B & B in SE (POW area) or Kodiak

[Brandon Pattison]

So what do you guys/gals think? Nope, not a bed and breakfast but a bear and blacktail hunt for my buddy and me?

I have been thinking about either the above or a moose hunt. I have read a little bit getting started but everyone seems to point towards Kodiak. I am not interested in a cabin or any amenities besides transportation from the airport. A few crab pots and canoe would be a nice option. Basically we have never gone and want some adventure. We have most of the gear that we will need. Just need a spot, schedule and a plan.

 

[El Gavilan]

I think if you are a nonresident you have to have a guide to hunt Kodiak brown bears and you have to draw a tag as well. The deer hunting part would be good though.

Mike

 

[Becca]

If you are wanting both bear and blacktail, I think SE AK is likely your only option. To my knowledge, there are no black bears on Kodiak, and in order to hunt brown bears as a non-resident you are required to hire a guide. As I understand it, non residents have to draw a black bear tag to hunt on POW but I don't think the draw odds are terrible.

If you are wanting to camp with your own gear, your best bet is likely going to be renting a car in Ketchikan and taking it over on the ferry to POW. There are not any standard airline flights from Ketchikan to POW, so you would have to hire a charter if you wanted to fly instead of taking the ferry, and once there I am not sure how much success you would have renting a vehicle.

We have deer hunted POW twice in the late season, but both times we stayed in a lodge that offered a vehicle for our use while we were there. If wanting to go that route, we had a great experience at both locations we have used: Coffman Cove Adventures in Coffman Cove, and Adventure Alaska in Thorne Bay.

 

[Brandon Pattison01]

Test

 

[LostArra]

+1 for Coffman Cove Adventures. Mike and Sarah are great.

Two of my adult daughters and I make summer trips there to fish. Never hunted but come close to killing deer on the drive from Klawock to Coffman Cove.
We stay in Mike's non-lodge cabin (we cook our own meals) but I would not hesitate to stay in his lodge cabins.
I think it would be an ideal place to get your feet wet (literally) in DIY Alaska hunting.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Thank you everyone. I was meaning black bears on Kodiak but I didn't know that there weren't any and I didn't know that you needed to draw for POW. Since this will be next season, when is the deadline to apply? I was actually looking at Coffman's website yesterday, ironically.

If you had to rate your adventure/experience between the two how would it go?
Kodiak 75%
POW 25%

 

[luke moffat]

Thank you everyone. I was meaning black bears on Kodiak but I didn't know that there weren't any and I didn't know that you needed to draw for POW. Since this will be next season, when is the deadline to apply? I was actually looking at Coffman's website yesterday, ironically.

If you had to rate your adventure/experience between the two how would it go?
Kodiak 75%
POW 25%

Draw applacation period ended Dec 15th and actual the results are already out.

As for experience/adventure I've had a great experience on both. Adventure and experience is what you make of it. You should have a great time on whatever you choose to do.

 

[Nick Muche]

If you are willing to hunt with a bow, Bob Ameen owns Blacktail Bobs Base Camps on POW and his cabin is awesome! Great location as well for both bears and blacktails... I've been there, shot a nice buck in November, saw bears as well. I can't wait to go back.

He is trying to get it rented for this November. Logistics are pretty easy, fly to Ket, rent a truck and take the ferry over.

We saw three other hunters in the 10 days we were there and that was on the last day.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Thanks, Nick. I have to wait until 2016 as we are having a baby this summer. I will get with you soon.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Draw applacation period ended Dec 15th and actual the results are already out.

As for experience/adventure I've had a great experience on both. Adventure and experience is what you make of it. You should have a great time on whatever you choose to do.

For 2015 or 2016?

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Where is a good place to get a topo map of the island and are crampons recommended here?

 

[duchntr]

Where is a good place to get a topo map of the island and are crampons recommended here?

http://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=55.76746,-132.84821&z=11&b=t&o=r&n=0.25

 

[littlebrotherC]

I used these guys http://www.harentals.com to rent my vehicle. They're on POW. I mostly saved time. My round trip flight was $200 plus some overweight baggage fees. The flight to Ketchikan lands at 8:30 and the float plane landed on POW at 10:30 am. If I took the ferry I wasn't going to get in until 6pm. This way I almost bought an extra day on the front end of my trip and I think I spent 150 (with fish/meat boxes coming home).

 

[mixed bag]

I stayed with adventure Alaska when I went a year ago.The blacktail hunting is really fun on POW.I went at a really bad time-mid Sept and it was a tough hunt.I am going again but will go in August to hunt them in the Alpine.I really recommend the hunt and I did see plenty of bears as well.I would probably book with /Coffman Cove next time or camp.Adventure Alaska has a great place but it was a long drive to better deer areas.They give you a truck and small boat for fishing with your cabin rental,and they had laundry rooms,smokers,waxed boxes,grill,hot tub ect.. all for your use