A lot of preparation goes into operating sheep and moose camps. Preparation never really ends in the Yukon. Winter and Spring months are spent caring for horses, repairing/replacing gear, clearing trails, constructing cabins and trail corduroys while planning for the next season.
Those who have been to the north country have some idea about what it takes to make everything go as “smooth as possible.” Although, “Smooth” and the Yukon don’t exactly belong in the same sentence. Uncontrollable things such as travel delays, weather, remoteness and unforgiving country can have severe consequences during a trip. We urge our clients to come to the Yukon prepared. If a client comes prepared with three basic things, odds are he/she will be able to overcome the “uncontrollable” to have a successful hunt:
- Be in the best physical condition of your life.
- Mentally prepare to overcome adversity.
- Bring good gear and know how to use it.
In early 2019, we ordered two Gunwerks rifles for use as “camp guns.” The purpose was two-fold. We knew about the quality and performance of Gunwerks products and as operating one of the best outfits, we wanted the best gear. The second purpose was for the benefit of our clients. For instance, if a client’s personal rifle was delayed due to an airline connection, we would have a reliable “loaner” for their use so as not to reduce their hunting days or put them in a position of lacking confidence in the equipment.
Since Dall sheep and Alaska-Yukon moose have drastic variances in their size and habitat, we selected two different rifle systems. For our sheep hunters we chose the light weight CLYMR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and for our moose hunters we chose the MAGNUS platform chambered in the stand-by of .300 Win Mag. These rounds are common and easy to find in local stores in the event we came upon a situation of dire need. Under normal circumstances, we operate with either Gunwerks Custom or Hornady ELD ammunition.
We received the new rifles and tested capabilities on the shooting range prior to departing in June for the backcountry. The guides and I are experienced shooters and have practiced long range before. Needless-to-say, we were impressed with the performance. We tested the capabilities out to 900 yards which was the furthest our range distance would allow. The rifles performed flawlessly and gave us confidence that if a client needed/wanted to use one of the guns, we would have no worries.
Thankfully we did not have any client experience baggage or firearms delays. However, we did have one client, Kevin, who asked to use the Magnus .300 Win Mag to take his beautiful 62” moose. His hunting story doesn’t come with drama of harsh weather or an incredible 500-yard shot in high wind. The weather was kind to us on this hunt and Kevin delivered an accurate 150-yard shot. This speaks to the fact that he trusted us to guide and he trusted Gunwerks to deliver a shot. Congratulations to Kevin on his moose and all our clients that successfully took sheep, moose and grizzly!
We are again preparing for another fall season and hope you are doing the same. Wherever you are planning to hunt this year, we recommend taking part in a Gunwerks Training Experience class to add skill sets and knowledge to your advantage.
Rob Aasen, Manager and Guide– Yukon Peak Outfitters
Native to Dawson Creek, B.C., Rob has spent the last 10 years guiding in Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Alaska. During this span he’s guided countless successful sheep, moose and bear hunters.
