| HUNTING THE TOK MOUNTAINS |
| By Gordon Rockefeller, Life Member # 72 |
About twenty years ago while at National FNAWS convention in Reno, I had the great pleasure to meet and
talk hunting with a gentleman from Alaska by the name of William (Bill) Waugaman. Bill had an immediate
presence and confidence about him that told me he knew one whale of a lot about hunting in Alaska. It
turns out he was a long time resident, businessman, outfitter and State Senator from Alaska. I told Bill I
really wanted to hunt Dall sheep in Alaska again and had had a very bad experience on first sheep hunt to
Alaska. Bill reached in his pocket for his telephone hand book and gave me the name and telephone number
of a man he said was the “Best damn sheep hunter in the State of Alaska” but maybe hard to book with
cause he only took a few hunters per year. That mans name was Frank Entsminger. Well, I put Franks name
and telephone number on a piece of table napkin and stuck it in my desk drawer when I arrived home and
promised myself I would contact him soon.
Well 14-15 years went by and I got this call one evening from a Sue Entsminger inquiring about a Marco
Polo hunt I had been on the previous Spring. It seems her husband Frank and she were going to hunt Marco
Polo and wanted to know about trip details that might be helpful. Well you guessed it. Sues husband Frank
was the same Frank Entsminger Bill Waugaman had spoken about twenty years prior. And, of course, Sue
and I kibitzed about that conversation with Bill many moons ago.
That was the beginning of my burning desire to hunt Alaska again. After talking to Sue and Frank I sensed
a genuine honesty and love of the mountains that Bill Waugaman had spoken about twenty years ago.
In 2004 I purchased the Governors tag for Dall sheep hunt in Tok Mountain range at our Eastern FNAWS
Convention thinking about hunting one of those long horned rams Tok is known for. Shortly after convention
my good friend from Wisconsin, Tim Krause, wanted to know if I would sell it to him which I agreed to do.
Of course, I recommended Alaska Adventures/Matt Snyder with Frank Entsminger as his guide since Frank
is Matts step-dad and guides for Matt.
Tim hunted the Tok mountains with Alaska Adventures/Matt Snyder as owner and operator. Frank
Entsminger, Matts step-dad was his guide. Frank and Tim killed a great 41” ram( See story Ovis/Grand Slam
Winter 2005 or ECFNAWS issue Jan 2005) on the 2nd/3rd day of the hunt. I then thought I’d either have to
buy this tag again or get aweful, aweful lucky since the draw odds have decreased dramatically in the past
few years. I had hunted the Chugach mountains about 20 years before and did not get a sheep. I wanted a
dall sheep from the US in general and the T0k mountains in particular.
Because destiny had played a rather strange role in the Bill Waugaman – Frank Entsminger story, It seemed
that I needed to fulfill the desire and get to hunt with Frank.
Well in 2006 I drew a Tok Mountains Alaska sheep tag. Talk about luck/destiny playing another beautiful
hand. I was in Mexico in Jan 06 hunting Coues deer when I heard from my wife that Sue Entsminger had
called and told her about my lucky day. As soon as time permitted, I immediately called Matt, Frank and Sue
and told them I was booking and I wanted Frank to be my guide.
As the summer passed, I decided we needed help packing since I am in my late sixties now and a back pack
sheep hunt is getting very, very tough. Frank and Sue said they had a young man who would be excellent as
our packer/helper. His name was Caleb Herkstroeder.
I arrived in Alaska on the 7th of August in Fairbanks to be met by the Governors tag holder Mr Hub Grounds.
Hub had rented a car and waited for me so we could ride together to Tok, Alaska where Matt, Sue and
Frank make their home. We had a very pleasant trip of about 4-5 hours to Snyders/Entmingers place on the
little Tok river nestled right in dall sheep country.
We agreed we would hike into sheep country the following day. It turned out the weather was too bad for
Matt to fly so as Frank said,”Your going to earn this one.” We got a pretty late start and it started to rain
before our assumed camp site on the first night. With me running out of gas and it getting dark we spent the
night in the willows/alders pretty much. The next morning after drying out we headed out again. We had not
gone far when Frank spotted wolves. We fussed around for a while and got up to 180 yards of a couple of
adults and 4 pups. We finally decided we must move on and spook them not knowing there would be 8-9
total wolves hidden in the alders. They were running in every direction. What a site!
By the end of the second day we had seen wolves and glassed rams on another mountain we were heading
for. Frank thought the one ram was a very good ram even at 2-3miles.
Well we made camp that night in a beautiful mountain valley spot. The next day was our 3rd day and the
official opening of sheep season in Alaska. Frank was up by 4 am and wanted to hike up on the mountain to
glass the far mountain to see if sheep were still there. They were still there.
The plan was to hike about half way up the opposite mountain and camp half way up to make it easier on the
old man.
The plan was to dig a flat spot out of a cliffy area to sleep under the little cliff so if sheep came out above us
they would not see us.
The plan worked well. It saved a lot of climbing and Frank found water about 500 yards up the mountain
from camp.
We climbed and hiked to the basin the rams were in but they were no where to be found the next morning.
Later in the afternoon Frank decided we should go slowly and climb higher towards the cliffs and try to spot
them before they spotted us. Well they spotted us first and decided to head higher into the cliffs and out of
sight. We waited in a steady rain for 5-6 hours hoping they would come down. Wet and tired I told Frank I’d
had enough for this day. As we headed down along the cliffs we found a big rock with a dry overhang so we
decided to crawl under the overhang and wait some more. Suddenly, we heard a loud boom in the distance.
Earthquake!!! The ground shook for a second or two. Pretty scary for a flat lander who has never felt a
quake. And, besides, we were sitting right under a big vertical wall of rock.
The next day Frank and Caleb left me to hang-out and they hiked to a pass and over the mountain to see if
the rams had gone over the top. When they got back they had found nothing except a grizzly and moose.
The next day we headed back to our basin again. In the mean time we had spotted 4 rams near the top of
the mountain down the ridge. We had agreed two were good rams and one a shooter for sure. We discussed
climbing over the top to try to get above them. Tough deal. We decided( Frank mostly) that a wait and see
would be the best course of action. We waited all day but when the rams got up to feed they kept coming in
our direction. Frank kept his eye on them all day and afternoon. He did not want too many people peeking
over the top so as to spook them.
We waited til about 9pm when they came down a steep draw into a very cliffy area below us…out of our
sight. Frank turned to me and said,” Are you ready to go?” I said, “Yep, lets go!” We had to cover about 5-
600 yards fast so as to be able to look down in that steep gorge where sheep had gone feeding and getting
water.
Frank kept his eyes wired to the steep gorge sheep had disappeared into and hardly ever looked back with
the stealth and concentration of a cat seeking its prey. He was absolutely masterful in his approach/stalk,
timing and patience in waiting out these rams.
Now the moment of truth was here. We got to a big rock and slid on top of it above the sheep. Finally, Frank
said, “Its that one!” He’s 225 yards Caleb said at a very steep angle. I knew I had to hold low so I did and felt
confident of the shot but squarely missed him with a shot over him. The next thing I knew the ram was looking
at us at 130 yards with just his head and neck showing. The two biggest side-by side. I was really getting
nervous about shooting two rams or wrong ram cause two were close in size. Well at least close enough to
really screw up in the heat of the moment. I shot quick and missed again since I was really concerned about
shooting the wrong ram or shooting two rams. Lost focus. Well it was now ‘Katie bar the door’ since sheep
were leaving fast but they had to drop down and out of the steep gorge. I cranked another round in so when
they broke clear I was ready. When they climbed out the opposite side they were winded somewhat and
Frank quickly informed me to wait til they stopped. When ram stopped I was ready at about 250 yards he fell
at the shot about 200 feet almost straight down. What a thrilling moment !
The ram was an honest 42” on the long side and a gorgeous one to boot.
I cant put into words compliments that justify Franks superb job of guiding and the gentlemen that he is.
And, Caleb Herkstroeter for his superman packing. He was a big part of our successful experience. In the
beginning I told Frank I fully accept my limitations to climb these mountains everyday and if we just cherish
the moments and have some fun I will consider this hunt a successful experience even with out a ram. Frank
looked at me and said, ”Caleb and I will do everything in our power to get you up on a ram.” To Frank and
Caleb, I thank you both for doing “Everything in your power” to make this sheep hunt one of my fondest.
Twenty years ago, Bill Waugaman gave me the best advise ever, Frank Entsminger is a sheep hunters
sheep hunter.
And to Matt Snyder and his mom Sue you all are the best of the best from the beginning to the end of this
sheep hunt you kept your fingers on the pulse.
talk hunting with a gentleman from Alaska by the name of William (Bill) Waugaman. Bill had an immediate
presence and confidence about him that told me he knew one whale of a lot about hunting in Alaska. It
turns out he was a long time resident, businessman, outfitter and State Senator from Alaska. I told Bill I
really wanted to hunt Dall sheep in Alaska again and had had a very bad experience on first sheep hunt to
Alaska. Bill reached in his pocket for his telephone hand book and gave me the name and telephone number
of a man he said was the “Best damn sheep hunter in the State of Alaska” but maybe hard to book with
cause he only took a few hunters per year. That mans name was Frank Entsminger. Well, I put Franks name
and telephone number on a piece of table napkin and stuck it in my desk drawer when I arrived home and
promised myself I would contact him soon.
Well 14-15 years went by and I got this call one evening from a Sue Entsminger inquiring about a Marco
Polo hunt I had been on the previous Spring. It seems her husband Frank and she were going to hunt Marco
Polo and wanted to know about trip details that might be helpful. Well you guessed it. Sues husband Frank
was the same Frank Entsminger Bill Waugaman had spoken about twenty years prior. And, of course, Sue
and I kibitzed about that conversation with Bill many moons ago.
That was the beginning of my burning desire to hunt Alaska again. After talking to Sue and Frank I sensed
a genuine honesty and love of the mountains that Bill Waugaman had spoken about twenty years ago.
In 2004 I purchased the Governors tag for Dall sheep hunt in Tok Mountain range at our Eastern FNAWS
Convention thinking about hunting one of those long horned rams Tok is known for. Shortly after convention
my good friend from Wisconsin, Tim Krause, wanted to know if I would sell it to him which I agreed to do.
Of course, I recommended Alaska Adventures/Matt Snyder with Frank Entsminger as his guide since Frank
is Matts step-dad and guides for Matt.
Tim hunted the Tok mountains with Alaska Adventures/Matt Snyder as owner and operator. Frank
Entsminger, Matts step-dad was his guide. Frank and Tim killed a great 41” ram( See story Ovis/Grand Slam
Winter 2005 or ECFNAWS issue Jan 2005) on the 2nd/3rd day of the hunt. I then thought I’d either have to
buy this tag again or get aweful, aweful lucky since the draw odds have decreased dramatically in the past
few years. I had hunted the Chugach mountains about 20 years before and did not get a sheep. I wanted a
dall sheep from the US in general and the T0k mountains in particular.
Because destiny had played a rather strange role in the Bill Waugaman – Frank Entsminger story, It seemed
that I needed to fulfill the desire and get to hunt with Frank.
Well in 2006 I drew a Tok Mountains Alaska sheep tag. Talk about luck/destiny playing another beautiful
hand. I was in Mexico in Jan 06 hunting Coues deer when I heard from my wife that Sue Entsminger had
called and told her about my lucky day. As soon as time permitted, I immediately called Matt, Frank and Sue
and told them I was booking and I wanted Frank to be my guide.
As the summer passed, I decided we needed help packing since I am in my late sixties now and a back pack
sheep hunt is getting very, very tough. Frank and Sue said they had a young man who would be excellent as
our packer/helper. His name was Caleb Herkstroeder.
I arrived in Alaska on the 7th of August in Fairbanks to be met by the Governors tag holder Mr Hub Grounds.
Hub had rented a car and waited for me so we could ride together to Tok, Alaska where Matt, Sue and
Frank make their home. We had a very pleasant trip of about 4-5 hours to Snyders/Entmingers place on the
little Tok river nestled right in dall sheep country.
We agreed we would hike into sheep country the following day. It turned out the weather was too bad for
Matt to fly so as Frank said,”Your going to earn this one.” We got a pretty late start and it started to rain
before our assumed camp site on the first night. With me running out of gas and it getting dark we spent the
night in the willows/alders pretty much. The next morning after drying out we headed out again. We had not
gone far when Frank spotted wolves. We fussed around for a while and got up to 180 yards of a couple of
adults and 4 pups. We finally decided we must move on and spook them not knowing there would be 8-9
total wolves hidden in the alders. They were running in every direction. What a site!
By the end of the second day we had seen wolves and glassed rams on another mountain we were heading
for. Frank thought the one ram was a very good ram even at 2-3miles.
Well we made camp that night in a beautiful mountain valley spot. The next day was our 3rd day and the
official opening of sheep season in Alaska. Frank was up by 4 am and wanted to hike up on the mountain to
glass the far mountain to see if sheep were still there. They were still there.
The plan was to hike about half way up the opposite mountain and camp half way up to make it easier on the
old man.
The plan was to dig a flat spot out of a cliffy area to sleep under the little cliff so if sheep came out above us
they would not see us.
The plan worked well. It saved a lot of climbing and Frank found water about 500 yards up the mountain
from camp.
We climbed and hiked to the basin the rams were in but they were no where to be found the next morning.
Later in the afternoon Frank decided we should go slowly and climb higher towards the cliffs and try to spot
them before they spotted us. Well they spotted us first and decided to head higher into the cliffs and out of
sight. We waited in a steady rain for 5-6 hours hoping they would come down. Wet and tired I told Frank I’d
had enough for this day. As we headed down along the cliffs we found a big rock with a dry overhang so we
decided to crawl under the overhang and wait some more. Suddenly, we heard a loud boom in the distance.
Earthquake!!! The ground shook for a second or two. Pretty scary for a flat lander who has never felt a
quake. And, besides, we were sitting right under a big vertical wall of rock.
The next day Frank and Caleb left me to hang-out and they hiked to a pass and over the mountain to see if
the rams had gone over the top. When they got back they had found nothing except a grizzly and moose.
The next day we headed back to our basin again. In the mean time we had spotted 4 rams near the top of
the mountain down the ridge. We had agreed two were good rams and one a shooter for sure. We discussed
climbing over the top to try to get above them. Tough deal. We decided( Frank mostly) that a wait and see
would be the best course of action. We waited all day but when the rams got up to feed they kept coming in
our direction. Frank kept his eye on them all day and afternoon. He did not want too many people peeking
over the top so as to spook them.
We waited til about 9pm when they came down a steep draw into a very cliffy area below us…out of our
sight. Frank turned to me and said,” Are you ready to go?” I said, “Yep, lets go!” We had to cover about 5-
600 yards fast so as to be able to look down in that steep gorge where sheep had gone feeding and getting
water.
Frank kept his eyes wired to the steep gorge sheep had disappeared into and hardly ever looked back with
the stealth and concentration of a cat seeking its prey. He was absolutely masterful in his approach/stalk,
timing and patience in waiting out these rams.
Now the moment of truth was here. We got to a big rock and slid on top of it above the sheep. Finally, Frank
said, “Its that one!” He’s 225 yards Caleb said at a very steep angle. I knew I had to hold low so I did and felt
confident of the shot but squarely missed him with a shot over him. The next thing I knew the ram was looking
at us at 130 yards with just his head and neck showing. The two biggest side-by side. I was really getting
nervous about shooting two rams or wrong ram cause two were close in size. Well at least close enough to
really screw up in the heat of the moment. I shot quick and missed again since I was really concerned about
shooting the wrong ram or shooting two rams. Lost focus. Well it was now ‘Katie bar the door’ since sheep
were leaving fast but they had to drop down and out of the steep gorge. I cranked another round in so when
they broke clear I was ready. When they climbed out the opposite side they were winded somewhat and
Frank quickly informed me to wait til they stopped. When ram stopped I was ready at about 250 yards he fell
at the shot about 200 feet almost straight down. What a thrilling moment !
The ram was an honest 42” on the long side and a gorgeous one to boot.
I cant put into words compliments that justify Franks superb job of guiding and the gentlemen that he is.
And, Caleb Herkstroeter for his superman packing. He was a big part of our successful experience. In the
beginning I told Frank I fully accept my limitations to climb these mountains everyday and if we just cherish
the moments and have some fun I will consider this hunt a successful experience even with out a ram. Frank
looked at me and said, ”Caleb and I will do everything in our power to get you up on a ram.” To Frank and
Caleb, I thank you both for doing “Everything in your power” to make this sheep hunt one of my fondest.
Twenty years ago, Bill Waugaman gave me the best advise ever, Frank Entsminger is a sheep hunters
sheep hunter.
And to Matt Snyder and his mom Sue you all are the best of the best from the beginning to the end of this
sheep hunt you kept your fingers on the pulse.
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