This quarter’s outdoor icon is Gary K. Rohanna Sr. He has spent his entire life in the hills of Greene County. Gary is one of my most tenured hunting friends and has been a constant companion through some of the most memorable outdoor experiences of my life. We have seen countless sunrises together, and shared hundreds of exciting hunts. Over the years, our friendship has grown stronger through shared adventures, challenges, and lots of success in the field.
What makes him special is not just his skill as a hunter but also his character. He is patient, dependable, and always willing to help others be successful when hunting. He gets as much enjoyment out of filming the hunts and wildlife as he does taking the trophy himself. He brings a sense of confidence and good humor and makes every hunting trip an enjoyable experience.
Our hunting trips are about much more than the hunt itself. They are opportunities to share stories, laugh together, and appreciate the outdoors. Even on days when we return empty-handed, the time spent in each other’s company feels rewarding.
In the early years for Gary, it was all small game, bird dogs and beagles. However, at just 12 years old, he was at his family hunting camps in State College and Elk County and was able to harvest a black bear and a whitetail buck on his very first hunting trip.
Gary is a seasoned outdoorsman having hunted in Montana since 1973…most years going on two different trips. One in October to hunt antelope and do some fishing and again in November for deer and elk. He has also been to Alaska (three times) for grizzly bear, Quebec for caribou, Ontario for moose, British Columbia (five times) for black bear and whitetail deer, New Mexico (four times) for mule deer, and Tennessee, West Virginia, and Ohio, for whitetail deer.
Gary’s most memorable hunt took him to the North slope of the Brooks Mountain Range in Alaska in search of a record book grizzly bear. It was a 2-week hunt with his friend Rich Barchesi and Cousin Greg Rohanna. In all, they spotted 22 different grizzlies and put stalks on five of them with no luck. These stalks were made in hip boots because of the marshy terrain and streams…some stalks were over six miles long.
However, on the seventh day of the hunt a large boar grizzly was finally spotted and the hunt was on. After a long and careful approach through thick willows and underbrush, which was unnerving to say the least, the guide (who was over 6’ tall) said “he is right in front of us.” The height of the willows and brush prevented Gary from seeing the bear, but he could smell him – “The bear smelled just like a hog lot.”
The guide instructed, “get down on one knee and get ready for a shot.” Then it happened, the giant grizzly stepped into view at only 35 yards.
Gary slid his safety off and waited for the bear to move his front leg forward. “I heard the guide click his safety off too.” His 375 H&H Magnum was a backup in case things went wrong. The first shot stumbled the bear, and the guide said “keep shooting.” After two more shots with his 300 Winchester Magnum, the giant laid motionless on the sand bar.
It was not until they approached the bear that they realized how enormous it was. The bear squared out at over eight feet tall and easily qualified him for the Boon & Crocket record books for interior grizzly.
Coastal grizzly (bears that live within 70 miles of the coast) are considered brown bears. The hide alone weighed over 400 pounds and had to be transported by itself in the plane because of the weight restrictions. Once back in Fairbanks, according to regulations, they had to check the bear in with the Fish & Game Commission who removed a tooth for calculations, they determined that the bear was approximately 23 years old.
However, time changes everything. There was a period when the rough mountains seemed smaller than our ambitions, we would rise before dawn and climb steep ridges without a second thought. The rocky trails, cold winds, and long miles were not obstacles but invitations. Hunting in those wild places was as much about the journey as the game itself. Every summit promised a new view, and every valley held the possibility of adventure, we always wanted to see what was over the next ridge.
Now, the mountains have not changed, but we have. The slopes seem steeper, the loose stones less forgiving, and the distances longer than we remember. Our knees and shoulders complain more, and our breath comes harder on steep climbs. Experience has taught us where to look for game, but experience cannot completely overcome the limits of age.
Ageing is not only a physical realization, but also an emotional one. It means accepting that strength fades and some chapters eventually close. Yet there is gratitude in that acceptance. We have been fortunate to walk those ridges and bring home stories that will last longer than any trophy. Although we may no longer chase game across the highest mountains, or “beat the brush” like we used too, the memories remain vivid, and in many ways, they are the richest reward of all.
Now, Montana is about the extent of the hunting adventures for us. Gary takes pleasure in introducing his friends and family to the “Western hunting experience”. Over the years Gary has taken over 75 different people to Montana. Some of the more notable companions over the years are Rudy Marisa, Big Jim Hopkins, Jack McCracken, Tom Jackovic, Hershal Mathews, Ron Fox, Bill Hinerman, Joe & Mark Headlee, Albert Amons, Scott McNay, George Keener, Jarrod Blosser, Pat McAndrews, and many, many, more.
Through the years, my oldest hunting friend has become like family to me. His friendship has enriched my life in countless ways. I am grateful for the memories we have created together, and I look forward to many more adventures in the years ahead.
Gary said, “I might have one more big adventure left in me…I have never hunted Africa.”
