This is the usually scheduled week where several Rangers takes time off and spends five days hunting mules during the “Great Alaskan Adventure”! Since “other” things are keeping the gang from assembling at the Happy Hunting Grounds, it’s apparent that Leaddog will be solo….again. If one recounts the events of last year, a blizzard kept Leaddog in camp for almost two days. Things were a bit better this year…..
Wednesday:
Leaddog arrives at camp to begin a five day assault on the hills. After getting camp open, and things set for the week there still is time to get into the woods. Suiting up for a long sit at a spot where a mule has been patterned Leaddog heads to a “certain spot” not too far away from camp. Leaving at precisely 2:00 at crawl was completed to the watch, and the wait begins. At one hour and thirty two minutes into the hunt….the Alaskan Adventure is over. Sitting for under an hour, in a very stoic atmosphere Leaddog hears noise coming from left behind! A mule is walking less than 75 feet from the watch, and upon showing himself one shot is fired at the mule sporting horns! The mule runs towards the Red Painted Trail, two more shots are let loose…..just because. Waiting a few minutes Leaddog goes to the spot and finds blood! He’s hit! And the sun is now in setting mode, with about 45 minutes of light left. Gathering gear, the chase is on and hopefully not for long. Finding a now growing trail of blood all looks good that it may not be long before it’s found…which it was after about 100 yards of tracking. A nice eight pointer is down, and so is the setting sun. What to do now?! Dressing the mule at sunset, and dragging it away from the kill site to avoid critters from finding it Leaddog returns to camp in the dark. Calls for assistance are made with no help coming until Friday….
It must be mentioned that Leaddog receives the coveted “Solo Kill Badge”, which only until now one member has received – the lost ranger “Raven” (Jerry).
Thursday:
After a restless night of sleep, due to the constant fear that the Big ‘ol Mean Bear or Yotes will find the said downed mule Leaddog heads out with rope and a come along to hang the mule until help arrives. Finding the mule intact it is with some trouble the mule is in the air, now out of reach from critters. Polecat arrives later, a meal is consumed and plans to remove said beast are made for the following day.
Friday:
The two gets the buck cart and heads to retrieve the mule. It must be conveyed that what is considered a “Trail” from the kill site is in an area that even mules will avoid, and so will the gang in the future! After several hours of encountering rocks, ruts, blowdowns and backbreaking hummocks the mule is back to camp where it is weighed (135lbs), skinned and quartered. Leaddog will further process the mule upon return to home.
Saturday:
With one mule now under their belt, a crew of six hits the western bunny hill, with Leaddog now looking for a bear for the Toucher….It is an unusual day, as no rain or snow has been seen in days. The woods are like walking in the proverbial bowl of cornflakes, it is in fact so noisy that drivers could be heard and not seen! All mill about to attempt to push something to one another, with no results. The leaves are so dry and thick that the red squirrels are tunneling beneath with their headlamps on!
Sunday:
Disgusted with conditions, the crew performs their Environmentally Conserved duty to let the woods be and not to scare “THE MONSTER TEN POINTER” as caught on the camera only 200 feet away on Thursday night. Note that this photo also caught the lights from camp, as Polecat and Leaddog were eating dinner that night! PLUS, being the stewards of the woods that we are, we decided that if a bullet were to hit a rock and cause sparks, it may have resulted in a forest fire! That’s our excuse and we’re sticking to it!
Hopefully photos will be added……
Update!
Buckcart for sale…..