Our Kodiak Brown Bear hunts take place on Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge lands, where I hold a special-use permit for the exclusive federal concession. We also hunt adjoining private lands, which, combined with the refuge lands, comprise one overall area of approximately 149,000 acres in some of the best brown bear habitat on Kodiak. We have been operating in this area for 2 decades now.
Most of the Kodiak Brown Bears we harvest are in the 9 1⁄2 foot range, give or take, with many going 10 ft or more. Kodiak Island has consistently produced some of the largest Brown Bears on earth, with skull sizes that are at the very top of Boone and Crockett Record Books. Over the years, we have taken many B & C class bears, and our skull size averages are some of the largest on the Island.
Our main camp is located only 100 yards or so from the sea and consists of 10’ x 12’ cabins and Weatherports for each hunter, all of which have diesel or propane heaters, generated electricity, bunks, starlink and other amenities. We also have a separate shower/bathhouse and cook/dining cabin. Camp is very comfortable, and we serve top-notch food, much of it fresh caught from the sea!
We access the sizable hunt area using 4 top-notch custom-built ocean skiffs, ranging from 18 to 24 feet. These allow us to get to all of the various bays in the area to hunt. We also utilize 16-foot jet boats, which allow us to access prime hunting locations up the salmon creeks in the fall time. Often, we will see bears from the boats as we cruise, and if the situation is right, we are able to put it on shore and do a stalk. More frequently, we put ashore in one of the bays and climb up on a hill or other observation point and glass for bears for the day. This level of mobility allows us to hunt many different locations during the course of your hunt, or even during a single day, and lets us cover as much of the huge hunt area as we like. It greatly improves our success rates and the size of the bears we are able to harvest.
After a day of hunting, we come back to the main camp, usually arriving after dark to eat a good meal and rest up for the next day. We also have the option to deploy satellite spike camps in the different bays or valleys, camping in comfortable 4-man tents with cots and portable heaters if necessary or advantageous. It gives us additional options, and along with using the boats, helps us give you the best chance at taking a bear.
The primary difference between spring and fall hunts is that in the springtime, bears tend to be on or near the beaches, oftentimes eating herring spawn and other carrion that washes up – beached whales are not uncommon. During the fall, bears are more concentrated on the creeks and streams, feeding on salmon. A bear’s main concern in the fall is getting fat enough to survive winter, whereas in the spring their main goal is breeding. Our success rates on large bears are equal during both seasons. The beauty of Kodiak, with its amazing marine life, including whales of all types, porpoises, seals, and sea lions, crystal clear blue water, and birdlife, all of which can be seen on a daily basis, will leave a lasting impression. A hunter who is dedicated and willing to accept the challenge of hunting this animal will always rank the brown bear on top of his/her list of hunting experiences. Fall hunters can upgrade to include mountain goat, and all fall hunts include deer at no additional cost.
