Whitehorse, Yukon
For hunting guide Jessie Young, fending off a grizzly in camp, wrangling horses, and quartering a 1,500 pound bull moose is an average day on the job, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She calls the most northern point in the Yukon Territory home, guiding for Midnight Sun Outfitting, and occasionally, whipping up a little caribou lasagna for her campfire guests. Needless to say, she’s passionate about helping as many people as possible experience the beauty and power of this remote corner of the world. Take a gander at what she’s been up to below.
What goes through your head when you first wake up in the morning when you are guiding hunts?
“Where are the horses?” I am so fortunate to be able to live my life in the outdoors, and I wake up feeling lucky every day.
Where is your favourite place to hunt?
The mountains of the Yukon, in particular our hunting concession.
Tell us a favourite story from a day out hunting?
I have too many favourite days to even mention. They are all unique and special experiences in their own ways.
How do you up your game year after year?
I try to be the best I can be! I get involved. I work hard to be a part of every professional organisation that's important to the industry. I just keep pushing as hard as I can to truly be the best I can be. Clich
é, but true.
What goes through your head when you first wake up in the morning when you are guiding hunts?
“Where are the horses?” I am so fortunate to be able to live my life in the outdoors, and I wake up feeling lucky every day.
Where is your favourite place to hunt?
The mountains of the Yukon, in particular our hunting concession.
Tell us a favourite story from a day out hunting?
I have too many favourite days to even mention. They are all unique and special experiences in their own ways.
How do you up your game year after year?
I try to be the best I can be! I get involved. I work hard to be a part of every professional organisation that’s important to the industry. I just keep pushing as hard as I can to truly be the best I can be. Cliché, but true.
If you could do anything better, what would it be?
I truly strive to be the best version of myself every single year. I want to be remembered for being a northern Yukon female outfitter, and a skilled business woman with a big heart and passion for the outdoors.
Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to?
My parents. They are extremely hardworking people and I really look up to them for that. They came from humble beginnings and are successful entrepreneurs.
What haven’t you accomplished that you aspire to do in your lifetime?
I want to raise a family in the mountains. And grow Midnight Sun Outfitting to its biggest and greatest potential.
What part of you, or what you do, reflects a spirit of restlessness?
I’ve always been bit restless, but I hope it’s more that I’m overly driven. I think as an entrepreneur and a business owner, I need to be a bit restless and keep the hustle going.
If there is any love-hate relationship with any aspect of what you do, can you describe what that is?
Like anything there are tough days, but that’s what makes our business and the experiences so epic. On the 11th hour or the last day, that grit is what makes us who we are. And Mother Nature always keeps us on our toes.
What are the 3 most essential things you need for your category?
Toughness, a good sense of humour, and fortitude. Also...coffee, a good horse, and a good pilot. Oh, and bullets.