Random Pics from fall of 2012

I was able to go hunting up North again this year.  We set up camp about 300 miles North of the Arctic circle in mid to late August.  We fly in using bush planes landing on a 900ft gravel bar.  It is an amazing experience.  Even if you don't hunt its a magical place.  Absolutely no lights, so when it finally gets dark around 11PM the stars are crazy.  You can fish for Grayling until your arms fall off.  They are really fun to catch and good to eat.  Most of them we just catch and release.

Here is the second of 3 caribou that I shot on this trip.  His antlers were huge!  Two of my caribou went into our freezer to feed us for the year, and the third went into a buddies freezer for his family to enjoy.  We are very meticulous about harvesting all the meat from the caribou so none goes to waste.  

We enjoyed sunsets like this almost every night of the hunt.  Its so refreshing to get out that far from civilization and just enjoy nature.  I really hope to bring Kerry and the boys up with me soon.  They would all love it.

Here are some (horrible) pictures of the baby walrus that I transported from Anchorage to Indianapolis. He was 3 months old and weighed 350lbs.  He was super friendly, like a giant puppy.  Plus he was still eating only milk and formula so he didn't even smell like fish.  He would hop right over to your side of the cage and even suck on your fingers.  He was rescued after his herd left him off the coast of Barrow, then rehabbed at the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward.  His new home is the Indianapolis Zoo.  Probably the coolest flight I have done in my time at FedEx.