wildlife

A Lower 48er’s View of Alaska

alaska, alaska hunting expedition, artic slope, bears, big game hunting, camping, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, guns, hunting, Hunting Culture, Hunting with Camera, National Geographic, nature, public land, Rifles, Survival, The next generation, Ultimate Survival Alaska, unguided hunting, Videographer, wildlife

After graduating with Austin from Penn State, It was our mission to gain experience in the outdoors, test ourselves as young men, and do the trip of our dreams. We wanted to do a low budget, non-guided hunt, using different means of transportation; through-out the state of Alaska for the “Alaskan Big 5”, Caribou, Dall Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose, and Bear. The Mission Alaska Expedition was an amazing adventure, and one that Austin, Jordan Auggie, Sarah, Natalie, Bryan, and I will never forget.

As the lower “48’er” of the crew if was definitely a trip where I was out of my element. As I watch National Geographic’s ‘Ultimate Survival Alaska’, it brings me back to that expedition. The TV cameras make it look a lot easier than it is. They cannot adequately describe the tussocks, wetness, trench-rot, or blisters that come with successfully filming back-country travel. I wanted to share some thoughts on traveling the remote terrain as a real outsider, a non-Alaskan.

It was definitely like nothing I had encountered in the lower 48. It looks a lot like Kansas or North Dakota, but the wetness and endless tundra of the Alaskan arctic, make it like walking on a 3-5 foot wet sponge layer. Tussocks are hard plant root clumps that make the ground very unstable and a nightmare on your knees and ankles.

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Endless amounts of “tussocks”.

I will never forget how foreign the environment felt. After leaving our pick-up truck, we might might as well been walking on another planet. We only had to go 5 miles, but it felt like 20!

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A hard earned 5 miles out to the hunting area.

As I have been watching ‘Ultimate Survivor Alaska’ on National Geographic, I have been captivated by the scenery of the show and the crew’s ability to capture those images in the remote wilds of Alaska. I have filmed in Alaska and can assure you that the Alaska terrain is the enemy of any electronic device. The wet and the cold can make it very difficult to keep the cameras rolling, SD cards filled, and batteries charged. My hat is off to the Nat Geo production crew for capturing the raw and wild beauty of Alaska.

Cameras dont like working in clouds.

While Alaska can afford some beautiful weather with amazing views, definitely be prepared for cold and wet weather anytime of the year. Do not cheap yourself on gear! While you can sometimes get away with it in the lower 48, bad gear will ruin your trip and can endanger your life in Alaska. Make sure to check the Gear and Apparel page to see Mission Alaska’s gear tips, reviews, and suggestions.

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A foggy August Alaskan view.

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Looking for sheep in ever-changing weather.

There are all sorts of terrain in Alaska and a trip suited for everyone. Not far outside of the metro areas of Anchorage or the Mat-su Valley are tons of foot accessible areas. You dont always need planes and helicopters in Alaska to experience a real adventure. A lot people come to Alaska and take to bush planes to get out to remote areas. This can leave those areas crowded and areas that are hard to hike to, but not as far out as the planes go, open to anyone who wants to work for it. I had a mission to further test myself and went on a solo black bear hunt. What a great challenge and feeling of accomplishment.

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Solo black bear harvest

The Mission Alaska Expedition was for sure the hardest thing I have ever done and the trip taught me a lot about myself, life, and Alaska. I encourage more Americans in the lower 48 to go and experience the last american frontier. It is still very real and alive today. Read ‘John and Joe’s Philly to AK Adventure’. Just like Nat Geo’s ‘Ultimate Survivor Alaska’ shows, for those who want it, adventure lies waiting around every corner.

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Whats Your Mission?

-Jon Dykes

Mission: Alaska Pack Raft Marathon

hog hunting, horse back hunting, hunting, Hunting Culture, Hunting with Camera, pack rafting, public land, Survival, Ultimate Survival Alaska, unguided hunting, Whitetail hunting, wildlife

Mission: Bike to the head waters of the “Marathon River” and Pack raft back to the vehicle.

Just got back from an epic Alaskan mountain biking pack rafting adventure in the Copper River Basin. The bike ride in was a full marathon in distance which is 26 miles. That meant fellow adventurer Brigder, my dogs Pickle, Crixus, and I had a beautiful 26+ mile class 3 river to pack raft to get back to our vehicle. This adventure was part hunting, part training/exercise, part recon, and a whole lot of fun. The pack rafting part of the adventure was definitely the highlight, and if you ask Bridger if he got wet he will be sure to tell you that we both took a few “tall drinks”. The dogs were awesome companions on the trip, and handled the rafting part of the adventure like total bosses. We were looking for potential brown and or black bear to harvest along the way, however that was wishful thinking. We ended up seeing a very large bull moose that just began growing his antlers, we also saw a sow grizzly bear with a lone cub. We didn’t find any animals to take down the river with us, other than Pickle and Crixus. It is always so humbling to be in nature and experience everything mother earth has to offer. One step in nature and a close encounter with a grizzly bear really tells humans exactly where they sit on that food chain. More pictures and videos to come shortly, make sure to tune back in to Missionak for weekly updates. Click the subscribe button on MissionAK’s home page to receive free email updates for any new blog post updates. If you haven’t already liked MissionAK on Facebook and twitter check us out!

Can’t wait for the next Mission…What’s yours?

Mission Complete

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Ultimate Survival Alaska found on Field and Stream

alaska, alaska hunting expedition, artic slope, National Geographic, pack rafting, public land, salmon fishing, Survival, Ultimate Survival Alaska, Videographer, wildlife

Found this interesting article featuring Ultimate Survival Alaska in Field and Stream magazine.  I have been a long time subscriber of the magazine and have always dreamed of making the pages of Field and Stream representing Alaska’s outdoorsmen.  Found this interesting article on one of my favorite websites www.fieldandstream.com, it talks about our need to find food for survival.   I will touch more on the expedition food menu later, for the moment, enjoy the article!

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/survival/survival-food/2013/05/ultimate-survival-alaska-explorers-sponsored-post

THANKS FIELD AND STREAM!

“Ultimate Survival Alaska” Explorers (Sponsored Post)

Uploaded on May 06, 2013
Austin in Field and Stream

Ultimate Survival Alaska Explorers hunt and gather for calories The food possibilities in wild Alaska are plentiful if you know how to work for your meal.

The guys on the National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survival Alaska really do have to work for it—without fancy fishing poles or advanced gear. The extreme survivalists only have the tools in their packs and whatever they find in the wilderness.

“At some fundamental level, we’re not normal, well-adjusted, modern civilized human beings,” says Willi Prittie, one of the eight explorers. “We’re all throwbacks. Because modern life is not enough of a test for us.”

A 220-pound man needs approximately 2,400 calories every day just to perform basic functions like breathing and metabolizing food. Now imagine that same man is steering a handmade raft through Yukon River rapids and scaling mountain passes. His calorie intake must increase. With strenuous activity, a man needs 3,600 calories to maintain his weight and keep thriving.

The small sacks of beans and rice the explorers carry aren’t enough.

The 10-leg expedition in the brutal and dangerous Alaska terrain includes 200 miles down the Yukon River 50 miles in the Brooks Mountain Range at heights near 9,000 feet. This is no weekend hunting trip with the guys. This is finding the fuel to survive.

Alaska’s wild buffet includes:

Fish: Alaska is known for its salmon, as well as rainbow and steelhead trout, Northern pike, halibut and arctic grayling. On a particularly strenuous day, the Ultimate Survival explorers were overjoyed to land a half-pound of grayling with makeshift fishing poles. Another team constructs a dip net with a branch frame and discarded net.

Plants: Berries and edible plants are plentiful in Alaska. There are raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and lingonberries north in the tundra.

Game meat: It takes a lot of energy to hunt big game like caribou and bear. The explorers are more likely to hunt rabbit, squirrel, birds and foxes.

When the explorers are desperate for calories, it’s hard to envy their rough outdoor experience. It can even lead them to harvest berries in bear scat and devour frogs.

“It’s amazing what will get you excited when you’re hungry,” admits one contestant.

There are moments of mercy like when native Alaskans invite them into a smokehouse to taste delicious cured salmon. But that’s the side of Alaska the show highlights—the beauty and humanity amid the extreme wild. Delicious wild bounty is just within an adventurer’s reach.

For more information check out:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/survival/survival-food/2013/05/ultimate-survival-alaska-explorers-sponsored-post

Spartacus and Willow: Have the next family horse

horse back hunting, Horses, hunting, Hunting Horses, Pack Horses, The next generation, wildlife

I recieved a call around two this morning from my frantic mother, crying, cooing, and squeeling a little bit all in excitement for a new addition to the family.   Not only has someone special from up above brought our family a new baby boy name Paxson(August and Sarah Manelick’s baby boy), this year we have two special gifts.  This morning my mom’s excitement came from the birth of a new foal from our family horses, my Friesian stud named Spartacus and our family friends (Christy Royalty’s) Paint horse named Willow.

Baby horse from Spartacus and Willow

Baby horse from Spartacus and Willow

Is it ironic that this beautiful horse was born in Alaska and has a star looking white spot that looks like the state of Alaska on his back? I think not… This horse is meant to be an epic new addition to the family and our subsistence lifestyle.  The videos my mom shot, will be coming soon.

Trophy Bull VS. Meat Bull

alaska, alaska hunting expedition, antler, antler hunting, archery hunting, arrows, artic slope, bow and arrows, camping, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, guns, hunting, Hunting Culture, meat, moose, Rifles, The next generation, traditional archery, Uncategorized, unguided hunting, wildlife

Hunting to many Alaskas means red meat for the freezer, enough meat to get a family through the winter.  Across Alaska many residents practice the art handed down by our ancestors and the cave men before that, the not-so lost art form called subsistence hunting.  Each Fall locals from around the state leave the comfort of there homes and thrust themselves into the wild attempting to fill the freezer against all odds.

2009 Moose Harvest

When your an Alaskan and attempting to fill your freezer, any animal deemed by ADFG (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)as legal under the states rules and regulations most likely will be harvested.  As Alaskan subsistence hunter August Manelick would say “a legal spike for moose will taste just as good if not better than a trophy moose.”  I agree with August in that the goal of hunting is first and foremost to be legal and secondly to fill your freezer.  All though most hunters (including August and myself) will agree that a 55 inch trophy bull moose would look better on the wall and in the freezer than a spike fork (small legal yearling bull moose) would.

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The goal of hunting is to fill your freezer and provide sustenance for the long winter months.  Taking a trophy animal is a bonus, providing in a sense two trophies the meat and the antlers.  The meat of an animal is the true trophy, don’t let anyone tell you different.  The hunt is about the experience, camaraderie, and the stories shared with loved ones post hunt.  The harvest of the hunt is a physical representation of the memories made while in the field, regardless of the animals antler size.  Any legal animal is a gift, take your blessings and eat plentifully through out the following year.

Auggie with a double trophy, meat and antler.

Auggie with a double trophy, meat and antler.

Bottom line, there is a big difference between trophy hunting and subsistence hunting.  Trophy hunting individuals hunt usually for just the size of the antlers, bigger is always better.  Subsistence hunters hunt for the meat value of an animal.  Two very different ball games, playing by the same rules.

Austin Manelick Teams up with John Depalma Photography and Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear.

antler, antler hunting, archery hunting, arrows, big game hunting, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, hunting, Hunting Culture, nature, Rifles, small game, The next generation, traditional archery, Uncategorized, unguided hunting, Whitetail hunting, wildlife

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Thanks to John Depalma Photography http://johndepalmaphoto.photoshelter.com/ and Rockey Mountain Specialty Gear for yet another succesful photo shoot.  I apprecaited the arrows for the Turkey portion, thanks Tom (owner of RMSG) you have been extremly helpful and knowledgable with all archery and hunting related equipment.

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Both Tom and John are mavens to their trades, manufacturing diligent business relations in the outdoor industry. Thanks to both of you gentlemen for making all this possible.   I appreciate your hard work, camaraderie, and friendship.

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Also I must throw a huge shout out to Winchester Repeating Arms and Ammunition for allowing us to use their guns during the photo shoot.  Winchester has been around for 100 + years and has developed many beautiful rifles and hunting products.  Be sure to check out Winchesters new Turkey guns!  The new Super X Pump Turkey gun boast a synthetic stock with a texured grip.  This was the shotgun I used during the photo shoot and I must say, the gun has grip simliar to a tacked football.  Anyone who loves holding a pigskin, won’t let this rifle out of their grasp.. You may even find yourself snuggling up to it at night, dreaming of big old toms and the Super X giving a lucky longbeard a dirt nap.

Austin Manelick

Photo Shoot 2012

alaska, archery hunting, arrows, big game hunting, bow and arrows, camping, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, guns, hunting, Hunting Culture, meat, nature, public land, texas whitetail, The next generation, traditional archery, Uncategorized, unguided hunting, Whitetail hunting, wildlife

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I was recently invited to be a part of an outdoor photo shoot posed as two hunters stalking through a beautiful river side cottonwood hunting area.

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The photo shoot included host of Pure Hunting television program Willi Schmidt and free lance videographer and outdoor writer (me) Austin Manelick.

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I had a blast with John Depalma the photographer as he effortlessly snapped perfectly apertured picture after picture.  “Keep the light to your back”, was the photography tip of the day.  (That tip applies to videography as well….)  He made the shoot so smooth and brought relentless energy to taking the perfect “sweet cherry pie shot.”  Thanks again guys for such a memorable and awesome outting in the field together.  Your friendship and camaraderie is what hunting and the great outdoors is made of, thanks again for everything guys.

Pure Hunting is found on the Sportsmen channel @

AIR TIMES:

Monday

7:00 PM

Wednesday

8:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 PM

Thursday

10:30 AM

Friday
 8:00 AM
Show them your support!  Its an awesome series and a great place to see some of my work as Field Producer.  I worked on this series and can garentee once you turn it on you won’t leave the couch..
“Epic-hyper reality adventure television”  Pure Hunting is a must see!

D_A_PRO LLC Production Highlights- presents Mission Alaska

Africa, Africa Big Five, Africa big game hunting, African Hunting, alaska, alaska hunting expedition, archery hunting, arrows, artic slope, bear charge, bear maul, bears, big game hunting, bow and arrows, bow fishing, camping, caribou, coyote, coyote attack, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, fishing, grizzly bear, grizzly bear charge, grizzly brown bear, guns, hog hunting, hunting, Hunting Culture, Hunting India, India, India Culture, meat, moose, nature, Pennsylvania hunting, Pike fishing, public land, Rifles, salmon fishing, small game, Small game hunting, snow shoe hare, texas whitetail, The next generation, traditional archery, trout, Trout fishing, Uncategorized, unguided hunting, Whitetail hunting, wildlife
DA PRO owner Austin Manelick pictured with Major League Baseball MVP Texan Ranger Josh Hamilton and family.

DA PRO owner Austin Manelick pictured with Major League Baseball MVP Texan Ranger Josh Hamilton and family.

D_A_ PRO LLC  is a full service media marketing provider, specializing in filming of remote and extreme shoot locations.   DA PRO’s, enlist a full staff of professional videographers willing and ready to shoot HD footage in the hardest most unforgiving terrain possible.   State of the art High Definition filming and audio recording equipment travels with each member of our globally experienced team of videographers.  D_A_ PRO, LLC is the next generation of video production, bringing revolutionary visions to the television industry.

PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO PRESENTS MISSION ALASKA

Follow this YOUTUBE link to watch the production highlight video a sample from the D_A_PRO LLC  Library.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72hU5wKa72s

                                                                                                 D_A_PRO LLC.

-THE PREMIER FRONTEIR PRODUCITON COMPANY.

Mission Alaska:Jim Roche “Outdoor Hero” Adventure in Youth Missions

alaska hunting expedition, archery hunting, arrows, bow and arrows, bow fishing, hunting, Hunting Culture, meat, public land, texas whitetail, The next generation, trout, Trout fishing, Uncategorized, wildlife

I found an interesting article regarding a filming gig I filmed last summer 2011.  A true role model to the next generation will be outlined, noted is his message to the next generation of outdoorsmen.

Butch Cassidy the Sundance kids hideout on the Green River

Butch Cassidy the Sundance kids hideout on the Green River

During my professional career as field producer and videographer, I’ve had the remarkable opportunity to meet astonishing people with messages strong and resounding.  True heros of conservation, the people who have planted the metaphorical “acorns” or strong outdoor moral values in the next generation, people like the man I met this past summer during a film shoot.  This documentary style shoot was a float trip down down the Green River in Utah, the very same river Butch Cassidy the Sundance kid took refuge to hide out from the law in classical western stories.  The man I speak of, Jim Roche, is the ideal role model for the next generation of outdoorsmen.  Jim a professional hunting guide and owner of Magnum Guide Service in Eldorado Texas, after years of much guideing success found new enjoyment helping boys become men through faith and the outdoors.

Jim Roche a true role model

“There’s so many kids that need to hear the word about Jesus Christ and who also need the hunter safety course. You’ve got to get outside the church to get across to most of these people.” -Jim

http://www.shortstoriesforchildren.net/hunting-guide-hopes-to-lead-youth-toward-christ

This float trip planned by Jim was a mission trip with a group of “boys” who would walk the steps of boyhood to manhood, walking the steps with Jim and Christ himself.  These 12-15 year old boys/men would be completly devoted to christ during the 100 mile or so float trip, learning campfire lessons about stories from the bible.  Each story had a different meaning, but all carried the same message, that message “Be a respectable, honoable man of society, who finds strength and courage through the almighty”. These men would be taught by Jim how to be sheppards of the land, good stewards of mankind.  They would also learn a valuable outdoor message through the bible and Christ “One of the things that we have to realize in the Bible, especially in Genesis, God’s given us dominion over the animals and over this Earth,” Hill said. “And so we really are in charge of this resource. and one of the things that we thought was important was to also work with the young people, boys and girls just like we have today, that help them be in a situation where they can manage that resource as they get older.

Adventure in Youth Mission Crew

Adventure in Youth Mission Crew

This trip was wildly unexpected and unanticipated, as I myself found this message to touch the roots of my christianity.  I could not help but to listen to the morning devotionals by the campfire as I filmed the young men read and follow Jims thoughts through each biblical verse.  I began to look at myself and how I could improve my relationship with Christ.  During this week long trip, I found myself on about the fourth day taking part in all parts of the mission trip, including prayer, sharing thoughts on bible verses, and sharing my own stories.  This became a very personal experience, not a work experience, I developed deep friendships with the young men around me and became one of the guys.

Vid Cam Dude known as "AK"

Vid Cam Dude known as "AK"

I immediately wanted to share my knowledge of nature with these young men, they were all very interested in what I told them before we embarked on the float trip.  I said “grab some hooks and some line, I maybe able to teach you how to catch a fish in a survival situation”.  The fourth night of the trip we ended up catching and realeasing a fistful of catfish, enough to feed the 16 or so people on the trip.  We used balled up whitebread on a single weighted hook, fishing right on the bottom.  We released the fish as we had enough food already reserved for the week, however we proved we could catch fish.  I taught the young men how to hand-line catch fish in a “survival situation”, to be ready for anything during adventures into the wilderness.  I imposed a small biblical lesson of my own, catch a man one fish feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish feed him for a lifetime.

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

I learned a few things from these young guys myself and ended up learning more than I could possibly teach.  I learned to speak more with the big man up stairs, and He discussed with me on this trip the mission of my manifest destiny.  The youth and the next generation of Outdoorsmen, teach them how to become respectable honorable men who care about nature and a healthy population of animals.  “On a mission trip to Green River, Utah, two boys accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Surprising Roche and everyone else, a cameraman with a postproduction company in Denver knelt down and accepted Christ, too.”  Short Stories for Children writes.

I was hit with this epiphany like a thunder bolt from God, as I gasped for breath being pulled from the bottom of the Green River.  By the 6th and final day of the trip I became one of the guys, and found myself being baptized by my new buddy Blaine in a circle of men who were accepting Christ in the Green River.  What a wild experience, I was convinced the entire production crew and all those involved were brought together for this very special mission trip for a reason.  What each person would walk away with, was the discovery of why they were called to this Adventure in Youth Mission trip, and where they would go next.

Blaine "my hero" and designated Go-PRO Videographer

Blaine "my hero" and designated Go-PRO Videographer

Each of these men found friendships in both themselves and with the almighty above, they would leave with the fundamental values of how to be a respectable, honorable, god fearing and loving man.  These men would leave with a sense of pride an accomplishment, my new friends would leave me with an inspiring thought to encourage more youth to become men just as they.  My relationship with these young men continues today, Spencer Brent pictured above is a gentlemen I met on this float trip.  Spencer was offered a field editor position at missionak.com and will be reporting his findings in the field during the Texas hunting season.  Check back for more in the field action from our field editors like Spencer, the youth has been inspired!  Thanks again to Jim Roche for being such an outstanding role model to the next generation of outdoorsmen, the world needs many more of you!

Looking down on us... From Desolate Canyon

Looking down on us... From Desolate Canyon

Mission Alaska Reaches Across the Globe to India

Africa, Africa Big Five, Africa big game hunting, African Hunting, alaska, alaska hunting expedition, bow and arrows, camping, DIY hunting, extreme hunting, hunting, Hunting Culture, Hunting India, India, India Culture, meat, nature, public land, Rifles, small game, Small game hunting, The next generation, traditional archery, Trout fishing, Whitetail hunting, wildlife

This is an email I recieved after I posted an article asking for your thoughts, opinions, articles, pictures, etc.  This email comes from an individual from India, who runs a blog site called  greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com.  He writes me connnecting my blog with one of his adventures in India, and he shows us hunters in India are viewed with more respect and prestige with more animal skulls on the wall.  Here is the email and pictures, humans continue to amaze in our ability to share connections.

Hey…

First of all, awesome blog guys. I only reason I read about your hunting adventures, is because you guys respect the wild, and more like a part of it. Hunting is perfectly normal, if you do it in a sustainable way and not harming the nature.
I live in a tribal land, Northeast India. Here, hunting is a part of the culture, and at the same time, the tribes have a deep respect for nature which only a person like you or me would understand. But things have been changing recently. A lot of hunting takes place, so that the products go to China, where they make perfumes and what not, out of majestic animals such as Tigers, Leopards, Rhinos..etc..
Anyways, I am the admin of greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com. Received your recent mail asking for people to submit stuff.
Well, I think I have a picture which you would like, which I have attached with this email. It was taken inside a Mishmi tribal house, located somewhere far away in the mighty Himalayas. The skulls are hung like trophies in their house, and the more trophies you have, the more prestige and respect in society. I have also sent the picture of he tribal, who is the owner of the house. All respect to him. He’s been there, done that.
Please feel free to use the pictures.
And keep up the great work.
Regards,

Vaivhav Todi 

www.thegreenerpastures.com 

 

My response:

Vaivhav,

Firstly I wanted to note how awesome it is to have someone from across the world such as yourself reading my blog and interacting with me.  I noticed your blog activity after you comment on my posted article about the mountain goat burgers I made.  Thanks for following up withmissionak.com! I appreciate your email and it will be going up today!
This is very fascinating about your views on hunters and the way of life “in your neck of the woods”.  It is very sad and a shame to hear of the destruction that “poachers” not hunters, such as the tiger, rhino, and leopard killers you speak of have committed.  You know, as I, that this illegal black market where valued animal parts from tigers etc are taken and sold as aphrodisiacs or health remedies, and is viewed as normal by those who consume the goods.  The decrease in many species in places like Africa, Sudan, India, China, has led to an increase in demand for animals products on the Black Market.
In the USA, we have many rules and regulations that must be followed by a hunter or consequences and citations will be given.  Poachers and people hunting illegally in the US, who do not obide by the hunting laws set forth by each individual state will be regulated by authoritative figures.  Each state has many counties and cities, the wild game in these cities is protected by Game Wardens basically wildlife police.  Game laws are very serious in the USA, and individuals must abide by these rules or they will receive punishments.  There is an intricate system that ensure that the wildlife in the United States is cared for and payed for, payed for by the hunters licenses and tag fees it cost to hunt the animals.  In essence, hunters pay for the conservation of animals(to hunt legally), and work with wildlife agencies such as each States department of fish and game to ensure that a heatlhy population of animals exist for the next generation of hunters and fishermen.
Secondly, your mission statement and your blog greenerpasturesind.wordpress.com has an authentic and real message, a message that I can relate to, understand, and commend even being from a different side of the world.  Your adventures are amazing and I encourage you to spread you message to receptive ears and minds.  Who wouldn’t want to find themselves in a greener pasture?  I seek new green pastures every day of my life, everyday is an adventure in my eyes.
The man in your pictures is what I like to call a “grizzled vet” , as in, a person who has veteran experience gained through physically and mentally demanding experiences.  Like you said, a man that has been there and done that.  Here in the US, trophies are viewed in many different ways, some are disgusted by it, some are fascinated by it, some are jealous, some are happy.  I am very proud of each trophy on the wall, not because I feel powerful, or prestigous, or manly.  I never place emphasis on the kill of each hunt, as killing is not what hunting is about.  The adventure and experience is the catch for me, the harvest or trophy value of the animal is purley in the edible meat to be consumed over a long winter.  The kill of an animal is simply put, a physical representation of the memory had on the adventure pursued.
I only wish hunters were viewed here in the United States with more respect and prestige in society, considering their hunting license costs recycles directly into the wildlife programs set forth by the state to keep the environment healthy.
Thanks again Vaivhav, your email has been awesomely informative and perfectly placed into the right hands.  Keep pictures like these coming, I would love to hear more on the culture of hunters in India and your culture in general.
Truly great to hear from you,
Austin Manelick