My son told me last night he wants to go to AK and hunt black tails. No idea where that came from BUT, OK I'm game...

He was born in AK - I was stationed in FBK - I've hunted there MANY years ago, as stated, he was born there, he's now grown and has a daughter and a very successful career. thus,

We're looking for a guide/outfitter,
Either Kodiak or POW area?
Currently live in Georgia - he's in Florida so SE AK is probably easier and shorter to get to?

Camp/lodge/boat, doesn't really matter. We're both in pretty good shape. Both can shoot.

Don't need a "booner" just have a possibility of a good respectable buck or two, and the adventure and time together.

Recommendations??

Yes I realize it's very late in the year for planning a trip, and we're not beyond booking next year.

Thanks,

My son does Kodiak deer hunts. He and I were bear hunting on south end of island this spring. Lots of deer. You can contact him at his website: He's done lots of deer hunts there. Peterson's Alaskan Guide Service.

Done, thanks,

https://www.stikineguideservice.com

Check this out. I had a great black tail hunt with him a couple of years ago.

I would skip POW and head straight for Kodiak.

Why? Specifically?

At those prices you might be better off for a Blacktail in an Oregon or California hunt

Sitka blacktails are all we have and they are quite different from coastal Columbia blacktails.

My son mentioned going on a hunt together (We went to Africa 5 years ago) He mentioned AK, I mentioned Mexico.
Do you have any recommendations for blacktails in CA or Oregon?

My old boss usually hunts POW and Kodiak every year, He hasn't been to POW for a couple of years because of the sheer numbers of good bucks on Kodiak. Some of the people that live on POW also consider the deer on the island "theirs".

I was thinking of going to POW for Sitka Blacktail and just taking an improved 6mm. With Kodiak, because of the possibility of an encounter with bears, I was thinking I'd be best taking my .338.

Especially those within 50 yds of the road

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I know a bunch of folks who live on Kodiak and they use the 223 and 243 for most of their deer hunting. I did the big rifle just in case routine the first couple times I went down and got tired of it and switched to a 300 Savage for the next 5 trips. Never had any bear problems.

And for the OP I would pick Kodiak. I’ve never hunted POW but I’ve been to Kodiak and Afognak quite a bit and never had a bad trip. Thanksgiving timeframe is a good time to go.

Deer are not native to Kodiak or Afognak, if that makes a difference.
I prefer areas where they’re native all things considered but have hunted plenty of non native critters in places.

Thanks for the laugh. Accurate statement.

To the OP…..Kodiak.

Kid, I'm thinking August time frame (coming from Georgia).
Getting to Kodiak is a lot longer for us, Fly to SeaTac, Anc, Kodiak City, then another flight out,

Looking at maybe a live aboard boat, weighing options.

What's the hunting like in August on Kodiak? Would SEAK be better at that time?

Who is the go to Outfitter on Kodiak these days for a Booner Blacktail ?

Back in the day it was Leon Francisco Spiridon Bear Camp or Dick Rohrer Bear Camp.
Any current information is appreciated.

A kid got the new #1 P&Y a couple years back on POW

M.M. how are you brother?

Who was the Outfitter ? Web site link please ?
How is the herd doing lately?

Kid (DSMFer) was DIY with his dad. Covered in the Huntin' Fool, Pope and Young website.

https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/n...ies-two-new-archery-velvet-world-records

MM do you have any other ideas for me?

So brother, you want Booner from Kodiak? (I've never set foot there)

Get lined up on a big, comfortable boat sometime between Vets Day and Thanksgiving - heavy snow will help.

Cruise the beaches until you find that big one. Get dropped off and go blast it.

If they aren't all lined up on the beach, work your way 1/4 mile inland and call until you find the Big 'Un.

Oh, and make sure you know what a Booner looks like

There's that Kodiak Combos guy that runs out of Old Harbor.

I went unguided on Kodiak once and took a large one in the time frame that you suggested. The snow did drive them down from elevation, which helped.

I don't know who the combos guy from Old Harbour is though.
I appreciate your input, as I always have.

Give Jake Jefferson a call. I know he does deer hunts on Kodiak. I've done a couple bear hunts with him--he's the real deal & will give you 110% effort. He is your guide, cook & skinner. He does everything himself. Plus he's a great guy & has some great guide stories.

The AK Blacktails taste a lot better....

Herd is struggling

I hadn't herd that

Good to know Thanks.

Did a 4 day fly out trip on the 31st-3rd. Saw 8 does, glassed the alpine for endless hours as late at 1030 pm. Nothing.
Then we flew all the alpine after pickup. We saw no deer. Pilot even commented that there were no deer. He told me other places he's been seeing them. I flew yesterday and Monday, saw 1 deer. Usually see quite a few

The big problem with Kodiak, from a habitat perspective, is that there is no big timber down at the beach for them to survive a big snow winter.

On the plus side, from the hunter's perspective, it's very open and you can spot and stalk deer rather easily, which you can't do in Southeast.

The genetics for the Kodiak herd came from the Wrangell/Petersburg area, so it's not that SE doesn't have big deer, it's just that you're not going to see 10 -20 bucks a day. On a real good day, I'll see 3 or 4 (not including early alpine or on the beach during heavy snow) still hunting the timber and calling on the edges of openings/meadows.

The original 14 transplanted in '24 came from Sitka. Two from PoW in '30 and 9 from Petersburg in '34... pretty hard to guess which genetics were most successful.

The original transplants went to Long Island but were not traveling readily to Kodiak, but there were deer on Long Island and Kodiak when they brought the last 9. They were impatient.

And I've never seen anything bigger than a spike on long Island so who knows what's left there

After 100 years it is tough to know, but some might think the superfund cleanup ( electrical transformer dump) might have had some effect.

In the line of TMI: during WWII the Sgt in charge on Long Island was Charlton Heston.

Almost no big bucks on Afognak, ever. They need open country for size, and old growth to get through rugged winters.

Not supposed to be decent bucks on south Baranof either, but I got lucky.

Any decent bucks on Raspberry Island?

Take a walk through a B&C book and you will get the idea quickly. No.

No

Nice one Hank.

Nice one for sure. I always envisioned you being a bit older Hank.

Been out twice and haven't got a buck yet. First trip (opening week) was a heartbreaker. Clouds lifted briefly and there were 3 bucks showing. Closed the distance (found out LRF doesn't work too well in the fog/clouds) and they were still visible - one last check in the binos and they disappeared in the clouds never to be seen again.