Outdoors With Mat Taylor
Alaskan fishing trip passes the offseason

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar- .net.

Saturday was the opening day of the 2007-08 archery deer season. As I write this column a few days before, I visited with Jed Dunning, owner of Sulphur Creek Taxidermy and Deer Processing.

Dunning said he was anticipating a good year for deer and hunters due to favorable range conditions. From now until the end of the deer season on Jan. 6, he will work almost 12 hours a day, seven days a week at his business.

Taxidermy and deer processing is primarily seasonal work, and summers are generally a slack time. As a result, Dunning, his wife Missy, son Jed, and daughters Claire and Anna have taken an extended summer vacation to Alaska for the past several years.

They spend about two months in the state, fishing and seeing the sights.

They also fish for salmon and trout. Species include king, red, sockeye and Dolly Virden salmon.

Among the largest caught was a 20-pound king salmon by Jed Jr. and a 33-pound king salmon landed by Dunning in the Kenai River.

The Dunnings purchased a recreational vehicle several years ago, which they leave in storage while back in Texas. In Alaska, the family spends most of their time in campgrounds in Kenai and nearby in the city of Soldotna.

"This is my sixth summer trip to Alaska," Dunning said. "Most of our time is fishing, but we also like to visit museums and small towns, most of which have historic significance as they were established as gold or coal mining communities."

While fishing they have seen a number of grizzly bears but have never been in danger of being charged by one, he said. The most numerous wildlife seen is moose.

"Local people are more afraid of moose than bears," said Dunning. "Each year more people are killed by moose, such as in auto accidents, and moose, like whitetail do here, come into towns and cause significant property damage."

The family visited Kodiak Island this summer, which is the second-largest island in the United States. It is beautiful, Dunning said, with a number of Alaska brown bears. "We also saw some whales off the island."

The Lampasan said the principal industries in Alaska include sport and commercial fishing, and logging, but the trees are small.

Trapping and hunting also are viable industries. The tourist industry may be the largest of all, he added.

Of course, in the north slope of Alaska there is significant oil production. A lot of the state's residents work in the oil fields two weeks on and two weeks off. "They work in the barren frozen mud on the North Slope. That's the area environmentalists are trying so hard to protect," Dunning noted.

Dunning has been over most of southern Alaska and has seen only two oil wells.

Most wells are in the northern part of the state that is inaccessible by vehicles. There are no roads, and most residents or tourists never see them.

Dunning said he has talked with numerous Alaskan citizens over the years and all of them support the oil industry.

One observation: "Alaska seems to be the place to go if you are on the run from the law. There seem to be very few people who were born there, as most have settled there from other states.

"One thing I like about Alaska is that no matter where you are in any populated area, the wilderness is only one hill away," he added. "The tourist and fishing industry is primarily in the summer. After Labor Day, the hunting seasons begin, and most Alaskan visitors are hunters and trappers."

Dunning said it is a small world, and on each trip it seems he sees someone he knows.

He saw several couples from Lampasas on vacation in Alaska at the same time.

On one occasion while fishing, he just happened to be standing next to a man he previously worked with at a grocery store. Also, he has seen business customers on a number of occasions while there.

Dunning said he would highly recommend a summer vacation to Alaska, especially if you like to fish.

Cruises are popular, however he would recommend flying to Anchorage and renting a motor home in advance. The rental company will pick you up at the airport and set everything up for you, he added. Rates are reasonable, and camp group rates are also available.

The RV provides a room and meals. If you stayed in motels, rented a car and ate all meals at restaurants, it could get very expensive. A motor home offers a lot of freedom to go many places without having to worry about a room and meals, he said.

The only negative about his summer trips, Dunning said, is that rumors circulate each summer that he has gone out of business, despite his signs on the gate that he is away on vacation.

Most people are not as fortunate as the Dunning family and cannot spend the summer on vacation, but as I have stated previously, it is important for parents and children to do things together as much as possible.

Dunning said he plans to go back to Alaska every summer as long as he is able.

Maybe I will make that trip while I am able.