Kodiak Island

[Panfish1]

Hi,

I am looking to take my wife on her first Blacktail hunt on Kodiak Island. We are looking to hunt out of a lodge vs. a boat. Has anyone had experience with Larsen Bay Lodge? Would you willing to share your experience with me or if you have another recommendation?

Good Hunting!
Dave

 

[Nick Muche]

Never been to the lodge, but hunted near there one fall. Saw lot's of deer and bears. I think you'll find bucks anywhere if you are willing to hike a bit, especially if you end up there in Late Oct/Early Nov. I typically stay away from lodges and cabins only because the areas around them see a bit more pressure than places to tent camp. I think I'd do Kodiak Combos instead, stay in a lodge at night and get dropped off by a boat each day. Good luck!

 

[Beendare]

Good advice Nick^

I did a deal with Larsen bay lodge a few years ago- a guy- Jim I think- and his wife, right? I can't remember their name.

They do a deal where they will take you out in a boat drop you off...then pick you up later in the day. A couple rifle guys did that [we were bowhunting] We didn't do that instead flew out to a remote spot and camped for 4 days. A couple rifle guys that were there at the lodge did the boat out thing and they were successful.

They will also take you fishing in the bay...or you have World class steelhead fishing that you can quad out to.

Timing is critical. We went in mid October. trying to squeeze in a hunt between other hunts .....not the best timing. You want to hit it either early or late IMO. Late October[I have a buddy leaving today] through Nov is good as they are starting to rut....so you can call and decoy them in.

...

 

[Panfish1]

Hi Nick and Beendare,

Nice to meet you! Thank you for the advice I truly appreciate it!
We are looking to go in late August and hopefully do some fishing as well.
Both of us like to hike so that that is not a problem. Any idea how the bugs are at that time of year on the island?
Also, are the bow shots long, or are you about to stalk within 50yrds?

Good Hunting!
Dave

 

[Nick Muche]

Every buck I've killed on Kodiak with my bow has been less than 15 yards, several under 10.

 

[Josey D]

Dave,
I don't know anything about Larsen bay lodge, but here is what I would want to know. What kind of hunting are you looking to do? By that I mean a lot of the later season people hunt the beaches & lower half of the mtns. In August they will be high, so you should plan on hiking a good ways up everyday & the first part from the salt is always hard because you usually have alders to deal with. My wife & I have gone in early Aug. & had a great time but we were dropped in an alpine lake & above the alders so the hiking was much easier.
If you go with LBL I would see if they have any quad trails they use from the lodge to get you up the first few hundred feet in case some days you don't feel like working so hard. If you are in good shape & both enjoy the getting after it then no worries. There are a couple other lodges I have heard good things about so it may be worth checking out.

 

[keepriding]

My one time doing this was my first deer with a bow. I had drawn a tag for a piece of property surrounding a lake managed by the Army Corp of Engineers. We spotted my buck at noon from the boat and 4 hours later I had stalked into range, and eventually killed him with a 25 yard bow shot.

It was a 16 ft aluminum boat with an outboard.

 

[OXN939]

Hi Nick and Beendare,

Nice to meet you! Thank you for the advice I truly appreciate it!
We are looking to go in late August and hopefully do some fishing as well.
Both of us like to hike so that that is not a problem. Any idea how the bugs are at that time of year on the island?
Also, are the bow shots long, or are you about to stalk within 50yrds?

Good Hunting!
Dave

Our camp at 2500' this past August. Bugs were much less intense than I anticipated, although you still will want head nets and repellant. We did the same kind of "cast and blast" idea, and were successful with both- late August a great time to be there.

 

[Nick Muche]

That camp location looks awesome!

 

[OXN939]

That camp location looks awesome!

Yeah buddy! It was a great time. Roland is the absolute man, everything about our trip was awesome. Didn't kill any Booners, but one tasty representative buck apiece checked all the boxes we needed.

 

[GrabRack]

If a lodge in Larsen Bay is your preference and fishing on river or salt desired, check out Kodiak Legends Lodge. Direct to hunting location is an option too thru Island Air, call and ask for advice. Have hunted three times now and is my happy place camped out on the island fishing salmon and hunting blacktails. Fiance and another couple camped this past September in teepees for a week early September and weather cooperated well. Late August should be better. Be prepared for some rain and at least a couple hard blows of 35mph or better. The weather in between is what makes it all worth it.

 

[GrabRack]

Kodiak is no joke btw, serious preparation will make it tolerable on the brutal days.

 

[DMurphy]

Our camp at 2500' this past August. Bugs were much less intense than I anticipated, although you still will want head nets and repellant. We did the same kind of "cast and blast" idea, and were successful with both- late August a great time to be there.

View attachment 131523

I am planning a "Cast and Blast" trip for next August. Current plan is to hunt out of Larsen Bay Lodge and be transported daily into the alpine. Our group is an experienced group of hunters- but midwestern hunters. We are super excited and a bit overwhelmed with this whole planning process. Do you have any bits of advice you could provide after your trip? Anything you wish you had known before you left that you learned later?

 

[oliveradamx]

It seems to me that hunting from the cabin is not so interesting. I'm not a fan of this. Boring

 

[Oregon]

I am planning a "Cast and Blast" trip for next August. Current plan is to hunt out of Larsen Bay Lodge and be transported daily into the alpine. Our group is an experienced group of hunters- but midwestern hunters. We are super excited and a bit overwhelmed with this whole planning process. Do you have any bits of advice you could provide after your trip? Anything you wish you had known before you left that you learned later?

How they transporting you to the alpine? Every time I went to Larsen Bay I transported myself via a brutal climb about 1600' straight up every morning.

 

[Steve O]

How they transporting you to the alpine? Every time I went to Larsen Bay I transported myself via a brutal climb about 1600' straight up every morning.

I was wondering the same thing.

I’ve never stayed in any of the lodges there but Nolan who is one of the guides at Foxtail Lodge helped us out during a pit stop in Larsen Bay and just based off an hour dealing with him I would look heavily into that place once I don’t want to camp out anymore. And I’m getting close to that point.

 

[fmyth]

My friend has a place in Larsen Bay and I went out to fish w him last year in June. Flew in on Island Air no problems. My morning flight out of Larsen was delayed due to weather then delayed due to the plane waiting for some freight coming to Larsen. As we were landing at ADQ-Kodiak I watched my Alaska Airlines flight take off. Had to scramble to find a hotel get transportation etc. We stayed at the Best Western and they let us use their walk in cooler to store our fish boxes. AK airlines was very helpful getting us on another flight the next day. Ended up getting home a day later than I had planned. My friend that owns the lodge tells me that it is not uncommon to get stuck for a day or 2 in Kodiak due to weather on the first half of the trip and same for the return. I'd give yourself I couple extra days for the return trip just in case.

 

[FAAFO]

My friend has a place in Larsen Bay and I went out to fish w him last year in June. Flew in on Island Air no problems. My morning flight out of Larsen was delayed due to weather then delayed due to the plane waiting for some freight coming to Larsen. As we were landing at ADQ-Kodiak I watched my Alaska Airlines flight take off. Had to scramble to find a hotel get transportation etc. We stayed at the Best Western and they let us use their walk in cooler to store our fish boxes. AK airlines was very helpful getting us on another flight the next day. Ended up getting home a day later than I had planned. My friend that owns the lodge tells me that it is not uncommon to get stuck for a day or 2 in Kodiak due to weather on the first half of the trip and same for the return. I'd give yourself I couple extra days for the return trip just in case.

Is your friend with the lodge by chance named heath?

 

[fmyth]

Is your friend with the lodge by chance named heath?

I'm friends of the family. I went out a week before they opened and helped Bob and Heath get the lodge/boats ready then stayed a week and fished with Heath. Absolutely amazing lodge/location. Wish I could afford to be a regular guest.

 

[FAAFO]

I'm friends of the family. I went out a week before they opened and helped Bob and Heath get the lodge/boats ready then stayed a week and fished with Heath. Absolutely amazing lodge/location. Wish I could afford to be a regular guest.

Nice! Bobs a good dude for sure! And I agree, beautiful lodge. Figured that was the lodge once I saw you are located in AZ. Lots of AZ people coming through since they bought the lodge. Good people!