I've got a hankerin' for hunting some POW sitka. I've been looking online and have found a couple places that look fairly reasonable for a non guided hunt. I've been looking at Coffman Cove and Thorne Bay Lodge.

For a couple of Kansas guys used to whitetail hunting what do I need to expect on a hunt like this? I think we would probably hunt November for the rut but if you guys think another time is better, I'm open to suggestions. We are primarily bow hunters but would take our rifles on this trip.

Just wanted to here your experiences or opinions on the hunt itself. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Ryan

I just returned from my annual fishing trip to POW. If the number of deer along the road from Klawock to Coffman Cove is any indication then you should have plenty of opportunities.

Halloween to Vet's Day is not a bad time to go. Learn to use a deer call.

Great, thanks guys. I am now debating what time I would want to go. It would be hard for me to leave the Kansas Rut in November. I may go earlier and hunt the Alpine. I've got my work cut out for me I guess...

Rain. And snow.

I'd go for the rut. I've never been to Kansas (but I saw a movie about it, and frankly it was scary as hell. Flying houses, flying monkeys, witches, a scarecrow that talks, and some sort of primitive starwars droid. I don't know how you deal with all that.), but I wouldn't want to take a trip like that and purposely skip prime time.

POW holds some huge bucks , if you know where to go. Everyone I know that hunts there regularly says it takes a while to figure it out. The tribal cops will be more than willing to tell you where you can't go. I'm not trying to be smart but do your homework before you go.if you can rent a skiff that will really help .

Yeah, you can hunt KS any old year.... AK is a special trip.

I missed opener of our WT season here one year to go on a sitka hunt.... wouldn't have traded it for the world. I can always hunt here, no biggy if I miss a year here and there...

Yes, learn to use a deer call and think NOVEMBER.


POW deer.

It's a real roll of the dice when it comes to weather on POW. Be prepared for heavy rain and wind. Rut timing has been a bit wonky as of late too. Last week of October doesn't suck either. Nice thing about POW is that is has the vast road system, so if you tap out on going in the woods, you can put some miles on and do OK.

Coffman Cove Adventures. Mike is a fantastic guy!!!!

Which call do you fellas like for blacktail?

I've used K'meer Deer, Faulk's D50, several 'local' brands and even cow elk calls.

^^^^^^This is good advice^^^^^^^^

Hank Masters call myself.

http://juneauempire.com/stories/120997/deercalls.html#.V4kvWWfrufA

Reminds me that I should pick up another one as backup.

My buddy called this one in late Oct of last year. That is a teak version of the Masters call around his neck. He's the best caller I've ever hunted with. Learned a lot from him. I prefer the yellow cedar version.



I don't have any audio of how to call for our blacktails. I know Big Stick used to take lots of video of him calling them in. Those would excellent to take a look & listen if you can find them somewhere.

Mike "tootin' the horn" on the edge of a meadow.

That's a dandy right there. Never seen you hang that pic before.

Funny just texted brother Dave last night to get a couple calls...

If I was gonna hunt pow it would be a summer alpine trip. Hunting the rut I'd do Kodiak...

I've heard good things about etolin island buck huntin too...

I was hoping steelhead would chime in, you out there buddy?

I've got a couple of yellow cedar calls made by a local native guy. They work great, even in a pinch on high mountain muleys.

Or better yet brother Dave, brother Bill, or Calvin, again....

I was killing Sitka Blacktails before they were walking...

Oh... So you've killed lotsa big bucks and have allota insight? Thanks

No, I've only ever shot dinks.


I was staying at Bill and Dave's house when I killed the above. Thinking I've skinned a few of their deer.


Killed this one in 1984 (PS, it makes book). I'll wait for a 1984 Sitka pic.

That is a hell of a deer! I shot my biggest in '84 also. I have only shot a dozen.

But mine are all from Kodiak and the other islands there.

The dozen I mentioned were just the ones that were big enough for the book.

Damn nice deer.. Don't see the reason for being flippant...

I do think Dave, Bill and Calvino could add some helpful advice, as well as Sitka deer it appears...

Caint do 84' but I'll do 85' with a 19" Columbia......

Looks to score more than 19 inches to me. Maybe thats a net and not gross score?

I was pulling wool down in your area about that time frame. We might be family

Could be?.... Haha

You were a nice looking kid. What happened?

If you go in August to the alpine, you will not be able to stop dreaming about your next August Sitka Blacktail hunt.

My friend and his 201st blacktail, most all with his Hawken.



My next trip will be with a sharp stick and a string.

I appreciate the fact you didn't have to remind the www that " made book", if only obviously...your friend, like it or not, is a legend, in my mind anyhow.... What a modest, easy going straight phucqking savage!!! Much respect and grats Randy...

Yes, he is modest, easy going, and as much fun to hunt with as any guy I've had the pleasure to share a camp with. We are planning a return trip to the high alpine for next August and a Wyoming pronghorn hunt for late September 2017. I only hope I can be half the host that he is. Without him and his kindness of inviting me along to fulfill what has been a dream of my entire adult life, I would have never had such a great hunt with such great end results.

Very cool... He seems to make it look easy, specially with a musket... Hope you get him a goat he's happy with... Later

Btw I watched that episode and it was great!! Thanks for producing great shows and being a proponent of hunting and land use...

BigFin,

That is the episode that started my infatuation for hunting POW blacktail. I remember when I was younger I watched a guy in an old Realtree Video go to Kodiak and stalked a blacktail. The deer acted like it had never seen a human in its life before. Back then I wondered why somebody would travel that far to shoot a buck with such a small rack but I know now.