finnish hunter

this is willie johnson from kotzebue, alaska. willie is a finnish guy who met and married an inupiaq woman, jennie, many moons ago (saima's parents). anyway, willie and i went out for moose the day before thanksgiving by snowmachine. he shot this big bull right outside of sisaulik with a .270 (my sources from kotzebue report that sisaulik is 8.5 miles from town).



i had the ungulate in my sights with jennie's .243, and i asked him, "can i shoot?" he barked back, "no! only after i shoot!" the great finnish hunter took the 60"+ moose with one shot to the neck.

believe it or not, this was the first moose i've ever butchered. they're huuuuge! it was alot of work, but it was great, enjoyable work. carving meat is like carving wood--its both therapeutic and relaxing. we cut up the meat with what i call 'willie finnish blades.' they're knives that willie makes by hand out of wood and antler. they're great knives--good steel. he gave me one this past summer when we first met. i think willie and i will be hunting partners for a long time.