Anyone hunting Kodiak?

[tilltheend]

Southern Kodiak will have less likelihood of winter die off than the northern end or Raspberry.
Check with the ADFG biologist on this winter’s impact come spring as there has been significant snow thus far compared to the last few years.
Pick some areas that you feel that the terrain matches your level of fitness. Hope that the days that you schedule coorelalate with some decent weather…

Yeah I heard they have been hit early with snow, but I think trying to look at sat overviews and analyze terrain is what’s tough. I was told even when on the ground if the brush loos 2’ it’s 6’.

 

[Mangata]

Avoiding the alders and canes is definitely a challenge.

 

[JM151]

Going Fall 28 for Sitka and then Spring 29 for bear.

 

[WYHuntFishTrap]

Planning this hunt for ‘26 or ‘27 but wondering how the terrain/deer compares between the areas. So far we’ve been told is Raspberry/Afognak is the toughest terrain wise, Southern Kodiak has bigger deer but equally as tough terrain and the old harbor/Sitkalidak island is a bit easier to navigate and less pressure, same quality of deer. Not my first trip to AK, have a cabin near Denali but never been on Kodiak. Any boots on the ground info would be helpful. Thanks!

I hunted old harbor area a few years back. It felt a lot like a western style hunt with spot and stalk for our deer. Not a difficult hunt other than the steepness climbing from the beach each morning.

 

[Johnboy041586]

Yeah I heard they have been hit early with snow, but I think trying to look at sat overviews and analyze terrain is what’s tough. I was told even when on the ground if the brush loos 2’ it’s 6’.

There's been no considerable snow fall here in kodiak for the last two years. Deer population should be fine. The brush is always taller than it looks lol

 

[tilltheend]

There's been no considerable snow fall here in kodiak for the last two years. Deer population should be fine. The brush is always taller than it looks lol

Well, everyone backed out in my group so have to wait a year or so .... It's crazy how many people talk the
talk but when it comes right down to it, they don't walk the walk. Especially when it involves Alaska, to me its not a big deal, fly up hope in the truck go to the cabin. Catch a bunch or fish, fly home, next year its hopefully tag a moose and fly home. Probably going to need hunting buddies for a DIY jet boat, local supported moose hunt if anyone is interested.

 

[Timplant]

Well, everyone backed out in my group so have to wait a year or so .... It's crazy how many people talk the
talk but when it comes right down to it, they don't walk the walk. Especially when it involves Alaska, to me its not a big deal, fly up hope in the truck go to the cabin. Catch a bunch or fish, fly home, next year its hopefully tag a moose and fly home. Probably going to need hunting buddies for a DIY jet boat, local supported moose hunt if anyone is interested.

IN

 

[skipper907]

Well, everyone backed out in my group so have to wait a year or so .... It's crazy how many people talk the
talk but when it comes right down to it, they don't walk the walk. Especially when it involves Alaska, to me its not a big deal, fly up hope in the truck go to the cabin. Catch a bunch or fish, fly home, next year its hopefully tag a moose and fly home. Probably going to need hunting buddies for a DIY jet boat, local supported moose hunt if anyone is interested.

Yep a lot of people talk until the rubber meets the rd there are endless reasons why they can

 

[matt_Cee]

Same outfitter. They've been super helpful, probably answered 50 questions over text and email the last few months. Will see how the hunt goes, will let you know so you know what to expect

No shots fired from me. We had three hunters, one guy got a small four-pointer.

For this hunt, it has a lot to do with the tradeoffs between amoutn of daylight elevation. In early December, you have about seven hours of daylight, which is not much time to get up sheer 40 degree inclines to 2000ft, which is the lowest you'll start to see those deer. And they may not even be on that mountain face, and you won't have time to try a second location.

But the upside is that if there's 6" or more of snow, the blacktails will have descended down the mountain and won't take as long to get to. You may even see them on the shoreline eating seaweed.

I did not see one deer, fox or anything other than ducks after 5 days of hunting. Lot's of overnight sign, but no eyes on. It was simply a cold but low-snow winter, which is the gamble you take when you book 6 months in advance. They managed to stay on the top of the mountains and on faces I simply couldn't get to and get back down by dark. They simply know where they're safe from shore-dropped hunters at dawn.

I recommend not hunting in an El Nina season, which 2025 was, unless you expect you'll be able to account for the drier conditions and anticipate nontypical deer habbits.

Also I recommend hunting earlier in the year, as these deer seem to be very pressured by all the lodges in the area, and with less daylight and steeper inclines you just don't want to be hiking that hard and only get a couple hours window to possibly sight a buck. Better to have to hike higher elevation, but have much more time to get there and stay there, with deer that aren't yet pressured by your presence.

Something I also learned after getting to Kodiac is that the south is gently rolling hills, and the north is where all those 40 degree inclines are. And there are just as many deer and lodges on the north as south. So do with that information what you will.

The hunt for me was a worse case scenario, which is to say an incredible, once in a lifetime hiking trip with some ducks to mount.

 

[Alaska92]

Well, everyone backed out in my group so have to wait a year or so .... It's crazy how many people talk the
talk but when it comes right down to it, they don't walk the walk. Especially when it involves Alaska, to me its not a big deal, fly up hope in the truck go to the cabin. Catch a bunch or fish, fly home, next year its hopefully tag a moose and fly home. Probably going to need hunting buddies for a DIY jet boat, local supported moose hunt if anyone is interested.

Why do you need a “group” or hunting buddies to enjoy and hunt Alaska? Genuinely curious. Shared costs, etc.? I have hunted Alaska for over 30 years, with the vast majority of the time, solo. Including Kodiak. The last thing I would want, is a “group”, personally. My point, don’t wait on a “group” or buddies, just go. If you’ve never hunted Alaska before, there can be a steep learning curve. It’s much different than the lesser 49 states. Get info from people that live here and have many years of experience here, not the people that have just one or two trips here. Just my words of encouragement.