Original subtitles

Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.

Otto: WE LIVE AT THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS

WHERE NORMAL RULES OF SOCIETY DON'T REALLY APPLY.

Narrator: THE ONLY RULE THAT MATTERS IS SURVIVAL.

WATCH OUT! WHOA!

I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY TO LIVE UP HERE.

I DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.

I DON'T HAVE A TOILET.

Narrator: LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA

MEANS A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

TO SECURE ENOUGH FOOD, WOOD, AND SHELTER

TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE LONG, DARK WINTERS.

SUMMER'S TAKEN UP WITH MADNESS BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPENDING DOOM

WHEN EVERYTHING STARTS TO FREEZE.

NOT HAVING TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE MAN OR THE GROCERY STORES,

YOU GOT TO GO OUT THERE, AND YOU GOT TO GET AGGRESSIVE

AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

Narrator: ALL OF THIS MUST HAPPEN BEFORE THE FREEZE.

Atz: IF YOU DON'T RESPECT MOTHER NATURE, YOU'RE GONNA DIE.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: ON ALASKA'S SOUTHERN COAST,

ALONG THE RUGGED KENAI PENINSULA,

THE KILCHER FAMILY SETTLED 80 YEARS AGO

IN ORDER TO FIND A MORE FREE AND SIMPLE WAY OF LIFE.

ESCAPING TYRANNY AND A WAR-TORN EUROPE,

A SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY WAS BORN.

Atz: THERE'S A LOT MORE FREEDOM IN ALASKA.

THAT'S WHY MY DAD CAME HERE FROM SWITZERLAND.

Otto: HE FEARED HITLER WAS GONNA TAKE OVER THE WORLD,

AND HE WANTED TO GO FIND A PLACE WHERE HE COULD FIND UTOPIA.

HE ENVISIONED THE SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE

WHERE YOU'D NEED AS LITTLE CASH AS POSSIBLE

AND AS LITTLE INTRUSION FROM THE WORLD AT LARGE AS POSSIBLE.

Atz Lee: THIS IS WHAT HE CAME UP WITH --

638 ACRES OF HOMESTEAD HERE.

Narrator: YULE KILCHER HOMESTEADED THE LAND

AND QUICKLY HAD EIGHT CHILDREN WITH HIS WIFE, RUTH --

SIX DAUGHTERS AND TWO SONS.

THREE GENERATIONS OF THE KILCHER FAMILY

STILL LIVE ON THE HOMESTEAD TODAY.

AMONG THEM ARE YULE'S SON, OTTO....

Otto: I HAVE CATTLE, SO I DON'T HUNT.

COWS HAVE AN INTELLIGENCE THAT IS JUST PROFOUND.

THEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HINDUS, YOU KNOW,

AND YOU GO, "OH, MAYBE THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING

ABOUT THAT COW SACRED [BLEEP]"

WHO KNOWS?

Narrator: ...OTTO'S SON, EIVIN...

Eivin: TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW

WHERE ALL OF MY FOOD IS COMING FROM.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON

WHY I'M LIVING THE LIFESTYLE THAT I AM.

I GOT ONE.

OH, MY GOD! [ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: ...EIVIN'S WIFE, EVE...

I FEEL LIKE I'M SOMEWHERE

IN BETWEEN A HIPPIE AND A REDNECK SOMETIMES.

Narrator: ...YULE'S FIRST SON, ATZ...

Atz: I'VE ALWAYS SEEN MYSELF IN THE FAMILY AS THE OLDEST BOY.

LIKE I WAS A PROTECTOR.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, I PROTECT THE CATTLE

FROM WOLVES AND BROWN BEAR.

Narrator: ...ATZ'S SON, ATZ LEE...

Atz Lee: MY ROLE IN THE KILCHER FAMILY --

I WAS THE PRIDED BLACK SHEEP FOR MANY YEARS.

SOMETIMES I KEEP MY EYES UP AT THE STARS TOO OFTEN

AND DON'T REALIZE I'M ABOUT TO GO IN A DITCH.

Narrator: ...AND ATZ LEE'S WIFE, JANE, AND TWO CHILDREN.

Jane: I'M SURROUNDED BY MEN ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S MY LIFE. AND MOST OF THE TIME IT'S OKAY.

SOMETIMES I CRACK, AS WOMEN DO.

AT LEAST WOMEN IN ALASKA DO.

Narrator: THEY ARE THE CORE OF THE KILCHER HOMESTEADERS.

Atz: A HOMESTEADER IS SOMEONE

WHO CAN MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING

AND FIND WHAT HE NEEDS TO MAKE IT.

Eivin: IT'S HARD SOMETIMES LIVING THIS WAY.

I DON'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.

I DON'T HAVE A TOILET.

Narrator: TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL THROUGH THE WINTER,

THE KILCHERS MUST ACCOMPLISH THREE THINGS

DURING THE SHORT ALASKAN SUMMER --

WINTERIZE THEIR HOMES,

STOCKPILE FUEL FOR HEAT,

AND SECURE ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR ANIMALS.

OTTO GAVE UP HUNTING YEARS AGO.

HE RELIES SOLELY ON HIS COWS

TO PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN FAMILY'S FINANCIAL AND SUBSISTENT NEEDS.

ATZ, ATZ LEE, AND EIVIN ALL RELY ON HUNTING AND FISHING

TO SECURE THEIR MEAT FOR THE WINTER.

Atz Lee: I NEED 100 POUNDS OF SALMON.

I NEED, YOU KNOW, 100 POUNDS OF HALIBUT.

I NEED 150, 200 POUNDS OF RED MEAT.

Narrator: ALL OF THIS MUST BE OBTAINED

DURING THE BRIEF FOUR MONTHS OF SUMMER.

Atz Lee: WE KIND OF SKIP

THAT WHOLE AUTUMNY, FALL PHASE HERE IN ALASKA

AND PRETTY MUCH GO STRAIGHT KIND OF SUMMER AND THEN WINTER.

Narrator: WINTER IN THIS PART OF ALASKA

MAY SHOW UP AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT WARNING.

THE ALASKAN SUMMERS HERE ARE REALLY MANIC AND CRAZY.

YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO, SO MUCH TO DO JUST BEFORE THE FREEZE.

Atz Lee: AND THEN WINTER HITS.

AND THERE'S NO MORE FIGHTING IT.

I MEAN, WINTER RULES EVERYTHING.

AND WHAT YOU GOT IS WHAT YOU GOT.

AND THAT'S GOT TO LAST YOU THROUGH THE WINTER.

Narrator: IT'S MID-OCTOBER.

AND ATZ LEE HAS YET TO SECURE ENOUGH MEAT

FOR HIS FAMILY OF FOUR.

Atz Lee: WELL, YOU ALWAYS KNOW WINTER'S COMING.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS, "OKAY, GOT TO GET THIS STUFF DONE.

GOT TO KEEP MOVING, KEEP MOVING,"

BUT YOU ALWAYS THINK YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME,

AND YOU CAN PUT SOME STUFF OFF

AND PROCRASTINATE HERE AND THERE.

Narrator: WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,

HE HEADS OUT TO FIND A BLACK BEAR,

WHICH WOULD PROVIDE SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF MEAT

TO MAINTAIN HIS FAMILY'S SUSTENANCE THROUGH THE WINTER.

Atz Lee: MOOSE SEASON'S CLOSED EVERYWHERE.

I DIDN'T GET A MOOSE THIS SEASON,

SO BLACK BEAR IS THE LAST CHANCE

OF GETTING SOME MEAT IN THE FREEZER.

Atz Lee: OH, MORNING.

MIKE SHELLMAN'S A NEIGHBOR ON THE ROAD HERE

THAT LIVES ON KILTS ROAD.

WHAT YOU GOT? THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT THERE?

YEAH. I'M TRAVELING LIGHT, SO...

LET'S HOPE THAT THIS LAST STORM DIDN'T DRIVE AWAY THE BEARS.

Narrator: WITH HIS FRIEND MIKE IN TOW,

ATZ LEE HEADS OUT TO MEET HIS FATHER,

WHO'S BEEN SCOUTING AHEAD OF THE BAY FOR SIGNS OF BLACK BEAR.

MY FATHER -- I MEAN, HE'S OUT OF AN OLD WESTERN BOOK.

YOU KNOW, IT'S STUFF THAT YOU THINK HAS BEEN LOST FOREVER,

BUT HE'S LIVING IT STILL.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING

I WAS JUST ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF.

HOWDY, BOYS!

HOW'S IT GOING?

HOW LONG YOU BEEN HERE?

JUST PULLED IN.

WELL, I GOT ALL KIND OF NEWS.

THERE COULD BE A BIG CHANGE OF PLANS.

OH, YEAH?

INSTEAD OF A BLACK BEAR HUNT, THIS COULD BE A BROWN BEAR HUNT.

Atz: BLACK BEAR HUNTING -- IT'S PRIMARILY FOR MEAT.

PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY HUNT BROWN BEAR FOR MEAT.

AND THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS YOU CAN LEGALLY KILL A BROWN BEAR --

EITHER HAVE A PERMIT

OR TO BE DEFENDING YOUR LIFE AND PROPERTY.

DID WE LOSE SOME COWS? BAD NEWS.

OTTO LOST HIS BULL LAST NIGHT.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

HIS BIG, WHITE BULL. REALLY?

RIGHT THERE WHERE THE WALLACE ROAD COMES OUT ON THE FLATS.

YOU KNOW, THE CLASSIC BROWN BEAR KILL MARKS ON EACH SHOULDER

AND JUST HAS HIS GUTS EATEN OUT.

THE BEAR MUST HAVE GOT SCARED OFF.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BEAR HUNT TOMORROW

BECAUSE I GOT TO TRY TO WAIT THERE TONIGHT

AND GET THE BROWN BEAR WHEN HE COMES BACK FOR THE BULL.

Narrator: ATZ LEE'S PROCRASTINATION

AND THIS UNFORESEEN SITUATION

HAS PUT HIS HOPE FOR BEAR MEAT IN JEOPARDY.

IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS OWN LACK OF BEAR MEAT.

RECENTLY, THE BROWN BEAR IN THE AREA

HAVE DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR BEEF.

IF WE GET THE BROWN BEAR TONIGHT, SKIN IT OUT,

WE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO GO AFTER BLACK BEAR.

WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHEN WE GET THERE.

OTTO EVEN TALKED ABOUT MAYBE SALVAGING SOME OF THE MEAT.

SURE. IT'S FRESH KILL, YEAH.

IT'S BETTER THAN A ROADKILL. YEAH.

IT'S LAYING IN THE GRASS. YOU KNOW, IT'S BLED OUT, SO...

MY JOB WHEN I'M RANGE RIDING, I HAVE TO CHOOSE.

SOMEONE'S GOT TO WIN. SOMEONE'S GOT TO LOSE.

AND MY JOB IS COWS WIN, BEARS LOSE.

Narrator: ATZ LEE, ATZ, AND MIKE

HEAD OUT TO PROTECT OTTO'S HERD FROM MORE BROWN BEAR ATTACKS.

BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD,

OTTO CONTINUES HIS PREPARATION FOR THE FREEZE.

HE MUST GATHER OVER 80 TONS OF HAY

IN ORDER TO FEED HIS HERD THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

OTTO'S CATTLE SPEND THE SUMMER MONTHS FATTENING UP

THE CATTLE ARE OTTO'S CASH.

THEY'RE USED TO SELL AND BARTER WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

Otto: WE CAN'T KEEP THEM AT THE RANCH

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAY THOSE MEADOWS FOR THE WINTER FOOD.

I HAVE TO COUNT ON FEEDING NOVEMBER, DECEMBER,

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, AND APRIL.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING DAWN TILL DUSK

TILL EITHER HELL FREEZES OVER OR THE COWS COME HOME OR BOTH.

AND SOMETIMES THEY HAPPEN AT THE SAME DAMN TIME.

Narrator: SUDDENLY, OTTO HAS A PROBLEM.

DAMN!

WELL, THE THING'S BROKEN.

COULD BE THAT WE BROKE AN AXLE.

IT COULD BE STEERING WENT OUT.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH USELESS THIS WAY.

IT'S A BAD TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

Narrator: ALL HAY GATHERING AT THE HOMESTEAD COMES TO A HALT.

IF OTTO DOESN'T GATHER ENOUGH HAY BEFORE THE FREEZE,

HIS CATTLE WILL STARVE.

WHILE OTTO IS LEFT TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT TO DO WITH A BROKEN TRACTOR,

ATZ, ATZ LEE, AND MIKE CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY

TO PROTECT THE CATTLE FROM THE BROWN BEAR.

THEY MUST TRAVEL OVER 20 MILES

TO GET WHERE THE CATTLE GRAZE IN THE SUMMERTIME --

AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY.

Mike: I'M MORE OF A WALKER GUY THAN A HORSE GUY,

SO I'VE JUST BEEN KIND OF TRAILING ALONG.

I WAS WALKING UP BEHIND SENIOR AND JUNIOR.

AND THEY WERE RIDING HORSES AHEAD OF ME,

AND THEY HAD A PACKHORSE WITH THEM

AND ALSO A LITTLE COLT THAT WE'RE TAKING OUT

TO KIND OF GIVE IT A NEW SHOT ON THE WORLD.

Narrator: THE COLT'S FIRST TRIP

OUTSIDE THE FENCES OF THE HOMESTEAD

IS DESIGNED TO BUILD HER STRENGTH

AND FAMILIARIZE HER WITH THE AREA.

Atz Lee: THERE IS A PACK OF WILD HORSES THAT ROAM AROUND UP HERE.

Atz: WILD HORSES DON'T ONLY GET CURIOUS

ABOUT APPROACHING HORSES THAT YOU'RE RIDING,

BUT THEY ALSO ARE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT COLTS.

THEY WILL RUN COLTS SO HARD JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY

THAT THE COLT FALLS OFF A CLIFF,

FALLS OFF A RIVER, GETS RUN OVER.

Atz Lee: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ABOUT TRYING

TO KILL OFF THE COMPETITION OR JUST BULLYING

OR WHAT THE HIERARCHY THERE OF THE HORSES IS,

BUT THEY -- ABOUT 8 OR 12 OF THEM TOOK RIGHT AFTER THIS COLT.

HYAH! HYAH!

GET OUT OF THERE!

Narrator: MIKE RUSHES IN

TO HELP THE KILCHERS TRY TO PROTECT THE COLT.

Atz Lee: MY DAD STARTED KIND OF YELLING,

TRYING TO CUT THE COLT OUT.

HYAH! HYAH!

HYAH!

I WAS JUST CUTTING THE -- THE HERD OF THE HORSES.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR, "SHOULDER'S OUT!

HOLD ON. MY SHOULDER'S OUT!"

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

Narrator: ATZ LEE, HIS FATHER, ATZ,

AND HIS FRIEND MIKE ARE OFF ON A MISSION

TO PROTECT OTTO'S GRAZING CATTLE FROM THE BROWN BEAR.

AND THEY MUST PUT A STOP TO THIS.

SUDDENLY A PACK OF WILD HORSES COMES OUT OF NOWHERE

AND ATTACKS THE YOUNG COLT

THAT THE MEN BROUGHT ALONG FOR THE JOURNEY.

Atz: HYAH! HYAH!

MIKE RUSHES IN TO HELP.

Atz Lee: I WAS JUST CUTTING THE -- THE HERD OF THE HORSES.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR, "SHOULDER'S OUT!

HOLD ON. MY SHOULDER'S OUT!"

[ HORSES NEIGH ]

Atz: MIKE'S ARM'S KIND OF DOING THIS KIND OF RAG DOLL THING.

Atz Lee: WE MANAGED TO SCARE OFF THE HERD OF HORSES.

WE GOT TO GET IT BACK IN.

I MEAN, WE'RE OUT HERE,

AND THERE AIN'T NO GOING BACK AT THIS POINT.

Atz: IF YOU WAIT FOR A DOCTOR, YOU'LL BE WAITING A LONG TIME,

'CAUSE THERE AIN'T NO DOCTORS THAT ARE GONNA COME ALONG.

CAN'T BRING YOU ANYWHERE ANYMORE, MIKE.

OH, FOR [BLEEP] SAKES!

HOLD ON. LET ME GET YOUR ARM HERE.

WHEN I SAW THAT HE WAS COMING ALONG ON FOOT

AND THEN AFTER I SAW THAT HE GOT HIS ARM RIPPED OUT,

I WAS BEGINNING TO QUESTION

WHY'D I EVEN AGREE TAKING THIS GUY ALONG.

LET ME SEE WHAT YOU GOT HERE.

[ CHUCKLES ] CAVITY.

YEAH. OKAY.

LET'S TRY THAT SAME DOWN, OVER, AND BACK IN.

Atz Lee: KIND OF WENT TO WORK TRYING TO SET IT BACK IN.

PUT IT JUST A LITTLE BIT DOWN HERE THIS WAY, OKAY?

AND HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME.

[ GRUNTS ]

[BLEEP] ME.

OKAY. LET ME BRING YOU DOWN.

JUST DON'T TOUCH THE...

[ CRACK ]

OH. OH, THERE, THERE.

OH, YEAH. YOU FEEL THAT, DID YOU?

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

OH! [ IMITATES CRACK ]

OH.

IT'S LIKE, "EH, UH. OKAY."

Mike: SHOULDER IS SORE.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES.

IT'S WORKING AGAIN NOW, SO...

THAT WAS EXCITING, HUH? YEAH.

YEAH, IF YOU CAN HUNKER DOWN HERE A WHILE,

REST YOUR ARM. GET THE FIRE GOING.

DON'T FORGET TO DO YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY WHILE WE'RE GONE.

I'LL GET MY RUBBER BAND OUT

AND TIE IT TO THE BUNK, AND...

OKAY. WE GOT TO HEAD BACK FOR THE BROWN BEAR.

Narrator: WITH MIKE LEFT BEHIND,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER ARE ON A MISSION

TO FIND THE BROWN BEAR THAT IS TERRORIZING OTTO'S HERD.

BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD, OTTO'S BROKEN TRACTOR

HAS DERAILED HIS HAY GATHERING.

THIS PUTS HIS CATTLE AT RISK OF NOT SURVIVING WINTER.

Otto: I DON'T VISIBLY STRESS OUT TOO MUCH,

BUT I JUST GOT TO GET THIS [BLEEP] TRACKER WORKING.

FIXING A FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRANSMISSION

IS ABOUT THE MOST COMPLICATED THING THAT I CAN THINK OF.

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY TO MY DAD.

MY DAD, OTTO, CAN DO ANYTHING.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE QUITE THAT EASY.

BUT I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT LOWER BEARING.

I'VE DEVELOPED QUITE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MACHINERY.

TECHNICALLY, I COULD PROBABLY BUILD THIS TRACTOR

FROM THE GROUND UP.

SO, THIS IS AN ANAEROBIC ADHESIVE,

AND IT SETS UP WITH THE ABSENCE OF AIR.

Eivin: WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING HOW TO FIX ANYTHING,

WHETHER IT BE FENCES OR TRACTORS,

MY DAD IS AN AMAZING TEACHER.

REALLY PATIENT.

HE GIVES YOU THE TIME THAT YOU NEED

TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN.

EIVIN AND I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON.

WE ARE BOTH PRETTY MECHANICAL.

MACHINERY-WISE, EIVIN'S A NATURAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR. WIZARD?

Eivin: WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS...

THAT THE TRACTOR'S [BLEEP]

THIS IS MY ONLY TRACTOR.

IT'S A BAD TIME TO DISCOVER

THAT THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE ISN'T WORKING.

I'M DEFINITELY MORE OF THE TRYING TO REVIVE OLD STUFF,

REPAIR STUFF, RECYCLE.

I DON'T REALLY LIKE TO BUY INTO THE SOCIETY --

TURNING THE DOLLARS OVER LOTS OF TIMES.

SO THE CHOICE IS GONNA BE FIX IT

OR MAKE IT A TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE TRACTOR FOR A WHILE LONGER.

Eivin: WE CAN PUT THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE UNIT

BACK ON THERE SO IT HOLDS OIL AND JUST DRIVE IT

AS A TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE TRACTOR FOR A WHILE.

BUT AS SOON AS IT STARTS TO FREEZE AND SNOW,

IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.

Otto: WITH A LITTLE LUCK,

BY THE END OF TODAY, WE'LL BE WORKING AGAIN.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

OLD TRACTORS NEVER DIE.

YOU JUST REPAIR THEM A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW.

Narrator: AS THE SUN SETS OVER THE HEAD OF THE BAY,

ATZ LEE AND ATZ HEAD OUT

TO PROTECT OTTO'S GRAZING CATTLE FROM A MENACING BROWN BEAR.

WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED A PEACEFUL HAVEN

FOR THE CATTLE TO GRAZE

HAS RECENTLY BECOME A FEEDING GROUND FOR HUNGRY PREDATORS.

Atz: THE BROWN BEAR HAVE DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR BEEF.

THEY SEEM TO BE LEARNING THAT EATING CATTLE

IS A LOT EASIER THAN EATING FISH OR KILLING A MOOSE.

THE HORSES MIGHT SPOOK WHEN THEY SMELL THE BULL,

SO BE READY.

TRY TO GET INTO A GOOD SPOT

WHERE WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THE KILL HERE.

Narrator: PROTECTING THE HERD IS KEY.

AND THE KILCHER MEN MUST DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER

TO SCARE OFF ANY LINGERING BEARS.

WE'RE GONNA TIE UP HERE, YEAH.

LEAVE THE HORSES HERE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SNEAK AROUND THE CORNER

ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE EDGE OF THE BUSHES

TO WHERE THE DEAD BULL IS.

Atz: MOST CASES WHERE BROWN BEAR KILL PEOPLE,

IT'S WHEN THE PEOPLE STUMBLE UPON A KILL.

THEN THE BROWN BEAR, TO PROTECT ITS FOOD SOURCE,

WILL ATTACK AND KILL THE PERSONS.

THERE HE IS. RIGHT THERE.

DO YOU SEE HIM?

I DO.

OKAY. JUST WAIT TILL HE STOPS.

DON'T MOVE TILL HE STOPS.

BROWN BEAR ARE DESIGNED FOR KILLING.

THAT'S THEIR JOB. THEY'RE GOOD AT IT.

THERE HE IS. I SEE HIM.

Atz Lee: A BEAR IS CHARGING YOU,

THAT'S JUST A HORRIBLE SITUATION TO BE IN.

YEAH, WE MIGHT OUGHT TO TAKE A POP.

NOW, SHOOT ON THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE? AND THEN SHOOT?

OR SHOOT ON THREE?

ONE, TWO, THREE, SHOOT?

THIS IS A DISCUSSION, SO...

ONE, TWO, THREE, SHOOT.

LET'S SHOOT ON THREE.

ONE AND TWO AND POW.

OKAY. [ GUN COCKS ]

ONE, TWO, AND...

[ GUNSHOT ]

Narrator: ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER ARE ON A MISSION

TO FIND THE BROWN BEAR THAT IS TERRORIZING UNCLE OTTO'S HERD.

THEY MUST BE CAREFUL, HOWEVER,

AS THE BEAR WILL PROTECT ITS KILL

AND COULD CHARGE AT ANY MOMENT.

THERE HE IS. RIGHT THERE.

DO YOU SEE HIM?

I DO.

Atz: MOST CASES WHERE BROWN BEAR KILL PEOPLE,

IT'S WHEN THE PEOPLE STUMBLE UPON A KILL.

THEN THE BROWN BEAR, TO PROTECT ITS FOOD SOURCE,

WILL ATTACK AND KILL THE PERSONS.

YEAH, WE MIGHT OUGHT TO TAKE A POP.

ONE AND TWO AND POW.

ARE YOU READY?

OKAY.

ONE, TWO, AND...

[ GUNSHOT ]

LET'S WALK OUT THERE. JUST BE READY TO SHOOT AGAIN.

THERE IT IS. STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU.

Narrator: AS ATZ LEE AND ATZ APPROACH THE KILL SITE,

THERE'S NO SIGN OF A BEAR.

LET'S LOOK FOR TRACKS HERE.

YEAH.

THE PRESENCE OF FRESH PAW PRINTS

SHOWS THEM THAT THE BEAR WAS FEEDING OFF THE CARCASS.

BUT THEY MISSED THE ONE SHOT THEY HAD.

Atz: THEY PUT ONE PAW ON EACH SIDE.

THEY PUT ONE -- ONE PAW ON THIS SIDE

AND ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THERE'S GONNA BE A HOLE ON THAT OTHER SIDE, TOO.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY BRING THEM DOWN.

NO.

Narrator: NOT ONLY IS ATZ LEE LOSING HOPE FOR BLACK BEAR MEAT,

THE FAMILY IS LOSING BEEF TO THE MENACING PREDATORS.

THEY MUST LEAVE THE DEAD BULL

TO AVOID AN ATTACK FROM THE BROWN BEAR

THAT IS UNDOUBTEDLY WAITING CLOSE BY

TO PROTECT ITS FRESH KILL.

WELL, WE MADE SOME NOISE. SCARED OFF THE BEAR.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR SUPPER.

Narrator: A NEW DAY DAWNS AT THE HOMESTEAD.

EIVIN TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ONE OF THE LAST WARM FALL DAYS

TO FIND A FRESH MEAL.

FRESH MEAT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO COME BY VERY SOON.

Eivin: IF I WANT TO EAT MEAT,

I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO TRY TO TAKE PART IN KILLING IT MYSELF.

I TAKE A PART IN THAT CYCLE OF LIFE IN HUNTING MY MEAT.

BUT I NOTICED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN PHEASANTS RIGHT IN THE DITCH.

I LOVE PHEASANT.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO JUST GET DINNER RIGHT NOW.

I HAD MY .410 SHOTGUN AND A FEW SHOTGUN SHELLS

AND WALKED DOWN THE ROAD TO WHERE I FOUND THEM.

[ GUN COCKS ]

THEY HAD MOVED THROUGH THE GRASS A LITTLE WAYS,

AND I KIND OF WAS TRYING TO SPOOK THEM,

TRYING TO JUST GET THEM TO FLY OUT OF THE GRASS,

'CAUSE THEY JUST STAY REAL LOW

AND KIND OF CREEP THROUGH THE GRASS.

AND THEN ONCE YOU JUST -- JUST ABOUT STEP RIGHT ON THEM

IS WHEN, PHOO, THEY TAKE OFF IN THE AIR AND FLY.

[ PHEASANT SQUAWKING ]

[ SQUAWKING ]

OKAY, BUDDY. OKAY.

OKAY. YOU DID GOOD.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BIRD.

THERE'S DINNER.

PROBABLY ABOUT A 6-POUND BIRD.

A GOOD MEAL FOR TWO OR THREE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

LOOKS A LOT LIKE A CHICKEN.

JUST A LITTLE SMALLER.

I GOT HIM ON THE FIRST SHOT,

BUT HE WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE GRASS PRETTY QUICK.

I THINK I JUST WINGED HIM.

I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO RISK LOSING IT IN THE GRASS

AND HAVING IT DYING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

SO I SHOT IT A SECOND TIME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS

THAT THERE'S NOT ANY PELLETS IN THE MEAT

OR TOO MANY PELLETS IN THE MEAT.

IT'S A BUMMER TO HAVE TO EAT AROUND PELLETS.

THEY HURT WHEN YOU BITE DOWN ON THEM.

WELL, THANK YOU, PHEASANT.

I'LL TRY TO HARVEST JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I CAN FROM THIS BIRD.

Narrator: THE PROUD HUNTER BRINGS HOME A FRESH MEAL TO HIS NEW WIFE.

Eivin: I GOT ONE!

[ HAMMERING ]

Eve: OH!

IT'S A MALE.

OH, NICE!

TAIL FEATHERS!

WOULDN'T THOSE MAKE COOL EARRINGS?

OH, YEAH. THEY'D BE GORGEOUS.

LOOK AT THAT.

I'VE KNOWN HIM MORE OR LESS AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

Eivin: WE'VE BEEN SEEING EACH OTHER AS A COUPLE ON AND OFF NOW

FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS.

WOW. THOSE ARE GORGEOUS.

LOOK AT THAT.

EVE LIKES TO MAKE EARRINGS AND THINGS OUT OF THE FEATHERS.

SO SHE GOT WHAT FEATHERS SHE THOUGHT SHE LIKED,

AND THEN WE FINISHED PLUCKING THE BIRD.

OH, THAT'S WHERE HE GOT SHOT.

MM-HMM.

IT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT AFTER YOU KILL AN ANIMAL,

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO CLEAN IT.

EVERYTHING THAT'S INSIDE OF IT --

THE HEART, THE LUNGS, THE INTESTINES, ALL THAT STUFF --

YOU CLEAN IT OUT 'CAUSE THAT CAN SPOIL THE MEAT.

AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU CAN SAVE AND EAT THEM,

LIKE THE GIZZARD AND THE HEART.

IT'S GOOD MEAT TO ADD ALONG WITH IT AND STEW IT UP.

PERFECT.

DINNERTIME.

WE ENDED UP BAKING IT IN THE OVEN,

AND SOME CARROTS AND POTATOES.

THINK IT'S READY.

OH, YEAH.

LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT AN ALASKAN MAN

THAT YOU JUST CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE.

[ LAUGHS ]

THEY'RE JUST CAPABLE, ADEPT, INGENIOUS, ORIGINAL.

I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND IT'S HARD TO -- TO FIND THAT KIND OF -- KIND OF MAN.

HONEY, THIS IS DELICIOUS.

MMM. PERFECT.

Narrator: WITH EACH PASSING DAY,

ATZ LEE'S CHANCES OF GETTING ENOUGH MEAT FOR THE WINTER

ARE RAPIDLY DECREASING.

Atz: BEARS ARE ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT HIBERNATE.

THEY USUALLY START HIBERNATING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

OCTOBER, BEGINNING NOVEMBER,

THEY'RE USUALLY IN THEIR DENS, SOUND ASLEEP.

Narrator: WITH PLENTY OF WORK

TO GET READY FOR WINTER BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD,

ATZ, HIS SON, ATZ LEE, AND THEIR NEIGHBOR MIKE

ARE FORCED TO HEAD HOME.

THEIR ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE GUNSHOT WAS ENOUGH

TO SCARE AWAY THE BEARS.

I GOT MY PRE-WINTER CHECKLIST IN MY MIND.

AND IT'S LIKE, "OKAY, BEAR.

NO, CAN'T CROSS THAT OFF THE LIST."

Atz: YOU GOT TO BE PREPARED.

THERE'S ONLY SO MANY WAYS TO BE PREPARED.

ATZ LEE'S STILL GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO LEARN.

Narrator: FACING HAY SHORTAGES,

DEAD CATTLE AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,

AND A RAPIDLY APPROACHING WINTER,

OTTO MUST EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS TO PROVIDE MEAT TO HIS FAMILY.

Otto: WAISE, SHE'S BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR 16 YEARS ANYWAY.

IT'S PRETTY OLD FOR A COW. SHE'S BEEN OUR MILK COW.

WAISE, COME HERE. COME HERE, GIRL.

"WAISE" MEANS "ORPHAN" IN GERMAN.

SHE WAS BORN A YEAR BEFORE MY WIFE AND I WERE MARRIED.

SHE'S GIVEN US MANY FINE, YOUNG CALVES.

IF YOU'RE MILKING A COW, YOU'RE MARRIED TO THAT COW.

IT'S LIKE EVERY MORNING AT 7:00 AND EVERY EVENING AT 7:00.

I HAVE A PRETTY SPECIAL BOND WITH HER.

Narrator: OTTO KNOWS THAT THE CHANCES OF WAISE

MAKING IT THROUGH ANOTHER BRUTAL ALASKAN WINTER ARE SLIM.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER WINTER.

AND I'M THINKING I DON'T REALLY WANT TO LET HER FREEZE TO DEATH,

STARVE TO DEATH.

SHE GOT SO SKINNY LAST WINTER. YEAH.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER SUFFER.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN IF SHE MAKES IT THROUGH THE WINTER,

YOU CAN'T PUT HER AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,

A BEAR WILL GET HER, AS OLD AND SLOW AS SHE IS.

I'M JUST PERSONAL WITH THE COWS.

THE MORE YOU'VE HAD IT, SHE'S LIKE A PET.

YOU DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT EATING YOUR PETS, YOU KNOW,

AND SHE'S ABOUT HALFWAY PET, BUT --

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, YOU HATE TO DO.

Atz: I THINK OTTO IS GETTING MORE SENTIMENTAL

AS HE GETS OLDER.

HE CERTAINLY HAS A SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR OLD WAISE.

COME ON, GIRL. COME ON.

I THINK IT'S MORE A MATTER OF RESPECT.

THAT'S A HARD DECISION.

WE NEED THE MEAT.

BUT IF AN ANIMAL DIES AND YOU HAVEN'T SLAUGHTERED IT,

IT'S QUESTIONABLE IF THAT MEAT WILL BE GOOD.

YOU JUST DON'T EAT AN ANIMAL THAT'S DIED ON ITS OWN.

[ SIGHS ] YEAH.

I JUST LOVE THAT OLD COW.

AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO IT.

BUT LIFE AIN'T EASY UP HERE.

WE'LL SEE.

Narrator: WINTER IS FAST APPROACHING

THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

AND MEAT SHORTAGES THREATEN THE FAMILY'S SURVIVAL.

WHILE OTTO CONTEMPLATES SLAUGHTERING WAISE,

THE FAMILY'S MILK COW OF OVER 16 YEARS,

ATZ LEE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY OF FOUR.

Jane: OF COURSE ATZ FEELS PRESSURE TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY.

OH, YEAH, BIG TIME.

WHEN IT'S SUMMERTIME, THERE IS, LIKE, A TICKING CLOCK

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO GET.

AND SUMMER'S QUICK HERE.

IT'S THREE MONTHS, AND THEN IT'S OUT.

IT'S JUST STRAIGHT TO WINTER.

WE LIVE OFF THE LAND, SO IF HE DOESN'T GET A MOOSE

OR HE DOESN'T GET A BEAR, IT SUCKS,

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, "HEY, LET'S HAVE SPAGHETTI."

YOU'RE LIKE, "ARE WE GONNA HAVE FISH SPAGHETTI?

THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. WHERE'S OUR MEAT?"

SURE IS NICE IF HE PROVIDES.

Narrator: REFUSING TO GIVE UP,

ATZ LEE HEADS OUT ALONE TO TRACK DOWN A BLACK BEAR.

Jane: HE DOESN'T GO SOLO BEAR HUNTING VERY MUCH.

NOT MANY PEOPLE DO.

Atz Lee: HUNTING BEARS OR ANY ANIMAL SOLO IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS.

IF YOU GET HURT, THERE'S NOBODY ELSE THERE

TO GO FOR HELP OR TO HELP YOU.

HOPEFULLY, A BEAR WILL BE COMING FROM THE HIGH COUNTRY,

WHERE IT'S GETTING COLDER AND THE BERRIES ARE ALREADY GONE.

THEY COME DOWN INTO THESE CANYONS.

IT'S KIND OF THEIR LAST CHANCE FOR FOOD BEFORE THE WINTER.

THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE AFTER RIGHT HERE.

SEE IF I CAN'T GET A FALL BLACK BEAR.

LAST -- LAST CHANCE.

Narrator: THE TIME HAS COME FOR OTTO TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION

ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH HIS MILK COW, WAISE.

Otto: OH, MAN, WE GOT THIS COW -- I'VE HAD HER SINCE BIRTH.

HER MOTHER DIED, AND SHE WAS AN ORPHAN.

AND SO WE JUST KIND OF STARTED MILKING HER.

AND THROUGH THE YEARS, MY DAD ACTUALLY MILKED THIS COW.

AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US A LONG TIME.

Eivin: BUT AT THIS POINT IN THE COW'S LIFE, IT'S --

YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY NOT

GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE

WHETHER WE WANT TO SAVE IT FOR THE MEAT

OR LOSE THE MEAT ALTOGETHER AND HAVE IT DIE OF NATURAL CAUSES.

WE CAN'T REALLY AFFORD TO FEED IT HAY THROUGH THE WINTER

AND TO KEEP IT ALIVE IF IT'S JUST GONNA DIE ANYWAYS.

Otto: ALL OF US NEED MEAT.

SO...

I THINK THE RIGHT THING TO DO

IS, WHILE SHE'S HAPPY, WHILE THE GRASS IS GREEN,

WHILE SHE'S DOING FINE,

IS JUST BUTCHER HER AND SALVAGE THE MEAT.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR HER AND FOR MY FAMILY.

Eivin: PART OF THE WAY OF LIFE HERE.

WE'LL APPRECIATE THE COW AND THE GIFT THAT IT IS

FOR TIME TO COME.

Otto: WELL, IT'S GONNA BE HARD

PUTTING A COW THAT YOU'RE THAT ATTACHED TO,

TURNING INTO, YOU KNOW, A REAL FAMILY FRIEND --

ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AUGUST, MY YOUNGEST, EIVIN, AND MIKE COME OVER TO HELP.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL MY CHILDREN

LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS, BIRTH TO DEATH.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE DEAL.

IT'S NOT A LIGHT THING TO BE BUTCHERING AN OLD COW.

THE OLDER I GET, THE LESS I LIKE KILLING THINGS.

GONNA SHOOT HER RIGHT HERE WHERE SHE'S PEACEFUL

AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

IN THIS CASE, I DO NOT HAVE THE HEART TO PULL THE TRIGGER.

Eivin: MY DAD, HE HAS A HARDER AND HARDER TIME OVER THE YEARS

WITH WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE A LIFE.

IT'S PART OF MY ROLE AS A PARENT NOW

TO ALLOW AND TO TEACH EIVIN TO TAKE HIS ROLE,

TO TAKE THE REINS, YOU KNOW?

HE'S GOT TO LEARN TO BE STRONG.

Eivin: FOR ME, IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL,

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO TAKE LIGHTLY,

TAKING A LIFE LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF, IN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A SICK WAY,

A LITTLE BIT OF AN HONOR, TOO.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE TIME THAT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER

AND I BOTTLE-FED THIS COW TO THE POINT NOW.

OKAY, EIVIN, I GUESS.

LET ME GIVE HER A LITTLE MORE HERE.

NOW FIRE.

HEY, GIRL.

Narrator: IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

FOR OTTO AND HIS CHERISHED MILK COW.

AFTER ALMOST 17 YEARS OF PROVIDING CALVES TO OTTO

AND MILK TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY,

THE KILCHERS HAVE DECIDED THAT HER TIME HAS COME.

BARELY SURVIVING LAST YEAR, THEY FEAR THAT THE HARSH WINTER AHEAD

WILL LEAD THE OLD COW TO AN UNCOMFORTABLE DEATH.

THE MEAT WOULD THEN SPOIL,

AND OVER 400 POUNDS OF BEEF WOULD GO TO WASTE.

OKAY, EIVIN, I GUESS.

NOW FIRE.

Eivin: HEY, GIRL.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Otto: KILLING YOUR MILK COW OR ANY ANIMAL IS A SACRIFICE

TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'RE TRADING THEIR LIFE

FOR YOUR SUSTENANCE.

THERE'S A DEPTH TO IT.

THERE'S A REVERENCE THERE

AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S A GREAT BIG CIRCLE

AND THAT -- AND THAT YOU'RE PART OF THAT.

YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH HAY SHE'S EATEN

AND HOW MUCH GRIEF SHE'S GIVEN YOU AND ALL THAT.

MY SON EIVIN DID THE TASK.

I'M PROUD OF HIM.

Eivin: THE TAKING OF LIFE,

IT SHOULD NEVER BE SOMETHING THAT'S EASY.

IF I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLE

AND EAT MEAT, I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KILL THINGS.

SO I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO ACTUALLY PULL THE TRIGGER.

I LEARNED THIS LIFESTYLE FROM MY DAD.

Otto: YOU PASS THIS STUFF ON.

IT'S A CONTINUUM.

I'M GONNA CATCH THE BLOOD IN THIS,

SO I'LL TAKE THE BUCKET AND THE KNIFE AND THAT

Narrator: IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MEAT FROM SPOILING,

OTTO MUST BLEED THE COW IMMEDIATELY.

THEY THEN SKIN THE COW AND KEEP THE HIDE FOR FUTURE USE.

AND GO. [ GRUNTS ]

THEY CUT OUT THE ORGANS --

SOME TO EAT, OTHERS TO FEED THE ANIMALS...

...AND SPLIT THE CARCASS IN HALF.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE LESS PERSONAL ATTACHMENT TO IT.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA WIND UP WITH ABOUT 400 POUNDS OF BURGER.

IT'LL LAST US TILL NEXT FALL.

Narrator: IN A NEARBY CANYON,

ATZ LEE REMAINS ON A QUEST FOR HIS OWN MEAT.

HE KNOWS THAT A SINGLE BEAR

COULD FEED HIS FAMILY FOR THE ENTIRE WINTER,

BUT TIME IS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT.

Atz Lee: THIS IS IT. I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE.

IF I WAIT, THE RAIN'S GONNA TURN INTO SNOW

AND THE BEARS WILL BE COMPLETELY GONE,

SO THIS IS MY FINAL CHANCE AT GETTING A BEAR.

GONNA HEAD BACK DOWN TO THE CANYON ON FOOT HERE

AND CREEP IN THERE AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE,

HEADING TO A SPOT THAT I FOUND PREVIOUSLY.

Narrator: HUNTING ALONE IN ALASKA IS DANGEROUS.

Atz Lee: ANY ANIMAL THAT CAN TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF

WITH A SWEEP OF THEIR HAND IS DEFINITELY DANGEROUS.

Narrator: DESPITE HIS CONCERNS,

ATZ LEE'S NEED FOR A WINTER'S WORTH OF MEAT FOR HIS FAMILY

MAKES IT A RISK HE MUST TAKE.

HE PRESSES ON DEEPER INTO THE CANYON.

WHILE ATZ LEE CONTINUES TO SEARCH FOR MEAT,

OTTO HAS SECURED HIS OWN.

IN DEATH, THE PRIZED MILK COW

HAS GIVEN THE FAMILY MUCH-NEEDED PROTEIN TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.

ONE TIME MY OLD MAN HAD A MOOSE HANGING IN THE BARN.

AND HE -- "NO, NO, WE'LL CUT IT UP TOMORROW."

AND IT WAS DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS,

AND THE FLY LAID EGGS IN THERE.

AND THEY CRAWLED UP THE BLOOD VESSELS.

SO YOU'D BE EATING WHAT YOU THOUGHT

WAS A PERFECTLY GOOD CHUNK OF, LIKE, POT ROAST.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE SORT OF LIKE, "WHAT THE HELL?"

POP, POP, CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

IT WAS LIKE THESE LITTLE FRICKING MAGGOTS

ALL IN A ROW IN THERE.

IT WAS LIKE -- OH, IT WAS BAD.

MAYBE WE OUGHT TO JUST COOK THAT HEART.

GO START UP THE GRILL.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A GRILL.

WELL, YOU KNOW, MY FIRE PIT.

I HAVEN'T EATEN ANYTHING TODAY.

I'LL START ON THIS END.

SEE WHAT WE GET HERE.

I'M GLAD I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON

THAT WOULDN'T FEEL SOMETHING

FOR A COW THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 17 YEARS.

I THINK IT'S JUST KIND OF A SADNESS

TO LET GO OF THAT CHAPTER

THAT THAT COW PUT IN YOUR BOOK OF LIFE.

OH, DAMN GOOD.

OH, BABY.

WHOO-WHEE!

HUNTING MY OWN FOOD HAS GIVEN ME A VERY, VERY GOOD PERSPECTIVE

OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CARNIVORE,

A LOT MORE THAN I THINK A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE

THAT WOULD JUST BUY THEIR MEAT AT A GROCERY STORE.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF FAKE, IN A WAY,

BECAUSE YOU TOTALLY TAKE AWAY THAT PERSPECTIVE

OF WHAT IT MEANS TO KILL SOMETHING

AND JUST THINK THAT YOU CAN EAT MEAT

WITHOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THE CONSEQUENCES

I DON'T EVER WANT TO EAT MEAT THAT GREW UP IN A SLAUGHTERHOUSE

AND WAS KILLED BY THE THOUSANDS.

THAT I KNEW LIVED A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

AND I KNEW HOW IT LIVED.

Narrator: COMING UP, ATZ LEE STAYS THE NIGHT

AND CONTINUES HIS FINAL PUSH FOR BEAR MEAT.

Atz Lee: ADRENALINE GETS PUMPING, AND THE FEAR REALLY KICKS IN.

Narrator: AFTER SPENDING A NIGHT ON THE BEACH

AND RETURNING TO THE CANYON, EXHAUSTION SETTING IN,

ATZ LEE HASN'T GOTTEN HIS BLACK BEAR.

AND HE BEGINS TO FEAR THAT HE'S UNPREPARED MEAT-WISE

FOR THE FREEZE.

HE CONTINUES HIS SEARCH

BUT WORRIES THAT THE BEARS HAVE ALREADY RETREATED TO THEIR CAVES

TO HIBERNATE FOR THE WINTER.

Atz Lee: KIND OF HOPING SOMETHING WOULD COME TRICKLING DOWN,

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

NOT TOO MANY TRACKS, NOTHING FRESHLY DISTURBED.

EVENTUALLY YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT CHOICE --

DO I KEEP HUNTING, OR DO I RETREAT?

WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST WALK AWAY.

AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT BRINGS YOU DOWN BECAUSE YOU THINK, LIKE,

"GEEZ, I SPENT ALL THAT TIME AND ENERGY,"

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT GETTING THE MEAT.

SO IT'S HARD.

I HAD TO COME HOME FEELING LIKE

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE

TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO HELP ME OUT.

THE CONSEQUENCES ARE HAVING TO KIND OF SCRAPE BY THIS WINTER

AND EAT THE SALMON HEADS, MAKE THE STEWS.

YOU KNOW, IT MAYBE DOESN'T TASTE THE BEST,

BUT I MADE THE DECISIONS I MADE.

AND NOW I GOT TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

Otto: THE FINAL CHAPTER HERE OF THE COW WAISE.

IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO GO INTO WINTER WITHOUT ENOUGH MEAT.

EVERY YEAR, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,

I'LL SUPPLY A LITTLE BIT OF MEAT TO THE VARIOUS PEOPLE

THAT HAVE HELPED ME OUT WHEN I'VE NEEDED HELP.

YOU'VE GOT A FREEZER, DON'T YOU, MIKE?

I DO. THANK YOU, OTTO.

IT'S A WAY OF PAYING THEM BACK.

I CAN DEPEND ON THEM AGAIN, AND THEY CAN DEPEND ON ME.

AND IT'S A KIND OF GIVE-AND-TAKE LIFESTYLE HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

I RESPECTED THAT OLD COW.

WE MILKED HER FOR YEARS, AND NOW SHE'S GOT

THE BEST COTTON-PICKING BEEF YOU CAN IMAGINE.

EVERYBODY'S NUTS ABOUT IT.

ONE FOR ATZ LEE RIGHT THERE.

Atz Lee: WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

I'M GONNA GO STICK THAT IN MY FREEZER.

Atz Lee: I REALLY RELY ON MY UNCLE OTTO.

THE BEEF IS GONNA BE A SAVING GRACE THIS YEAR, FOR SURE.

HAVING A KIND OF COMMUNITY SENSE AROUND THE HOMESTEAD

COMES IN REALLY HANDY.

YOU KNOW, I GO OUT UNSUCCESSFULLY ON BIG GAME,

BUT I'M PRETTY LUCKY TO HAVE SOME FAMILY

AND GOOD FRIENDS IN MY AREA.

AND WE CAN ALL SHARE EACH OTHER'S WEIGHT.

OKAY.

I LIVE BY A CODE --

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL, AND THEN LOVE THEM.

YOUR KIDS ARE YOUR HEREAFTER.

THEY'RE HERE AFTER US.

SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD HEREAFTER, LISTEN UP.

Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER,"

AS A WINTER STORM BEARS DOWN ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

IT'S A MAD SCRAMBLE TO GET EVERYTHING PREPARED.

THEY MUST GATHER ENOUGH FIREWOOD TO SURVIVE

AND GET THE COWS HOME BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

IT'S ABOUT THE NASTIEST WEATHER I'VE SEEN OUT HERE.