Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska 2014 Sheep and Moose Hunts

Only one 2nd week sheep hunt left.

We are offering Great Moose and Dall Sheep hunts in unit 19 C west Slope of the Alaska range.
These are 1x1 trophy Bull moose hunts.
The hunt is from September 1st to 10 th or 11 th to the 20th. 10 day hunts.
Black bear and wolves are free just have your bear tag no tags for wolf.

We are also offering Dall Sheep Hunts
The sheep hunts are also 1x1 , 10 days
They start August 10th to 19 th and the 20 th to the 30 th
Good to plan be in camp 2 days earlier.
The hunt is conducted by Alaska Trophy Hunts �master guide Tom Shankster and world renown guide Bob Graham.
Fly to anchorage then Penn Air to McGrath �then charter to camp.
Should leave a few days for weather never know.

The hunt cost
Moose. � � � � � � $14,800
Dall Sheep. � � �$14,800
Add Brown Bear � � $5,500 only during moose hunt.
Add Caribou. � � � $3,000

Not included license, tags, tips, and charter flight.
Charter one on one is $700 one way can be share with another hunter if scheduled.

Tom Shankster �720-244-8454
akhunts148aol.com
Larry Kolek �575-791-9840
elk88101hotmail.com

Are these in NM?

Those aren't AK phone numbers, are they?

Had me hook, line, and sinker with my wallet out, right up until I saw the aol.com email address. Knew it was too good to be true.

The hunts are in 19C the west slope in the Dillinger Drainage as well as others.
I live in New Mexico Larry
Tom Shankster Master Guide lives in Colorado while not hunting.
He is a taxidermist and has a tanning operation.
Tom has been working is area since 1986
Not sure what AOL emails question is all about.
Tom use to live in Palmer and went to work at the Denver Museum to restore the mounts there.
If we can answer any questions please call.
I have not posted much here so not to sure the atmospher is about outfitters.
Thanks
Larry

License/Exam Fees: New purposed fee�s and requirements for guiding in Alaska. REFER TO AS 08.54.610, 12 AAC 75.100 & 75.110) Application $100 (nonrefundable)
Registered guide qualification exam $50
Game management unit exam $200 per unit No licence to be issued with out a AK drivers license AND the 1099div from their PFD!!!!>>>> Resident License:
� Master Guide-Outfitter $450
� Registered Guide-Outfitter $450
� Transporter $450
� Biennial Renewal $450
� Class-A Assistant Guide $250
� Assistant Guide $250
Nonresident fees are to be 5 times the resident fees listed above. All above fee�s to be retroactive to year 1959!

"""Add Caribou. $3,000"""
good lord ,I've shot a boat load of boo, don't know if I've ever looked down and thought... "3000 grand for a tundra rat".

Except the State Supreme Court held resident only hire is unconstitutional in AK...

i know i know (but i'm king for the day u get your turn tomorrow :)) .... Well then it looks like the fee's should go up!....way up !!....where there's a will, there's a way!

Atvalaska
Sounds like you have a bone to pick with outfitters.
Actually the only problems I ever had with any outfitters where the resident master guides of Alaska
I have cases against some of them for various license and game violations.
I guess you never had to supply accommodations and do much client flying but that cost money not counting the gear and food.
Alas your a resident things come free to you guys I guess.
Not to get into a pissing match all we are doing is to supply a great hunt and try to make a living. Sorry if this post is not to your liking

Are you a paying advertiser on this site?

It was a joke. Most people think AOL accounts are extinct. I have an odd sense of humor I guess.

No problem
I thought it was a tabo or something
I love anchorage been there many times.
Thanks
Not use to this site I guess people testing the waters.
Thanks again
Larry
I go by elk88101 on other forums

Interesting question, but what law agency are you with that you have cases against various outfitters?

Rost495 sent you a PM
LARRY

So, no?

FYI:

Ironbender
Sent them an email but never heard back.
If it bothers you I will void the post
Or if you are the moderator remove it
Larry

Doesn't bother me as I'm neither moderator nor owner. Mr. Rick Bin is.

At least you tried contact.

Carry on.

Thanks
Really tried but still no response
Have a great weekend
Larry

I like him, he certainly seems cordial enough. Not all self centered like the rest of us

Watch4bear
Had a great time between sheep and moose season in Wasilla
We went to the fair this year. Also went to church at Wasilla Bible church.
We also use the airport to send off from.
Bob Graham lives there also one of our guides.
Have a great holiday coming up.
Larry

I would not hunt with this group if it was free. PM me and I would be happy to discuss.

For reference, look at the Sports Afield article from a year ago featuring a sheep hunt with Tom Shankster. There were 12 or so hunters in camp and only 1 hunter shot a sheep�a 13 year old girl. The sheep was barely legal and that�s a stretch. If he is proud of this article, I am sure that he would send you a copy.

I was considering bidding on his donated hunt last year at FNAWS. I had a few drinks with a couple of guides and was talked out of it. Good decision. The article from Sports Afield was discussed over drinks, as I was unaware of its existence.

I also have a personal story from the 2013 season regarding his field antics that my guide reported to the Alaskan State Troopers. There is a strong chain of events that make me question his hunting and guiding ethics. It almost cost me a sheep.

The plot thickens! From the sounds of it, this New Mexico guide is going to have to pay Rick to take this thread down! haha

I just happened on this thread and I felt compelled to comment. I've known Tom since about 2001 and served for a number of years on a local nonprofit board with him. I hunted with Tom Shankster in 2006 and had a fine hunt I killed a 9 1/2 year old ram at 36 yards and saw caribou, grizllies and moose. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. I also know at least a dozen others who have hunted with him. I'm sure there have been issues on some of his hunts and others may have a differing opinion of Tom and his operation. Maybe he and I just connected because we both still have AOL emails? ;-)

Sandbrew

Kscowboy01
Not sure what you are referring to I have been in this sheep camp for 3 entire seasons.
In the 3 years I have been in this camp we have not had a 13 year old girl not only harvest a sheep but not even in camp.
3 years ago we harvested 11 sheep, 2012 we harvested 12 sheep and last year we harvested 11 sheep. Not one of them with any young girl. I was there and helped plug every one with the Trooper. His names Brett .
As for discussing an article over drinks, maybe you had to many drinks and got the story screwed up. I can give some well known hunters and every day hunters that will give great references.
As for Rick Bin we had a very good conversation about my adds to both our satisfaction.
But to the naysayers this is not the first time I have been confronted with third party distractors. I guess after over 30 years of outfitting you are about to get an unsatisfied customer but that goes for anything. Like blaming the car dealer cause you are not happy with your car. All I can say Tom is very fair. This is the only I ever been in over 40 years of hunting that has offered hunter return hunts for things that were beyond his control. Free.
Oh if you ever hunted or harvested a sheep there is a close line in estimating age in some cases and there may have been a few close calls but for the most part our guides are excellent and have an excellent record. I guess if you are really interested get with the troopers and ask about the operation.
Sandbrew has given his prospective thanks.
I am not getting into a pissing match with the dark cyber space unknowns.
So as far as Iam concerned I will only respond to real interested parties.
Also as of today only have a few Moose openings sheep are sold out.
Thanks
Larry

I reread the post by kscowboy01
Now I get it
He was hunting with another outfitter that tired to infringe on our campsite
We had 2 hunters harvest 2 sheep same time same place.
His outfitter landed and harassed the guiides and packers.
He call the Troopers and they came
They measures and aged the sheep that night
Gusess what both legal
Glad kscownoy shot one.
I believe this maybe what he is referring to.
Just sour grapes his outfitter had to move guys cause he could not find sheep in his main area. Just ask him maybe he will tell the truth.
Larry

My feelings toward this group stem from the fact that your Super Cub, tail number N6455S (the one featured on the website) and the one we have pictures of from the field was buzzing back in the mountains and less than 15 minutes later, shots were fired where the plane was flying. The next morning, the same Cub back in the mountains is flying hunters out. Quite the chain of events, don't you think?

It was reported to the Troopers by my guide a few months after the incident, not from the field. If they paid you a visit, it wasn't from our calls. Perhaps your reputation preceded you?

Harassed the guides and packers? We never encountered anyone from your crew. If we did, I have a good feeling my guide would have resorted to fisticuffs.

We never moved. We almost had to move due to the Cub chasing everything out of the country due to his buzzing. We didn't see a single ram for 5 days after the plane incident.

If you feel so good about this group, please post the Sports Afield article. That was a gem. I personally read the article, FWIW.

Desperate people do desperate things. If that article is any indication of how his operation goes...well, interpret that how you will.

P.S. Bob Graham was her guide in the article. Must be another old sheep guide named Bob Graham out there? He is quite the character on your videos and I do get a kick out of him.

P.S.S. From the way our stories differ, perhaps we aren't the only people in the field you managed to tick off this season.

Like I said no pissing match
But just think what you said
A plane buzzing you and 15 min later you hear shots?
How in the world could anybody land get ther gear together climb the mountain and shoot that quick don't make sense.takes hours in most cases to stalk a sheep.
Also we don't have radios in the plane
It never happened with us, also I have sent out over 60 hunters and not one ever hunted the same day they flew. That is something not done with our sucess rate we don't depend on illegal activity. As for getting the tail ny,ber yes we fly a lot in OUR AREA it's easy to get a tail number of a 35 mph super cub.
Oh well since you never hunted with us I am not sure how you can be such an authority how we humt or operate. Again listen to a guide who has no sheep in his area and blames it on others so he saves face with jhis clients,it's better to blame someone else than take the hit yourself. How many sheep did the outfit get you hunted with.?
You got your facts wrong.
The story about the young girl had to be more than 4 years ago
Bob Graham is probably the best sheep guide in Alaska. Ask pe
E that hunted with him or know him
Let's start with Chris Dorsey get his view.

Ah you know what is funny
If we where buzzing sheep out of the area how in the world did these other guys supposebly that shot 15 minutes later have sheep to shoot at or are you even sure they where hunting sheep are you sure they shot one are you sure they where our hunters. Maybe they wher hunters after caribou or black bears may have been residents how sure are you honestly that they where associated with us?
Be honest
Or is this just computer cyber witch hunting. Get real.
Larry
As for the aritical never seen it. But you can get from the Alaska game and fish harvest reports and I think when you use that as your proof it would be more reliable. The average over the last 5 years has been 10 sheep per year.
That's fact.

wow! I need popcorn! And all I was trying to say is-keep it local-way to many snow birds talk'in smack & using AK imo-.u guys carry on I always think back to this story line I heard long ago, after the shot> "And as I set the rifle down ...... I picked up my binos to see the bullet impact ".......

With extra BUTTER
LARRY

I got the details on the mysterious article.

It's the November/December 2012 issue of Sports Afield, a well-respected publication.

I conveniently ordered a back issue today and will gladly make copies of the article to send to anyone interested once I receive it. This includes you, NMLarry.


Good luck digging out of this one.

made me ROR

don't know if it's true or not

but that was funny Calvin!

new income possibilities for the Bins! TFF

Don't have to dig out of anything
Pretty good a 70 year old guide gets a 13 year old young lady a sheep.
You have hunted them ONCE not bad.
Also we do not preview or edit any videos, pictures articles or any other publications before they are released. So we cannot verify the credibility of what is written in whole. Actually none of us have seen or read this article you are referring to. Also that hunt was over 4 years ago and like I said we have averaged 10 sheep per year for the past 5 or 6 years.
I noticed you did not answer any of the questions I set forth.
Remember truth is the word.
Well all I can say I will be working sheep camp again for the complete season.
I have a ball
Have a great week
Larry

Not sure I mentioned we are sold out for 2014 sheep season
Have a few great slots open for Moose.
Thanks
Larry

Kscowboy
Can you mentioned who you hunted sheep with?
I did not see it in any of your previous posts when you where getting info about going.
Do any of these names ring a bell
Xtream Outfitter?
How about Mahoney?
Just curious why you never mentioned who you hunted with
Thanks
Larry

I will not mention my outfitter here. I don't want to hurt his business knowing that outfitters like your group are in the area screwing with his hunting success. He was not one of the ones mentioned by you. I would recommend him. As far as "no sheep in his area" you are not the only ones hunting 19C nor are you the only ones along the Jones River.

If this indeed happened:

"He was hunting with another outfitter that tired to infringe on our campsite
We had 2 hunters harvest 2 sheep same time same place.
His outfitter landed and harassed the guiides and packers.
He call the Troopers and they came
They measures and aged the sheep that night
Gusess what both legal
Glad kscownoy shot one.
I believe this maybe what he is referring to.
Just sour grapes his outfitter had to move guys cause he could not find sheep in his main area. Just ask him maybe he will tell the truth."

I figured you would know my outfitter if this confrontation occurred. Not sticking to the wall, is it?

Also, this is not the only sheep hunt I've been on. I have been on a Desert Sheep hunt in Sonora.

Only hunted sheep once, had too much to drink. What's next?

Very interesting proposal before the BOG currently for Unit 19C to address the conflict issues.
http://www.alaskabackcountryhunters...osal%202014%20Region%20III%20meeting.pdf

I will try to paste it here in a minute in another post.

As suspected it will not let me copy and paste it.

I was able to copy and paste it, if this is what you were trying to do Art.




ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES AND ALASKA BOARD OF GAME
REGULATION PROPOSAL FORM
PO BOX 115526, JUNEAU, ALASKA 99811-5526
(Please note that this proposal is for the February 14-23, 2014 Region III meeting)
BOARD OF FISHERIES REGULATIONS BOARD OF GAME REGULATIONS
Fishing Area Game Management Unit (GMU) Region III
Subsistence Personal Use X Hunting Trapping
Sport Commercial Subsistence Other
JOINT BOARD REGULATIONS Resident
Advisory Committee Regional Council Rural X Nonresident
Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. All answers will be printed in the proposal packets along with the proposer's name
(address and phone numbers will not be published). Use separate forms for each proposal.
1. Alaska Administrative Code Number 5 AAC 85.055 and 5AAC 92.057 Regulation Book Page No.
2. What is the problem you would like the Board to address?
Unlimited Nonresident Sheep Hunting Opportunities and Unlimited Guide
Numbers in parts of Region III
In many parts of Region III (excluding USFWS and NPS lands) where we have open general
season sheep hunts, there are no limits on the number of nonresident hunters or the
guides they are required to hire to hunt sheep. Because nonresident guided hunters have
such a higher success rate than resident hunters, this has led to concerns of localized
diminished populations and future restrictions on resident general open season sheep
hunting opportunities. Some areas are also experiencing crowding, conflicts between
guides and resident hunters and conflicts between guides licensed for the same area.
Our primary concerns are sheep conservation and continued resident general season sheep
hunting opportunities. We firmly believe that we can�t allow any areas to have nearly
every full-curl ram harvested each season, which is what we fear may happen in some
areas if we continue to allow unlimited guiding and nonresident sheep hunting
opportunities. We also believe, just on a matter of fairness to Alaskan resident sheep
hunters, that non-resident sheep harvest rates of 40% across much of Region III, and
50-80% in some subunits, is unacceptable.

That is the meat of it, but the graphs are what I found interesting. Did not think to try to capture just the text. Thanks for that!

No problem Art. Did not try to capture the graph but I doubt it will show like you want it too.

All guide bashing aside,, the Western Alaska Range is getting hammered these days by guides that don't have a Federal area or ones that have been displaced by the permit system.

It's the last spot I'd choose for a sheep hunt, resident or non-resident!!

Yup...

My father did his presentation on his FNAWS or Grand Slam, whatever name suites you, to our local SCI chapter. I reported on my hunt and encouraged everyone to save their money and go the Canada route. The draw areas for non-residents are low odds in Alaska and the only way I'd hunt sheep in Alaska again. For someone wanting to shoot a sheep, Canada's concessions limit the number of permits and hunters.

As I was told, the Super Cub technology has also created a big problem in the Alaska Range. Guys told me that it used to be a lot of work with horses, etc. to set-up a sheep hunt and hunt a good area. Nowadays, guys fly around and don't scout or know the area. They see sheep, land, and after a day of waiting---off hunting they go.

always been two classes of sheep hunters here, those with a supercub and those without


decided advantage to guys with a cub, best and most productive sheep hunters I've known own one.


doesn't mean the latter group can't score, I'm part of that fraternity and have been pretty lucky when chousing sheeps!

but flying and scouting where the big rams are, finding a spot you can land and secure your plane and then going after where you know those big boys are is certainly different than wandering the country with boots and binocs! by a long shot


that's not to infer that the cub hunters don't have to put in work to get their rams, they most often do.

but that piece of equipment is just about the same advantage sheep hunting as a guy with optics vs. a guy with no optics.

saves time and walking in a big fashion

I've been lucky to have some pards with Cubs that took me scouting a couple of times.

puts you in a different league hunting ime.

The BOG meeting and submitted proposals can be found here
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static-f...d/pdfs/2013-2014/bog_proposals_13-14.pdf

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.main

The free-for-all NR sheep tags need to be reigned in. Sheep numbers are abysmal across the state, and the resource can't handle the amount of pressure being applied.

This was proposed
This is not the first time the committes have made these type of proposals.
It will happen but I don't think for at least for 5 more years hard to say though.

I believe this is the same guy Kansas hunted with, I hunted where he did, shot a 10 year old ram in 2011. That's the year he moved back to this area. Oh ask him about the storage barrels he borrowed from our camp to keep. Oh by the way our camp has been in this same spot since 1986 ask him when he came in.
Oh well that's it you just don't have the whole story obviously. You know very little of the area or any history of the area . Also this is a very popular area for residents.
Have a great new year to all coming up.
Larry
Larry

Ever check the laws on leaving schit in the woods? "Camps" on public land are completely open to the first person there at any time. Suggesting the camp is yours simply because you have been abusing it since '86 is special.

Leaving your storage barrels there is littering.

Spot on. We've got a camp in our favorite moose hunting area that has been there since about '93 and I think the only reason F&G hasn't burned it to the ground is because it is an open camp and anyone is free to use it. We've got probably close to $5k worth of gear and food that stays there year round. We do try and keep the area clean too.

I was going to post some comments but the audience is to shallow.
Have a happy holiday
Larry

So you put up post to tell us your not going to put up a post because we are too shallow? OK.......

Been following this thread. Larry, I know your trying to make a living but your constant hawking of Shankster's hunts gets old quick. I can appreciate you supporting your livelihood but your opinion is obviously biased. I think alot of folks believe Shankster is the poster child for outfitters exploiting, over hunting and abusing the resources in the name of the all mighty dollar. Just because a guy can take 10 to 15 hunters a year doesn't mean he should. I noticed you removed the name you had posted as the outfitter proposing regulation changes. If it was who I think it was, I know him to be an honest and honorable guide who has an impeccable reputation. If he thinks something is not right then his opinion is good enough for me. If you would, please post your true numbers of hunters taken on your sheep and moose hunts versus animals actually taken. I know you have had several unsuccessful hunt there yourself taking multiple trys to get your animal. If the hunts you try to sell were more successful, maybe you wouldn't have to push them so hard or often. Good hunts sell themselves. I see you offering them on nearly every hunting forum on the net. Oh and have a happy holiday.

leave it to an old MO boy to cut to the chase and strike the X ring


funny how I've never seen Shoemaker pandering for clients on here, nor any of the outfitters I worked for.


could might be a hint in there somewhere

Happy clients are the best advertising.

dang! even the joisey boys gets it

Well I am not pandering for clients as you no this media is a way of advertising.
Second of all not everyone is successful with any outfit.
Next this is not for Shoemaker
Last not sure where you get I have several unsuccessful hunts with Tom Shankster.i have been in this camp 3 year and harvested a 10 year old sheep the first year. 2 years ago I passed on hunting and worked in camp mainly because the bad weather and my third year harvested a 65" moose.
If you guys don't like the add forget it.
Also for the record I do not get any compensation for Tom Shankster I am retired and all I do is hunt world wide.
I am only letting people know what good deals I have received.
So if you are not liking it I can't help it. sorry
It to bad you guys use hearsay to live on
Probably if you want to be vindictive show some proof of your accusations like letters for the Alaska authorities. Scott your opionion is just that opinion no facts to back you up. Sorry but you never hunted with us and if you did you would definitely be changing your statements.
This is like beating a dead horse. Sorry for a few guys that can't get a life away from the computer have to destroy opportunities for others.
Happy hunting if you actually do that. Not sure how some of you can with 10's of thousands of posts when would you ever have time.
Larry
Oh by the way if anybody wants to ask questions or follow up with is call me anytime I am not relucultant to talk to anybody.
575-791-9840 please no vulgar language if you call.
Larry
Oh by the way I have paid for all my own hunts . No matter who I recommend for hunts.
So no Bias

Really? Didn't you post this earlier in the thread?:

Atvalaska
Sounds like you have a bone to pick with outfitters.
Actually the only problems I ever had with any outfitters where the resident master guides of Alaska
I have cases against some of them for various license and game violations.
I guess you never had to supply accommodations and do much client flying but that cost money not counting the gear and food.
Alas your a resident things come free to you guys I guess.
Not to get into a pissing match all we are doing is to supply a great hunt and try to make a living. Sorry if this post is not to your liking

That is a contradiction if I've ever seen one.

Not a contradiction sir
It's Toms living and livelihood not mine.
Seems you really have an obsession with a topic you no very little about.
Sorry
He is just a good friend and thought I would help him.
I see other posts of guys recommending outfitters why don't you chime in on those I am sure you are the main authority on this forum for who people should hunt with since you have all this extensive Alaska experience from the numerous hunts you have had there.
You don't even know me so I can't figure why you're so critical of my posts.

Larry,I think your putting a big cloud over yourself and Mr. Shankster. In your post you use the words us,our, and we ,for the record what do you do to connect yourself to Mr Shankster without compensation ?

What cloud???
I just made arrangements for an advertisement for Tom
I guess it's not simple enough he is just a good friend and I donate my services for 6 weeks in sheep and in sheep and moose camp.
He has great hunting opportunities that's All
Why do I need to be compensated???
Sounds like you guys would charge your mother for a ride to church.
Just forget it you guys are beyond reasonable.
You guys in another post about how you all hate thieves but when I posted we had an outfitter take stuff from our camp you set up a cheering group sort of a double standard don't you think. Remember I just started with a honest offer of some hunts you guys took it upon yourselves to muddy up the water.
I had or do not have any intent to cause such problems as some of you think I am presenting.
Well you guys can post away , I see why Rick does not want to set up a blog for hunt advertising to many no it alls. just not worth responding to this forum any longer i see. as I figured none of the guys that hide behind the computer who want to sling remarks have no desire to call me to explain their issues. I gave you all the opportunity but I figured easy to display here but no not when you need to confront a live person.
Also just for your information Tom does not visit this site or another forums that I post on. So it's completely inappropriate to disparage him in this or any other post on your forums.
For those that follow some of these cheap shot guys on here just think you may be the next subject of ridicule.
Larry

yes it's us not you, Larry


I fear you are correct, you're too good for the likes of us.


breaking up is such a beatch

With your permission to call you collect,I'll chew the fat with you,

60n148 w
Ok anytime
Larry

Larry,

I got the Sports Afield today in the mail. The hunt took place in 2008. The hunt took place "in the area Tom Shankster has been working since 1986". The hunter was Sara Brandenburg who was entering her Freshman year of high school. This made her 14 at the time of the hunt. As I mentioned earlier, she hunted with Bob Graham as her guide.

She harvested the only legal sheep they saw, which was barely legal (looks similar to the posting about the legality of a ram last week on here). There were 9 hunters in camp and only 2 got rams. Weather was not an issue on the hunt.

Success rate of 22%? Only $14,800 for a sheep hunt? Too bad you are out of sheep hunts for this coming year. I might have to jump all over that. Those stats are pretty hard to beat.

If anyone wants a copy of the article, I am happy to send it to you.

You never answered the question raised about how many hunters go through your camp and the actual success rate. You told how many sheep were harvested but that doesn't mean anything if you got 10 sheep out of 45 hunters hunting sheep.

If Tom tells the unsuccessful hunters they can come back for free, I wonder how many of the 7 unsuccessful hunters from the article actually took him up on the offer. There is a saying "throwing good money after bad". I wonder if that's applicable to Tom's offers to unsuccessful clients.

P.S. I tried to edit my post from 11/29 to reflect the changes after rereading the article but it won't let me do so. It's not like a 22% rate is much better than what I initially posted. She was 14, not 13 like I initially thought.

Can you scan and email?

My last answer
The past 3 years we have had 12 to 14 hunters sheep only and 2 to 3 secondary hunters after they shoot a moose.
And like I said we averaged 11 sheep a year.
I was not there in 2008 so I can't say but if I can I will have Tom look in his harvest report book. Well she got one I guess not bad for a 70 year old guide to get a 14 year old hunter in on a sheep. You hunted them you should know not easy.
Not sure in the article who gave the harvest numbers but there may be some confusion.
As for seeing one legal sheep well why look for others after you have one.
Oh well I will never be able to convince you that Tom has one of the most reputable outfits in Alaska because you ignor to research with game and fish those are the numbers that count not what some 14 year old puts in a hunting magazine. Remember what they say believe only 50% of what you see and nothing you read.
Sorry for your negative attitude .
Larry
Also my offer is open for anybody to call
Nobody has of yet.

Ks
One thing I did not mention
You are completely out of line trying to describe what an unsuccessful hunter would do or should do. I guess if you think a hunter is cheated cause he does not score an animal you better quit hunting while your ahead. After 52 years of humting there are many hunts and some high dollar hunt that we did not score.
I have hunted leopard 3 times no sucess so is that a bad outfitter. I guess in you think it is. Well that's all
Keep writing BS, I have said all I need to. We would like to have you hunt with us but we don't need you. We sell out every year.
Thanks to people who know our operation maybe sometime you will chime in and dispute these accusations.
Larry

If I were Tom Shankster, I would be doing everything I possibly could to distance myself from you.

You have done your friend a great disservice here, and have unfortunately done it with very little entertainment value.

Carry on.

Google Tom Shankster and this thread shows up on page 3 of the results. In a month it'll be on page 1.

I think I'm going to gather up some buddy's and get a guide/outfitter business going in both CO & NM......come one come all! ...then I'll take all the money I make and give it to PETA- who operates under simple principles that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment .......although this thread has been great entertainment!

Looking for the sympathy vote is an interesting advertising angle. If it so incredible for a 70 year-old guide to put a client on a sheep, why is he still doing it at nearly $15k per crack? .... or did I just answer the question?

To be fair I do not know any guide that is rich on guide wages...

Why would you look for a second sheep after you found the first? Maybe they thought they had a chance at a better than marginally legal ram.

Ironbender, sent you a PM. I have it scanned in color and will send it your way.

Larry, they hunted 8 days before finding a legal ram (likely on a 10 day hunt, from your ads on here). But you can never trust those writers and articles from Sports Afield. That Craig Boddington is full of it.

If anyone else wants a copy, I will get it over to you. Just let me know.

P.S. And Larry, if you are someone who hunts all over the world, you would know that they are called PHs in Africa, not outfitters.

Thanks.

I am looking at Moose hunts but after reading the experiences of the guys in the thread I posted your outfit will not be one I look at. Pretty disappointing to spend weeks in camp with more than 10 other hunters staring at each other for no reason. After saving for a hunt like this I would have said alot more if I were there. Lack of game happens, your paying more for the experience. Lack of motivation other than ripping off clients is what stuck out to me. Others can read what they want from this link but it is pretty clear what his motivations are.

Another happy customer, well maybe....

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?21742-Alaska-Range-Dall-Sheep-My-First-Sheep-Hunt

I just saw this thread this weekend and can't say I'm surprised. I hunted sheep with Tom in 2004 and things were just like what has been described in the other threads referenced by gremcat. At the time, Tom had a really choice area with a lot of good country and lots of animals. However, Tom was terribly organized and I've heard from many others over the years that things have not improved and most likely have gotten worse. I was only there at the beginning of sheep season, so there weren't too many hunters in camp, but even then we had too many hunters and not enough guides. I did my 1 on 1 hunt with another hunter tagging along. Luckily, we got along and I ended up shooting my sheep the first day, but that just meant that Tom could use my guide to cover for his lack of sufficient guides. The food situation in the main camp was horrendous, with guys scavenging around for anything they could find. I ended up cooking dinner for guys on many a night because no one else would step up and Tom had no one to help. To top it off, because I was willing to help out the other hunters in camp by letting them fly out whenever they had an opportunity, I ended up being stuck by myself in the main camp for 3 or 4 days with no communication and nothing to do. I can't remember exactly how many days now. But Tom decided to fly to Wasilla and then claimed he couldn't fly out to camp because of weather and smoke. Not a big deal to me, but for all I knew, he crashed and I was stuck. This was before he put in his fancy satellite dish. In any case, having hunters sitting around, Tom not wanting to fly, and poor equipment and poor planning are nothing new. I can only imagine how many hunters might be sitting around as soon as moose season gets going. I have no doubt that the guys posting on the other sites are telling the truth. Buyer beware.

What do you know! Our old buddy, Larry, makes it into the story.

See page 3:

"The next day still no word from base camp. I sent a message to my wife and asked her to get me the name of another person in camp. I described our situation of being stuck and needing to get word out to camp for the plane to come and get us to my wife very poorly. She was in a state of panic and got me Larry's email and cell phone number and admonished me for taking five years off of her life. Larry also did not respond to our calls for extraction or what we were supposed to do. So that was another dead end."

It is worth posting the whole story... Even if it is dated...

Plane nose breaks through lake ice near Wasilla
Posted: Monday, April 28, 2008

WASILLA - Two men in a small plane have survived chilly plunges in a Wasilla area lake after the nose of the aircraft broke through the ice while taxiing for an attempted takeoff.

Tom Shankster, 52, of Aurora, Colo., and his passenger, Jason Johnson, 37, of Wasilla, jumped from the Piper PA-18 Supercub when the mishap occurred Saturday afternoon on Anderson Lake.

The men swam across a short stretch of open water and crawled onto the ice.

Johnson said the worst part came next, when they faced a 100-yard walk across rotten ice back to shore. The men broke through but managed to climb out.

Neither man was hurt.

The men were flying to a remote campsite to drop off Johnson, who planned to drive back a snowmachine.

The plane was equipped with skis, said Shankster, a former Palmer resident who owns the plane and keeps it in Alaska. He said he might have taken off without a problem if he'd gotten the plane up to speed right away, rather than taxiing into position.

The plane sank up to the wings. Area residents watched it through binoculars as it slowly sank.

A helicopter from Northern Pioneer Helicopters in Big Lake arrived later to lift the plane from the ice. Shankster said he believed the plane is mostly undamaged.

Strange, I must have seen the wrong date as I thought this just recently happened. Need to get some stronger reading glasses I guess.

Nmlarry,

I don't know you from Adam, nor do I really give 2schitts. But I can tell you this, the only bunch of folks tighter than those here on the Campfire are a bunch of Alaskan hunters.

Coming onto this forum with something like 30 posts and having the dialog that you've had in this thread tells me everything I need to know about you.

If this were my website, I'd tell you to hit the road and not to let the cyber-door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Good luck with whatever you're endeavors might be.

I am presently at the Alaska Board of Game meetings and just attended a Dall sheep workshop meeting. Seeing as I've been hunting and guideing sheep hunters for 35yrs quite a few of the people present were known to me it's easy to ask a ?? or 2. The responces about Shanster's operation were unanimous,, totally disorganized mess with never enough guides or legal rams and hunters freaking out just wanting to get the hell out of his camp! [bleep] food and no toilet paper about sums it up,, this is from 3 other people who were just makeing casual observations not trying to codemn him at all.

Pretty interesting read

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=260920

I spoke with my sheep guide in AK regarding Shankster. They tried to get him on wanton waste for the moose hunt above. Apparently, he hired Fitzgerald, who is the guy if you are facing charges with the Alaska State Troopers. Evidently, he got off on a technicality and will be back at it this fall for the next line of suckers ready to piss away their hard-earned money on their dream hunts.

damn shame to hear that. I know other guides that hate how crooked Shankster is.

But it'll catch him eventually.

I just looked up his case status on Courtview. It shows him having a court date on 7/29, and that his lawyers name is Bergt. I wouldn't say he's gotten off of anything quite yet.

Yup

TTT, always good for a laugh.

He got off easy if you ask me.

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Al...ed-to-30-days-fined-35000-484970941.html