No, not a confession (although I've made my share . . . )
A recommendation -- Alaska Magazine has just published in the October 2008 issue an excellent article, "Beginner's Mistakes." The article was written by Trad Gang member (and much-admired outdoor writer) Don Thomas. Anyone contemplating a trip to the Great Land for a hunt or any other backcountry purpose should scurry down to the newsstand and buy this issue. This article should be read carefully, line by line, and taken to heart. After you've done that, you can enjoy the rest of an exemplary issue of the mag.
As someone who once searched for an overdue sheep hunter who was the subject of TWO search-and-rescue missions during the same week-long hunt, I applaud Mr. Thomas for his preventive instruction. Kudos to him, and to the editors for reviving the "Alaska Sportsman" banner under which it appears!