AAA Alaskan Outfitters2015 Newsletter

All animals taken in Fall 2015

Hunting coastal brown bear and moose on the Alaska Peninsula withMaster Guide/Outfitter Brent Jones

Brent Parks - Lafayette, IN

Ryan Staso - North Huntingdon, PA

Dedicated to Fair Chase

Dave HiffaHolland Patent, NY

Alaska Peninsula – Dog Salmon River LodgeOn September 10th, the crew arrived to open up the lodge for the fall season. Grass was waist deep around camp. The runway was mowed for Rick to start hauling supplies.

Randy Staso was back on his 3rd hunt after taking 2 brown bears on previous hunts in 2004 and 2010. On this hunt he brought his 15 year old son to hunt moose, wolves and to fish. On September 17th (2nd day of his hunt) Ryan connected on a nice bull, called into 100 yards. Ryan was my only moose hunter, so salmon fishing was now top priority. Hundreds of Silver Salmon were in the Dog Salmon waiting on Ryan.

The remaining guides and bear hunters arrived, only to find high winds and fog. We had 25 people at the main lodge, waiting for the weather to clear. Finally everyone was out to the spike camps and ready to bear hunt the next morning.

Dave Hiffa was the first to take his 8'10" bear on October 2nd, followed by his partner, Don VanDresar, taking a large male wolf 15 minutes later. Don had returned after taking a nice bear in 2011, looking for a giant, connected on another male wolf on October 7th, and should have had a 3rd. Jon Soderholm took his bow killed bear at 15 yards on October 7th.

John Shuler was back on his 5th hunt. John has taken a 10' bear, 65" moose, Dall sheep and a mountain goat on previous hunts. This hunt was for wolf and wolverine, getting shots at both from the main camp.

With thousands of Silver Salmon now in the rivers and creeks, the bears never had to move to eat their 100 pounds of fish and then sleep off dinner. The second hunt started with Dale VanErden taking a large male wolf on October 14th, and then taking his bear on October 18th. Brent Parks, after bow hunting for 6 days, took the largest bear at 9'5" with a rifle on the 17th.

Hunting was harder than on a normal fall season. With very few berries and lots of salmon, the bears were just not moving. Other drainages where I had some bow hunters, bears were abundant, but bow hunting is a whole different ballgame.

We have continued to improve the Dog Salmon River Lodge, and it remains one of the only lodges in Alaska where you can walk from camp and shoot a 60" moose, or a 10' brown bear and sleep in cabins with heaters and electric lights. At the lodge we have a main cabin, 2 client cabins, a guide's bunkhouse, shower house, storage building and a meat and skinning shed/shop and 2 weather ports. We also have cell and satellite phone service at the lodge. Fishing is always great in the fall with Silver Salmon, Dolly Varden Trout and Arctic Char caught right at the lodge.

Our hunting area is approximately 550 square miles (over 352,000 acres) in size. With an area this large we utilize up to 12 spike camps, located throughout the entire area. With over 120 miles of coastline, and 24 salmon streams, there are many great areas to hunt in this concession.

This season was the 28th year that I have owned, operated the Dog Salmon River Lodge and hunted this area. Thanks again to all of you who arrived as strangers and went away as friends, after sharing experiences that will never be forgotten.

Don VanDresar & Dave HiffaHolland Patent, NY

Don VanDresarHolland Patent, NY

Jon Soderholm - Sioux Falls, SD

Openings available for May 2016 and October 2017

Hello Brent and Merry Christmas

I can't express my gratitude for the incredible adventure I was fortunate enough to have at Dog Salmon River Camp. I have been trying to share the adventure with pictures and stories, with my friends and it gets overwhelming at times when I try to share the details. Your base camp, drop camps, quality of guides, quality of food, gracious hospitality at Dog Salmon was first rate. The pilots were exceptional. It was truly a hunt of a lifetime for me. I was amazed at the number of bears I saw and although a bow opportunity never presented itself, it was a hunt I will always cherish and certainly never forget. I would have had numerous rifle shots, opportunities at several bears on all days and could, if a rifle was my weapon of choice, have had a shot at a 10' bear within the first half hour of light on the first day and a 10' plus bear on the second day. Catching 200 plus salmon in my spare time was a trip in itself. Not many places you can go in the world and have those opportunities. God willing I hope to return.Wish you continued success, health, peace, joy and safe hunting in the new year.

Best regards, Timothy Cardillo

Brent,Thank you for a great hunt and great experience for my husband, David!Sincerely, Deb Hiffa

Dale VanErden - Tully, NY

Wolf Paw Chiginagak Beach Camp

Silver Salmon

Dave VanErden - Tully, NY

Dog Salmon River Lodge

DVDs For Sale

1. “ The Brown Bear Men” 110 minutes, 16 bears taken, 2 with a bow. 2. “ Hunting the Alaskan Giants” 112 minutes, 19 animals taken.

$20.00 each, 2 for $30.00,plus $5.60 priority mail.

Dale VanErden - Tully, NY

Ryan & Randy Staso - North Huntingdon, PA

Jesse Ryder w/Don's 2nd Wolf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDm9kmaf_o

Call: Brent Jones................................ (Office/Cell/Home) (907) 570-1493Website................................................................... AAAalaskanoutfitters.comEmail................................................................................. brentjns@aol.comFind Us on Facebook ........Dog Salmon River Lodge/AAA Alaskan Outfitters

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1473, Emporia, KS 66801-1473

Book early to get the hunts and dates you desire. Most bookings are 2 to 3 years in advance.

Outfitting for Alaska Big Game: Acknowledgements: May 10-31st ................................... Spring Brown Bear Thanks to all our employees for a job well done. September 10-25th ....................... Trophy Moose, Wolf, Wolverine Pilots/Guides: Dee Deoudes, Jerry Jacques and September 21-30th........................ Silver Salmon Fishing Rick Reynold's Bigfoot Air October 1-21st ............................... Fall Brown Bear, Wolf, Wolverine Guides: Jerry Starkey, Nelson "Trapper" Young, Jeff Brand, Troy Kitchel, Jesse Ryder, Mike Cowan, Riley Pitts and Glenn Elliott Camp Manager: Chris Moore Packer: Bryce Michael Member: APHA, NRA, SCI, FNAWS, and B&C Chefs: Randal Allange and Jack Egan

Sunset at – The Dog Salmon

Base Camp at Night

Pilot and Guide - Dee Deoudes

Pizza For Dinner

Pilot and Guide - Jerry Jacques

Jerry has made a full time living guiding and flying Alaska since

1978 with the exception of serving as a pilot in Afghanistan for 3 tours

of duty. With 30 years of Alaska bush flying experience (15,000+ hours) and holding Alaska Master Guide License #110 he is uniquely

qualified to be a pilot and guide for AAA Alaskan Outfitters.