Kodiak Island Rifle Selection

[Shadowbuck]

This August I am going to Kodiak Island to deer hunt. I am primarily a bowhunter but I will be rifle hunting on this trip.

The debate in my head is take my 30-06 with 180-220 gr bullets or buy 300 win mag. I know either will kill a deer obviously but I am a little worried about bumping into a brown bear and having enough gun. I will also be carrying bear spray and my 10 mm. Growing up in Griz county in WY I have spent some time around bears. Is the gained KE worth spending the money? I already have a safe full of guns I hardly use so adding another even though fun isn't probably necessary.

I know there is probably no right answer to this question.

I have been lurking on this site for quite some time thought it was time to post something.

 

[z987k]

The 30-06 is fine. No bear will even know the difference of the same bullet just a bit faster. You're not hunting bear. So the shot would be quite close.

 

[SloppyJ]

Here we go. I'm buckling in for this one.....

 

[GSPHUNTER]

If you are hunting with a guide he will have your back. Personally I like the .300 win mag. More than enough gun for deer, any deer.

 

[brolo]

I took my .223 AR-15 and 9mm to kodiak last fall for deer. I’m planning on taking the same to Afognak for elk this fall…I’ve never been attacked by a bear.

 

[TaperPin]

This August I am going to Kodiak Island to deer hunt. I am primarily a bowhunter but I will be rifle hunting on this trip.

The debate in my head is take my 30-06 with 180-220 gr bullets or buy 300 win mag. I know either will kill a deer obviously but I am a little worried about bumping into a brown bear and having enough gun. I will also be carrying bear spray and my 10 mm. Growing up in Griz county in WY I have spent some time around bears. Is the gained KE worth spending the money? I already have a safe full of guns I hardly use so adding another even though fun isn't probably necessary.

I know there is probably no right answer to this question.

I have been lurking on this site for quite some time thought it was time to post something.

The 30-06 is widely used all around Kodiak. Being from Wyoming I was expecting an extra large grizzly bear with typical grizzly aggressiveness, but they are a lot more docile, and taller than I would have thought. The bears around the edges of town were especially mellow. Our house backed up to some thick trees and had a well used bear trail 40 yards from the house. Other than looking around with a flashlight at night before getting in the pickup, it wasn’t like living that close to grizzlies at all. They pooped in the driveway once in a while, and cubs would make so many grunting noises it would wake us up at night as they passed by. Still, while I was on the island it didn’t surprise anyone when bears would chase people off gut piles, walk up and take a field dressed deer like they owned it, or sat under a tree with some dude hanging on to the branches all night. Any rifle is probably all you need, but dang they can be big.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Keep the 30-06 with whatever ammo you currently use. Muscle memory is more important that oomph if you get charged.

You may want to reconsider carrying a rifle, a handgun, and spray as that is a lot of weight as well things to get snagged on when busting brush.

Whatever route you go, definitely practice getting the weapon into play and getting a first shot CNS hit.

 

[LightFoot]

Rifle, handgun, and spray is too much to carry.

Though never a bad reason to buy a new rifle.


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[OXN939]

Is the gained KE worth spending the money?

No.

Always wonder if dudes asking whether '06 has enough power for (insert game animal) know that it was commonly used at one point to shoot down aircraft

 

[Justin (Raz) Rasmussen]

Shot placement and how fast you can get that accurate shot off are far more important than most caliber debates.
If you plan on your rifle being a defense option take some time this summer and practice fast accurate shots at sub 30 yard distances. And keep that scope powered all the way down unless you're taking a shot at game, or better yet practice sighting down the barrel instead of trying to line up the shot with your scope.

 

[kwackkillncrew]

if you are hunting with someone else who has a rifle and hunting together, i wouldnt waste my time hauling around a pistol. unless you want to be decked out in tactical gear for the gram. If i dont get a chance to shoot at the bear before it starts mauling me, i have much more confidence in my partner to be able to get up close and shoot it then me trying to gun swap and shoot a thousand pound man eater off me. if you shoot a deer, 1 dude should be able to have it quartered and in a back pack in 30 minutes your homie should be holding his rifle and watching your back.

 

[z987k]

if you are hunting with someone else who has a rifle and hunting together, i wouldnt waste my time hauling around a pistol. unless you want to be decked out in tactical gear for the gram. If i dont get a chance to shoot at the bear before it starts mauling me, i have much more confidence in my partner to be able to get up close and shoot it then me trying to gun swap and shoot a thousand pound man eater off me. if you shoot a deer, 1 dude should be able to have it quartered and in a back pack in 30 minutes your homie should be holding his rifle and watching your back.

I agree. I never carry a pistol if I'm hunting with a rifle. First it's a lot of weight for something that really isn't a problem. Second, the rifle is so much better.
Bear spray while carrying a rifle is even more dumb.

 

[MuleyFever]

What if carrying a suppressed rifle. Is a pistol good to have for the ability to fire a shot that may actually scare the bear off?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

What if carrying a suppressed rifle. Is a pistol good to have for the ability to fire a shot that may actually scare the bear off?

An increase of about 10 decibels (dB) is required for a sound to be perceived as roughly twice as loud.

A suppressed 223 is about 134 db.

Here's a graphic just to give a comparison to common sounds.

 

[hereinaz]

Where will you be in August?
Will it actually be around the bears?

 

[Flben]

I’m taking a 7mm-08 when I go this falll

 

[kwackkillncrew]

What if carrying a suppressed rifle. Is a pistol good to have for the ability to fire a shot that may actually scare the bear off?

No. If I am shooting at a bear it's to kill it. Better off carrying a fog horn if you want to make noise.

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[kwackkillncrew]

Where will you be in August?
Will it actually be around the bears?

It's kodiak... so ya there's always a chance. Buddy dlp'd one up in goat country early to mid September.

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[hereinaz]

Rifle, pistol and bear spray is a bit overkill, IMO unless you are in the thick of it.

I was there early September 9 days and never saw one. Kodiak is a big place…

 

[hereinaz]

No. If I am shooting at a bear it's to kill it. Better off carrying a fog horn if you want to make noise.

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Yeah, just shoot em.