Southeast Alaska | Deer Hunting | First Person View

Being born and raised in Alaska the most common question I get when meeting people outside the state is, "What is Alaska like?"
Most people still think Alaskans live in igloos, that everyone is an Eskimo, and that Alaska is nothing but ice and snow.
After filming a recent deer hunting trip, I decided to make this video to show everyone what it's really like. To showcase the natural beauty and diversity of the terrain which comes as second to none. This video was shot in December, yet everything you see is still very green and colorful.

By coming to terms with the fact that I am an omnivore/carnivore and eat a substantial amount of animal product to supplement my protein rich diet, deer hunting has always been a healthier and preferred alternative than a grocery store. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, I have a great fondness and respect for nature and wildlife. I've always had a deep connection with animals, so hunting has been an ever prevalent internal conflict for me. It gives me no pleasure to take the lives of animals, instead I must compartmentalize and go through the process as a means to gather food and sustenance. This is not for trophy hunting. I know people that do it, it's just not my thing. I follow a strict rule of only kill what I'm willing to eat. I make sure to always take a clean, precise shot that will ensure the animal does not suffer. Everything is utilized on the animal including the meat, antlers, hide, and bones; the bits and pieces that are not able to be used are consumed by nature's cleaning crew.

There is no cleaner source of food to eat than plants and animals that have not been spoiled or influenced by mankind. Most of the land in Alaska is still uninhabited and untouched by man; therefore everything the deer eat are a naturally growing resource. This allows us as hunters to harvest deer and other game that is completely 100% organic and free from human tampering or influence. When we hunt, we earn our kill. We do not sit on Papi's farm baiting deer with a barrel of feed; instead we put in work for our reward by immersing ourselves into nature and actually "hunt" for deer.

Aside from hunting being a means to gather food, the overall experience of being completely off the grid and away from all influences of mankind is very therapeutic for me. I've ventured off into various geological extremes and climates throughout the world from jungles to deserts to mountains, but none have yet come close to the beauty and diversity of my homeland in Alaska. Call me biased, but if you ever have the opportunity to experience Alaska, I'm sure you will agree without persuasion.

This hunt video was filmed in Southeast Alaska during the winter. Sitka Black-tailed deer are the only species in this region (aside from Moose). They are much smaller than the more common whitetail deer of the continental U.S. This however has it's advantages, as the meat is generally more tender, and packing it out of the woods isn’t as grueling. An average size buck will yield close to 40lbs of venison.

Filmed with: GoPro Hero2

Hero Down by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/