bear hunt (April 25 – May4). Am ordering a custom built one this fall so if you want to get a beautifully furred grizzly in absolutely unhunted country call.

We took Steve Denis out in late May. On day one Robbie and he turned down a small griz. On day three, they caught a big boar just below the cabin but due to the rough water missed him at 75 yards and again at 40. We then moved to the Rock River where Joel and I built a cabin while Robbie and Steve explored. Lots of moose sign and some bear (will be checking it out more fully) but were not successful in finding a grizzly. Robbie had to return for a funeral, Joel for a graduation so I took Steve and was lucky. Took a small boar on the last day.

July 7th had us trailing into Ceaser. Joel had to have an operation on his toe so Chelsea, Anise, Cody and I had the honors. We were greeted at Ceaser by an open door on the lodge and a big mess. The grizzly had gotten in again. Sign indicates a big boar and a smaller female. Call me if you want this boar as we are scheduling a spring hunt for around May 20th to try to end his cabin decorating career.

As usual, we spent the next days shoeing horses, cleaning camp, training horses, and enjoying the place. We then trailed up to North Camp to build a cabin for some late horse hunts. Donn and Joel found some tremendous sheds in the valley we used to trail in so expect to get some big bulls. There was also lots of grizzly sign including a big boar so – call -. The hunter who had the first hunt booked broke his ankle a couple days before he was to come up so you can still be the first to hunt this valley. Sept 23rd to 19th and Oct 1st to 7th. 

July 31st had Bill Cox, Joel, Cody (wrangler) and I trailing to South camp and next day to a high camp where a big billy had gotten away from us in 98. Bill, a bow hunter wanted this big billy but we spent several hot days (we hit 95F on the mountains 5 days in a row) searching without success so moved to Luxury camp. This area was last hunted in 87 so we expected some big billies. Sure enough we would find them but due to the extremely hot weather they were way up high in incredibly rough country so a stalk was impossible. We did find a lesser trophy, 3 ˝ year old, 9 inch billy within reach but our luck turned bad. A 30 yard slightly down hill shot put a cut in his front leg. We were able to again stalk within 35 yards but the arrows also went low. The goat never knew what was bothering him so we watched him get up and feed and decided the slight cut on his ankle wasn’t even close to life threatening and left him to grow up.

Donn and Joel next guided Doug Speight (Aug. 13-24) to a nice sheep in the Dendale area where we hadn’t hunted since 87. They saw over 120 ewes and lambs and 30 rams in four days. They took a ram and then found a couple really big ones. I am taking two hunters there next year. Aug. 13 – 24 and 26 to Sept. 6. The later hunt is booked but the earlier one is still open, waiting for you.

During this time, Cody and I took Mike Freeman (he’s the outfitter from New Zealand with whom Joel got his first Chamois) into the Huckleberry – Dolly camp area. Unfortunately Mike had had a serious operation and wasn’t fully recovered so was unable to get the billies we saw. He and his wife Ruth had added this hunt to the end of their 25th anniversary trip which they enjoyed immensely. 

Herbert Hein and his son in law Carsten Kreuzer accompanied Joel and Donn to Caribou Flats (Aug. 26 – Sept. 6) taking two nice bulls. Carlos Menedez returned to Ceaser Lake and South Camp and took a nice 15 plus year old billy with Floyd and myself. 

Next in line (Sept. 8 – 14) were Tony Ruggeri, Steve Gray, Tom Teitt, and Ron Haver. Floyd guided Steve to a 414 point caribou (biggest of the year earning Floyd a hat from us and a Belt buckle for the largest caribou in the Yukon)) and a billy. Tom and Ron guided by Joel and Donn respectively also took Boone and Crockett caribou. Tony, a bowhunter and I saw lots of bulls but none would make the grade so he went home empty.

Sept. 15th had the Apples boys (Bob and Charlie) return taking a 59 3/4 inch moose (Joel’s largest ever),a caribou and a beautiful grizzly. This was shot right from the cabin as it tried to take meat. That makes two grizzly shot from the Hyland Cabin. Abel Geura, son Abel and wife Elizabeth hunted Ceaser Lake with Floyd and myself. A 401 point caribou (second largest in the Yukon) and a 51 inch moose fell to Abel seniors rifle first. Abel Jr then took a caribou and we had him up on two bull moose , one at 11 yards and the other 15 but he was unable to get an arrow off. The last horses hit winter pasture on the 28th.

Moose Hunts

The moose hunts started off slow, went strange, picked up and then died. My poorest year ever. Seven hunters went home with out a bull this year. That’s two more than the last 13 years combined. The good news is there should be 7 extra bulls out there for you next year.

The first hunter was Ulrich Gerhold. Robbie took him into a hot spot – Lotz Lake. They saw lots of moose, a few that were takers but nothing big enough for Ulrich. The next group was Adrian Sada and Roberto Garza. They hunted the Beaver with Lawrence and Ralph for four days, only seeing small moose so went home early. Walter and Robbie took Dave Jansen and John Atwood into Taffie. These guys at least saw a few good bulls but nothing they really wanted so also went home empty. 

The Sept 23rd to 29th hunters fared better. Ted guided Bruce Barnes to an old bull on the Hyland while Robbie and Walter got two moose for Barry Mackin and Bob Koneman. Robbie took the largest moose of the year, a beautifull 58 incher on this hunt. It was a bull the earlier hunter had turned down. Robbie was lucky on this one as not only did he get the biggest moose of the year but his wife Liz got to spend the week out in camp with him. 

Mathias Kirst also showed up at this time,a month early, causing us to scramble but we were able to put him on the Beaver with Ralph and Lawrence. He thorouhly enjoyed himself, taking a moose called in by a power saw.

 The last moose hunt had Walter guiding Dave Dillon at Lotz. They had a keeper on the first day but Dave was unable to get a shot off. Temperatures dropped to Minus 16 Celsius (about 3 Fahrenheit) that night and all the moose left. Donn was guideing Hansjorg Greule on Joel Lake. They took a 56 inch bull with a dislocated back leg on the second day. Robbie and Benno Krusche took a 54 incher on the third day but the cold weather forced Joel of the river so he and Hans Kerchner didn’t get a moose. Ralph and Lawrence got Nick Thise and his wife a moose on the Beaver.

I was able to book John Crane to take Mathias Kirst’s late caribou hunt. Joel and I guided him, glassing up over 80 caribou before noon including a B&C bull but we wanted to check every thing out. By two o’clock we decided that the bull should be taken so went back and after an hours climb John took the old boy. It scored 390. The last hunters were Bob Balisky and Dave Anderson. The caribou had all migrated out leaving us few bulls to look at. We finally found an old bull in the 340 point range so Dave took it ending the season for us. 

What's New and What's Hot for 2000

Lynx trapping is going to be hot this year. November and Dec are best, combining with marten and mink trapping. The February dates are best if you also want a wolf.

Wolverine will also be hot but hot wolverine is 2 or 3 per season instead of one. Best dates are February and March.

Wolf numbers are good with a few hot spots. The Rock ( Feb. 12 – 19) and upper Hyland (March 2 – 9 & 11 – 18)should be hot. The Febuary 21st to 28th hunt will be on the upper Coal which is also a great area.

Spring Bear: The April 24 – May 2 hover craft hunt is new! The late May hunt at Ceaser should be great.

Sheep: All should be great as the back pack area is still new and the horse back areas have had a two year rest.

Goat: The Aug. 26th to Sept 6th will be going into a new area with big billies. Also a great caribou hunt.

Caribou:  My pick would be a horseback hunt around Twin Lakes or the new south area.

Moose:  We are opening the Rock. Toobolly has been rested a year. Both should be hot.

Fall Grizzly: My pick would be Sept 16th to 27th and Oct 1st to 7th by horse or Sept 23rd to 29th by boat on the Coal.