It’s a wrap to another Prince William Sound Deer season. It started out with bleak winter kill reports from the State biologist of 50 - 70% die off, later revised to a possible 80%. Wow, I expected the season to be shutdown early or switched to bucks only but the biologist in Cordova explained to me that the numbers of deer harvested by hunters was nothing compared to the numbers killed during the winter. I informed the hunters that had booked transport with me about the bad news. Most wanted to go anyhow, whether they got deer or not. I kept hearing something about drinking cheap beer and cooking over a camp fire with their hunting buddies would be fun either way. A number of groups brought out their kids on their first hunting trips this fall. Teaching the kids how to plan a trip to the wilderness for week or two is part of good parenting. The kids learn camping and survival skills that can save their life. A lot of kids nowadays don’t have clue about harvesting their own food, making a fire or setting up a good camp. Taking the kids out into the wilderness they learn a lot about the wildlife, environment and conservation first hand. Camping with the kids is a tradition that has diminished in recent years but it will often spark an interest in them to get involved with conservation. It also teaches them they can have fun without a television and without hanging out at the mall. I would have thought most of our hunters would have cancelled their hunts since we don’t keep deposits for anything that’s not the hunters fault like emergency closures or rough seas. This is why I enjoy transporting Alaskans – their trips mean more to them than filling the freezer or hanging a head on the wall. They also go for the camaraderie amongst friends and for passing on the family hunting traditions to the next generations. Oh, by the way, some of those kids got the nicest bucks I saw this year! Very impressive deer for their first hunt – great job dads! I am hoping for a few easy winters in Prince William Sound so the deer population can rebound. I expect that there will be some changes in next season’s regulations for area 6D. Even though the season was closed early this year we had a great time - lots of good laughs - most hunters got deer and we had no bad weather cancelations. We are looking forward to next season when we will have some special lodging packages for our hunters that have been riding with us over the years. Our plan is to have the Research Vessel Cathy G at Montague Island from October through December for the 2013 deer season. No more lugging all that gear as you’ll be sleeping in real beds, taking hot showers, using a full size kitchen, hanging your deer on a crane and using an area out of the weather to process your meat. You’ll go home well rested and your deer will be ready to go in the freezer. No more getting home tired and smelling like a camp fire and then having to start processing your deer after you pack away all that camp gear. For those of you who must apply for a kitchen pass every season, if you stay on the Cathy G you can bring her along (no pass needed and you will have someone to help pack out your deer…)
The next adventure: Spring Black Bear and shrimper’s base camp. The Cathy G is back in her slip in Seward boat harbor - if you are in Seward this winter give us a call we’ll give you a tour of the Cathy G!
Captain Matt
(907) 362 1291
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