Winter is the time to brush up on some outdoor reading

Outdoors in Alaska, by Howard Delo

We are only a few weeks from the shortest day of the year. I usually read more and watch more videos and DVDs during this winter dark period and will suggest a book and a video you might want to check out.

The book, Alaska Safari by Harold "Zeke" Schetzle, was first published in 1989. My copy is the revised second edition, published in 2002. The subtitle, "The most comprehensive guide to Alaska hunting," pretty much says what the book is about.

Schetzle discusses such topics as choosing a hunting area and finding a guide. He gives his perspective on expenses, following the regulations, suggested equipment, and choice of hunting implement, among other topics, in a chapter-by-chapter approach to the subject of hunting Alaska.

Two things make this book especially unique to me. First, Schetzle is a Master Guide in Alaska and has many years of hunting and guiding experience in the Alaskan wilderness. Not many "how-to" hunting books are written by folks with the level of experience Schetzle has attained. For instance, his chapter on finding a guide or outfitter contains some "insider" suggestions only someone who has worked in the industry can give.

Second, I went to school with Schetzle. We both attended UAF way back when. I was a couple of years ahead of him, but we roomed one year on the same floor in Moore Hall. We both took some writing courses from Professor Charles Keim, an accomplished author, registered guide and university professor. In fact, Keim is the first person named on the book's "Acknowledgements" page, giving you some idea of the influence he had on Schetzle's future endeavors.

And, yes, Schetzle and I hunted together -- once. Schetzle was taking a photography course and had an assignment involving some outdoor photos. Since we both enjoyed hunting and he knew I was into blackpowder, he suggested we go on a cap-'n-ball revolver hunt for snowshoe hares out near Fox. I would hunt and he would take pictures.

Here's the short version. The snow was deep, the rabbits were scarce, and we were losing daylight quickly. Schetzle took several scenery photos and action shots of me loading the revolver and hunting.

Just as we were nearing the end of the hunt, I finally spotted a rabbit and we both got in position for the shot. I hit the rabbit, he got the photo, and the whole project was a success -- until, on the way back to the dorm, Schetzle realized he had forgotten to load film in his camera.

I think he ended up using some photos of snow-covered trees for his project.

One video you might consider watching is produced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and is titled, Northern Pike. The 34-minute video became available this past spring and contains information on several methods of pike fishing -- open water surface lure and bait, ice fishing, spear fishing and bowfishing.

Most of the video was shot using experienced volunteers, one of whom is Rick Rydell of radio fame. Another on-camera volunteer, John Godsey, is well known among the folks who bow fish and spear pike.

In addition to the fishing tips, the video contains some discussion about the problems northern pike are causing in Southcentral Alaska with salmon and trout. Pike are native to Alaska but not Southcentral.

Now that pike have become established in many of the rivers and lakes here, salmon and trout in those waters have started to show significant signs of pike predation.

The video's intended purpose is to educate anglers on how to better catch pike, hopefully, lots of pike, to reduce these predation effects.

The video concludes with a demonstration of how to fillet a pike and end up with only skinless, bone-free meat. That information, alone, makes watching the video worthwhile.

The video is available from Fish and Game on their Sport Fish Division Web site.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist who lives in Big Lake.