I know, I know … the very notion of pondering what “electronics” I’m going to take on the Dall’s Sheep hunt likely has Jack O’Connor spinning in his grave! Fact is, it even makes me a little queasy to admit it, but this is 2009. There are a few devices that can give “piece of mind” that balances the drawbacks of carrying the extra weight up the mountain.
First, let me thank the Lord that there will be no signal out there for my Blackberry. I can check that device of the devil at the outfitter’s base and not think about it again until we’re at the airport to come home.
This won't be Bill (we hope!), but in case anything does happen, Bill is bringing a SPOT Satellite Messenger. The man pictured used his SPOT to send his GPS coordinates to respondents after he was injured in the Canadian Rockies.
However, there is the option of a satellite phone. I hope I can convince my boss that’s overkill for the max of 10 or 12 days I’ll likely be out of touch. Sat phones are becoming more and more common in hunting camps and even out in the field, and I have to admit I’ve made use of them to “touch base” with the office from some pretty remote places.
I own a handheld GPS unit that I’m thinking about taking. It’s a little weighty … about 8 ounces. I keep telling myself that I won’t need it because I’ll be with a guide, but on the other hand guides are not immortal, or infallible, either.
The piece of electronic equipment that I haven’t yet acquired, but will definitely be taking with me is the SPOT Satellite Messenger System. This is a unit that sends out a satellite beacon that those back home can track for location and status via mobile phone or e-mail and be assured that everything’s okay when you can’t otherwise call. It can also send a distress signal to the proper emergency response authorities – just in case.
I’d say that we’d link this to this blog, but I’ve promised the outfitter that we won’t get too specific about the area we are hunting because he doesn’t need a lot of competition in there.
In my mind, this trip is still about experiencing the thrills of sheep hunting the way O’Connor and the others did. In reality, I’m going to employ 21st century technology to keep everyone back home happier.
Shoot straight –
Bill Miller
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