2007 has been a great year! On May 18th, Joanne & I had a wonderful wedding out in the desert near Las Vegas. We travelled far and well together; a May honeymoon in the Mount Robson area, the first sheep hunt of the season near the Snake River (11 days in a small tent as well as riding for 18 hours), and finally an October pilgrimage to Machu Picchu in Peru.     We hosted a very diverse group of hunters during our 22nd season of operation. Hunters came from Denmark, Spain, South Africa, Germany, Canada and the U.S.A. After flying to base camp they spread out to rustic spike camps within our 4000 square mile outfitting concession.     Spike camps are located in areas with good horse feed, firewood (although sometimes only willow), water, and potential for trophy animals. Everything is carried in by packhorse, tents, mattresses, cooking gear, etc. We use over 50 spike camps with varying frequency. This season we opened up a new camp on the Stewart River that produced some great moose. Even after 22 seasons we are still exploring!     Some spike camps are named after past hunters, like Hermann List Camp or Goodridge Lakes Camp (you need to hunt at least four times with us before this can happen). Others are named after current & past guides, Ella’s Camp, Richard’s Camp and Jamis’s Camp. Most simply have geographical names, Reptile Creek, Tarn Valley, Border Creek, etc. After years of use these camping areas become very special to us. If spike camps could speak, what stories they would tell!

The weather was very warm and sunny in August and then turned wet and warm for most of September. Fall temperatures were definitely above average, continuing a decade long trend.     Hunters harvested 9 dall rams in August, with an average horn length of 37.2”. September moose hunters took 13 moose with an average antler spread of 59.3”. A total of 11 caribou and two grizzly were harvested. Several moose and caribou were record book quality.     Tom Fox started the season off with a bang, taking a beautiful, wide flaring, 39” ram on the opening day of the season.     The largest moose this fall was harvested by Christian Filtenborg, a 68” monster that scored 240 6/8 B & C. This bull had palms that were 49” long.     Ed Salisbury was rewarded on his first sheep hunt with an old, broomed, 37 ˝” ram and a nice caribou.     Returning hunters Rob Nash and Don Robillard had a successful hunt near the Bonnet Plume River headwaters in early September. Rob harvested a 59” moose and a good caribou, while Don took a 58 ˝” bull on his fourth hunt with us.     The largest caribou of the season was killed by Jim Whitfield and should score about 427 B & C.     Larry Johnson also did well for a first time sheep hunter, taking a 38 ˝” broomed ram, after a tough two day horseback ride.     Our staff really enjoyed the company of Bill Goodridge, who at age 75, was back for his fourth hunt and took a 58” bull moose.     Mike Bromley made good use of his walking stick, climbing many vertical feet each day in very hot weather before harvesting a nice 37” ram late in the hunt.

John Kut completed a long horse back adventure through several spike camps by harvesting a record book moose that was 65 ˝” and scored nearly 228 B & C.     Greg Mitchell enjoyed a picture perfect, blue sky hunt, taking a 36 ˝” ram and a great caribou. Greg is a part time taxidermist and did an amazing job caping his animals.     Danish hunter Lars Dybvik harvested a 62 ˝” moose and the season’s largest grizzly with veteran guide Jimmy Johnny.     Guiding a horseback hunt in the Northern Yukon involves an incredible amount of hard work; saddling & wrangling horses, setting up spike camp, cooking, dishes, firewood, water, meat care, hunter care, glassing for game, trophy judging, trophy care, etc. Guides do this year after year because they love the unique, wilderness lifestyle. Our staff this fall included Jimmy Johnny-14th season, Leif Austad- 7th season, Rick Mortimer-5th season, Chuck Choumont- 4th season, James Zukieski-3rd season, Adam Van Bibber- 1st season. Wranglers were Ryan Widrig and Thorin Loeks. Pat Austad was back for her 5th season and did a great job cooking in base camp. The expediting in Whitehorse was well organized by my wife Joanne.     Our booking season for future hunts starts in October. We still have a few dall sheep openings for 2008 and openings on most timeframes for 2009 & 2010. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or visit our web site www.widrig.yk.ca       GOOD HUNTING !     Chris Widrig