Mount Eklutna Hunt

Looking across the Inlet to the Lake Clark Wilderness

Sunday offered a chance to hunt with Eric, a friend of the clerk now occupying Meghan's former clerkship in Kodiak. Eric and his Setter Birch took me up Mount Eklutna to try our hand at grouse and ptarmigan hunting. I was pleased to join a seasoned professional - with a working dog no less - for my first Alaskan foray. After a stop at Fred Meyer to purchase my hunting license ($35) and a sandwich ($5), we drove to the trail head and began our hike up Mount Eklutna (priceless).

Eric and Birch with the day's first quarry

We climbed a steep slope to reach Eklutna's wide western ridge and, as small flakes started fly, we thought we would be hunting a white bird amid falling snow. We continued to angle across the peak's high shoulder over soft subalpine vegetation. Low lying thickets of black crowberries dyed the white fur on Birch's legs purple. The snow let up and Birch soon found a bird. Walking towards the bird and Birch, we were still a good distance off. The lone ptarmigan's only chance was to take wing before Eric had a chance to get within range. The bird froze, however, allowing Eric to get within firing range and Birch flushed him. After a single shot we had a bird in the bag. We soon spotted a pure white covey of about dozen birds fly from a nearby saddle. Several birds dropped out of the covey and Eric and I split up to maximize our chances. Like the first quarry I was able to stalk a lone male and harvest him with one shot.

A bird in the hand...