get him. If taking a grizz with a reputation is a dream
of yours give me a call.
Joel, Chelsea, Ben and Murry (new wranglers) and I trailed horses
in July 7th. I am definitely getting smarter in my old age as I had
Donn fly into Ceaser ahead of us so he got to clean up the bear’s
mess in the lodge. We arrived later not only to a clean camp but also
a hot supper. After shoeing the horses, fixing the corrals and lodge,
trimming out the trails and destroying many rocks, tin cans and boxes
with the new 22’s, we split up. Donn, Joel and Murry checked out a
new valley in the Wolf Dens area while Chelsea, Ben and I worked
around Luxury camp. Ruth and I had been the first people in the area
20 years ago but we never really opened it up so we did this year.
Chelsea was very impressed that her mother had ridden here at all let
alone before there was a trail. – want to be the first to hunt this
new area – please call and we will give you a great hunt. A perfect
mixed bag area. We saw goat, caribou, moose, grizzly while on foot
cutting trail and exploring plus we have seen sheep while flying in
the area.
The first hunters, Terry Henson and Jeff Pendercraft arrived with a
burning desire to take a couple billy goats. Joel and Floyd were able
to put them on two nice ones plus the best caribou of the fall. Floyd
also got the bowling award with a direct hit on a grizzly with a
boulder.
The second hunt had Brent Ebling teaming up with Donn after sheep
in the backpack area while Rich Randall and Rick Williams toured the
Lucky Lake country with Joel and Floyd. The weather turned from bad to
worse making all aspects of the hunt rough but a moose, caribou, ram
and the biggest goat of the year travels back with them.
Bill Cox, repeat bow hunter and Ken Kirkeby were next (Aug. 26th to
Sept 6th) Ken and Floyd picked up a goat on the first day and then Ken
decided to fish so Joel and Floyd put Bill through the paces. The
weather went from worse to horrible with waist deep snow at times,
making it not only hard to spot goats but also dangerous climbing.
They found the billy Bill wanted in a group of four. “The plan”
was for Joel and Bill to wait in the right spot and Floyd to circle
down and tell them (the goats) where to go. It worked perfectly to 35
yards when one bleeping goat decided to try the other side. 41 yards
at a walking goat just wasn’t good enough so we will have to try
again.
Donn and Dean Helms were in the backpack hunt area under a fly in
the snow during this time. After six days of pure enjoyment Dean
decided to call it quits and flew into town just as the weather turned
good. Ruth’s father Walter, whom many of you got to know from the
Septembers he spent in Watson, passed away Aug 25th. I personally
credit him with the weather change because once he checked out his
mansion in heaven he would have told God that we didn’t need any
more rain. Thanks Dad.
Next up were Barry Mackin, Mick Simons and John McCormick. Barry
was after a goat. I had called him two weeks earlier and advised him
that due to the amount of snow in goat country he should consider
rolling ahead to 2002 but he said he would come anyway so he and Joel
shot a goat the first day. Floyd and John picked up a moose and
caribou as did Mick and Donn. Ed Maghan and John Malloy were next.
Joel guided Ed to a moose and caribou with horses while John and I
hunted by boat. When I met John he was in a wheel chair but felt I
could get him a moose. We would be very lucky to get a caribou but in
14 days one might cross the river. We spent the first days in country
where caribou do cross but were unable to find anything closer than
1000 yards so went for moose. We were unable to get the 60 incher we
seen on the way to camp, turned down several lesser bulls the next day
and then a 55 incher made the mistake of resting on a gravel bar so
John lay back on his lazy boy recliner we had to have in the boat and
for sleeping, raised a foot onto the bow on which he rested his 7 mag
and converted it to some prime chow and a beautiful trophy for his
den.
The last horse hunters were Steve Byrne and Matt McCain. Floyd
guided Steve to the biggest bull of the year on the first day and then
trailed horses to Ceaser where Joel and Matt hunted a couple days till
the lake froze over. They then tried the Joel Creek country. A big
grizzly came in to their call but was missed so they moved up and took
a 59-inch bull that lost out by 1/8 inch to Floyd’s.
Moose Hunts
Lee Skinner and Len Cackowski were first. Sept 15th to 21st. Lotz
Lake produced a bull, 41-inch pike and almost a big black bear for Ken
and Walter. Lee and Robbie saw several bulls the first days but then
Lee fell and hurt his shoulder so went home early.
Next up were Denis Heniser, John Cunningham and Ken Keillor. Ralph
and Lawrence guided Denis and John on the Beaver taking one moose,
unfortunately John also hit his moose but a follow up shot miss fired
and the bull got away. Ted and Ken hunted long and hard on the Hyland
but the moose disappeared into the timber.
Ferdi Braun, Lutz Geilenkirchen and Bernhard Kalschener were next.
Robbie, Donn and Walter guided all three to moose in a couple days and
then showed them a few wolves but in Lutz’s words there was just too
much air around them wolves.
Todd Simonson and Kirt Heffel flew into the Beaver. These bow
hunters were Ralph and Lawrence’s first bow hunters. They both took
bulls on the second day right from the boat. I was impressed. John
Timmons and wife accompanied Ted at this time taking a good bull on
the first day. The last hunt had Adrian Sada and son hunting Toobally
with Donn and Walter and Heinz Pfluger and wife on the Coal with
Robbie. Donn and Walter watched a big bull across the lake while
waiting for the plane but it decided not to stay around. The
temperatures dropped to minus 20 that night but they got their two
moose anyway. Robbie and Heinz missed one, had a couple others get
away, had a grizzly stalk his wife and then got froze off the river.
Hunting by four wheeler was hard on his back so he decided to quit. On
the way out Robbie spotted a big bull, went and got them but couldn’t
find it and couldn’t talk them into staying so they left. (Joel shot
it that evening, a nice 59 incher) thus ending 2000.
Tough Breaks - Lucky Animals - Clean Misses
- Three wolves on the Coal for two clients
- A big dark grizzly with white tipped ears on the Coal
- A beautiful white wolf on the Coal
- A large grizzly at Lucky Lake
- Two big black wolves and a grey on the Hyland
- A large grizzly at Sheep camp (no tag but was hit by a boulder)
- A 10 inch plus by 5-½ inch base goat at Goats bluff
- A 54-inch plus moose on the Coal
In closing I would like to thank all our year 2000 hunters for
choosing us and for being great clients in spite of the weather. I
would also like to thank all our guides and wranglers for doing a
great job, especially the horse crew as it was a long wet fall but you
kept the spirits up.
It does appear we will have all our crew back next year continuing
a long tradition of excellence and giving you the client assurance of
a great hunt.
Terry and Ruth Wilkinson
Following is a list of new hunts or opportunities which will appeal
to those of you who wish to be the first to try an area or try a
different style and time of hunting. These have all been checked out
and will produce with a good chance for outstanding trophies.
LYNX: November and Dec trapping
will be great but then they will start starving as the rabbits are
crashing. This will be the last good year for several years so you may
want to jump at these. November is full but I can take a couple more
in Dec.
WOLVERINE: Late February and
March will be best.
WOLF: There are lots out there.
We have a beautiful white one on the Coal and two pure blacks on the
Hyland along with the other normal ones. The March 22nd to 31st hunt
in the Hyland Lake area is new and could be “the trip”. Not only
because the country is very open and the wolves more visible but also
the snow is deeper so they travel on the trails. Hyland Lake also has
good lake trout fishing as does Greyling Lake. I am looking forward to
this one.
SPRING BEAR: My choice would
be the Wolf den or Ceaser lake bear starting May17th or 26th although
the May 5th to 14th hunt near Joel creek now has my interest since
Joel told me about the big silver eared boar.
SHEEP: The backpack hunts July
30th to Aug 10th and Aug 12th to 23rd have the best reputation at the
moment but I think there are bigger rams in the horseback areas, we
just didn’t find them last year. They did see lots of next year
rams.
GOAT: New area Aug 26th to Sept
6th. This will be a great chance for a longhaired billy. We saw goat,
moose, caribou and grizzly when exploring last summer plus have seen
sheep while flying it.
CARIBOU: Still have two
openings for the famous Caribou Flats camp Aug 26th to Sept 6th. Also
hope to be able to open a caribou - moose camp in the upper La Biche.
There are lots of moose and caribou in the area. Dates will be Oct
21st to 30th. This will be a snowmobile hunt.
MOOSE: Moose populations are
doing well. I was unable to get a hovercraft for this fall but am
still hoping for next. If we do we will open the Rock. On our spring
bear hunt we ran it with the jet boat and saw unbelievable moose.
We are also checking out the White Fish and Triangle Lakes. All
have untouched moose hunting and we may be able too offer a hunt
there. Donn and Robbie just flew the area and are excited about
getting a hunt going there.
FALL GRIZZLY: Summit and
Hyland Lake Sept 23rd to 29th by boat or Sept 23rd to Oct 4 at North
Camp with horses. At press time we have two shows booked and that is
probably all we will do. If you are planing to go to these shows do
stop and chat with us. We love to tell you about the Yukon and it’s
fantastic hunting.
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 10 to 13, 2001
Booth 1227
Greater Philadelphia Show Fort Washington, PA
Jan 17 to 21, 2001
Booth 642
