Episode 11: Island Air Kodiak

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In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Eric Howard and Taj Shoemaker at the Island Air Service hanger in Kodiak. Island air is one of a handful of air charter operators on Kodiak Island, and if you are going hunting there, there’s a good chance that you’ll be hiring them to fly you out. Having flown with them and some of the other carriers over the years, I can say that they are a top-notch outfit.

Eric and Taj are two very experienced pilots, with a ton of knowledge of Kodiak. We sit down and talk about some of the dynamics and challenges of flying in Kodiak, as well as good things to know if you are planning on making the trip yourself.

You can follow their goings-on on Instagram (@islandair_adq) and Facebook (Island Air Kodiak). If you want to book a trip, just give them a call!

Questions or comments? email podcast@tundratalkak.com

thanks and enjoy!

-Tyler

Episode 10: Spring Goats on Kodiak Island

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In this episode, photographer and fellow Alaskan John Whipple and I have just returned from a late season mountain goat hunt on Kodiak Island. The registration goat hunt on Kodiak is one of the most unique goat hunting opportunities out there, and possibly the only place in the world with a bag limit of 2 goats. We talk a little bit about how cool this opportunity is, and give you a recap of our recent hunt. Sit back, and enjoy!

If you have any comments or questions, you can send them to podcast@tundratalkak.com

If you’d like to check out John’s photography, find him on Instagram or facebook, under 49mm Creative, and I encourage you to do so!

Episode 9: CDS Dials, Trekking Poles, and Crocs

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In this Episode I’m joined by Frank Schultz again, and we discuss A few pieces of gear we have learned to be very valuable on the mountain. We talk about what a CDS dial is, how it works, and how it is a valuable tool for increasing your comfortable range in the field. We also dive a bit into some of the debate on how far is too far, and the importance of practice, knowing your rifle, and being able to evaluate conditions before deciding to take a long shot.

We also get into some of the very valuable items like trekking poles, puffy pants and jackets, and crocs.

Enjoy!

Any comments or questions? email podcast@tundratalkak.com

thanks,

-Tyler

Episode 8: Megabou, and the Trail of Tears

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I’m joined in this episode by Brett Evens, a fellow Fairbanks resident who has quite a few stories and experiences under his belt. He’s a great guy, who is more than willing to get creative and go the extra mile for the experiences so many of us are chasing. We talk about the epic year he had in 2017, and I finally got to hear the story of “Megabou” first-hand, Brett’s story of taking a tremendous caribou last fall, getting sick in moose camp, mountain goats falling to the ocean, and, of course, a few sheep hunting stories. Sit back, relax, and I hope you enjoy this episode.

If you have questions or comments, you can email podcast@tundratalkak.com

thanks!

-Tyler

Episode 7: Guiding to Live the Dream

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In this episode, my guest is Mark Rowenhorst. Mark hasn’t lived here as long as many, but had the dream of moving to Alaska, and has used guiding to both facilitate that dream, and accelerate his learning curve. Because of that, he has experience beyond his years here.

We talk about how he came up here and what it was like starting out as a packer and moving on to being a licensed assistant guide, and how that is a very realistic option for folks who have always dreamed of living and hunting in Alaska. We also discuss some of the logistics of hunting Alaska, and touch on some of the things people forget to plan for. You’ll get to hear about some of Mark’s very first guiding experiences, and his first personal sheep and caribou hunt.

Questions or comments? email podcast@tundratalkak.com

thanks, and enjoy!

-Tyler