DIY Kodiak Island bowhunt

[BOWUNTR]

I just got in this morning from an incredible trip to Kodiak. More than I ever imagined... or planned for. The trip was a success on several levels. I'm gonna try and tell this story with a bunch of pics, so be patient with me.

I live for adventure and try to hunt different species every year. When I started bowhunting, Chuck Adams was in his prime and bowhunting deer on Kodiak every year. I read every story I could and dreamed of doing an early season hunt some day. Three years ago I did a boat trip over to Kodiak and was overwhelmed with the drive to go back. I've researched an early season drop hunt for years and learned that it's either feast or famine. You really need to know where you are going. We'll this year I put the trip together for me and my buddy, Randy, from Colorado.

I flew to Anchorage and met Randy at the hotel. We ate and consumed a few beers at the famous Humpy's restaurant while it was still daylight... at 11pm! Here is a pic of my gear! The airlines are screwed. With the weight and baggage limit, it's almost impossible to do a hunt like this. They don't nickle and dime you... they $75 and $100 you. It's terrible.



The next morning we were at the airport to find out that our flight to Kodiak was eventually cancelled because of fog in Kodiak. One of many setbacks because of weather.



We change flights and got to Kodiak. No chance of flying into the bush because of the weather anyways. We get shuttled to Mac's and Cys Sporting goods to get out license and tags. Then a quick trip to the grocery store and lunch. Here is a pic of Randy shelling out some hundies!



We got back to the float plane dock and got our equipment ready to go. Here is Randy getting his equipment in order.



We flew with Andrew Airways. Excellent people. They went out of their way for us which seemed routine for them. They shuttled us wherever we wanted to go. Here is a shot of their dock.

[BOWUNTR]

We loaded all of our gear into the Cessna 172, barely making the weight limit. Actually we were over weight a little, but got the OK from the pilot.



We barely got out because of the clouds and fog. Awsome senic flight to our mountain lake. Here is a view out the window.



We set up a generous base camp with extra gear and food stashed nearby. We couldn't take chances with the bears. We also said goodby to the plane as he buzzed us when he flew back. I had a SAT phone and would call when we were ready to leave... weather permitting.





We were ready to hit the mountain. A steep climb, bushwacking up to the alpine where the deer live at this time of year. I was in a lot better shape than I thought and made the climb with no problems. I was pumped for this hunt!





We jumped a doe along the way and ran into this little guy.



The higher we climbed the more deer we saw. We saw a few P&Y bucks that drove us harder. Then we hiked into the abiss. Thick fog with 30 yard visibility. Scary stuff. I really did not have an exact destination so it turned dangerous. We continued on til we found a flat shelf for camp with water close by. It turned out to be a great spot and it's where I'll camp next time. Little did we know... we were surrounded by deer!!

[Oak]

Don't stop now! I AM going back to that place one of these days.

BTW, I've been in that green Cessna at the dock.

[mohunter]

Awesome story so far. I have always wanted to do this but do you think one should try one of the boat hunts first. Thanks for the story i cant wait to hear the rest.
Garrett

[Ernie]

Keep it coming Ed. This is great! Just don't make it to short. We need a lot more pictures and talk us thru each step. And by the way, welcome back.

OK I'm ready.

[STIKSLINGR]

You know I can't wait to hear the rest... On with it! Glad you guy's were successful and the bears left you alone!

[Arrowslinger]

This is gonna be an epic thread!!! with lots of dead P&Y bucks.

[Nick]

keep going, looks like an awesome trip so far!!

Nick

[Sagecreek]

Outstanding! Keep it coming!

[Zbearclaw]

Yank on them top straps to get the shoulder straps off ya some there big feller.

Now cough up the rest of the story.

[BOWUNTR]

Sorry guys, I took the wife and kids to the beach for the day. What a bitchen day...

I'll try and speed this up. We set up camp in the fog and hit the sack. My new NF Mammoth bag is the sh#t, I love it. We woke up to more fog with rain. After getting antsy in camp, we gear up and start climbing to find a place that we might intercept some deer. Here is a shot of us in the abiss. Don't laugh at my rain gear. Helly Hanson Impertech.. it's what a lot of Alaskan guides use and it does not leak. Doesn't come in camo either.



After about two hours the fog lifts and we immediately start spotting bucks, lots of bucks. We look them over for a while and I say "I'm going after that one" and Randy says "I'm going after that one". Incredible. I make my way over to a ridge that I can drop down on the bedded buck. He was bedded with a smaller forkey. I stalked within 130 yards and ran out of cover. The smaller buck got up and fed towards me and passed by at about 70 yards before he went over a ridge. I knew I had to get closer. I was able to sneak 20 yards closer before the other buck got up o follow his buddy. When he came in to range I took the shot. I hit him a little forward. The first Muzzy MX3 out of my bow created my biggest blood trail to date. The deer didn't have a chance. He kinda dropped off the side of the ridge and this is where I found him.



The deer where we were hunting have incredible mass. He doesn't look that big but he scores 90" with 17" of mass. A real good Sitka.





I boned him out and put the meat in my 4500 for the pack to base camp. We hunted with our big packs anticipating going straight to base camp with the meat. We didn't want bears in our spike camp, which we never did. We also needed to carry hunting and survival gear in case we had to sleep with the bears. It worked out.



While caping the deer out, I cut my thumb real bad with a very sharp knife. I knew better and was in too much of a hurry. I'm only sharing this because I know that Arrowslinger will appreciate it!!



I made it to base camp, exhausted. I forced myself to eat and then hit the sack. Low and behold, Randy showed up in camp in the morning and he also killed the buck he went after. A nice wide forky that scores 85". Two bucks down in one day of hunting!!



We put the meat into plastic bags and then sunk it in the cold water of the lake. I researched this and it was the best way to keep the meat cool and from the bears. It worked and we didn't lose one ounce of meat... except what we ate! Here is a shot of me getting ready to walk the meat out into the water.



The end to a fine day!

[Arrowslinger]

Great bucks and pics!~ How's the thumb healin' up?

[Shot]

WOW, what an incredible DIY hunt. Freaking awesome!!!! Congrats to you and your buddy.

[Matt Palmquist]

Congrats Ed!! I knew that you would be successful. Great pictures and story.

Matt

[BOWUNTR]

We took care of the deer and camp, then headed up the mountain on different ridges. Once I got on top I spotted a real good buck that was a real 100 incher. The unpredictible wind alerted the buck of my presence and the opportunity ended. Moments later the fog and rain consumed the mountain. We made it back to camp safe. Every day we had different Red Foxes (all colors) in camp. They were aggressive and wanted the meat and some of our gear. I lost an arrow and part of my Sil tarp to a fox.



We were fogged in for the next two days. I had cabin fever bad. We fought over the only book in camp! Here is a pic of Randy when I lost my turn with the book.



When the fog lifted, we were ready. We spotted a good buck bedded with these small bucks.



Randy stalked in on this buck and made a great shot. I saw the arrow hit through the spotting scope. It was cool. Double lung, the buck went 20 yards.

[BOWUNTR]

I helped Randy bone out his buck and cape the head. Because we hunted in the opposite direction of base camp, Randy started packing towards our spike camp. The weather was closing in again. I had to hurry. I dropped further down the same ridge to go after a buck we had spotted earlier. I lucked out and saw the buck feeding. The buck bedded and I stalked in until I could see the top of his antlers. I couldn't range anything near the buck. When he stood up a half hour later, I misjudged the distance and shot right over his back. I was disgusted with myself.

The next five minutes were a gift from God. I looked over my shoulder and saw a P&Y buck walking on a ridge 100 yards away. When he dropped below the ridgeline, I ran to a ambush point. I thought he would be within 40 yards when I got there. When I spotted him he was broadside at 20 yards. I drilled him and he dropped in 20 yards. A nice 85" forky with eyeguards. A twin to Randy's first buck. We saw a ton of bucks that looked just like this. This area suffered from the 06/07 winter, but will be incredible in the next few years. These bucks still had three weeks to grow. All of our bucks were developing extra points.





I took pics, boned out the buck and loaded it in to my pack. I was looking at a steep, long, hard... hike out and the weather was closing in. When I made it about half way up the hill, Randy showed up to help. He saw that I had a buck down and returned with an empty pack. Great friend!! We made it back to camp in the fog and rain.



This pic says a lot. Hardcore!!! Step mountains, bad weather, Kodiak Brown Bears and Sitka Blacktail bucks!!

[Oak]

Congratulations! Fun looking trip, and some darn nice bucks to boot!
Thanks for taking the time to post all of the pictures.

[Matt Palmquist]

I knew there would be more! Congrats again. 2 down, one to go!! Can't wait for the rest of the story.....

You the man Ed. Looks like Randy is as well. Great job guys.

Matt

[Monsterbull]

Awesome story, pics and bucks! Top notch! Congrats on a great trip.

[Reflex]

That's an awesome story. Thanks for sharing all of the pictures. I think I need to plan a Kodiak island hunt now!

[2rocky]

atta boy Ed. I ain't leaving 'till I see a picture of your plane leaving. i got a feeling this is the tip of the iceberg...

[TrevonStoltzfus]

WOW Friggin AWESOME!!

[BOWUNTR]

I still have a few pics to tell the end of the story. At this point in the trip we had killed two P&Y bucks each and were satisfied... but we still had one more tag in our packs. We both agreed that it would have to be an exceptional buck to fill the last tag. In the morning I put a stalk on a real good buck right out of camp but couldn't close the deal. We decided to pack out and hunt some different country. Randy had hurt his knee and he has a primo Bighorn Sheep tag in Colorado. He was worried about making his knee injury worse so he decide we should pack out in one trip, camp and meat. I won't tell how much my pack weighed... but it was rediculous and gauaranteed to void the Badlands warranty!!



It took us about four hours to get to base camp. This was our last meal in the bush. Backstraps, potatoes and onions!!!





Something else. We lived off of Freeze dried dinners and Wilderness Athlete bars. I've never felt better the morning after hunting so hard. We drank WA Hydrate and Recover exclusively with water. Randy hadn't used WA products before and he is sold. Randy is as hardcore as they get.



Here is a parting shot with our antlers and our ride back to Kodiak





We were treated to a spectacular ride back in the Beaver. The pilot asked us if we minded if he took us on a tour of the island and showed us some bears!!! Hell No we didn't mind. He banked the plane and flew about 30 feet above a few salmon streams. Incredible. The number of bears on the streams was frightening. You do not want to be anywhere near a salmon stream at this time of year. We weren't and never had an encounter with a bear. He also flew next to the cliffs on the backbone of the island and we were looking right out the window at mountain goats. Thanks for all the kudos. Believe me, these pics do not show the real adventure we had. You had to be there. Ed F

[2rocky]

Ed you mentioned being in good shape. you LOOK like you are in as good of shape as we have seen you in the past. guess you haven't been guarding any Doughnut shops lately.

Fill us in on your workout regimen so I can look as good as you when I get to be your age....


Note to self...
SELF
Don't break any laws while South of the grapevine, I MAY have an APB out on me with those last to jabs....

[Zbearclaw]

You are an animal. I bet that loaded pack weighed a ton, but you look like you are only toting a day pack. I think I will stop poking fun at you, after that 100lb pack at Tejon and that monster above I think you must lift cars to stay in shape.

Expound on your new gear, I know you were considering Sitka, as well as the new 4500.

Any changes if doing this hunt today?