Kodiak Island deer hunt
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: hoytshooter1
10-Oct-24
Headed out next Friday for my first trip to Alaska. Huntin deer out of Larsen Bay. Any advice/tips on things I should expect. Clothing/boots especially. I would appreciate anything, since I'm goin in like a rookie
From: Potro
10-Oct-24
Have fun. Alaska is a great place to hunt. Take a good rain gear and good warm jacket I had hunted 3 times in Alaska and good boots, warm jacket and great rain gear is a must Take a lot of pictures. Hunting deer in Alaska in is my next hunt list Best luck
From: Beendare
10-Oct-24
Are you staying in LB and then having them drop you off?
Gaiters, good rain gear. Everything gets wet...
This is the toughest time to hunt Sitka blacktails on Kodiak. They will be hunkered down, its before the rut---big binos on a tripod helps.
From: Bowboy
10-Oct-24
Bring rain gear and it may be windy like WY. Good luck!
From: FORESTBOWS
10-Oct-24
Who ya going with?
From: hoytshooter1
10-Oct-24
Nick at Driftwood Lodge
From: Chief 419
10-Oct-24
Bring a good pair of boots. It’s going to be a very physical hunt. Bring a good, lightweight pack and keep it as light as possible. You’ll be doing a lot of elevation change everyday. I hunted there last November and the deer population was still very low. Hopefully they’re starting to come back.
From: BlacktailBob
10-Oct-24
Good advice. Unless you know you'll be hunting only high-country ridges and the like, Lacross Burleys used to be my boot of choice. These days, I know where and what I'll be hunting in. I know I can get by with hiking boots so that’s what I now wear. Raingear, optics, and a solid pack. Beendare 100% correct regarding the deer.
From: Rgiesey
10-Oct-24
Lacrosse ankle fits are what I’ve worn. I had a good hunt In October.
From: t-roy
10-Oct-24
Trekking poles.
From: JSW
11-Oct-24
There is too much hiking involved to wear rubber boots. Go with a good gortex boot and gators. The lower country can have really tall grass and brush. Go out of your way to find a trail instead of bushwacking it.
Finding bucks is the hardest part. If you keep the wind right and use some cover, they are not that hard to get close to. If you aren't seeing bucks, you need to keep moving. You may need to get a few miles away from the beaten path to find deer. Good luck.
From: BlacktailBob
12-Oct-24
I know at least a half dozen guys including myself, Roy Roth, Lon Lauber, and others that have killed at least 200 Kodiak island Sitka blacktail deer wearing Lacross Burleys. If you’re going to be near a river or creek bottom, you’ll need rubber boots. Hell, we've all killed Mountain Goats wearing Lacross Burleys.
From: BlacktailBob
12-Oct-24
Noska tells me he wears Simms waders the whole time he's hunting deer on Kodiak. He seems to do alright.
From: IdyllwildArcher
12-Oct-24
I agree with Bob on the boot recommendation. I'm in Burleys from about Sept 13th on anywhere in AK, even if I'm climbing mountains for deer/caribou. Even mountain goat hunting in late Sept in the Valdez area, I put my hiking boots in my backpack and use Burleys and only put on hiking boots when I get up high and if I need to scramble/climb steep faces. 3/4 of the hiking you do for mountain animals in coastal AK is through swamps, streams, mud, and dense vegetation that is dripping wet, over tussocks that are in standing water, during days that rain on and off, or just on.
I've only hunted Kodiak in August, but I can't imagine using anything but rubber boots on Kodiak in October. I've hunted more in Prince William Sound in that timeframe and I'm in Burleys, again, from early-to-mid Sept on.
Fiddle around with thick socks and you'll get them tight to the ankle so that they have more ankle support.
From: hoytshooter1
17-Oct-24
Headed out in the morning. Will get to Kodiak tomorrow night and leave for Larsen Bay Sunday morning. Anything cool that I have to see in Kodiak? Hunt starts Monday. I'll do my best to take notes and might try my hand at a hunt write up. Never done one before. No way I'll write it up as good as it will be... or as good as some of ya'll on here. Wish me luck. Dan
From: BOWUNTR
17-Oct-24
Henry's for dinner and a beer. Kodiak Brewing Company for another beer... spruce tip IPA. Good luck. Ed F
From: bigeasygator
17-Oct-24
Well the only time I went was with a bunch of degenerates like me so the must-see spot was the brewery :) Henry's was where we ate each night if memory serves.
Looks like Ed and I were typing the same thing at the same time lol
From: Bowaddict
17-Oct-24
Good luck Dan!!
From: Brotsky
17-Oct-24
+100 for Ed's suggestion on the Spruce Tip IPA. It's worth the trip to Kodiak!
From: pav
17-Oct-24
Ditto...Henry's for a good meal in Kodiak. The Chart Room in Best Western isn't a bad choice either. If you have time to kill, there is a Kodiak History Museum a couple blocks from Henry's and a Kodiak Refuge Visitor Center next door to the museum. Big Ray's is a pretty nice sporting goods store. Hope your hunt goes better than ours in 2022...deer numbers were really low at the time.
From: Chief 419
17-Oct-24
Another nod for Henry’s. Nick had a guy working for him last year named “Bear”. He resembles a grizzly but, good cook, ex-military and all around good guy. Nick did a great job as well. If you’re feeling beat down around mid-week, take a day off and go fishing….. I mean catching. Good luck!
From: Zackman
17-Oct-24
When you get tired of the brewery, go to Henry’s. When you get tired of Henry’s, go to the brewery. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Throw in Tony’s for late night and if you like to play pool.
From: Nick Muche
17-Oct-24
Call a late night Cab and have them take you through the McDonalds drive thru. Also, the Moscow Mule at the brewery is money well spent.
From: drycreek
17-Oct-24
Have a good hunt and if you’re successful, write it up. We will forgive !
If you’re don’t kill, just leave us hanging like a Conn. live hunt………;-))
From: bigeasygator
17-Oct-24
...or a Paunsaugunt mule deer hunt.
From: Stekewood
17-Oct-24
“When you get tired of the brewery, go to Henry’s. When you get tired of Henry’s, go to the brewery. Repeat as many times as necessary.”
Been there, done that. Great advice!
From: Stekewood
17-Oct-24
“When you get tired of the brewery, go to Henry’s. When you get tired of Henry’s, go to the brewery. Repeat as many times as necessary.”
Been there, done that. Great advice!
From: Rgiesey
17-Oct-24
My son wears darn toughs instead of lacrosse
From: Nick Muche
18-Oct-24
Your son must have strong ankles, and a good lawyer :)
From: Rgiesey
18-Oct-24
No lawyers! Probably strong ankles.
From: Glunker
18-Oct-24
Check out the docks to have seafood shipped home.
From: JTreeman
18-Oct-24
I suspect he wears Xtratuf boots. And possibly Darn Tough socks… ;)
—Jim
From: Rgiesey
18-Oct-24
Something he gets in Alaska.
From: longsprings
23-Oct-24
Any one up on this years deer population on the island
From: hoytshooter1
28-Oct-24
Got back last night. It was a very tuff hunt. One deer out of six guys. Lots of fish tho. Will try to post more later.
From: Rgiesey
28-Oct-24
Darn Dan, hope you got some stalks.
From: Ron Niziolek
28-Oct-24
Damn Danny, that’s rough!
From: Wilburness
31-Oct-24
Friend of mine went last year 4 guys saw one deer, I was on Kodiak 2005 there were lots of deer. Kodiak is tough ,it's even tougher with no deer.But even with no deer my friend had a good time. One of the best places to fish on earth.
From: Wilburness
31-Oct-24
2 of the 20 caught in just a few hours.
From: ScarFinga
01-Nov-24
What Chief said, Nick is solid guy!! Bear is hilarious once you warm up to him a bit, a great cook and all around nice guy! Nicks lodge is rustic, but very comfortable!! Remember he is transporter not a guide, they can't even tell you where to hunt and can't touch your animal!
You'll have a great time! Henry's and the Brewery are great, I really liked the Alaskan Lager on tap. There are no stores in LB, so get anything you want before leaving KS! A bourbon is a great treat after hiking in that terrain and weather, so BYOB!
From: hoytshooter1
04-Nov-24
100% agree. ^^^^^^
From: ScarFinga
05-Nov-24
Any updates??? TTT!
From: BlacktailBob
05-Nov-24
Just returned last night. I think it is better than it was last year. A few more mature bucks around but still down from normal levels. This is based upon observations at my cabin, so may be different in other locations.
Buddy and I were there for about 10 days with the last hunting day being Nov 3. Rut was just starting. I killed one mature 3 x 3 buck on Nov 3rd. If not required to take wife Lisa whitetail hunting in Kansas, I would have stayed longer and filled all three tags with mature bucks during the rut. I did see a huge 4 x 4 and a huge 3 x 3. I think I could have killed both during the rut.
From: Scar Finga
05-Nov-24
Bob,
Glad to hear the numbers are up, last year was brutal in LB!!! I'm going back next year with Nick, but only for fishing! Taking my wife and few good fiends! It should be an awesome trip! I think we have 2-3 openings left if anyone is interested!!
From: Nick Muche
05-Nov-24
^^^quit yelling
From: BlacktailBob
06-Nov-24
I wouldn't say numbers are up, they are just a little better than last year. I do expect better next year if the winter isn't bad.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
06-Nov-24
Thanks for the update Bob. Myself and few other Bowsiters will be heading to Kodiak next week. Hopefully the rut is going strong. Good luck to you and Lisa in Kansas!
From: hoytshooter1
07-Nov-24
I honestly believe that we were way too early on our hunt. If we waited 3 weeks, I do think that we would have seen more deer and possibly killed a few more. Lesson learned and the next one will be different
From: bigeasygator
07-Nov-24
Jeff, even if the deer numbers aren't up, y'all are going to have an incredible time with Homer Ocean! Can't wait to hear how things go...and I'd wager a dollar or two that a few deer will be taken by you guys ;-)
From: BlacktailBob
07-Nov-24
Agree. October is probably the toughest time to kill deer on Kodiak. You want November 3rd to about the 15th when rut kicks in solid. This one November 3rd.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
07-Nov-24
Nice buck Bob. We start November 16 so hopefully the rut runs long by a few more days! I think we have a good chance at a good time Jason!! Still over a week away but has anyone seen any weather predictions for Kodiak mid-November?
From: BlacktailBob
07-Nov-24
Its always volatile weather wise in Kodiak. Weather reports are usually good for about 8 hours at best. This year we had a maximum wind of 124 mph at the cabin which was about 15 below the cabin record. Still, stuff was coming off the shelves that night. Hard to shoot in that kind of wind.
Even Buster the fox wanted out of the wind.
From: iceman
07-Nov-24
Wow, that is crazy wind.
Jeff, we hunted the same dates that you are going back in 2021 and they were still rutting pretty good.
From: hoytshooter1
07-Nov-24
Here's some pics...
From: hoytshooter1
07-Nov-24
From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
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From: hoytshooter1
07-Nov-24
From: Scar Finga
07-Nov-24
Awesome brother, congratulations on a great buck!! Bear is packing on the weight for the winter I see! Did Nick show you the bow I sent him? Oh, the fish vacuuming room, we spent a lot of time in there, we came home with over 400lbs of fillets!!
From: BlacktailBob
08-Nov-24
Was asked about the white jacket. We've found, not sure it’s really true, but seems to allow closer approach to Sitka Blacktails. Theory is that their only predator on the island is a huge dark mass. In contrast, the only white critters they see are either caribou or mountain goats. Neither of these critters spook deer, so deer don’t avoid the white mass like they might a darkly clad bowhunter. Like many things, it might just be a confidence thing, but I’ve been wearing mine for years. I also like that its somewhat wind and waterproof as well as much quieter than my rain gear.
Although not shown in photo, I wear a white balaclava and my deer hat when either stalking, or as in this case, sitting by my decoy.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
08-Nov-24
Buster is looking very healthy! Wyatt and I enjoyed sharing scraps with him but I cussed him out when he was tugging on our meat sacks hanging outside....thought for sure it was bear! The winds can be brutal. We saw 119 mph at the shack and I'm sure it got a bit worse but I stayed hunkered down in my bunk!
From: BlacktailBob
08-Nov-24
Jeff
Were bags hanging off the end of rafters? I didn’t think he could reach them when I hung mine there? Did have a weasel up there once.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
08-Nov-24
Bob, Yes, it was a stretch for him. He would tug and then they would bang into the wall. Since I was sleeping right next to the wall it was hard to ignore lol. I'm glad it was just Buster and not a bear!
From: GunBoss
27-Nov-24
Just got gifted a Larsen Bay Blacktail/Duck hunt from a friend that couldn't make it. Last minute packing. Dates are Dec 8-12. Any recommendations for type of optics and level of Kuiu rain jacket? Will the deer be down in the lower elevations? Any advice accepted. Have hunted the Alaskan peninsula before.
From: GunBoss
27-Nov-24
Just got gifted a Larsen Bay Blacktail/Duck hunt from a friend that couldn't make it. Last minute packing. Dates are Dec 8-12. Any recommendations for type of optics and level of Kuiu rain jacket? Will the deer be down in the lower elevations? Any advice accepted. Have hunted the Alaskan peninsula before.
