Horseback Adventures, Alaska Big Game Hunting, Life in the Bush by Alaska Chick

Shutting the Door on Non-Resident Sheep Hunting in Alaska

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The WRST (Wrangell St.Elias National Park & Preserve) - Hunting Guides Concessioners yearly meeting was held on April 5th, 2011 at the Copper Center Lodge Club 96 building in Copper Center, Alaska.

The typical gather / gossip that always starts the meeting was slightly less than normal with a few of the Registered and Master Guides missing for this one. We had the many of the usual suspects there, however, including the Park's Superintendent, Meg Jensen, Lona Ward the Park's secretary, and Mark Keogh the head of concessions.

The disturbing news that our local spunky biologist, Becky Kellyhouse, shared with the group was how lucky we were to have sheep hunting left in our business as Master Guides and Registered Guides hunting big game in Alaska. (That would be a huge thanks to Jason Hooley for the re-appointment of Ted Spraker!) The seriousness of this is that in two years, when the vote comes up again, putting so-called subsistance hunting against non-resident hunters, it could very well go the other way. If this happens, no non-resident of Alaska will be permitted to hunt a Dall Sheep.

I mention "so-called subsistance hunting with a sneer on my face because in actuality, no one that hunts for "subsistance" is going to hunt a sheep. Why, some of you may wonder? There is approximately 50 pounds of meat, once you take into consideration of the wound that will bring him down. Subsistance is the minimum (as of food and shelter) necessary to support life. 

I am, Alaska Chick.

“As you look, really look, and find no words; feeling both, your heart healing and filling to an inner bursting point and feeling that your soul has been laid open to the breeze and wind like a raw wound. This takes you beyond the physical, past the mental; this is the spiritual element. This is Chisana.”

My name is Amber-Lee Dibble and I am the Manager at Pioneer Outfitters. We are located in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve, our nation’s largest, most unexplored, unexploited and untouched National Park.

I am Mom, the Manager and the lead Guide of the Extreme Pro Team Guides. Born a Capricorn 1, Week of the Ruler, on the Day of The Indomitable One.

Pioneer Outfitters has been taking people into the wilderness of Alaska on horseback for Spiritual, Pleasure, Gold Panning, Glacier Exploring and Historic Trail Pack Trips, as well as Big Game Hunting and Survival & Guide Training since 1924. We, our family and our horses have always lived here year-round. As we make our life, we make our “living.”