The Almost and the Moose

 So, get this. I went out hunting last week, Thursday afternoon. At this point we are well into the moose season up here in unit 24.  Dad had safely flown in and I had just gotten done with work. There was a little day light left, so we decided to rock and roll. We loaded the boat with all the essentials.  Check list is as follows:  Gas, check! Do I have a motor? well looks like it, check! And most importantly, do I have guns? Okay, check!  That's my list, not long, just real simplistic. It's in simplicity I often find comfort. Anyway  we pushed off and began rolling down the river. It is important to remember I have only had this boat for a few days. It just arrived on the barge. Word of advise, when you buy a used boat always head down river, as opposed to up river. (thats real dry humor, this line will make sense later).

 Never worry about details like paddles or parts, thats part of the simplistic thing I am all about. We all have jobs, and we know the tremendous responsibilities we face 8 to 10 hours a day. We deal with enough details in life.  Details, haha, yes details, who needs them! Back to the story... The water was calm, the sun was setting, and it was peaceful as a trailer park at 8am on a workday.  The temp was just right, a warm forty-five. The wind was in my beard and not in my sails. Wow wonderful. It truly was one of those days you always think about when you picture Alaska, just awesome! Now, after two years, I finally understand how Sarah P must feel.  (12 min in now!!) " Hay dad, that's a big bull right there! Look, look, right there!" There was no mistaking a bull about 300 hundred yards out to our left. He was on the bank, between an island and a small river.

I had driven past this part of the river 1000 times, and when I saw those two large, reflecting white antlers it was a real heart pounding experience. At this point it was the biggest bull I had seen while Dad and I had been hunting for the past 12 minutes. So it didn't take much convincing, we knew that was the bull for us.  "I am going to take him dad, he's too nice to pass up, I need meat for this winter and he will do." Dad agreed. So we came up with a game plan. We would run the boat slowly over to the island, and I would run to the other side.  I would take as many shots as needed to get that walking protein bar down. Gun: Dads 338! It worked well, 4 shots, maybe more than I needed but I have never shot something the size of a car before, so...thats how I roll! I ran back to the boat...and I was so excited! Not only did Katie and I have meat for the winter, Dad and I were able to do this together, thats the "so cool" part. I felt the good Lord had made this happen because 12min in, I don't care where you go or how much luck you have. Its moments like this that separate luck and a true blessing. Although, what happened next proves getting that bull when we did was far beyond just luck.

  So, as we went to push the boat back into the water I  hit the throttle to put the boat in reverse. And nothing. The motor was revving hard but we were not moving. I lifted the motor up and wow. The whole prop was gone.  Down river, heavy current, no paddle. Ever heard the saying that goes something like  "up a creek with out a paddle" well down a large flooded river without one is worse. I couldn't believe it. Bull down and no boat to get it back.  The funny thing was, 2 weeks ago when I was in my friends boat, and he ran out of gas looking for his boat we were stranded in the same place.  A 3 hour walk.  So we started walking and walking and walking. Saw 2 more very nice bulls. The lucky part of this story was we saw a boat and they gave us a ride back about 1/4 of the way in. I borrowed a friends boat and took care of the bull the next day but what a crazy few days.  I finally got the motor parts a few days later.    

Pike In Them There Waters

One of the best un taped resources is the pike in them there waters over yonder. I went out looking for some pike and spent about 5 hours on the the water a few days back and I would have to say a few of these fish made it worth my time....to say the least. These fish sent me back in time although I wish I had the car to match you know that silver thing (what was that thing called a jigging or jigga watt).  I felt like a 5 year old kid in disbelief ...I guess I like histroy and I teach it once and awhile so it not a cowincidence  I heard of the old 1800s  pop culture saying   "go west young man". But that doesn't mean I know who said it, if it was Kanye West who said it that would make sense. Ether way I know what there heart was  after, it wasn't  after gold or even just a better life it was for those  hot golden fried pike.  There really are very few people who eat them or even fish for them. Whats really funny is that i have fished pike for sometime and normally theres the right stiff rod, real, and line. But all I have is a small green dare devil and a small spinng rod. The fish are always in 2 feet of water and I have some cool video to share it will be coming up in the next post. I will have more on the hunt and fishing in a few days and bear season is also here So Stay tuned...  

Coming Fall

Oxbow Lakes (30min boat ride from Village)

                            

(Great Pike Water)

August has slowly slipped away moving aside for the up coming fall.  As it has been said, the smell is in the air. I know those old sayings can be a little general so let me specify. The lingering smell of damp air, the consuming labor, and the inviting camp fire are just a fews things I want you to imagine. It's really a magical time in an Alaskan Village. To explain it to the most modern of us it resembles and shares many of the characteristics of  black friday. That wonderful time of year when your heart is just set on going to Walmart at 2:30 am for that free hand molded Chinese plastic, solar, radio/3inch tv/ 2

way pager/ that we ALL NEED. Yes that free chunk of garbage that will sit in your closet for so many years scientists will some day be able to tell how old the earth is by measuring the layers of dust. Ok that might be a slightly over stated. No one of the 293 people give or take in this village will be killed waiting in line at the to small mercantile. Anyway, this weekend was the start of moose season and it is so cool to see how a strong lively community comes together. One of the issue the past few weeks has been the high water. It has been raining hear for what almost seems like 2 months and I don't think I am that far off. So what does that mean for moose hunting and the subsistence way of life we participate in.  If you got a boat you got a good chance on catching a moose. I have some pictures attached that seem to be lakes. Although these lakes 2months ago were dry grass oxbows with very little water. So whats that mean well, there are many places you can get to that you couldn't in a long time thats good. Although many of the visible sand bars along the river are not present. So we will se how things play out as time goes on. Take a look at these pictures this is common moose ground. I saw two moose that night as the sun edged out.