Dennis Zadra with Lonesome Dove Outfitters joins the podcast and answers Aron Snyders many questions on what to expect when booking a guided hunt.   Dennis began his guiding career in 1984 with elk hunters in Colorado. He attended Colorado State University where he graduated in 1990 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Realizing that a career in Engineering was not going to provide a great deal of adventure, he headed to Alaska to try the commercial fishing industry. It was love at first sight, and he began to participate in every fishery possible, including the Bering Sea crab fisheries. In 1993 he bought a boat and a gillnet permit, and began fishing for himself, catching the famous Copper River Salmon. He got his assistant guide license for Alaska in 1991, and guided for other outfitters across the State until 1995. He then had the qualifications necessary to obtain his Registered Guide/Outfitter license, and started Lonesome Dove Outfitters in 1996. He suffered a major setback with the costly divorce from his first wife in 1995, but that gave him the opportunity to meet his second wife, Alicia, who is instrumental in helping with the businesses. They also operate Wild Salmon, Inc which is a direct marketing business providing their salmon products to consumers across the United States. In 2005, Dennis obtained his OUPV near coastal license from the Coast guard, allowing him to transport clients on their new Aluminum fishing boat, the “Raging Bull”. Dennis BrownBear 2000By 2010, Dennis had the necessary qualification to obtain his Master Guide’s license, he became Alaska’s Master Guide #182. Dennis has 41 years of hunting and guiding experience under his belt, and still actively guides hunters every year. They have an excellent team of guides and packers who possess the same strong work ethic, and are constantly working at improving and expanding the operation. “We are very fortunate to be able to make our living from hunting and fishing, and are very grateful to have this close connection to the Great Outdoors. It is not very easy, and Mother Nature has a way of keeping us on our toes, but we are blessed with excitement and adventure every day. We take pride in the services we offer, and will make sure we do everything possible to make sure your Alaskan Adventure will be remembered for years to come!”