Resolve to appreciate the outdoors

This year is almost over. A lot of things economic, political and otherwise that happened in 2008 will continue to influence our lives into the foreseeable future. I fervently hope and pray those influences will be positive.

I stopped by my friend Gary’s shop a while ago and got to talking with him about life in general and the outdoors in particular. Gary was born and raised in the Valley and is an avid hunter and fisherman. Usually our discussions are about relating the latest outdoor trip either one of us has made.

Gary told me about a recent day trip he had made with his long-time hunting partner, Don. Don had drawn an archery permit for moose on the military base and Gary had accompanied his friend to help pack and to just enjoy the trip.

As Gary told the story, the two guys were up in Arctic Valley. Several inches of snow covered the ground and the sun was shining brightly. The temperatures were brisk, but not so cold as to be uncomfortable if one was properly dressed. The winds were fairly calm and Gary commented about several of the wintertime “picture post card” views the two men enjoyed as they hunted the area for moose.

Gary commented about stopping to watch an eagle soaring overhead. We’ve all seen eagles before and for many, another sighting of an eagle is just that — another sighting. Gary, however, described the soaring bird with an awe and reverence only those who have lived their lives in the outdoors can appreciate.

As the two continued their search for a legal moose, Gary described crossing a set of fresh tracks that puzzled him momentarily. After cutting the tracks and following them for a bit, two other hunters from further up the ridge joined Gary and Don and confirmed what Gary was beginning to suspect. These two guys had spotted the wolverine as it meandered around, searching for whatever wolverines want to find.

While Gary and Don hadn’t seen the actual animal, knowing it had been by only minutes before was an invigorating thought. The tone of Gary’s voice and the look in his eye as he related this part of the trip told me how thoroughly he had enjoyed this near meeting with one of the more reclusive creatures in the Alaskan wilderness.

As Gary continued to relate details of the day’s adventures, I could tell the day had been a major success. Spirits were renewed. The stresses of daily life were put aside for a time and the joy of experiencing a beautiful winter day out in a remote Alaskan setting was thoroughly appreciated by these two men who understood just how important this spiritual renewal is in today’s modern living environment.

I can relate to Gary’s story. This past fall, I went on a riverboat moose hunting trip up on an Interior river. We had a great time and I got my batteries recharged too. Part of that process involved seeing a lynx.

My hunting partner, Dan, and I were sitting in camp on Sunday evening watching the riverbanks, both upstream and down, for the possible appearance of a bull moose. As the evening was just beginning to fade into twilight, Dan spotted some activity along the riverbank about 200 yards upstream and across the river. We both immediately brought our binoculars to bear on the movement.

A large lynx was hunting along the bank for either a snowshoe hare or possibly one of the many grouse we had seen along the shorelines. We watched that lynx for probably five minutes as it worked its way along the riverbank. The lynx eventually disappeared as it moved up around the river bend.

I remember the excitement and awe I felt as we sat watching the lynx going about its evening hunt. That experience, plus all the other events of that trip added up to making it a hunt I will remember for a long time, even though we never saw a legal moose.

I asked Gary if they ever did see any moose on his trip. He answered yes, but nothing within the very limited hunting range that archery equipment imposes on the hunter. They went home without a moose that day, but their spirits were renewed after enjoying the day’s sights and sounds.

As we approach the first day of yet another new year, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year and hope this next year will bring you joy and happiness. I hope you, too, get the chance to renew your spirit in whatever manner you most enjoy and, at least for a little while, you get to feel the same kind of excitement Gary did while following the wolverine.

Oh, by the way, I got a phone call from Gary the other evening. He asked me to stop by the shop when I get a chance to hear the second part of the moose hunting story. He was just leaving to go over to his friend’s house to start butchering a moose.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.