ARGO Titan XTi - First Mud! (and water)

We first got a look at the all new Argo Titan XTi at the Edmonton Boat and Sportsman show. You can see a You Tube Clip of the tour here.
A week ago one of these new units followed Sandi and I home. Today we got out and played with it in the lake/swamp that is our home quarter this year.
First impressions:
The adjustable steering that allows you to move the steering column to the center or even the far left side is awesome. We moved the steering to the center when there was only one person in the machine making the machine easy to balance in the water.
The other big difference was the change in the center of balance. With the seating having been moved back it is true a certain amount of rear cargo space is lost. However the difference in performance of the machine is substantial. It rides much closer to level in the water and turns better in deep snow and mud than ever before because of the center of balance shift.The ride is much smoother as well.
The XTi is lower geared and wider than the HDi. The lower gearing means it is slower but more nimble. The extra width (77" with the tracks on) means you need the quick turning capabilities.
All in all a very impressive maiden voyage, now I just need to convince Sandi that I should be the one driving again!!!

Very Inspirational Hunter

You have to check this video out. Andy Hahn is one of the most inspirational hunters I've ever had the pleasure to share a camp with. You can't believe the adversity he has had to overcome to still enjoy his passion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UALQfCw7RZU

Historical perspective on pack dogs

Dear Honourable Diana McQueen:

 

With the help of a couple associates, I have been conducting research into the history of hunting with dogs in Alberta and the earliest legal reference I can find dates back to the hunting regulations of 1907. I have attached that reference for your attention. The one line regarding the use of dogs seems to clearly identify the intention of what activity it was that the regulations of the time were trying to prevent. It reads, “No dog shall be used by anyone to hunt deer.”

 

Clearly the intent of the law is to prevent dogs from being involved in the actual hunting process, such as chasing or driving deer and not to prevent hunters from being accompanied by a dog where that dog is not involved in the actual process of the hunt. Having spoken with many retired Fish and Wildlife officers in the course of the research, it seems pack dogs were an accepted practice right through the ‘70s but unfortunately with the poor wording in the current Wildlife Act, the intent of the law seems to have been lost and has resulted in a legitimate group with historical use in the province being excluded. I ask you again to please right this wrong immediately with an order of non-enforcement until such time that the wording in the Wildlife Act can be clarified to represent the true intent of this law.

 

Respectfully,

T.J. Schwanky

 

Red Stag in Argentina!

We're hunting in Argentina with Caza Pampa this week on Outdoor Quest TV on one of the toughest hunts we've ever done....free-range red stags. The cover was unbelievably thick down there. Vanessa also gets to hunt feral rams and the elusive axis deer!

Jet Still Waiting

Dear Honourable Diana McQueen:

Please find attached another photo that is quickly going viral on the subject of pack dog use in Alberta.

Friends and I were out on the weekend for a great hike with our pack dogs in a WMU that is currently open for big game hunting and our actions were perfectly legal providing we were not hunting. It makes no sense to me that had we been doing exactly the same thing but with a rifle and big game tag in our pocket, that it would have suddenly been illegal. Is your department’s opinion of Alberta’s hunters that they are so unethical and irresponsible that they are the only group that needs to be excluded from the mountains with pack dogs? Are Alberta hunters such slobs that they cannot be granted the same opportunity as other hunters right across North America? Or, is as your staff has indicated, this law was poorly written in the beginning and should not apply to pack dog users in hunting season? We have yet another hunting season upon us in Alberta and still there is no indication from your department that you are willing to rectify this flaw in the system. Please help us out before Jet loses another 21 years of his life to this pointless bureaucracy.

Yours truly,

T.J. Schwanky

Tired of Waiting

Getting a bit tired of being ignored by the government. My morning letter to McQueen.

Dear Honourable Diana McQueen:

I was hoping to have heard back from you regarding the pack dog issue by this point in time. I am writing a column on the subject for the June edition of Alberta Outdoorsmen magazine and my deadline for submitting the piece is growing near and I was really hoping to share some good news with my readers. I would welcome the opportunity to hear your thoughts on this before I complete the column but I would need to hear from you prior to April 26.

I would hate to have nothing to report after three years other than nothing has been done on this issue despite constant reassurance by your staff that they were working diligently on it. I feel this issue has been nothing but a victim of a well orchestrated bureaucratic shuffle. It’s amazing how when your staff takes a personal interest in an issue how it can be expedited through the process in a matter of days but when they don’t it lingers in the limbo of bureaucracy for years.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I anxiously await your reply.

Respectfully,
T.J. Schwanky

Clayton White on Pack Dogs

Dear Honourable Diana McQueen:

 

I was hoping that you would have responded to Alberta’s pack dog users with some positive news by this point but I do understand that your schedule is indeed very busy. I’ve taken the liberty of including a letter from Clayton White below regarding his experience with pack dogs in the Yukon Territory. Clayton is a tourism operator in the Yukon and an avid hunter and pack dogs have become an integral part of his backcountry experience and safety. I urge you to read his letter and give his words the due consideration they deserve. In the meantime, I also urge you issue an order of non-enforcement regarding the portion of the Wildlife Act that says big game hunters may not be accompanied by a dog. This would allow pack dog use while still allowing enforcement officers to charge those that allow their dogs to pursue or chase big game. According to your own department, this is the intent of the law anyhow and it would only make sense that you order your people to comply with that intent. I ask you to urgently expedite this and not allow it to become further mired down in bureaucracy as it has been for the past three years.

 

Yours truly,

 

T.J. Schwanky

 

 

 

Hi TJ,

I got an email from Paul Deuling regarding your efforts to allow pack dogs on hunts in AB.

My comments:

 

I have backpack hunted for Dall's sheep and mountain caribou in various places throughout the Yukon and the NWT over the last 20+ years and have used a pack dog for the last 11 of those years.  I have also traveled extensively on Yukon's waterways by canoe and boat for the purposes of hunting, fishing, recreating and guiding wilderness adventure vacations.

It has been my experience that a well trained and well behaved, strong, durable dog makes an exceptional companion - carrying substantial loads;  keeping spirits up in foul weather conditions and under adverse circumstances; keeping a weary traveler warm should unexpected cold conditions arise; and, preventing unwanted bear encounters.

On the latter, my black Lab has stood his ground between me and bears (black and grizzly) on a few occasions.  His uncompromising stance and growls leaves no doubt in a bear's mind that safer places lay elsewhere.  His keen senses of smell and hearing alerts me of a bear's presence and his territorial instincts of marking our camp area assures me that an unwanted bear visit does not happen.

I believe well trained and well behaved dogs are of significant value in the safe and comfortable travel of back country users.

 

I hope this helps you in your efforts TJ.

 

Clayton White

Cedar and Canvas Adventures

Yukon

Turkey this Week

If you want to see the first ever successful Alberta Merriam's turkey hunt ever broadcast on television, you won't want to miss this week's episode of Outdoor Quest TV. And, after that, crew member Pat Garrett heads to the Yukon in search of caribou and fannin sheep with his son and Dad.

Let's Go Outdoors

Here's a link to the radio interview I did with Michael Short on Let's Go Outdoors last week. Thanks again to Michael for allowing me to get the word out about pack dog use in Alberta. http://www.letsgooutdoors.ca/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=52:pack-dogs&Itemid=157

Tavis Molnar's thoughts on Pack Dogs

For those of you who never got the opportunity to read Tavis' letter, I'll post it here again. I also shared it with the Minister and her staff this morning. Feel free to tell her how much you agree with this long-time pack dog user.

Hi TJ,
Paul Deuling had actually contacted me recently on this subject as well, I believe on your behalf.

We have used pack dogs routinely in the north Mackenzie Mo...untains, NWT for the past 20 years in the course of our backpack hunting operations. We've found a well trained dog to be invaluable for this type of hunting, as we do extended, self sufficient backpack trips of 10-16 days long, which involve many miles of travel. The use of pack dogs makes a big difference to many of our clients, who find carrying extremely heavy loads more than challenging. It also makes a big difference to our guides, as they put in a 90 day season, and often travel 500 miles or more on foot in that time. Particularly as you get older, reducing your pack load is imperative to preventing physical deterioration in the course of such an intense field season.
I truly believe that the use of pack dogs in many cases reduces the potential loss of game meat as well to scavengers, particularly on the larger animals (caribou, moose), as a large, strong dog can pack loads approaching 50 lbs of meat from a carcass, enabling the hunters to remove the edible meat from the site more expeditiously. As well, when the hunters are returning for subsequent loads of meat from the carcass, a dog is able to detect the presence of bears in the vicinity of the carcass, particularly in heavy bush where the hunters cannot see very far ahead of them. I have personally had my own pack dog warn me on several occasions when I have been about to stumble into a grizzly either on a carcass that I was purposefully approaching, or on bear kills that I was not aware of.
I have also had several cases where I have surprised or been surprised by a grizzly, and my dog has been able to run the bear off. In one case, myself, client and pack dog had stopped to rest in late afternoon near a riverbank after a long pack, and the hunter and I had dozed off in the shade. About 20 minutes later, my dog jumped up and started going nuts, and when I opened my eyes there was a large boar about 25m away. He had evidently either stumbled onto us, or had purposefully approached us while we slept. As soon as my dog charged the bear, he spun around and took off. It's difficult for me to say what would have happened had the dog not been there, but I'm sure that the bear would have ended up significantly closer before I would have detected him, and we may have either ended up in a serious way, or had to kill the bear to prevent possible injury.
Over the past 20 years, I have had to kill a number of grizzlies in self defense, and I can think of at least three of those that I'm sure could have been prevented had I had a pack dog with me at the time. It has in fact been pretty rare that any of our guides have had to kill a bear this way while using a dog, and I'm positive that there is a strong correlation, and not just coincidence. I know that personally ALL of my defense kills of bears came prior to my use of a pack dog, and that after I started using one I noticed my close and surprise encounters with bears declined sharply.
There also should be little concern with pack dogs harassing or chasing wildlife. Generally, anyone that I've known that uses a pack dog has invested a great deal of time in it's training, since it is not only a pet but a valuable working animal. They are usually selected for specific traits, including calm personalities, loyalty, and a desire to please. As well, even a young dog in the midst of his training finds that most of his desire to roam and/or chase wildlife goes right out of him when he's got a load on, or after a hard days pack. With all the various pack dogs we've had in our camp, of different ages and breeds, we've never encountered a problem with this.
Individual dogs also have their own unique abilities and traits that can provide additional safety benefits in the context of the close relationship between themselves and their owner, and which most owners of pack dogs would be able to relate. In my case, I can say that my dog is very good at detecting approaching thunderstorms (he's terrified of lightning). Over the years I've learned to listen to him when he's got that "lightning's coming, boss!" look on his face, and get myself and my client down from an exposed ridge or peak.
Anyone with young children that also uses a pack dog will also tell you that having the dog along improves your families ability to get out in the mountains greatly, not only for the weight that the dog will pack, but the peace of mind that comes knowing that the dog is looking out for the kids, and is always alert for bears. If I ever encountered a grizzly with my kids along, I'd feel good knowing that the bear will be distracted by the dog, and either think twice about the situation, or if nothing else be preoccupied long enough for me to insure my kid's safety.

Overall, my opinion is that it's completely nonsensical to disallow the use of pack dogs in the mountains, as there are numerous positive benefits to this activity, and to my mind no negative consequences.

Regards,

Tavis.

Today's Letter to McQueen

Here's today's letter to Diana McQueen. Please keep the pressure on her to allow pack dog use in Alberta. Take a moment to read the letter from Mr. Serle below. This is a man that has been there and done that.....not some bureaucrat in an ivory tower in Edmonton.

Dear Honourable Diana McQueen:

Mr. Serle sent me this letter some time ago and I thought it was worth sharing with you. Mr. Serle is a... long time pack dog user in British Columbia both in his hunting and trapping activities. His modesty prevents him from talking about his own skill and experience too much but let’s just say that if a person was to find themselves in peril in the wilderness, you would definitely want Mr. Serle and his trusty canine companion at your side. I encourage you to read this letter as it will help you gain an appreciation of the value of a pack dog. When a man of Mr. Serle’s experience says that not allowing the use of pack dogs is foolish, I know I’d take his words seriously. Can is really be too much work for your staff to right this wrong in Alberta.?

Respectfully,
T.J. Schwanky

Hello TJ, hopefully you can find some assistance with what I've written here.

I've been using a packdog for some time now, both in multi-day backpack hunting/hiking trips, and on the trapline during the winter. Other than the obvious companionship that a dog brings, their ability to pack heavy loads over long distances is invaluable, especially for someone who hunts alone as I often do. Anyone who has packed meat out after harvesting their animal can appreciate the ability to lighten your own pack by 30 lbs or more, and potentially bring all your meat out in one trip which reduces the risk of spoiled meat should it need to be left overnight. As well, their footprint, or impact on the environment is very minimal compared to other pack animals used by hunters, such as horses. A few horses can graze off & destroy vegetation, and disturb the sod/soil especially in wet conditions. They can also introduce foreign plants into an area through their manure. Dogs on the other hand, will pack their own food & water, and pack out any garbage or waste that you might have which removes the need to burn your garbage in the backcountry. My dog also packs supplies, bait, traps, etc for my trapping activities in the winter. This keeps the cost of operating a snowmobile to a minimum and also reduces emissions produced from burning gasoline/oil required to run a snowmobile.

Another great asset of a packdog is their awareness of bears in the area. Having my dog along on hunts has kept me out of possible conflicts with bears on quite a few occasions. My dog is a Rottweiler/Bullmastiff cross, and an excellent guard dog. His keen sense of smell and hearing has warned me of bears in the vicinity many times, thus preventing a surprise encounter which in turn keeps me safe, and reduces the chance of a bear being put down in a self defence situation. One recent encounter that comes to mind was with a sow grizzly bear and cubs. I was gathering up some water bottles before heading down to a nearby creek, when my dog jumped up and gave a few low growls, and began sniffing the wind with his nose toward the creek. I peeked over the edge of the draw through the timber to see a very mature sow grizzly with cubs coming up the creek not 40 yards away. Had it not been for the dog, I would have walked square into that old sow without knowing until we were face to face. That is just one example of many - I've had bears come in while sitting and glassing, while taking a nap during the day, while in my tent at night, and also when caping/de-boning a downed animal getting ready to pack it out. My dog never fails to warn me of their presence long before I would be aware of it, which I feel is one of the most effective ways to reduce conflict with bears.

One issue that gets mentioned with regard to taking dogs in the backcountry is the potential to chase game animals. Packdogs should have strict training against chasing other animals. Hunters who hunt with packdogs have extremely well trained/well behaved dogs as we will spend countless hours training and keeping our dogs fit for packing. One does not simply throw a pack on the family dog and go for a 14 day hunt on a whim - it takes a lot of effort on the owners part, and the result is a dog that is trained and suitable to be in the backcountry.

To not allow the use of packdogs is foolish and unnecessary in my opinion, as the benefits far outweigh any negative aspects. My dog comes along on just about every hunting/hiking trip I do, and has kept me out of trouble many times. Not only with preventing bear conflict as I mentioned, but he's also packed an incredible amount of my own gear after I was injured during a stone's sheep hunt - all told around 30 extra lbs of food and gear that I would have left behind otherwise, as my injured knee could not support a full pack for the hike out. He has also led me down off of a mountain by following our backtrail in the dark when I got into a bad situation, which basically kept me from having to spend the night soaked in cold weather, with no light or ability to start a fire. Situations like that are what bring you to appreciate what a good dog can add to your outdoor adventures.

I plan on many more years of hunting & hiking with my dog packing alongside me, and hope that more outdoorsmen and women will find interest in it as well.

T. Serle

Fraser Lake, British Columbia

Paul and Molly

I was digging through some of my old files regarding pack dog use in Alberta and I found this letter from Paul Deuling. Paul lives in the Yukon Territiory is without question one of, if not North America’s top sheep hunting guide. In 2010 h...e received the Wild Sheep Foundation’s prestigious G.C.F. Dalziel Outstanding Guide Award and that same year he received Boone and Crockett’s highest honour, the Sagamore Hill Award. He is a true man of the mountains and person from whose experience all hunters could benefit. I’ve had the honour of spending time in the mountains with Paul and Molly and it is their working relationship that really exemplifies why we need pack dogs legalized in Alberta.

Please keep emailing Diana McQueen and tell her it's time responsible pack dogs were allowed in Alberta.
ESRD.Minister@gov.ab.ca



The Value of dogs while hunting

I have been a hunter and guide in British Columbia and Yukon for the past 40 years. The last 15 years I have used a pack dog and regret not discovering their benefits much earlier.
The added companionship while on a 12 day hunt is most welcome as my dog is always upbeat and happy to be around me. Outdoor life is an experience most large dogs love as there is plenty of country to move around in and experience the various sites and smells. My dog not only carries a pack, sharing my backpack load, but also serves as a “warmer” by sleeping on my wet, cold socks and boot liners overnight. If socks are wet only from perspiration, they are dry by morning. If soaked from walking through creeks, they are at least warm when put on.
However, the most important reason I keep a dog with me while hunting is due to the unwelcome meeting of bears. Bears and dogs are natural enemies and don’t like each other’s company. While working for Arctic Red River Outfitters (in the N.W.T.), I experienced many encounters with grizzlies and each time a possible nasty experience was averted due to the sensitive nose of my pack dog. Grizzly hunting is not permitted in the Mackenzie Mountains, hence these critters are not shy about making themselves at home in your camp. Four grizzlies were killed in self-defense that year, all by guides without pack dogs. One bear, killed by Tavis Molnar (an experienced guide and present operator of Arctic Red River Outfitters), was shot from inside the tent through the tent’s wall. While writing this note, Tavis informed me he killed about 6 grizzlies in self-defense while guiding in that area. Once he started taking along a pack dog he had never had to kill a bear.
Another time after a successful sheep hunt, my golden retriever was fast asleep in the afternoon sun at our makeshift camp in the timber, when she woke up and quickly got to her feet, growling. A grizzly sow with two cubs approached our camp and despite shouts accompanied with pots banging, refused to leave. Only after my dog ran stiff legged and barking towards the bears did they decide they weren’t welcome.
While guiding for my son in the Yukon I had another encounter, again warned by my dog that a bear was approaching. This time we could see the bear a long distance away in the alpine. The large boar kept coming towards camp and only moved off after several shots were directed at his feet from my hunter’s rifle. He left with his head swinging and not at a fast pace. This had me worried as I thought that he would return later that night. He did. Molly my golden retriever, started growling at 2 a.m. so my hunter and I (with rifles at the ready) quickly got out of the tent and persuaded the curious fellow to leave.
There are many other instances during hikes in the mountains when my dogs would begin growling and alert us to a bear’s presence. And each time this occurred, I would thank God I had my trusted warning companion with me.
Paul Deuling.