Presented by Barry Whitehill
Yukon Flats Deputy Refuge Manager (Retired) & Alaska BHA Board Member
From the mountains to the lowlands, rivers can take you to wilderness hunting. Floating has been Barry Whitehill’s primary vehicle for accessing the backcountry in Alaska in order to hunt moose, sheep, and caribou. He also just loves rivers. Barry’s love of rivers was honed through a career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which enabled him to traverse remote Alaskan rivers for work. His retirement in 2009 as the Deputy Refuge Manager at the 8.6 million acre Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in central Alaska gave him the time and opportunity to undertake extended personal float trips. He has floated over 500 miles of Alaska’s rivers in one summer! Barry knows Alaska rivers.
Feast or famine is often the dynamics of Alaska’s ecosystems. As a hunter in that setting, the difference between success and failure can be the ability to tap into the natural rhythm of the land. Barry considers floating to the hunt a great way to match the pace and terms of the Alaska landscape.
Barry will share with us lessons learned in over thirty years of floating to these Alaska hunts. He will talk about some of his favorite backcountry river hunts outside of the Fairbanks area. He will also share tips for planning a float, logistics and gear.
Barry Whitehill’s Biography in his own Words
I grew up in eastern Washington and considered myself fortunate to have public lands close at hand. Starting with my first elk at age 14, it became obvious to me that dropping into deep, dark holes and undertaking challenging floats on public lands consistently brought success as a hunter. Also, rivers and wild places rejuvenate my soul. Later, I found this true when living in Idaho, northern Nevada, and, since 1992, in Fairbanks, Alaska. I am a Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges member and on the Board of the Alaska Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Both organizations do much to support our national wildlife refuges and our opportunities to float and hunt and enjoy these public lands.
Backcountry Hunting on Refuges
Some of you may be surprised to learn that hunting is one of the “Big Six” priority wildlife dependent recreational uses of national wildlife refuges along with wildlife viewing, wildlife photography, interpretation, education and fishing. These were established as priority recreational uses in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. Some lower 48 refuges are closed to hunting to protect species where the populations are not large enough to support hunting or where hunting would conflict with other priority uses. All national wildlife refuges in Alaska are open to hunting except for very small areas adjacent to visitor facilities and the Skilak Loop Road on the Kenai Refuge where wildlife viewing, wildlife photography and small game specialty hunts (youth, bow, and falconry) are the priority uses. Protection of species is accomplished through game regulations usually set by the state. In addition, subsistence hunting for rural residents is one of the purposes of all national wildlife refuges in Alaska.
We will be raffling off an Alpacka Mule at Black Spruce Brewing Co following this talk!
NOTE that this presentation is just Part I of our TWO part Backcountry Pint Night evening. The presentation takes place at the Noel Wein Public Library. Come listen, learn, and get a free Public Lands Pale Ale drink ticket for Black Spruce Brewing Co. and come hang with us there directly following the presentation.
Barry will take questions and we'll celebrate Public Lands month with Black Spruce's BHA Collab brew AND raffle off an Alpacka Mule so you can float to the hunt!
This Pint Night is one is a series sponsored nationally by onX Hunt!
As are all of our Pint Nights, this will be a casual, fun way to meet fellow backcountry enthusiats, swap stories and learn about BHA and our mission to conserve wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. BHA members advocate for public hunting and fishing and we work to maintain and improve access to places to hunt and fish. We also speak up for wildlife, guided by the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Finally, we believe in and advocate for fair chase in pursuit of fish and game. If those ideals resonate with you, please come join us to learn more and maybe become part of BHA.
This event is free and open to all. Our friends at onX Hunt will provide a free, one-year Premium One State Membership for the first 15 attendees who initiate or renew a BHA membership at this event.