Kodiak Island Mid October
Contributors to this thread:Mule Deer
From: Mac5
06-Jul-20
Hey all! We are in the process of booking a hunt on the south end of Kodiak for Blacktails October 10-17th. It will be a boat based hunt. I’m curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are for that time of the year. I have hunted there twice before. The last week of October, and First week of November, and both times, the trips were amazing. I am wondering if early to mid October is a good time to go!? I know it is a little early as far as the actual rut is concerned, but curious if anyone has any experience/suggestions for that time of the year!? Thanks in advance for any responses!
From: JTreeman
06-Jul-20
Up, up, and more up.
—Jim
From: TEmbry
06-Jul-20
I’ve never hunted really late (first week of November being the latest). The bucks will be up high but luckily on the south end that doesn’t mean unreachable. They are always up high at the start of rut too from what I’ve seen for the most part. Later the better but I wouldn’t hesitate to go then if that is the only dates that will work. I may be there the same time frame this year due to work constraints when I normally head down the last week of October into November.
From: Matt
06-Jul-20
I'll be interested to hear what folks with actual experience have to say, but I have a buddy who thought he had it really figured out hunting Kodiak in mid-October when no one else seemed to be hunting there. Then he figured out why no one was hunting there that time of year. They are entirely different animal after they shed their velvet and prior to the pre-rut kicking in.
From: BlacktailBob
06-Jul-20
October is the absolute most difficult time to hunt Sitka's. It can be done though. Very slow approach, waiting for the right time to close in on them. I killed three nice bucks last year in October. Had to wait all day on one of them, had to beat one of them to the top of a mountain to kill him, and lucked out on the last one and killed him in the goat rocks.
From: LKH
06-Jul-20
Yeah, with a boat hunt you shouldl never be near anything that has killer climbs. I hunted Olga Bay by boat and both Frazer and Red lakes.. Getting to the top was never a big deal.
From: Mac5
07-Jul-20
I appreciate the responses. I guess I should add that 4 of the hunters will be rifle hunting, while myself and another will be bow hunting. One good thing about hunting on Kodiak, is that no matter what kind of deer you get, the adventure and just being there, make it completely worth it!
From: BOWUNTR
07-Jul-20
My favorite time is mid September... I can't imagine it would be much different in October. It's like spot and stalk alpine mule deer. The weather might be different... but it can be different at any time. I might go this year in October. Ed F
From: Rgiesey
08-Jul-20
I’ve been going to respond but couldn’t remember what week in October I’d been there. Funny once I figured it out. What we saw with the bucks not running crazy everywhere I think October is a good time to be hunting there. Luke and some of my friends have been hunting August. Kodiak, admiralty, mainland. Up in the alpine so with Roark booked in November I think a great idea.
From: Fuzzy
09-Jul-20
take lots of arrows
From: Fuzzy
09-Jul-20
I recommend at least six arrows, maybe seven
From: Mac5
09-Jul-20
Fuzzy, I Like your enthusiasm!! LOL
From: JTreeman
09-Jul-20
I think fuzzy meant to put “teen” on the end of each of those numbers ;)
—Jim
From: DEMO-Bowhunter
09-Jul-20
LOL! Fuzzy, I will never forget the look on all of our faces when you said you only brought 6 arrows with you! Thanks for the entertainment! I'll be back this November giving it another whirl.
From: Matt
09-Jul-20
"I think fuzzy meant to put “teen” on the end of each of those numbers ;)"
Spoken like a person who has not met Fuzzy. ;-)
The sad reality is Fuzzy only brought 6 arrows on our Kodiak trip. And apparently he only brought one good shot, which he blew during our practice session before we even jumped on the float plane.
From: APauls
09-Jul-20
I love comparing and contrasting real world hunters (especially Western hunters) with mainly internet whitetail hunters. Just to totally disturb the pot here. I'd be in the "bring many arrows" camp. But then there is those guys that say, you only release an arrow if you're 100% sure you will kill the animal, and they've never wounded an animal etc etc. Ethics about animals and such lol. If you were in that camp I guess you'd only bring 1-3 arrows to Kodiak??
From: Fuzzy
09-Jul-20
Sadly Matt you are correct on all points
From: Fuzzy
09-Jul-20
APauls, that's me, the internet deer hunter. lol
From: APauls
09-Jul-20
lol that's not what I was saying Fuzzy!!
From: Fuzzy
09-Jul-20
Apauls I know I'm just yankin' you a little :)
From: Owl
09-Jul-20
If he brought more arrows, I may not have witnessed the bludgeoning. Hunting with Fuzzy is like living in a Pat McManus article. Y'all don't take that gift from me by inspiring preparation and forethought on his part.
From: Fuzzy
10-Jul-20
lmao, Randy I'm too old to change now
From: JTreeman
10-Jul-20
I’ve been told “what happens on Kodiak stays on Kodiak”!
—Jim
From: Fuzzy
10-Jul-20
JTreeman, all my arrows happened to stay on Kodiak ;)
From: JTreeman
10-Jul-20
Fuzzy—I can’t say how many I’ve left there. Let’s just narrow it down to somewhere between 1 and 100 ;)
—Jim
From: kota-man
10-Jul-20
Makes a guy think twice about "walking barefoot" on the island. :)
From: JTreeman
10-Jul-20
Don’t worry Kota, mine were all blunts....
—Jim
From: Zackman
10-Jul-20
There are deer on Kodiak?
From: Nick Muche
10-Jul-20
So the rumor goes!
From: JTreeman
10-Jul-20
I wouldn’t know...
—Jim
From: Nick Muche
10-Jul-20
When they hear Jim is coming!
From: Panther Bone
10-Jul-20
I’m doing this next year. Gotta finish my deer slam.
From: t-roy
10-Jul-20
Nick.....That’s a classic reaction whenever the “Treeman Hop” or the “Sheridan Shuffle” was employed, last November anyway!
From: cmbbulldog
11-Jul-20
How did the deer survive the winter? Heard it was a tough one?
From: Southern draw
11-Jul-20
November the first or second week can be excellent hunting if you are not tent camping, I’ve Tent hunted this time and due to weather couldn’t get out on time because of air charter problems landing on ice but guys on boats should be fine. Good luck!
From: JTreeman
11-Jul-20
I wouldn’t know...
—Jim
From: MarkU
11-Jul-20
I can see the headlines now. Kodiak deer hunter attacked by giant brown bear with a lacerated foot.