Moosie ??? about kodiak??

[Hntnhrd]

I sent you a pm on MM but since you have not answered it, I joined this stupid site (JUST KIDDING i actually like it better than mm, nice job).

Any way can you send me a list of what your disappointments were?

We just booked a trip thorugh Kodiak Charters for November 5 to 10 in Larsen Bay. Our first choice was the place you went through but they were booked for all of 2007. I have a friend that went with them (HOC)a couple years ago and swore they were great. They never saw a bear and everyone took around a 90 inch buck with their bows. Sounds like things have changes a little.
Looks like a trip there even with a few disppointments is still a good trip.

Thanks HNTNHRD

 

[TBinKodiak]

Looks like a trip there even with a few disppointments is still a good trip.

Not always.
Did you check references and court records for Kodiak Charters?

 

[Hntnhrd]

We have been checking refernces but how would I check court records?
This doesn't sound good.

 

[Hntnhrd]

Just googled them and the check is not going to be in the mail

thanks

 

[TBinKodiak]

Probably a good call.

 

[Moosie]

I haven't been to mm.com much since I've been back so I haven't checked my INbox. My bad !!! I'll go ook today.

Hummm.... I haven't heard anything about Kodiak Charters. I will Google them though.

On our outfit there was really only a couple things that I didn't like. I don't like saying things like that because everyone see's things different. The Chaps I went with had a Bigger issue on some of these but here is the Skinny.

We didn't get Fresh Crab. The Hydraulic like broke to lift the Crab pot so I can't fault the transporters on that I guess. What we can Fault though is there were 2 crab pots and the 6 hunters on board would have tried for Hours if need be to pull on the pots to get them aboard. Had I been the Captain I would have let them. We didn't even get the chance. One guy wen't almost jsut for that and left Verry Disapointed.

Early leaving for hunting. there were several Mornings that it was well into the morning before we gotto go ashore. We didn't know better and sat around waiting and even some mornings asked and they told us we needed to wait a bit. So we did.

Hunting the Same Area. We hunted 3 days in the Same dropoff area. the Reason being was the Weather kind of had us pegged but we could have traveled a little ways to try new Spots. The first day we saw 15 bucks and killed one and the 2nd day in the same spot we saw 6 bears and no Bucks and like 2 deer. MAybe it was by Chance but I think the bears moved into the Dead deer area and the other deer moved out ? MAybe not ?

Attitude. Captians Attitude was hit and miss. He was Great to hear stories from and said jokes some times... then something would trigger him and he'd be grouchy. He seemed like he was 10x's more pissed that we were stuck out there 2 more days then the Hunters. My thinking is, Mke the best of the Situation and don't act like you're put out by clients.

So there, thats my Dissapointments and Honest info.

Allthat being said, I would use them again. Knowing aobut the area and how to hunt it and what to do I would do more "dictating" instead of waiting. We truely did have a Good time and I personally didn't mention any of those things because it was 95% good and 5% bad. I didn't want to Flub up the Story by sounding like a complainer.

Hoped that helped ?

 

[Hntnhrd]

Crab would be disapointing but the attitude thing with the captain would really P!$$ me off. Maybe he forgot his zoloft at home. I am looking forward to the crab also. We don't have those swimming around in the Bitterroot!!

Nothing you stateed thou would keep me from having a good time.

Google Kodiak Charters and you will see why we changed our minds and are loking for someone else.
Thanks

 

[Muley Crazy]

OK I googled Kodiak Charters and I missed it ??

a little help

 

[Hntnhrd]

Add "court" and I think it is a few down the list

 

[Moosie]

A Kodiak couple that Alaska State Troopers say operated an illegal hunting guide business on the island and brazenly advertised it in brochures and on a cable television show face a string of charges, including stealing money from the state, after a three-year troopers investigation.


Randy and Terri Blondin, owners of Kodiak Charters, are also accused of making false claims in advertising their services to Lower 48 and international clients and stealing more than $8,000 worth of license fees from the state Department of Fish and Game, according to charges filed in Kodiak District Court last month. The charges are a mix of misdemeanors and felonies.

"This was a pretty lengthy and complex investigation," said troopers Lt. Will Ellis in Kodiak. He said the cases eventually built to overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing from December 2002 to March 2005.

Randy Blondin, 48, is accused of leading hunts around Kodiak Island for Sitka black-tailed deer, bear and other game. Authorities say he did not have a guiding license -- only a transporting license to bring clients to where they could hunt on their own.

Clients, many of them professional hunters, spent thousands of dollars for multiple-day trips to the island to hunt on pristine Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge land.

One hunting adventure was captured on video and aired on an outdoor hunting and fishing cable show, "Outdoor Magazine." The show featured Blondin as the guide. Troopers found Kodiak Charters sold hunting and fishing licenses to the cast and crew but didn't turn those records over to the state, as required by law. Court documents said investigators found many clients of Kodiak Charters that were not listed in business records.

Terri Blondin, 41, is charged with selling clients hunting licenses, duck stamps, salmon stamps and big-game tags and not turning in the money or paperwork to the state, court documents say.

Randy Blondin is also accused of taking out more hunters and killing more animals than he recorded in his activity reports.

At a trade show in Texas, Randy Blondin told undercover law enforcement agents that he would be a one-on-one guide for Sitka deer or brown bear if they paid for the trip at the show, court documents say.

International clients told troopers they paid Randy Blondin to be their hunting guide, according to court documents. Written statements from Mexican hunters listed Randy Blondin as their registered guide. One of the Mexican men paid Blondin $5,600 for his deer hunt on the northwestern side of the island, court documents say.

Court documents say Blondin later told troopers he did not know the men were not Alaskans and "he had been deceived," according to charging documents.

Blondin told troopers "he could still call himself a guide because he was registered with the state as a waterfowl guide and a sportfish guide," charging documents say.

When shown a brochure for his business by the troopers that claims Kodiak Charters is owned and operated by lifelong Kodiak resident guides, "Blondin replied that the brochure does not say what kind of guide."

Other clients told troopers they were misled by Kodiak Charters, court documents say. One client who paid Randy Blondin to guide his hunt was shocked when Blondin took him to a remote island beach and told him to get out of the boat and hunt on his own, with no way to communicate with Blondin.

Assistant attorney general Roger Rom, who is prosecuting the case, said, "The state has a valid interest in regulating the business. ... The reason I take this so seriously is because it's dangerous to hunt brown bear, sheep. ... The reason we have a law is because it can be a dangerous activity. You want someone who has training, experience and knowledge."

Rick Younkins, chief investigator with the state's division of corporations, business and professional licensing, said, "We don't want someone coming up from the Lower 48 and having a terrible experience if their supposed guide doesn't know where the game was or know how to dress the animal."

Randy Blondin was charged with 11 counts, including deceptive business practices, guiding nonresidents without licenses and not completing required state paperwork for his transporting license.

Terri Blondin was charged with six counts including second-degree theft, misapplication of funds and not completing required state paperwork.

 

[Hntnhrd]

Here is the final outcome.

" KODIAK

Woman pays restitution in illegal guiding case
ALASKA DIGEST


Published: August 6, 2006
Last Modified: August 6, 2006 at 02:52 AM


The wife of a Kodiak guide convicted of illegal guiding has paid thousands of dollars in restitution to the state.


Terri Blondin, wife of Randy Blondin, who owns Kodiak Charters, was ordered by the court to pay the Alaska Department of Fish and Game $7,300 for hunting and fishing fees. Her charges were part of a 17-count indictment filed by the state against both of them.

Superior Court Judge Joel Bolger reviewed Blondin's court settlement Monday and found that the fees were turned over to the state in late June. Roger Ron, an assistant attorney general, said Blondin made the payments shortly after a June 26 court agreement.

Blondin pleaded no contest to three counts of theft, misapplication of funds and failure to transmit funds. She also was fined $2,000. Sixty days of jail time was suspended and she was placed on five years' probation.

Randy Blondin was found guilty of six misdemeanor counts involving big-game violations. Authorities said he did not have a license to guide. He was accused of leading hunts around Kodiak Island for Sitka black-tailed deer, bear and other game.

Blondin was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $8,000. He is to begin his jail time Sept. 26."


-- The Associated Press

Just more then I wanted to risk.

 

[muskeg]

With the current law changes taking place in the Transporter side of things .... I would check and double check to see if the Transporter is doing things leagle.

A large Transporter (who worked POW Island) just got indicted. Some of his past hunters have gotten wrapped up it the mess also.

You must be very careful, when going on these hunts marketed and sold as a 'non-guided' package.

That is much different than putting together a hunt yourself and then hiring a transporter (air or vessel).

 

[Moosie]

HOC was Very Clear that they were just transporters. We actually wanted the Deck hand to come Hunting with us for he had a Tag but he said Legally he was worried that it could have been misunderstood as Guiding. I told him to come as a Friend and he still couldn't do it. Hell, if you need a Guide on Kodiak to Find a Frigging Deer you should be hunting a 20x20 pen raised elk in Texas instead of traveling to AK

It's one thing to Sell a Hunt as a Guided deal and anther to hunt with a Guy, If thats the Law it's Stupid, but I understand how it could be misunderstood I guess.

We did have Radios to Comunicate with the Transporters. At the end of the Day we would Radio the Boat that we were out and they did come along to help watch for bears on the Hike back to the shore. We used an air frequency so it was Public talk and never used to locate game to hunt.

ANyway, I don't get the difference beteween a Transporter and a Non guide ... Both aren't guiding you and just transporting you.. right ? I think the People above got busted for Selling tags and pocketing the Coins instead of giving it to the F&G, and also LIEING about being a guide. Not for Not Guiding someone or transporting them ?

On a Side note, I think it's Gay to "HAVE" to hire a guide to hunt Browns, goat or sheep. I've met many a people that could out-hunt alot of Outfitters and guides. I think it should be an Option. Some need it, some don't, and others think they don't need it but are from Utah so even if the law wasn't in place should use one That being said I got a Chance because my dad is up there to hunt brown bear. Next year we might do it again. Bt I still think the Rule Blows, My .02 .

 

[BuzzH]

Moosie,

It was the same way with the guys we went with. They wouldnt even glass deer from the boat and they made sure to tell us several times they were only transporters.

I think the Guides and Outfitters are a bunch of crybabies in AK...just like everywhere else. They cant stand the thought of anyone going hunting by themselves. Its just another way to rip-off the transporters, the do-it-yourself hunters, and non-residents.

I know AK couldnt allow unlimited NR tags to be issued for sheep and brown bear...but why not allow some NR tags (for grizzly, brown bear, sheep, and goat) to be drawn through a lottery that allow you to hunt on your own?

Welfare for outfitters...plain and simple.

I personally think the remaining 49 states should require every resident of AK to hire a guide to hunt ANYTHING in the lower 48...fair is fair.

 

[280rem]

I've been considering a deer hunt on Kodiak, i appreciate the info.

 

[Hntnhrd]

I agree on the guide issue in AK. There are some people in the lower 48 that couldn't hunt ground squirells without a guide. But alot of us hunt in country every year that is just as wild as AK (including having grizzlies in it) and do just fine. The really crazy thing is with no experience in the outdoors you can move to Anchorage and in 1 year your a resident and go hunt what ever you want.

We found another transporter to book our trip through and are now going the 11th to the 18th of November. Ninilchick Charters. NO GAME VIOLATIONAS OR PENDING CHARGES I asked!

 

[BuzzH]

We had no regrets going with Ninilchik Charters...and I'd recommend them.

 

[TBinKodiak]

I tell you what would really burn me. I've lived here for almost 4 years and will probably be here another 4. Yet should I move away and want to come back to hunt sheep I'd have to hire a guide. So I'd have to drop $10K to hire some asst. guide who would more than likely be from Florida, Colorado, New York, etc. with about 10 weeks experience in the AK bush. Basically I'd be paying for some other guys vacation. Now that would really chap my arse.
Lucky for me I already got the two I wanted.... hump

Sorry couldn't help myself...

 

[Ovis]

TB

Did you put in for any sheep draws this year?

 

[IdahoBugler]

TB,

Awesome animals bud. Those are on my list of chit to kill. We'll I guess everything is on my list but those are pretty high up there.