Its spring time in Alaska and its the perfect time to get out and enjoy the last snow before it completely melts away. This is a pack rafting video of a small cliff drop into the Matanuska River near Palmer Alaska, what a great way to spend a Sunday.
Spring time in Alaska 2013
pack rafting, UncategorizedMy mission over the past week has been to float the thawing Knik River near Palmer Alaska. It’s spring time here in Alaska and despite the recent snow we are having, break-up has started.
Big Deer with Broken Beam
UncategorizedI filmed this hunt with Willi Schmidt for Mike Hanback’s Big Deer TV show on the Sportsmens Channel. Willi is host of Pure Hunting (Sportsmen Channel) and also hunts for Mike’s Big Deer Hunt team, he is an excellent hunter and a pro with a compound bow. I follow Mike’s blog and came across this photo from 2012, Willi shot the deer in 2011.
Interestingly enough, I not only filmed the hunt but I also took this picture! So cool to see some of my work found on legendary Mike Hanbacks blog! Thanks Mike and Willi! If this buck passed under my tree stand, you better believe I would draw my longbow and fling a double bladed Zwickey broad head down range. Would you shoot this buck?
Another angle and a different hero shot of Willi, there is so many good photos of this old warrior its hard to choose which ones to post! Nice job Willi, you really deserved this one.
Check them out on Facebook Pure Hunting and Mike Hanback’s Big Deer
The link to Mike’s Blog Post: Mike Hanback http://www.mikehanback.com/blog/index.cfm/2012/7/17/What-Would-You-Do-Wednesday-Shoot-or-Pass-a-BustedRack-Buck
Philly to Alaska: Mission Complete
alaska, Camera, camping, fishingRecently a few college buddies of mine called me up and asked me if we could go on mission, a mission in Alaska. John and Joe had never been to Alaska, and this winter wonderland was the perfect setting for ice fishing, snow mobile riding, and majestic views of monstrous mountains.
Here are a few of the pictures from Johnjoe and Joejohns Alaskan adventure.
Ice fishing: Mission complete
Winter Archery: Mission complete
Snow machineing: Mission complete
Cabin trip: Mission complete
It’s safe to say that we all had a great time playing in the wilds of Alaska and it was awesome to catch up with old friends. I can’t wait till the summer when we can go on pack rafting missions, midnight hikes, salmon fishing adventures, etc….The list of missions and possibilities goes on endlessly in the land of the midnight sun.
John and Joe’s mission was safe, successfully, and mostly stress free(outside of John getting his sled stuck in an overflowed river..). They completed their mission to Alaska….What’s your mission?
Family Exercise in the Chugach Mountains
UncategorizedThis weekend my family decided to get up in the mountains for a little exercise, our dogs came along and enjoyed every step of the hike.
Over two weekends we hiked to the tops of Lazy Mountain and Matnuska Peak, the views were breath taking.
Alaska Gun Control: House Passes Bill Protecting 2nd Amendment
UncategorizedThis article is the exact reason why many Alaskans love our state. This bill effectively protects Alaskans 2nd Amendment rights by issuing a class “C” felony to any federal government official who attempts to enforce new gun laws.
Buxton wrote “House Bill 69, which passed the House 31-5, would exempt firearms, accessories and ammunition from all federal firearm control laws as well as make it a felony for federal agents to enforce new gun laws.”
“We must push back, there must be a time when we say it’s gone too far,” said Rep. Doug Isaacson, R-North Pole. “We’re willing to stand behind you. … Let’s be those who stand up for our people and say enough is enough.”
“Isaacson also said the Second Amendment is not intended to protect “hunting clubs” but well-maintained militias, adding that the public should have access to anything the military has, even if that’s a F-22 fighter jet.”
“If the state can afford an F-22, and I as a citizen can afford an F-22, this article gives me the right to own exactly the same type of armament that the federal government has. That may sound like it’s way on the edge,” he said. “This well-regulated militia is not a hunting club, it’s not a recreational force. As a matter of fact it is to keep and bear arms, is a right to have free, non-tyrannical government.”
THANK YOU ALASKA
-Missionak
Here is a link to the article and the article body is posted below. This is a must read article…
Thanks to the Daily Fairbanks News Miner for the article.
http://www.newsminer.com/news/politics/article_61b7a73a-7ff6-11e2-a793-0019bb30f31a.html
By MATT BUXTON / mbuxton@newsminer.com |89 comments
JUNEAU — The Alaska House took a bold step against federal regulation of firearms on Monday, but critics questioned the constitutionality of the path.
House Bill 69, which passed the House 31-5, would exempt firearms, accessories and ammunition from all federal firearm control laws as well as make it a felony for federal agents to enforce new gun laws.
The bill was penned by House Speaker Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, in response to renewed efforts from President Barack Obama to regulate firearms in order to curtail gun violence.
The approach would have the state arrest federal employees attempting to enforce new gun regulations and charge them with a class C felony.
“It’s unconstitutional, it’s unenforceable, it’s really distracting us, as a Legislature, from the issues facing this state at this time, which is oil taxes, oil royalties, the development of our oil and gas fields and getting energy to an energy-starved state,” said Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage.
A memo Gruenberg requested from the legislative legal department stated the law was “likely to be found unconstitutional and unenforceable.” Another memo stated that interfering with a federal agent could land a state employee in prison for up to 20 years. (http://bit.ly/XXz0gf)
House Republicans defended the legislation, saying it protects Second Amendment rights and that courts should be left to settle that issue.
“We must push back, there must be a time when we say it’s gone too far,” said Rep. Doug Isaacson, R-North Pole. “We’re willing to stand behind you. … Let’s be those who stand up for our people and say enough is enough.”
Isaacson also said the Second Amendment is not intended to protect “hunting clubs” but well-maintained militias, adding that the public should have access to anything the military has, even if that’s a F-22 fighter jet.
“If the state can afford an F-22, and I as a citizen can afford an F-22, this article gives me the right to own exactly the same type of armament that the federal government has. That may sound like it’s way on the edge,” he said. “This well-regulated militia is not a hunting club, it’s not a recreational force. As a matter of fact it is to keep and bear arms, is a right to have free, non-tyrannical government.”
Interior Reps. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, and Pete Higgins, R-Fairbanks, also spoke in support of the bill.
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, compared HB 69 to laws in other states that have legalized marijuana. They conflict with federal law, but the states’ resistance has caused the feds to step back on marijuana enforcement, she said.
“We all know it’s very, very difficult to enforce federal law when it gets no support from the state,” she said. “I contend that the passage of this law, the federal government is just as likely to blink as not blink.”
The legislation is modeled after similar legislation in Wyoming and at least 11 other states are considering similar laws.
The bill passed with unanimous support from the House Majority. Two Democrats, Anchorage Reps. Geran Tarr and Chris Tuck, crossed over to support it.
Fairbanks Democratic Reps. David Guttenberg and Scott Kawasaki, who was the only Democratic candidate to receive an endorsement from the NRA during last year’s elections, had excused absences. The bill is up for reconsideration so both lawmakers could have the opportunity to vote on it.
Contact staff writer Matt Buxton at 459-7544 and follow him on Twitter:
@FDNMpolitics.
Dall sheep hunting in Alaska
UncategorizedThis is a classic Alaskan adventure, hunting for the elusive Dall Sheep in rugged terrain. Totally rocking kuiu gear during this dream come true hunt. Several nice rams taken in this video.
Filming in the Great Outdoors
UncategorizedEpic Recurve Polar Bear Hunt
bears, bow and arrowsThis is an epic old school hunting video that features Larry Jones on his quest to harvest a polar bear with traditional archery equipment.
Oh, yeah he is most definitely successful.
NEW LINK!
Dall Sheep Hunting 2012
UncategorizedBen Knapp is an old school mate of mine who shared a passion of the great outdoors with me. Ben and I played soccer together in high school and in our free time we would hunt together. Recently Ben and I caught up with each other sharing stories from our past hunting seasons. Ben told me an epic story of his first successful Dall sheep hunt, a story that must be shared with the world.
My First Ram
Early in my high school career I caught the bug. The sheep hunting bug that is. I was consumed by the challenge of tagging such a majestic animal that resides in what many would refer to as “impassible terrain”! My first few hunts were with my dad and brother. We would carry harvest tickets for everything, opportunity hunting if you will. I always got the idea that my hunting companions had moose hunting on the mind, tree stands, 4 wheelers, lots of camp talk, vacationing…..Meanwhile I was looking up high, right around the 6,000 ft level just below the early season snowfall, right where Mr. Full Curl would be hiding out.
These first few “sheep” hunts provided many stories and good times spent with my dad and brother. Occasionally we would get up close to some ewes and lambs, but no rams to be found. As I got older I was able to travel farther and farther from home without my parents getting too worked up. I made countless trips into the Talkeetna Mountains on my 4 wheeler and even a drive-in hunt to the Wrangell Mountains. Most of these trips where solo hunts for a combination of reasons. Part of me wanted to prove myself to the old man that I could hack it! It was also hard to find someone that wanted to strap on a 40 pound pack and follow me for 10 miles over some of the nastiest terrain they had ever seen. I carried an ice axe, rappelling gear on occasion, damn-it I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way of a ram!
Early this summer my buddy Nick Zerbinos and I started talking about our fall hunting plans and sheep came up. At first it was over a few beers, we came up with the genius idea that, hey you have an airplane, I have an airplane, we should go sheep hunting! Nick had just started a new job flying 737’s for Northern Air Cargo and he had limited days off so we planned around his schedule. We picked a weekend that allowed us 4 days in the field and hopefully a spotting flight before.
Our departure date came before I knew it and as fate would have it, I had to work the first day of our planned hunt. Nick decided to take his plane out solo, get camp setup and start glassing until I got there the following evening. The whole day at work all I could think about was Nick sitting on a ridge line glassing rams and having gotten there the night before, he could drop hammer if he saw a legal one. Working on an airport has its perks, I taxi’d my plane over beside my truck on my lunch hour and got it preflighted and ready to go. I punched out at 5:00 and Im pretty sure the prop was turning at 5:01! No need to change clothes, I had business to take care of!
When I approached the riverbed we had marked on the gps earlier I spotted a few rams on the hillside, might as well take a look…. I was quickly distracted by an object about 100 yds from them, look a little closer and it was NICK! Oh man I thought he had one! I landed and waited for him to return to camp. Turns out he had been watching this group all day and wanted to see how close he could get, maybe there was a full curl in the bunch. No such luck. That night we discussed a game plan for the next morning, direction of travel, amount of food and gear to take, etc.
We woke up just before light, made a quick cup of coffee, and did a ceremonial coin toss. (winner of the toss getting the first shot) Quickly grabbed a cliff bar, and started pack’n. About 3 hours into the pack we were on a nice ridge top that gave us a good view of the next valley so we stopped and broke out my spotting scope. At the head of the valley we spotted a large group of ewe’s and one ram that looked decent, but was too far away even for a 60 power glass to tell much. We decided to continue up the valley towards the group, checking every creek bed, ravine and gulley that could hold a ram.
After another 5 hours of hiking we were finally at a good viewing point to take a look at this ram we had spotted earlier. He waaaaasssssss, is he legal? I could see full curl, but wait, maybe its the angle of the slope. We each counted 8 rings on one side and 7 on the other. Too close to call. After 2-3 hours of watching him we had an opportunity to sneak in close. Now we both agree, he’s legal. My range finder said 352 yds. Right now Im thanking myself for bringing my 300mag Tikka. This thing has almost no bullet drop and is an absolute tack driver. 350 yds, no problem! Im all setup, good rest, controlled breathing, thumb on the safety. Wait…Nick says softly, “I think we can get closer”…..Damn-it, he IS across the valley from us, its a little breezy, but its a full curl and its RIGHT THERE! Ok, we’ll work slowing across the river and come up the other side. NOW Im glad I have all this fancy new SITKA gear to try out 😉 We hiked up the other mountain side slowly, this is the same side the rams on. I had picked a rock that the sheep was near as a reference prior to the stalk, theres the rock. Where is the sheep? I can see up the mountain and left and right, I know he hasn’t gotten away, or has he? Im crossing my fingers that he’s not going to blast away in a sprint and temp me on making a running shot. The next 50 yds of the stalk were all out Navy Seal style! I lifted my head over the next rise and it took a second for my eyes to focus, it was SO CLOSE. NOW I want my bow, oh well, nows not the time to be picky. The ram sat just inside of 80 yds, head down grazing. I took the safely off, gave Nick a quick head nod, BAAAAMMM! I just tagged my first RAM!!! Now the adrenaline kicks in! Hands shaking, uncontrollable grin, congratulatory fist pounds, what a rush!
12 hours after leaving camp, on the first day of my hunt, I was standing beside my first full curl ram! I couldn’t be happier! Nick and I both took a minute, gazing out into the distance, attempting to take in the shear awesomeness of the country we had just hiked through. It really cannot be put into words or captured in a picture, you have to see it for yourself to truly appreciate it. Ok, we have a sheep to field dress. We made a quick spike camp at the head of the valley to get a couple hours rest before the long haul back to the planes. Meat was divided into each of our packs equally and then I had the honors of carrying the cape and horns. Ive heard the saying, “happiness is a heavy pack”. It really is. Every instant that I was feeling tired, feet hurt, thirsty, whatever, all I had to do was glance back toward my pack and see the horns curling out from inside and I was on the move again. Instant motivation. 
What took us about 8 hrs with light packs, took 14 with loads of sheep! We made it back to the planes and were able to take off that night and beat the weather that was coming in from the south. When we got back to the hanger we took our packs inside to see what they weighed, more bragging rights than anything but it had to be done. Nick’s was 95 pounds and mine with the cape and horns came in at just under 125 pounds! What a trip! The ram was full curl on one side and just shy on the other, 8 years old and measured 35″ on both sides with 13 7/8″ bases. I can’t thank Nick enough for joining me on this adventure and we have already begun planning next years. Later this season I had the opportunity to pick out some nice rams for next year and come August 10th, we’ll be there! No coin toss needed, next year Nick has the first shot!
