T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
ADVENTURE IN THE CROSSHAIRS BY CAROL INE PURTLE
M ist drains over the mountains and dissipates into the chiseled valley’s belly. At its peaks, clouds are reborn again and again—a contagion of wispy foam. The vapors bind to the chill under the sun and fill the space left between heaven and earth. Among the stillness in the air, flocks of sheep faintly bleat. L ongtime local Kendal Howe works as the payroll services coordinator for Texas A&M-Texarkana but cashed in some vacation days, traveling hundreds of miles north for a big Alaskan sheep hunt. In August, after months of preparation, Howe and her father, Chad Rowe, spent their nights in tents and their days scouring the Wrangell Mountains with guns in tow. In the summer of 2020, Howe’s father called and proposed a wild adventure. She had little hunting experience, but that didn’t stop her. Howe began intensive training that November. The entire trip lasted 16 days. “I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” said Howe. “Hunting, specifically sheep hunting, is one of his favorite things to do, and I knew that while it would be super hard and I would have to do some pretty strenuous training to keep up, being able to spend time with my dad like that would be the highest quality there is.” The father-daughter duo endured harsh conditions. Temperatures ranged between 30-50 degrees, and the Alaskan landscape was picturesque, yet taxing. Nevertheless, on the last day of the trip, she conquered. Using a Tikka 7mm-08 with special loaded rounds, Howe shot a rare, double broomed, full curl ram. “‘Double broomed’ means he fought enough with the other rams that his lamb tips, just the first six inches or so of his horns, were snapped off,” said Howe. “He had lichen growing in his horns too. He was a fantastic animal, and I couldn’t have asked for a better hunt or outcome.” Alaska was important to her and unforgettable. During their downtime, Howe stayed occupied by journaling on her phone. She says that words fell short of capturing the amazing experience. “Monday, we loaded up our gear and flew out to Chisana, [Alaska], near the southeastern [border with Canada],” said Howe; “we would hunt near there but had one more flight before making it to our actual hunting spot.” They spent one night in Chisana and
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S P O R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
S P O R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
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