Our 2024 season has come and gone, the horses are out to pasture , the crew are all home safe and sound and we are already starting to think about next year. For me fall is always a busy time with crating the year’s collection of trophies for delivery to the shipping agent, year end bookkeeping and of course lots catching up around home after being away for 3 months. There are shows to plan for and it is never too early to start gathering up supplies for next season.
We had a very enjoyable season at Gana River this year. We were once again blessed to host the youth camp for the Northern Youth Leadership Society. My wife Laura and all of our kids flew up to camp the last week of June to open up camp and cook for about 12 kids and 4 youth leaders. Sadly we were unable to find a local elder to come and work with the kids. I spent some time teaching the youth basic wilderness survival skills and leading the group on hikes. I was also able to give them a little understanding about the outfitting industry.
When we arrived at camp there was evidence of a recent heavy rainfall. The rest of the season was a bit drier than normal but we did have enough timely showers to keep the grass growing and produce a good berry crop. We had lots of blueberries, cranberries and moss berries—especially at the higher elevations. We did not have any big rainfalls at base camp but the water levels in the rivers rose several times because of lots of rain towards the Yukon border. I would say it was about an average year for antler growth on the moose and caribou, and we seemed to have a good crop of big healthy lambs in most areas. We ended up taking 24 rams that averaged 37.4 inches in length and 10.5 years of age for 24 sheep hunters—100% success rate! Clients harvested a total of 27 bull caribou with an average B&C gross score of 375—4 bulls grossed over 400 B&C. All of our caribou hunters took home nice bulls, and many sheep and moose hunters added a caribou bull to their harvest. The fall was quite warm and the moose rut was slow—one client did not get a chance at a decent moose and a couple of repeat clients chose not to harvest average bulls. Clients harvested 7 bull moose that averaged 62 inches in width—both archery moose hunters were successful in 2024, as was our one archery sheep hunter. All 3 of our archery caribou hunters had opportunities but only one was successful in taking a good bull with archery equipment.
On Backpack Hunt #1 Jordan Wolf took a great 41 inch 11 year old ram hunting on the “Rockpile” with guide Brant Chutter. Gordon Wollman has limited mobility due to progressive MS but was able to take a 35 inch ram with guide Scott Kennedy. On our first horseback hunt Leon Schlabach hunted from the Ram Cabin with guide Wyatt Tennant and took a nice 35 inch ram. The Fritz River crew started the first hunt at the “Purples Camp” in 2024. Shane Stuhr took a nice 38 inch ram with guide Riley Janz. David Stuhr (Shane’s father) hunted with guide Jason Wheale for a great 40.25 inch ram and a 402 gross velvet caribou. On our second backpack hunt archery hunter Dave Ellis hunted hard with guide Scott Kennedy and was rewarded with a heavily broomed 34.5 inch 10 year old ram taken with his bow. Thierry Caruso hunted with guide Clayton Hood and took a good 10 year old broomed ram. I guess this was the hunt for broomed rams as David Zaozirny also took a heavy broomed 35 inch 12 year old ram hunting with guide Brant Chutter. David and his son Logan finished off the hunt with a pair of velvet caribou taken from base camp with some extra help from packer Henry Boden. Guide Ryan Faehmel and his son Judd took caribou hunters Marty and Kayden Tanner to the “Horsepass” for caribou and were rewarded with a pair of 385 B&C class velvet bulls. On the second horseback hunt father and son team of Tony & Jacobee Reviglio were guided by Wyatt Tennant & wrangler Jayden Drost. Tony took a good ram early in the hunt and Jacobee was able to harvest a 360 velvet caribou. The Fritz River crew hunted from “Double Header Camp” on the second hunt where Josh Meissner took a good 9 year old ram with guide Jason Wheale. Josh’s son Emmett enjoyed his time tagging along on the hunt but did not harvest a caribou. Caribou hunters Will Love and Zach Broome filled a short notice cancellation hunt and both took great velvet caribou hunting with guide Riley Janz and wrangler Ty Drost. Will and Zack will be back for sheep in 2027.
On our third backpack hunt Kevin Wilkerson took a great 40 inch ram that green scored 165 B&C hunting with guide Scott Kennedy. Nate Marquay took a good 10 year old dall with guide Clayton Hood and his son Kyle was happy with his 385 mountain caribou. Brett Vorhees hunted with guide Brant Chutter and took a good 37.5 inch ram. Traditional archery caribou hunters Tom Basch and Ben Craft hunted in Ledbetter with guide Ryan Faehmel where both took good bulls. Clayton Taylor who wrangled for us in 2022 came back and hunted caribou with guide Henry Boden and took a 360 velvet bull. On Horseback Hunt #3 John Justus hunted with guide Wyatt Tennant and wrangler Ty Drost. John was happy to harvest a 12 year old ram and a good velvet caribou. The Fritz River crew moved down to the Lower Fritz camp where Randy Newberg took a 10 year old 38 inch ram and a 397 caribou with guide Riley Janz. Andy St John hunted with guide Jason Wheale for a heavy 39.5 inch ram that green scored 167+. Randy and Andy as well as cameraman Marcus Hockett had lots of support from wrangler Jayden Drost and trail cook Jesse Peterson. On our fourth backpack hunt Joel Faestel hunted with guide Clayton Hood and took a good 38.25 inch 11 year old ram. Eric Gabrovic hunted hard with Scott Kennedy for another great old ram that was 38+ and 12 years old. Joe Thomas hunted with guide Brant Chutter and was happy to take a good 36 inch ram and a 411 gross mountain caribou. Repeat hunter Jamie Arnett was able to bring his father Tom along for a 2 on 1 caribou hunt with guide Ryan Faehmel. They chose to do the hunt from our Ya Ha Cabin on the Mountain River. Ryan took his son Luke and Anders Grinde along to have some extra eyes and some entertainment on the trip. The caribou hunting was slow but they eventually scored a double header with Tom taking a 391 hard horned bull and Jamie a 405 velvet bull. On the fourth horseback hunt the Fritz River crew started their hunt at “Two & a Half Hour” camp. Garrett Lasater hunted with guide Dane Schott and had a great hunt taking a 37.5 inch dall ram as well as a 370 caribou. Peter Fair and guide Jason Wheale were hunting hard for sheep but could not pass up a 385 mountain caribou for their first harvest. They were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a great 12 year old broomed ram. The Ram crew stayed at base camp on the fourth hunt after being out for the first 3 hunts. Two on one Horseback caribou hunters Clair Carter and Todd Day both took nice bulls hunting from base camp with guide Wyatt Tennant and wrangler Jayden Drost. On our fifth backpack hunt repeat hunter Jeff Haynie and his hunting partner Dave Matthews hunted with guide Brant Chutter. Jeff and Brant backpacked for sheep and were happy to take a heavy horned 39+ ram up on the Gana River. Dave then flew over and joined them and both Jeff and Dave took good hard horned caribou—Jeff was excited to take his bull with his bow. Marc Schmittlein has waited many years to come and hunt with us. He hunted with guide Scott Kennedy and packer Henry Boden and started strong with a 38.5 inch ram. They then rafted down the Mountain River hunting moose and caribou but without much luck due to warm weather. Repeat hunter Steve Mulvihill took a great 63 inch moose and a nice caribou hunting with guide Ryan Faehmel. Steve Stone and Daniel Mihai hunted on a 2 on 1 caribou hunt with guides Clayton Hood and Riley Janz. Both took good bulls. They then shifted gears and moved up the Fritz River to look for moose. Steve was able to connect on a great old 65 inch bull. On our horseback moose hunts repeat clients Darin Fiedeldey and Duane Corley hunted at “Willow Camp”. Duane’s daughter Stephanie came along to keep her dad company on the hunt. Unfortunately, some of the crew got sick and were out of commission for part of the hunt. Duane has aged some since he last hunted with us, but Dane Schott was able to get him out of camp on horseback and they found a nice 53 inch bull that Duane was happy to take. Darin and Jason eventually got out hunting and were able to connect on a good 62 inch bull. Repeat hunter Zach Harris hunted along the Fritz River with guides Wyatt Tennant and Jayden Drost and worked hard to finally take a good 64 inch old bull despite the warm weather and slow rut.
On the last backpack hunt repeat client Steve Arnett and guide Brant Chutter passed an average bull moose while rafting the mountain river hoping to find a giant. The moose rut was really slow due the warm weather and Steve ended up going home without a moose this year. Kent Verseman and guide Scott Kennedy also had tough luck rafting the lower Mountain River and also ended up without a moose. Brandon Harris and guides Riley Janz and Henry Boden hunted in the alpine valleys near the Yukon border where the weather was a lot cooler—they had a great hunt with Brandon taking a 64 inch bull with his bow. On the late season “Heli Assist” moose hunt up on the Gana River the weather did not cooperate, and the boys were stuck in fog for much of the hunt. Repeat hunter Bob Voth and guide Ryan Faehmel passed on some good bulls looking for a “hog” and ended up skunked. Archery hunter Jake Benson and guide Scott Kennedy were able to get in close to a great old bull with multiple drop tines that Jake was able to take with his bow.
All in all, it was another great season at Gana River. Cooks Mary Faehmel, Quinn Nielsen and Venessa Orr did their best to fatten us all up with their incredible meals. Trail cook Jesse Peterson enjoyed her time cooking on the Fritz River crew and wowed the clients and crew with her wonderful meals. This year Jayden and Ty Drost wrangled on the horse crews. Henry Boden packed and assisted guiding on backpack hunts. Judd Faehmel was busy at base camp cleaning skulls and doing all the chores around camp with some help from his brother Luke and Anders Grinde. Jordanna Grinde as well as Jessica & Dalli Faehmel helped the cooks in the kitchen when needed. We were thankful to have our wonderful pilot & handyman Del Herbison back again in 2024. We are blessed to have such a great crew, so many wonderful clients and to have had another successful season. We hope to see you in 2025!
Thanks, from Harold and the Gana River Crew!