Deltana Client Testimonial
Among other things I’ve always wanted to get a big moose , not just a moose but a big moose. Over the years I’ve kept track of where the really big ones were coming from. One area that I had in mind was in a very remote part of the Alaskan Yukon River Valley. While on a Dall sheep in the Brooks range, with Ralph Miller of Deltana Outfitters,I learned that He hunted moose in that general area and had been taking big bulls on a regular basis. The following January I ran into Ralph at the FNWS convention in Reno and asked how their moose season had gone,playing it cool. He said fair. They just happened to have a few pictures in their booth, from that fall, of some huge bulls taken from their Yukon camp. One was 72″ several were 65″to 68″, these were the kind of moose I wanted to hunt ! Ralph said the big boy was mounted down town at the Animal Artistry taxidermy studio so we went to look.
As we entered the studio there were plenty of trophy mounts but that 72 1/2″ monster bull moose really stood out. He was a huge thick horned monster. Ralph had one spot left for 2003 and my wife said it was ok so I took it. Even though I had 8 months I started getting my stuff gathered and ready. I chose a favorite rifle of mine for the trip, a model 70 classic that I had rebored to 338-06. My loads were 210 Barnes XLC’s @ 2800 fps shooting 1″ groups. I had 1 in 9 twist put in that barrel and it really made the Barnes bullets shoot.
The time to leave finally arrived and I was very proud of myself for getting my gear crammed into the tiny duffel bag Ralph said I had to use .I don’t think it’s ever been done by any human before or since! Jim Wiedner, Ralph’s partner, met me on the gravel bar as planned. Billy Molls, who had been my guide on previously successful Dall sheep and Caribou hunts, was also waiting with the canoe loaded. I climbed in with my gear and we took off for a 10 mile run up river to our camp spot.
The northern lights were really at their as we finished setting up our tent. The next morning we left in the dark heading up river to a spot Billy wanted to glass from. We hadn’t even set up the spotting scope yet when we saw a nice bull about 500 yards off. He had really big paddles and lots of points, 4 brow tines on each side, a really pretty bull , but “only” 60″. Being the first 5 minutes of the hunt Billy said we could do better so we just watched for awhile. About 30 minutes latter we spotted another bull 700 yards out, he was much bigger at around 65″ with lots of points, clearly a keeper. While planning a stalk Billy spotted yet another bull about 3/4 of a mile away. This one was in the low to mid 70’s ,a real trophy. Even though he was a long way off we decided to try for him. It was a tough decision because the 65″er was more of a sure thing. It was early afternoon before we got into position to hunt the big one. We thought we would have a good chance to call him out in the evening. About that time a light breeze started blowing out of the north, in an hour it was 20 mph,in 2 hours it was 30mph and cold. We called the bull until dark but the wind made it a futile attempt.
Back at camp the wind blew all night and was still at it in the morning, the temperature had really dropped, it was very cold. We hunted the area for 5 more days and the wind just kept blowing. We could hear a few bulls raking brush and some grunts in answer to our calls but that cold north wind had driven them deep into the thickets and they would not come out. We did see 58″bull that we could have taken but 58″s was not what we came here for. Time was running out, the river was freezing up due to the freak Artic wind, the bulls were not showing themselves because of it and the realization was upon us ,that due to mother nature I very likely was going home without my trophy moose. Everyone knows that feeling in your gut and when you’re tired it can over power you into just giving up if you let it. We didn’t let it. Billy said he would stay to the last minute even if the river froze solid and we had to walk out, I said AMEN Brother.!! We decided to pack up and move camp about 15 miles up another fork of the river.
It would be an all day project as we would have to drag the canoe through miles of shallows and ice. We also would loose a precious day of hunting but something had to be done to change our luck as the wind just would not let up.
After along hard day we made camp and climbed a little knoll just as the sun was hitting the hills. We immediately spotted a small bull crossing the river behind us. While watching him we caught a glimpse of a big antler in the spruce across the river. Running to the river we jumped in the canoe and crossed to his side and started calling. He would rake and grunt but wouldn’t come out and the wind and light were such that we couldn’t go in after him. We had to give up on him for the night but at least we had something happening and looked forward to morning.
The next day broke clear, cold and windy and just like the rest we called and glassed with no luck. Then late in the afternoon we spotted a big bull traveling in a strip of thick spruce heading into a thicket of birch on the outside bend of the river where we had seen the smaller bull the day before. With sundown approaching we had to move fast. Since calling had not been working we decided to change the rules. I ran down to the river where I could see and Billy circled around in an attempt to drive him out so I might get a shot. A couple of cows we hadn’t seen came out but no bull. I thought great now the best bull we’ve seen in 7 days has snuck out on us and we are out of luck and time. Just then all Hell broke loose. Billy had gotten right on top of him before he jumped up. That bull was breaking off 6″ diameter birch trees as he charged trough that thick stuff. He was breaking ice, logs ,trees ,brush ,everything in his path was coming down. I could see the tops of trees going down as he came straight at me. For 100 yards he came and for the last 30 I could see his body, head down, hind quarters powering and propelling him forward, loosing footing with his front end but still pushing with his back. All the trees and brush he was pushing over were tripping him up but he kept coming as hard as he could , he was ,I mean , getting out of there!
When he hit the river bank in front of me at 60 yards he turned and I shot him in the shoulder trying to keep him out of the river. At the shot He turned to face me and I put another barnes into the heart. He then turned back the way he had come and I got one into the other shoulder and down he went. After a long hunt it was over , a beautiful 64″ trophy bull 13 points on one side and 16 on the other.
We caped and quartered him by head lamps and crawled into our bags at 12:01 midnight. Like an old timer used to tell me, persistence has it’s pay check. The next day we loaded the camp and moose in the canoe and headed 20 plus miles down river to Deltana’s base camp. The ice was really starting to build up so our trip was slow, we made it with little time to spare. The wind never did let up.
In this area Billy had never gone 4 days without getting a 60″ plus bull and that was only because his hunters were passing on 60″ moose. I’m glad it was me that broke his record because success under tough conditions is never forgotten. As you might guess after 3 successful hunts, sheep, caribou, and now moose I highly recommend Deltana Outfitters for Alaska big game. If you are looking for a great hunt with great people give Ralph a call at 907-895-5006 this is as good as it gets.
This is something that I feel every one should read. It is sure something that you will not get on the 6 o’clock news on in a newspaper. But it does speak to what it takes to be a true leader, and How to walk the walk.
Hi ya’ll!
A friend of mine passed this story onto me today, and I thought it was well worth passing on to you guys! What a beautiful demonstration of what it means to be a servant to one another the way God calls us to be. 
Love & God bless,
What Kind Of Man Would Do Such A Thing?
At Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC recently, the Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack Tilley, was with a group of people visiting the wounded soldiers.
He saw a Special Forces soldier who had lost his right hand and suffered severe wounds of his face and side of his body.
The Sergeant Major of the Army wanted to honor him and show him respect without offending, but what can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift? How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who has none?
There was another man in that group of visitors who had his wife with him to visit the wounded. He seemed to knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took the soldiers stump of a hand in both of his hands, knelt at the bedside and prayed for him. When he finished the prayer, he stood up, bent over the soldier and kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.
A powerful expression of love and Christ like example, for one of our wounded heroes.
What kind of a man would do such a thing?
The wounded man’s Commander-in-Chief, George W. E. Bush; President of the USA
This story was told by the Sergeant Major of the Army, at a Soldiers’
Breakfast held at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and recorded by Chaplain James Henderson, stationed there.
Pass it on…the press won’t.
If this doesn’t make you laugh just go ahead and close your casket!!!
A pastor concluded that his church was getting into very serious financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new Bibles that had never been opened and distributed. So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation who would be willing to sell the Bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church. Jack, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task.
The minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some Bibles. But he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louis stuttered badly. But, NOT WANTING TO discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway.
He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with Bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday. Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked Jack, “Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our Bibles last week?” Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, “Using my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 Bibles, and here’s the $200 I collected on behalf of the church.” “Fine job, Jack!” The minister said, vigorously shaking his hand. “You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you.”
Turning to Paul, “And Paul, how many Bibles did you sell for the Church last week?” Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied, “I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 Bibles on behalf of the church, and here’s $280 I coll ected.” The minister responded, “That’s absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman and the church is indebted to you.”
Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, “And Louie, did you manage to sell any Bibles last week?” Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope. The minister opened it and counted the contents. “What is this?” the minister exclaimed. “Louie, there’s $3200 in here! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 Bibles for the church, door to door, in just one week?” Louie just nodded. That’s impossible!” both Jack and Paul said in unison. “We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many Bibles as we could.” “Yes, this does seem unlikely,” said the minister who didn’t want to appear to be a greed. “I think you’d better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie.” Louie sh rugged. “I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don’t kn-kn-know f-f-f -for sh-sh-sh-sure,” he stammered. Impatiently, Peter interrupted. “For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!” “A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was,” Louis replied, “W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this B-B-B-B-Bible F-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks —o-o-o-or— wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you??”
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones?
posted by Ralph Miller
Now here’s a good way to deal with those telemarketers…
Have a great weekend, see you next week!
Ralph
This one is worth reading! Ralph
Grandma’s Hands
Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn’t move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.
When I sat down beside her she didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. ‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,’ she said in a clear voice strong.
‘I didn’t mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,’ I explained to her.
‘Have you ever looked at your hands,’ she asked. ‘I mean really -looked at your hands?’
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
‘Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.
‘They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.
‘They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.
They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
‘They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors and shook in fists of anger when I didn’t understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down and again continue to fold in prayer.
‘These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of life.
But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.’
I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma’s hands and led her home.
When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.
Author Unknown
Words of Wisdom from Bill Gates posted by Ralph Miller
A Friend sent this to me, I thought you might enjoy it. See you tomorrow!
Ralph
BILL GATES’ SPEECH TO MT. WHITNEY HIGH SCHOOL Visalia, California. Love him or hate him, he hits the nail on the head with this! To anyone with kids of any age, here’s some advice. Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world.
Rule 1:
Life is not fair - - get used to it!
Rule 2:
The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3:
You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4:
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Rule 5:
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping — they called it opportunity.
Rule 6:
If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7:
Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you think you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8:
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9:
Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10:
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11:
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one!
We hope you are enjoying our new website! Our latest addition is this blog from Ralph’s Desk to help us share thoughts for the day with our friends, associates and viewers. I’m Ralph Miller and I’m looking forward to sharing a few smiles, some thoughts and a hunting tip here and there, and even some featured stories and photos from Deltana clients.
If you have any questions or ideas that might be of interest to Deltana viewers please let us know!
Here’s a good one to get us started! Click > Rain!
Ralph Miller