Etolin Island

[floatinganchor]

Drew the Etolin Island Archery tag. I’ve heard it’s a tough hunt. Anyone experience it?

 

[Beendare]

I've hunted Etolin for bears many times. Roads all over that island and the locals rifle the crap out of it off the road system. I've never seen an Elk on that island...though I've seen a little bit of sign.

What made you put in for that? Are you local in Wrangell or St Petersburg?

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[floatinganchor]

I live close to Anchorage. I applied there because it is Archery only and decent draw odds. The areas I’m looking at have no roads and from what I’ve heard, the elk stay far away from the road system and people.

 

[LostArra]

I just returned from fishing in that area, specifically off the northwest coast of Etolin and from the parts I saw I don't know how you would hunt anything there between the density of the forest and the steepness of terrain. An Alaskan friend who drew the tag a few years ago never got to hunt because the weather was so bad he couldn't get a boat there.

 

[Beendare]

I live close to Anchorage. I applied there because it is Archery only and decent draw odds. The areas I’m looking at have no roads and from what I’ve heard, the elk stay far away from the road system and people.

That jibs with what I've seen.

I can tell you its a play land for locals that shoot the living crap out of the place when I used to hunt it. Some folks have barged vehicles over there. I think I know why it was an easy draw....best wishes though.

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[NevadaMike]

Are you sure Etolin has roads? I would imagine it has logging roads but talking to locals from across the straights and Wrangell there is no mention of a road system. I have the rifle tag in late October and plan on boating in.

 

[Beendare]

Hey Nevada Mike....don't take this wrong....but you put in for a tag not knowing anything about it and thinking there are no roads?

The favored local pastime is to jump in their rigs and shoot anything that moves. It would be difficult to cover enough ground there without roads- super thick and now that the reprod is growing in- UGG.

That island is huge....could be hundreds of miles of roads on it.

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[NevadaMike]

I have just not seen the roads on google or OnX hunt but I have been primarily looking at terrain maps on the southwest end. I have not set foot on the island but I was fishing on the south west part of the island in Mchenry inlet on my own boat last week. I did 2 100 mile boat trips completely around Etolin and Wrangell island as well going to Anan bear observatory in the last few weeks. I have been a sportsman in SE Alaska for over 20 years, I have hunted POW, and I can "see Etolin from my front porch." Having said all that I am a total noob as far as elk hunting and hunting in general. I know Zarimbo to the north of Etolin has logging roads as well. I welcome any insight you have as to accessing the roads system because I have so much information to gather in a short period

 

[Huntforever]

I have also looked at maps and spoke with the local biologist. There isn't a road system to speak of. There are some lodging roads on the far north end of the island. To be honest it sounds like beendare is trying to run you off!! Lol He has al little to much attitude. Lmao

 

[Beendare]

Too much atitude.... tell us how much you know about it Huntforever.

heres a photo on Etolin. I had pics of bears on top of a$300 Subaru that my buddy in Wrangell barged over there but I cant find it. Roads originate on the East side.

There has been a fair amount of logging on Etolin and Zarembo .....that would be a first to do it without roads, But Im sure Huntforever can explain how they log with no roads.

 

[Beendare]

A few porkapotamuses on Etolin-

edit; my Wrangell buddies rig he dubbed the rogue boar....with the rotted floorboards we could Flintstone that rig around in a pinch.

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[Antares]

A casual look at Google Earth reveals...logging roads, miles of it.

 

[Coveyleader]

There are giant elk there. The elk are up on the peaks, way up, it's the same hunt as an August POW blacktail hunt, only you're dealing with giant animals. Those roads mean nothing as it will take a guy hours from a road to get to the tops where the elk hang out. Guy I know killed smasher of a bull over there. Boated the wrestling team over and packed it out. It will be a brutal hunt for sure, but I'm sure you knew that going in. This hunt is NOT a road hunt.

PS.......Crazy how red the horns on the bulls over there are.

 

[Beendare]

FWIW, I hate seeing hunting spots like this getting blown up on the Internet.

Now uninformed guys will be putting in and they have no clue what they are in for. Not only is it brutal hunt but the logistics make it even tougher.

Covering 15 miles in that stuff is harder than 50 miles in the Rockies, my guess is that Nevada Mike would agree- grin.
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[Coveyleader]

FWIW, I hate seeing hunting spots like this getting blown up on the Internet.

Now uninformed guys will be putting in and they have no clue what they are in for. Not only is it brutal hunt but the logistics make it even tougher.

Covering 15 miles in that stuff is harder than 50 miles in the Rockies, my guess is that Nevada Mike would agree- grin.
...

That hunt has been available for 20 years. Like you said, most don't have a clue what they're in for. There is no blowing that hunt up, as the majority don't have a boat to get there, and most don't and won't have it in them to start from the beach and hike up. That type of hunt is hell with a deer, an elk? You better have company. The weather is another thing keeping most out of there. I'd put it right up there with unlimited sheep units in MT. Sure you can hunt it, but most don't realize the effort needed. Whatever you think, multiply by a factor of 10.

 

[Southforkguy]

Wow incredible view!!

 

[Antares]

I certainly wasn't trying to blow up anyone's spot. I just took a random screen grab. My point was to poke fun at people's questionable Google Earth skills...which isn't very neighborly, I agree. Sorry.

*edit: "wasn't trying to blow up anyone's spot"

 

[Beendare]

I certainly was trying to blow up anyone's spot. I just took a random screen grab. My point was to poke fun at peoples questionable Google Earth skills...which isn't very neighborly, I agree. Sorry.

Google skills are under appreciated.... and always a good idea to get the lay of the land before a hunt......you did good.

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[Chumsnagger]

Tough hunt, less than 40% of draw winners claim they hunt. Less than a dozen elk harvested in the last 10 years during this archery hunt. Good luck!

 

[Beendare]

Tough hunt, less than 40% of draw winners claim they hunt. Less than a dozen elk harvested in the last 10 years during this archery hunt. Good luck!

My guessis guys put in because they see the good odds of drawing but then realize the logistics is a nightmare and dont go.