About Us
Alaska Private Guide Service
Smokey Don Duncan,
Master Guide #136
About Us |
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| Brown Bear | Moose | Grizzly Bear | Black Bear | Wolf | Caribou | Fishing | Waterfowl | Photography Trips | Snow Adventures | |
Alaska Private Guide ServiceAlaska Private Guide Service is owned by Smokey Don Duncan, Master Guide #136. Smokey Don moved to Fairbanks Alaska in 1975 and began hunting and fishing with Alaska’s best guides. After operating his own fishing guide business for several years and working for other hunting guides, Smokey got his registered hunting guide license in 1990. In 1990 APGS was formed by Smokey to incorporate the hunting, fishing and river touring/photography businesses into one. The business has been slowly but steadily growing ever since. Smokey is a working guide. He is in the field with the clients and guides, not sitting back at the lodge. He takes particular concern that each client is put in the right camp based on their desires and abilities. He takes every hunt and every client seriously and works hard to achieve the desired results. He realizes that for some, it is their one and only Alaska big game hunt. It is his goal to make every hunt a success while conducting a legal and ethical guiding service. The money, hunt fee is simply a way for Smokey to afford and have available the various options that increase success, safety and comfort. The real profit is in the enjoyment, excitement, camaraderie and new jokes that come with each year. You may come as a client but you’ll leave with new friends. We tell you the truth, the good and the bad, we want you fully informed. That is why we have a very detailed website. You should not have many, if any questions once you take the time to read our web site. This is on purpose. We want you fully informed. Maybe we fit your desires and maybe we do not. Either way we want you to know what you can expect. One of the unique aspects about APGS is that most all of the guides are former clients. They paid for their hunts for 2 years and then came back as a packer, helper, and assistant guide. Some have chosen to remain an assistant guide while others have gone on to be a registered guide. The registered guides chose to stay with APGS because they love making dreams come true for their clients. And with APGS, they have the resources and support to accomplish that goal. They aren’t guides for the money, but for everything else that comes with the hunt. They have regular jobs or own their own business. They don’t need the money. They love to hunt and have been doing so all their lives. The average age is 50 and they have been with APGS an average of 10 years or more. Who; that calls himself a true hunter; could say, “no” to being paid to hunt? The APGS operation would not be what it is without all the help these great guides give to APGS and the clients. Now you can enjoy the excellence of experience! Here they are: Wayne Gregory, Assistant Guide, came with APGS as a fishing client in 1989. His Alaska hunting experience dates back into the 1960’s. He then chose APGS as his caribou hunting guide. Wayne and Smokey developed the K2 camp that produced many happy moose, brown bear and caribou hunting clients. He has been an assistant hunting guide since 1996 and a fishing guide for the last 20 years. He is also the master fishing and waterfowl guide for our operation. Also the local expert on plants and poisonous plants. Retired as a jet engine mechanic, so he helps us with the mechanical side of things also. Not a bad cook either. Wayne’s wife Georgia has also been on many trips over the last 15 years. She makes sure women and things men don’t think about are taken care of. She hunts and when she speaks you listen. Wayne Brewer, Assistant Guide, could be a Registered guide if he chose to. Wayne came and hunted with Smokey in 1992 and got his Arctic Grizzly south of the Umiat and the Colville River. (look that one up, 180 miles south of Point Barrow). Then 6 years later, Wayne hired APGS again and got his moose. Wayne guides some, for moose and bear as needed but mostly maintains control of K1 logistics concerning food, fuel, messages, and handles all initial client concerns. If you have a problem tell Wayne. He will fix it or make sure Smokey is aware of it. Also head of humor dept. Good cook. Brad Baron Assistant Guide, Brad signed on and worked his way from the ground up. He could get a registered guide license, but why bother. Brad ranges through all the camps for all game. Hard core hunter. Get the camp gear, client and go. Will give you all you can take. Loves to predator call. Good mechanic. Knows all he needs to know. Has been with us for 10+ years. Dave Buck Assistant guide; his business partner Frank Myers introduced him to Smokey. The only guide that never paid for a hunt. He has been to all the camps. A horse of a man! No bear too far. No load too far or too hard. Dave moves around the camps as needed guiding and packing. He is an excellent cook. Smokey likes to keep him based at K1 usually. Jimmy Davis, Assistant Guide. AKA “Long Range Jimmy”. He had hunted with several other guides across Alaska before finding APGS. HE came on a caribou hunt then a moose and brown bear hunt and then a black bear hunt. He then signed on to be a guide. In 2011 he will be 73. Jimmie has been to and or hunted all camps. Doesn’t mind going for a hike to scout the next ridge. Or sitting waiting for the bear to pop out at close range or walking into the kill site. Knows and has guided most every camp. He has been with us 10+ years. John Henderson, Assistant Guide. Has hunted and fished all the camps as both a guide and paying hunter. He has his own business and can’t make up his mind whether to guide or hunt, so he does some of both. He has taken 3 moose with APGS along with caribou, brown bear, and black bear. Good fishermen to boot. Knows and has hunted and or guided most every camp. Ed Mayer; 38 year Alaskan. Retired Class A assistant guide. Works the black bear cabin hunts. Built the cabin and shop. Over 20 years experience hunting this area. Excellent cook. 73 years old. Retired except for guiding. Still going just like Jimmie Davis. Bob Migliore, Assistant Guide. Long time bow hunter. He took a brown bear with a rifle then a moose with a bow and then a black bear with a spear; all with APGS. Knows and has hunted and or guided most every camp. Tom Owen, Assistant Guide. Tom came as a client 4 times and twice as a camp helper. He has hunted out of most of the camps in unit 17 and 20. Now he is good to go guiding moose, brown bear and black bear. Excellent boat operator and fisherman. Larry Lee. AKA 911 “Larry Lee” is our go to guy in Koliganek. Larry helps with all the logistics into and out of Koliganek. Mr. dependable. Larry receives the mail and helps get you to and from the airport and river. Doug Maine Assistant Guide, retired. Doug hunted with several guides and worked for another before hiring APGS for a brown bear hunt. He did not find what he wanted the first year but connected with a dandy 9’ the second time around. Loves to hunt brown bear and scout. Excellent tracker and sign reader. Eagle eyes. Old school. -- top |
| Brown Bear | Moose | Black Bear | Wolf | Caribou | Fishing | Waterfowl | Photography Trips | Snow Adventures | |
Smokey Don Duncan, Owner, Master Guide #136 and P.H. All content © 1991-2013 Alaska Private Guide Service |
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