I can't tell you enough how I respect all the effort and hard work you, Jim and the rest of your crew put in to make these experiences unforgettable !
I think back about the past 2 seasons with your outfit and a wide smile comes across my face... the reaction isn't just about the wonderful trophies taken but for the tremendous opportunity to visit and experience an ecosystem that most don't understand.
I thank you for that because in today's world, most fall short of what is outlined and expected... You my friend, don't !!!!!!!! What a great hunt!!!
Yours in hunting Pat DeRico
Ralph & Jim,
I cannot tell you how satisfied I was with the hunt we had with you this fall. It is not very often that I can say that the experience exceeded our expectations in every way....but you did it. The attention to detail from the packing list to time in camp to the quality of the guides and equipment everything was great.
I am sure that you know this, but the effort of guides Mike and Max in making the trip a 'life long experience' for my daughter Laura should not go unnoticed.
They were knowledgeable, caring, kind, respectfull and great fun to be with.
Thank you again for providing what you do......
Conway Marvin
Dear Ralph and Jim,
We arrived home from our Alaska hunt/vacation a few days ago, and just
had to write. We all had a great time! We loved every aspect of our caribou hunt! It
was a blast!
Thank you for all you did to make our time with Deltana Outfitters a
quality experience. Everyone there is knowledgeable, experienced, friendly, and helpful.
The four of us arrived to a great meal before flying out
to spike camp. And the great food just kept coming! Even in spike camp,
it was awesome and never-ending! I think we all gained weight during our
time with Deltana!
Our guides, Zack and Steve were great guys. They worked
their butts off for us! The ease with which they carried the heavy packs
of our meat was amazing! Not rain, or cold, or deep rivers, or bugs can
slow these guys down! We want to send our deepest thanks to them for all
they did for us. They found us great caribou, then took excellent care
of our meat and capes.
Ralph, thanks for going above and beyond, and providing
us with a "ladies room" in spike camp. What a blessing that was!
Our husbands have been hunting before, but us girls had
never been. We didn't really know what to expect. We had such fun! We
would do it again in a heartbeat! So guys, grab your girl. And girls,
grab a gun, and go hunting with Deltana Outfitters!
We would also like to send a thank you to John, the base
camp cook. Every meal he prepared was the best! Better than any
restaurant meal we had in Anchorage!
Also, thanks to Kurt, our pilot, for those wonderful
scenic flights, and smooth landings!
Ralph and Jim, I cant imagine any outfitter doing a
better job than you.
You are top quality all the way. We highly recommend you
to anyone looking for an outfitter. Thank you all for a great hunt.
Bob and Dee Youker
Dan and SueAnne Elenbaas
Ralph,
My sheep hunting trips with Deltana were two of the best experiences I have ever had with my clothes on.
Thanks again Ralph.
Tom Roland with his Trophy Ram.
I made the trip back to civilization with no glitches, and I had a few
days to recuperate before the onslaught at the office began on the
following Monday. I just wanted to reiterate just how much I enjoyed my
trip "up north." For a Mississippi boy, of course, it is quite a change.
As far as your operation, I agree with what I heard several others say.
Your logistical preparation is second to none, and even with some leeway
thrown in for contingencies, there was no excessive down time. To a
person, all who work for you and who handled my hunt in any way were
smiling, friendly, knowledgeable, and open people. Everyone seemed
genuinely ready to make this the time of my life, and successful you
were! from the moment that I left Happy Valley until my return, I was
enthralled with the experience. Sean was a very good guide, and his
knowledge of the area in which my hunt took place was thorough. He
appreciated any assistance that I gave to him, but never made it seem
that he demanded it from me.
I will always remember the moment that I shot the ram and the experience
that you and your friends provided me.
Sincerely
Bob Lewis
I just wanted to take a little time and tell you all how much I enjoyed my
hunt! It was really more exciting than I ever expected it to be! Most
outfitters don't plan as needed; they only expect payment without
putting their clients first priority ! This is probably the first I have
been on that I can honestly say that everybody associated with Deltana
did everything possible to accommodate their client. Good operation?
Excellent, Proper planning, Good people Create Good Results !!!
Satisfaction ! Thanks again for a trip of a Lifetime !!! I know it will
be a while before you get time to read this, so I also sent some
pictures on a CD.
Thanks Again
Troy
I hunted moose with Deltana
Outfitters in 2004. I had a wonderful time on the hunt and took a great
trophy bull moose on the trip. I then scheduled a caribou hunt for
August 2006. 2006 was a hard year for me!! My wife passed away in March,
and then on June 2nd I hit a deer on the freeway at 75 MPH. Killed the
deer and totaled the Harley, and only God knows why I am not dead!!
I spent my summer as an invalid in a wheel chair and
eating through a straw, My goal was to still make it to Alaska. I had my
jaw unwired, cast off, and most of my bandages off, did 2 1/2 weeks of
physical therapy when I showed up at Ralph & Jim's camp. I questioned my
sanity and I am sure they did too!
When they flew me out, Ralph put his hand on my shoulder
and said "Dan I'm sending you to Zack, he is young & strong. Good
Luck!" Ralph was right! Zack was expecting 2 hunters, but he got one
cripple who ate pills just so he could walk. He was an excellent guide
and hunter and companion. He immediately adapted, and we did the best we
could. It was a success for me to just be there, but Zack helped me get
2 very good caribou too! "Life is Good." I am now scheduled to be
hunting brown bear with Ralph & Jim in October 2007. I have read a lot
of other testimonials that say the Deltana Outfitter folks are like
family. "That is True!!" Everyone of Deltana crew is great !
Thanks Guys. God willing, I will see you at Bear Camp in 2007.
Thanks Dan Bennett
Ralph and Jim, words can’t
explain what your hunt did for my dreams. This dream started 15 years ago,
never expecting to fill it. After securing money through many unexpected
blessings, I started the search for a hunt package. With the first
conversations I had with Ralph, I felt like this was the Alaska Dream
Hunt!
I was wrong; this was the hunt of a lifetime. With high hopes and the
normal expectations everything on my hunt was twice what I could imagine.
Ralph and Jim treated everything in a professional manor, especially when
it came to safety. Their goal to make my hunt a success was nothing less
then impressive.
It started with their outstanding guides. Cort and Shane worked their
tails off for me while out in the field scouting, the stalk, the
field-dressing/caping, and especially packing the sheep back to camp.
Cort’s cooking was an unexpected surprise. All my reading of these hunts
meant meals in a bag, but don’t tell Cort. He cooked as thought he had a
chuck wagon, but some how did it on a back-packer stove.
When back at base camp, all the staff were very friendly. They made me
feel like I was part of the family. Even the pilots, Les and Dan added a
little color to the group. I hope Les can survive six months without Ben’s
cooking. PS – You’ve got to figure out a way to can Ben’s halibut chowder,
I’m still hungry for more.
Again guys, I can’t thank you enough for my experience. Your service and
honesty from booking to a double harvest is greatly appreciated. If any
hunter is looking for a hunt of a lifetime, I would highly recommend
Deltana Outfitters!
I hope to be back soon, Shane has sold me on a Moose or Grizzly hunt!
Greg French
You guys are 2nd to none. For me you guys made me feel
like an old family friend from the start. What a great trip; besides I
got to kill a brown bear. Thanks again for a great experience, great
hunt and trip.
Your friend
Charles Allen
Thank you for a great hunt this august. Great guide great experience.
Thanks Again
Robert Dickey
Excellent area, outstanding quantity and quality of
game. Very knowledgeable and competent guide made for a great hunt.
Thanks
Jim Moore
I enjoyed the hunt tremendously, felt like family, not
only with Deltana’s staff & guides but with the other clients in base
camp. Never saw another hunter during my hunt. I will definitely be back
to hunt with you again.
Thanks again
Mark Campbell
A DREAM COME TRUE
After dreaming of hunting white sheep for 35 years, I realized at age 50 that I had better do it. I talked to every outfitter and hunter I could
about sheep hunting in Alaska. I finally booked a hunt for myself and good
friend, Chuck Hedin, with Ralph Miller from Deltana Outfitters. Ralph assured me he and his crew would do everything possible to find us good rams
and that as long as God didn't hate us, we should do alright.
We set about getting ready; packing, weighing our gear, shooting our rifles and getting in shape, trying to pass the time until August. The
departure day finally came and we were on our way. Ralph picked us up at the airport in Dead Horse and we drove to base camp about 40 miles south.
The Brooks Range had just received a few inches of fresh snow and they were
awesome. Ralph was kind of secretive about how his first group of hunters
had done so we were very surprised to see three 37" to 39" rams when we drove up. All four of his first group had killed nice rams but one hunter
had taken his home with him, the others left theirs for Deltana Outfitters
to take care of. We drooled over those horns while we got our license, tags
and gear ready. Ralph had sheep on the barbecue and we were right at home
while visiting with our guides, Jim and Billy.
Matt, the pilot, flew in with the Super Cub and said we had time to get one of us flown out to a spike camp so my partner, Chuck, climbed in and was
gone just like that. Matt came back about 2-1/2 hours later to get Jim, Chuck's guide, and give us the report that Chuck became somewhat excited
when they saw some rams on the way in; actually I think he said Chuck tried
to jump!
Chuck and I were to be hunting several drainages apart so by the time he and Jim were flown in it was too late for me to go so I ate sheep meat and
waited until the next morning, which on the North Slope in August is only a
few hours away. I climbed out of the sack, ready to go, only to find thick
fog - that's hunting. We finally flew out and Matt dropped us off at a base
spike camp where we stored some extra stuff and loaded our packs for a two-hour hike up to our spike camp.
On the way hiking in, on a ridge 200 yards above us, I had my first look at a full curl Dall ram. He was a beauty and we watched him as he climbed
the rocks up and out of our canyon (as you know, you can't hunt and fly the
same day). After another restless night it was finally time to hunt. That
first day was long and exciting as you can cover a lot of ground when you leave camp at 3 a.m. and get back at 9:30 p.m. and all in the daylight.
That first day we saw one full curl ram but he was surrounded by ewes and smaller rams and was in an open basin that made a sneak pretty much
impossible. We decided to ease on out of there without spooking them and look elsewhere, thinking that if we didn't find anything he might be better
positioned tomorrow.
We glassed a lot of sheep throughout the day but no legal rams until right at the end, probably about 8 p.m.. The snow had mostly melted off by
now but there were still some big patches. It was at the bottom of one of
these patches, about two air miles away, that I spotted a lone ram. He was
coming down off an 8,000 foot peak at a fast clip. We could see through the
spotting scope that he had heavy dark bases but he was just too far to see
length. He was, however, heading into the basin we had seen the ram in that
morning.
We went back to camp planning on sneaking back into that basin and having two rams to choose from in the morning. It was about a 1-1/2 hour
hike from camp to where we could first look off into the basin with the two
rams so we left at daylight (3 a.m.). When we peeked over we saw nothing;
we looked from every angle but the sheep were gone. We couldn't see into the very bottom of the creek so we worked our way down until we were about
100 yards from the creek when Billy spotted a lone ram bedded in the very bottom, about 500 yards down stream. We saw that he was probably the same
ram I had seen the evening before and that he was at least full curl.
He was a goofy bugger though and by the time we made a plan he jumped up and took off. We couldn't figure what had happened but he headed up the
other side like something was chasing him. We knew he hadn't seen us but he
was moving out. The ram went about 1/4 mile up and just flopped down into a
new bed. He had a view of the entire drainage and we were trapped. We had
no choice but to wait, hoping he would move that evening and we might get a
chance. He didn't wait that long. About an hour later he jumped up and took off again, this time side hilling away from us down the creek about 300
yards, to a new bed. We were still trapped. Then, like before, he jumped
up and ran up and around the hill away from us, but this time he went into a
little side draw out of sight. We took the opportunity to run down our side
of the main draw and to try to get up his side and out of sight before he came out and into view. We were sucking air but we made it.
Now we could follow him on his side of the canyon and close the gap. Our stalk took most of the day, but we finally caught him feeding in the
open. The first shot from my 270 went clear through high and behind the shoulder. He stood but didn't fall so I dropped him with a second shot.
We both said, "Wow, what a hunt!", shook hands and looked up to see what every sheep hunter probably dreads. The ram gave a kick and started rolling
and he rolled and he tumbled end over end getting redder and redder with every roll.
I had to sit there helplessly and watch my dream of a lifetime tumble for 300 yards through the rocks and boulders. We watched that pure white
hide turn into a bloody mess and heard those full curl horns cracking into
the rocks time after time. All I could do was say, "No, no, no."
When we got to him he was a mess but the horns were in one piece. We used all of our water to get as much blood out of the cape as possible
before it dried; he actually cleaned up real nice with only small cuts on his face. Lucky!
We got back to our main spike camp in time to see Matt coming back in the Cub from Chuck's direction. A little later he came back with the news
that Chuck had also taken a nice ram. Chuck and I were flown to a remove relay strip and were able to sit there alone in the yellow glow of the
sunset in the middle of the Brooks Range with our two beautiful rams. What
utter contentment, a dream come true!
Ralph Miller and Jim Weidner, owners of Deltana Outfitters, are real A #1 guys. They will take you to the rams and if the rams move, they will
move you. They will do whatever is ethically and legally within their power
to make sure you go home with a trophy white ram.
I am going back but my wife wants a moose first so I will hunt with Deltana for moose next year and then save up for another sheep hunt with
them in the Brooks. By the way, I also killed a 375 B&C caribou - but that
is another story. Suffice to say you can't get any better than Deltana Outfitters.
Contact Ralph by phone toll free at 1 (800)
601-5006 or call 1 (907) 895-5006
August 2001 Dall Sheep Hunt
Written March 10,2002
To Whom It May Concern:
I have had the distinct pleasure of sheep hunting with Ralph Miller in the
Brooks Range in August of 2001 and August of 2002. After spending 20 days observing Deltana Outfitters sheep operation, I can unequivocally recommend
them as an outfitter. Their equipment is first rate and in good repair, Ralph's knowledge of game is noteworthy, he spares no expense to insure the
successful outcome of the client's hunt and his relationship with the assistant guides is more accurately described as family as opposed to
employer/employee. While laudable, these attributes are not unique to Deltana Outfitters. What sets Deltana Outfitters apart from most other
outfitters I have encountered is Ralph's commitment to insure that his clients truly enjoy their Alaskan Experience. This goes much further beyond
than merely successfully collecting the targeted species of game.
The 2001 sheep season was Ralph's first operating in the demanding environment of the Brooks Range. Although his permit allowed a much larger
number of hunters, Ralph only took 4 hunters the first year to allow the individual attention required by the demands of an inaugural operation. By
August 2002, I was amazed at the progression up the learning curve. After queering my assistant guide, I learned that following every season; Ralph
has a meeting with his entire staff to critique the operation. His drive for
continuing refinement of his operation is evident by the fact that all 8 of
the hunters where successful at collecting a dall ram in 2002. I consider 100% success after only 2 seasons a remarkable accomplishment on sheep
anywhere, let alone the vast wilderness of the Brooks Range.
Ralph's personality makes him very well suited for his chosen profession. He
is very outgoing and his willingness to find out about his clients and structure their hunt to insure an unforgettable experience is very unique.
He is a very patient man. I personally observed this while I watched him deal with a particularly difficult client. While eating a meal at the
surprisingly comfortable accommodations at the base camp prior to departing
for the spikes camps, Ralph, observing the downward progression of the snowline on the Smith Mountains, stated that we would be needing our long
underwear. This difficult client than stated that "he did not believe in
long underwear and that he had not brought any". Ralph calmly explained the
necessity of this equipment and proceeded to procure not only the underwear
but also adequate rainwear instead of the poncho the client had brought instead of the appropriate items Ralph had recommended on his extensive and
well thought out equipment list provided to every client.
Deltana Outfitters is a first rate operation and Ralph Miller is a very ethical man. He insists
on strict adherence to the principles of fair chase. Hal Waugh would be pleased to know that men such as Ralph continue to carry
on the tradition in Alaska.
Robert J. Gold
1580 Sherwood Court
Eagan, MN 55122
You guys are great in every aspect: you made us feel like your only
clients, even though you had a number of clients in base camp. My guide
could not have been better, and would not trade the experience for
anything. Great work, great organization, excellent people. You deserve
a lot of credit. I will be back for maybe Dall Sheep in a year or so.
Michael Lomos
August 2001 Dall Sheep Hunt
Dear Ralph, Jim & the boys;
I just wanted to let you know again what a great time I had with you guys.
I 've been dreaming of hunting white sheep since I was about 12 years old
a very long time you see. So you not only took me hunting but you
fulfilled a dream.
The whole trip was better than I had dared to hope it could be. >From the
start I was impressed with how well all the guides and camp personal
worked together, and how organized everything is. Everything you did was
focused towards us getting an opportunity at a ram and latter a good
caribou. It really put me at ease after I arrived and saw that all of you
were really serious about doing whatever you could to make sure we found
game.
For me this was my first time ever to hire a guide, so I was worried about
trusting someone else with my dream. Also for me I didn't want to have
someone just lead me by the nose and point out the game and tell me to
shoot etc.
I wanted to hunt and I really appreciated how my guide made it like we
were two friends just out hunting together, like we were partners. It was
real hunting, fair chase and not just shooting an animal. I really
appreciated that!!!
And then there is Matt. What a nice guy and good pilot. I grew up in a
super cub on our ranch, my brother flies helicopters, and I worked
helicopters logging for years flying in & out of bad places with a
number of different pilots. I crashed with one of them and was lucky to
live so I know what I'm talking about. Matt is good!
I also was very impressed with the way our capes were taken care of,
washed fleshed, and salted. Most of all though I can't wait to get back up
there and hunt with you again. I want to sheep hunt again in the worst way
but my wife wants me to get a moose first so I'll be up in Sept 2003 to
hunt moose in the Yukon camp, and then I'll book another sheep hunt in the
Brooks Range so save my spot. Lucky ole Chuck is coming back this year to
hunt sheep
again and also coming with me in 2003 to hunt moose so you are stuck with
us for at least a couple more years.
I just want to thank you again for providing me with such a lasting
experience; I'm still not back to earth. If you would like a great
hunting trip with great guys call Ralph toll
free at 1 (800) 601-5006 or call 1 907-895-5006, or check out the web site
at www.deltana.com
Thank you very much:
Tom Higgs
1421 So. Main St.
Yreka, CA. 96097
Phone. 530-842-4270
Phone. 530-459-3669
2001 Dall Sheep Hunt in Brooks Range
As Good as it gets:
After years of dreaming and planning to hunt the great white sheep of Alaska
Tom & I started looking for the best guide/outfitter we could find. After
lots of reading & calling around checking references we found Deltana Outfitters in Delta Junction Alaska. We called and talked with Ralph about
the type hunts he has and checked more references. In January we booked a Dall sheep hunt in the Brooks Range with Deltana Outfitters for august 2001.
Now the worry started, did we pick the best outfit, will we have a good hunt, will we see sheep,
etc.
Ralph had said that he was coming to the FNAWS show in Reno NV, in a few weeks so we decided to go and meet Ralph and see just who we would be
hunting with. My partner Tom and I met Ralph and his partner Jim along with
some of their crew in Reno a few weeks later. We were very impressed with this group from the hills in
Alaska, what a great bunch of guys. This meeting really put us at ease and we began looking
forward to up coming trip.
When we arrived in Deadhorse, Ralph was waiting and after a short tour for
this small town we were off to base camp, about a two hour trip. After a quick lunch and Ralph issuing our hunting
license & tags, I was soon flying with his pilot, Matt what a great person & pilot he is to. On my trip into my
sheep camp we saw lots of sheep and a couple of grizzly bears what a way to
start a hunting trip, I was jacked up and ready to go now.
We soon had my sheep camp spotted and landed. Jim my guide already had everything in order in camp and was ready to show me some sheep. That
evening, we spotted Mature rams right from camp, but decided to scout more
in the morning. Next morning after breakfast we started hunting, we spotted
even more rams, but continued to scout, soon we spotted even another very large ram, which I decided to try taking. But as luck would have it even
before we could start our stalk this ram decided to change his feeding area
and moved over a ridge and out of sight. After trying all day to get on this very large ram with no results, we
returned to camp, tired, but very enthused with the number and size of rams
spotted in just one day.
The next morning, while spotting from camp during breakfast, we spotted a very large ram approximately 1-½ miles from camp. A stalk was planed and
away we went, on arrival at our per-determined shooting spot, guess what the
ram was gone! We looked all day, as this was truly a very large ram, but could not locate him. Back to camp, tired, but very enthused as even more
rams were spotted on distant mountains.
Next morning, it was decided to make an attempt at the ran, we had tried for on the first day as this was truly a great ram, on the way there another
very good flared horned ran was spotted, but I still wanted to try for the
first day ram. This ram was soon spotted, we made a stalk, and I had my dream trophy of a lifetime. Shortly after we arrived back at spike camp with
my trophy and meat, Matt the pilot arrived to check on us. Having gotten my
ram early we decided to retune to base camp. Arriving are base camp my partner Tom was waiting with a big smile, he also
had taken a beautiful ram (on his second day) what a trip, two very happy hunters with two great trophies.
Now with our rams taken care of in very short order, Tom decided he wanted
to attempt to take a caribou, and with very little persuasion, I soon joined
him in this idea. Ralph said no problem all things are possible. Ralph and
Matt went scouting for us and soon returned with good news, lots of big caribou bulls. In short order Ralph and Matt moved the guides and camp into
the caribou area. The next day Tom and I were flown into join our guides and
were greeted with smiles and lots of caribou. The next morning, we both took
a large bull caribou in the 380's.
In short, Deltana Outfitters is a class act operation, very professional, top-notch guides and pilot. I had so much fun hunting with them in 2001 that
I am going back and hunt sheep with them again in 2002, and Tom and I are both going to their world class Moose camp in 2003. All in all, I don't
think a person could take a better hunting trip, the wilderness of the Brooks Range and the Artic are unmatched, the amount of game in this area is
unreal.
Any hunter looking for a great hunt, honesty, professionalism and guides that know what they are doing, Call Deltana Outfitters and go with the best,
907-895-5006 and talk with Ralph he will get the job done for you. If you
have any questions, don't hesitate to write or call me. These guys are the
best. Check out their web site at, www.deltana.com.
Chuck Hedin
6527 Big Springs Rd.
Montague, Ca. 96064
Phone. 530-459-3842
Phone. 530-598-7267
Sept 2000 Moose Hunt
The friendship, aptitude and skill of the guides made this truly A Dream
HUNT.
William Jewell
Sept caribou hunt 2000
Great Hunt nice setup, first rate guides excellent food and good atmosphere.
Scott Preece
2000 caribou hunt
I had a great hut everything was perfect. Better than I expected. I plan on returning in a year or so and trying for a larger caribou. Great food, guides, tents, fishing, and plenty of wonderful memories.
Kurt A. Black
2000 caribou hunt
My father and I enjoyed our hunt greatly. It was the most enjoyable and professional hunt we have ever been on. Thank you for providing such a quality hunt.
Clint Bordelon
2000 It was a real privilege to have Gary as my guide . I was very impressed with his skill & expertise. Great outfit! Strongly recommend this hunt.
Conrad Costello
One of the best trips Ive been on in 45 years of hunting. The camps,
personnel, food and game were A+
James E. Egger
Ross, CA
I just wanted to thank you all for the great hunt and experience.
It
was my first game hunt and I dont think it could have been any better.
Tell Kent and the rest of the guys thanks and that the Brown family hopes
they have a great year, and thank you for the Christmas card. I hope to be
back for another caribou or a black bear. Myself and Garry Benner had a
great time. You run an outstanding camp.
Thanks again,
Wesley Brown
Ralph; excellent hunt, facilities and guides. This was a very ethical
camp and
hunt. I do not believe you can say this about your
competitors.
Rick Arnold
Best camp Ive been in. Great people, great camp, great time!
Mark Farnam
North Dakota
[The] owner, Ralph was very friendly. He and all his guides treated us like
we were part of their family. Top-notch facilities.
Rick Patterson
Deltana Outfitters camp and accommodations are first rate which made
our hunting trip very comfortable and most enjoyable. This was Sharons
first time in hunting camp and will be an unforgettable experience!
Greg and Sharon Michel
Cletus Gerardy
Great outfit. Good personnel. Good cooking. It was like going hunting
with your friends. Excellent camp. [Your guide] worked his butt off for me. Great attitude. Excellent
camp.
1st class. One of the best hunts Ive been on. If I go back
to Alaska, Ill be looking you up.
Bobby Bond
Draper, UT
The best food and accommodations I have ever experienced in a guided
camp. Loved the shower. Kent did a great job, and more importantly was a
real pleasure to be with.
Dennis Richardson
Yakima, WA
All in all the best hunt I have ever been on. Great guides, good
accommodations, well planned, successful hunt.
Chris Mills
I thought I would just take a minute and thank you for the great hunt
in September of 1998. Both my customer and I were totally satisfied with
our trophies and made it a trip of a lifetime that well always
remember!
We arrived on Sept. 7th by plane on a beautiful river 150
miles [from] Iliamna, AK at a base camp and were greeted by outfitters
Ralph and Jim, owners of Deltana Outfitters. From there we went by jet
boats 20 miles up river to a spike camp that was surrounded by herds of
caribou, moose and brown bear. The first thing we did was get everything
unpacked into camp and so we could set some hooks into those great
fighting silver salmon that were stacked in the river waiting to give us a
fight of our life. After testing equipment, we caught trophy size
salmon, arctic char, grayling and beautiful rainbow trout that fisherman
from all over the world would die to catch.
We woke up every day of our hunt to a great breakfast and hiked up to
the top of a mountain to glass caribou feeding in the valley below us and
working their way towards us. That first day we passed up some larger
bulls that most hunters would have been very happy with but we decided to
pass because the hunt was just beginning. That day I put a stalk on a 60
inch bull moose with my bow and lost him in the heavy brush at about 75
yards. With a rifle it would had been an easy task and a great trophy.
Day three was a little slower with nothing but small bulls and cows
moving past us because all the large herds were moving into a strong wind
moving from left to right in the valley which did not help them come in
our direction. Another great day on the mountain watching brown bears
feeding and wolves putting stalks on caribou. The fishing was even better
this day with silvers moving up stream and grayling were beginning to be a
pain because you couldnt keep them off the hook.
The fourth day was one of the greatest hunting days of my life which
began with my hunting partner and I spotting many bull moose and two large
bulls about two miles away fighting. Several minutes later my guide and I
decided to go after them which was only down a mountain across a river,
and through some thick timber. From there we moved about
50 yards further and called once again. A response and my heart started
racing as here came a bull of a lifetime that I took with shots from my
bow at 45 and 57 yards. He measured 58 inches and made the Pope &
Young record books easily. What a great bull! Oh, did I forget to mention
the 70 inch bull that came out of the bush behind him after I had shot. It
took us from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to pack everything out and thanks to all
that joined in to help.
The 5th day was a little slow once again with a bad wind
pushing the animals in the wrong direction but what a great day we had on
the 6th day with everything working in our favor. It started
with myself taking an average 325 class bull and ending with my hunting
partner taking a great bull after passing on any smaller 330 class bulls.
Its amazing how fast things can happen when youre spotting these
animals 5 miles away and all of a sudden theyre all over you and youre
trying to figure out which bull is the one to shoot. Great bull Mark
scoring around 370!
The last few days we spent relaxing breaking down camp and catching all
the fish we dreamed of to put on our walls back home. What a trip!
Thanks again,
Greg Savino
Vadnais Heights, MN
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