I just got back from my second trip to Alaska this fall. This trip I went and hunted on Kodiak Island with a couple of friends. We went after sea ducks and Sitka blacktail deer. I left the day after Thanksgiving and returned on Monday night.

We flew into Kodiak from Anchorage on Saturday morning and then from Kodiak to Larsen Bay. Larsen Bay has a population of 36 year round residents and up to 3,000 people during the canning season.

We met with the town "Police" chief and he gave us his boat. We were supposed to use a boat that belonged to a friend. It was a 24' boat with a heated cabin and dry storage. The week before we got there the chief pulled the boat out of the ocean to give it a once over for us. While it was out they got 20" of snow and there was no way to get it back into the water. The chief's boat was a 20' v-botton Lund style Aluminum boat that was frozen to the ground and had 20" of snow in it. We had to bump it loose from the ground with the bumper of the truck. Then the chief ties it to the bumper of the truck and drug it down the road and across the rocky beach into the ocean. I wish I had pictures of that but it happened before I could get my camera. We loaded our gear, groceries, beverages, guns etc. into the boat while the chief went to get some mail that he wanted us to deliver to some of the locals.

On the way to drop the mail off we spotted this giant deer and I handed one of my friends my gun. We beached the boat and he jumped out and walked up the hill and shot the buck. He scores 110 2/8" gross. Boone & Crockett is 108" so this deer will just barely miss the all-time B&C book.

There was a pod of killer whales in the back ground as I took this picture.

The boat was a mess from the thawing snow, deer blood, and the leak that the chief failed to mention.

We then headed to the "neighbor" and dropped off the mail before we headed to our cabin. Our cabin was very well equipped with several generators and enough dry and canned goods to last for a long time. We had to open the cabin up and get fuel and such ready for our stay before we could go back out hunting.


Here are some of the views that we had from our cabin.





The weather the first day was nice. It was 15 degrees clear and calm. It got worse from there on.

The next day the weather turned a little worse. It got up to 20 that day and stayed cloudy all day. I shot a nice 4x4 the second day that we spotted about 200 yards up a hill from the beach. We walked up the hill to retreive the buck and drug him back to the beach. When we got the deer loaded into the boat and pushed away from the beach we looked back to where the deer was standing and we spotted a brown bear. He was about 150 yards above and the the left of where my deer was. I am not saying that he came to the shot but he was walking towards where my deer was standing. We all three estimated that he was over 9 feet.


We saw bear tracks on numerous occasions.


This was an odd site.


And so was this.


We did a little whale watching.


I am not a duck hunter per-say but I do love to shoot them. We saw 1000's and 1000's of sea ducks on this trip and for someone that is a duck guy, you must go to Kodiak on a sea duck hunt. We didn't really duck hunt, we just shot the species that I wanted when they presented a shot.

Surf Scoter

Barrow's Golden Eye

Old Squaw

Harlequin (my favorite)


Here is some for the "what's for dinner" crowd.
Before:

After:


Sitka back-straps, green beans, mashed potatoes:

That looks like WAY too much fun.

That looks like it was a great hunt, very nice buck. Congrats.

The places I've lived for the last ten years, South East and on Prince William Sound, there's been deer hunting like that. Residents call that subsistence hunting, because the deer are generally near or on the beach, after the snow pushes them off the mountains. It's a lot of fun, but cold in an open skiff. However the skiff has the big advantage of being able to put it right up on the beach. It's always an adventure, and I never take it for granted.

I have heard from native guys that sometimes the orcas will eat a swimming deer just as they will take a sea lion. I think there are two kinds of orcas. One type eats only fish, and I think they are called resident. The other pods eat other marine mammals, such as sea lions and seals and deer if they can get one. I think the latter are called transient.

Another thing, the sound of a shot = dinner bell to Brownies is so common in Kodiak that it's commonly accepted as fact. I can't say for sure, since I haven't hunted there, and given the fact that the bears have such phenomenal sense of smell, it's hard to say for sure whether it's the sound or the smell of blood that will cause them to search for the dead deer. Maybe the gut-pile too. Anyway, it's interesting that the bear you mentioned was approaching the location of where the deer stood, rather than toward the origin of the gunshot. That should say something.

I also know for a fact, that tracking a blood trail, or lingering long at a kill site, or messing with gutting a deer without a good hunting buddy on the lookout, all are big risks, in all the places where I have hunted Sitka deer. I have some interesting stories about that, but they are too long for here.

Congrats on a great hunt. That's one of my favorite things to do. One thing more, for perspective, my favorite time to hunt Sitka deer is the last part of October, because generally in the regions I hunt, there is no snow accumulation yet. It's easier walking, and quiet, and all the leaves have fallen. The bucks are beginning to respond to a call, and they are not yet concentrated to the beach. They may have been pushed down off the tops of the mountains by snow, but they still have plenty of turf to roam. It's a nice way to hunt. I really like getting off the beach and into the rain forest. It's a whole different type of hunt compared to hunting from a skiff late season. Although the bears are still out, they are generally pretty fat by then and getting sleepy, mostly, but there are exceptions, sometimes very hungry exceptions.

Also, there are lots of guys (and gals too) who are in good shape, who like to go in late August or Early September, right up to the high meadows, and camp overnight. It's a different world up there that time of year. They get up early morning, try for a buck early, and pack out before dark. Long days help. Also, generally the brown bears aren't up there, since they want salmon, which are in the streams near sea level. It's an athlete's hunt.

It's great to be a resident and hunt those deer. The season is long, and I get six tags, although I haven't taken that many for several years. It's definately a different kind of hunt regardless of season, compared to whitetail hunting.

KB

Neat trip! Thanks for sharing.

Keith,

Nice trip that takes me back quite a few years. I did my first guided hunt on Larsen Bay when Leon Francisco had his operation out there. His camp was right out on the tip of the bay where it turned out into the Shelikoff. Wonderful place!

It was a down year for the deer but we hit the rut perfectly and one day we saw 34 mature bucks taking a 4x4 thatr scored 106 B&C.

You guys shot some excellent bucks and I don't think I've ever seen a Sitka with the spread that first buck has. If you can put up with the weather Kodiak provides a lot of opportunities for the sportsman.

Mark

I would like to know more about the rifle shown in the first picture. It looks like it's been green teflon coated, with a fiberglass stock.

Thanks,
KB

often wondered if you could lure a brownie in by shooting.

That is my buddies Kimber Montana 8400 in .338 Win Mag. He had it Dura-coated. It is basically a thin rubber coating to keep the rust off.

The gun that I had with me on that trip has a Zylatone (SP?) coating on it that is for the same purpose.

Those photo's bring back a bunch of memories, I hunted this area about a dozen times when a friend had a cabin inside of Amook pass, I'm pritty sure the photo of the deer swimming is right where I've seen them crossing from Amook island over to Kodiak proper near browns lagoon.
I've been hunting a little further south the last couple times but you're photo's are making me miss that area, I'm glad you were able to discover this area and enjoy all that it has to offer.

We stayed on Amook Island and yes those deer were swimming across the gap near Brown's Lagoon.

Although, must of the time at that time of year the weather is in the 20's, 30's or even 40's, it can and does go down into the single digits, with the wind screaming, you found that out and I too have seen it while hunting Larsen Bay.

Thanks for sharing your hunt and the photos. Congrats on a wonderful buck.

Judging from the first and third photos at the top of this post, I am assuming you are braising those back-straps in beer.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Keith,

Nice trip that takes me back quite a few years. I did my first guided hunt on Larsen Bay when Leon Francisco had his operation out there. His camp was right out on the tip of the bay where it turned out into the Shelikoff. Wonderful place!

Since you brought up Spiridon Bear Camp, I can regale you with my story. I still have my Spridon Bear Camp Coffee mug, which was their long time tradition to give one to each customer.

My friend and myself, were the last two customers that Leon had before retiring for health reasons. He should have retired a little sooner.

I booked the hunt a year in advance and he was the most expensive Outfitter on the island. Leon was to Guide me personally.

Upon arrival, he then informs us that he had a stroke and will not be able to walk in the field to Guide me. Who will Guide me then, oh I found a replacement, but he is not here yet. Great.

Replacement shows up, a Moose Guide who has never been to Kodiak Island before. Here is the best part, he has one eye. This just keeps getting better. He cut his binoculars in half to make a monocular out of it.

To make a long story short, neither myself, nor my friend got a deer. We asked Leon for a partial refund, since the hunt was a disaster and not what he represented. He was retiring and could care less.

Leon Francisco may have been a top Outfitter on Kodiak who put many animals in the B. & C. book over his career. But, his career ended as a dishonest, rogue, unethical scoundrel that he was.

He sold the business to a guy who promptly screwed a member of this forum. I beleive that guy's name was Gentner. Anyone remember that story? That pretty much destroyed his new business. Any know for sure if Spiridon Bear camp still exists ?

After my failed poor excuse for a hunt with Francisco, I then went back and hunted with Rohrer Bear Camp, I hunted with Dick and while he tried hard to get me a deer, I went home without. He also short changed me on my 5 days and could have given me the time, but since he was paid in advance, sent me home. If I am paying top dollar on Kodiak for a 5 day hunt and get weathered out, I still expect my 5 days, not 3 1/2 days. To make matters even worse, we got weathered in his camp and he still would not take us out.

So much for the top two Deer Outfitters on Kodiak.

Anyone know who the top couple of consistently Trophy producing Kodiak Deer Otfitters have been, over the last several seasons? I may want to try again.

PS, I went semi guided in Larsen Bay and did better on my own, than either one of the top two 30+ year veteran Outfitters could produce.

As we saw in the above photos, a Kodiak combo hunt for Deer and Duck is one of the most fun hunts you can go on in Alaska.

Cold Zero,

Gawd! Sorry to hear all that. Sadie and I had a super hunt with Leon and Sadie cried as we left. I do remember that there was some controversy involving the guy that bought out Leon. I don't know who is good on Kodiak now and I've never worked with any guide there.

Mark

I can get you in touch with a guy that will be operating there next fall.

He is a top notch guy and he will treat you to a good hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Cold Zero,

Gawd! Sorry to hear all that. Sadie and I had a super hunt with Leon and Sadie cried as we left. I do remember that there was some controversy involving the guy that bought out Leon. I don't know who is good on Kodiak now and I've never worked with any guide there.

Mark

I beleive there was a large thread on here about Gnetner's hunt. Time goes fast, that was a long time ago already. Just goes to show, if you do the wrong thing, you do not withstand the test of time.

Both Francisco and his buyer, are both long gone now.

Anyone know of an Outfitter on Kodiak with a well established record of putting Trophy bucks into the book? Francisco & Rohrer were both disasters and had 30+ year track records. Just goes to show, you must do your homework, before the hunt. Who is the big dog today ?

Even though this was a long time ago. The story of what actually happened can still be found with a simple google search.

http://www.huntersbeware.com/The_Forums.html

Apparently, Spiridon Bear Camp is still in business ?

Keith, tell Nate congratulations on a great Sitka buck. Glad to see he is fitting in up there.

Wade,

He is right at home in Alaska with Phil.

Glad to hear it, congrats on both trips. I hope to be there next winter.

Maybe we will get a chance to hunt together.

You did a good thing by introducing the two of them.