WFGinNM
New member
I had posted this back in '07, and the pics were sent to cyber purgatory when the site evolved. I updated it so when members ask about information the link won't be dead.
Loading up in Kodiak.
With not much wind it was only a 35 minute flight to Akhiok with amazing views, the flight alone was worth the trip.
This was my first look at Akhiok, our boat is the white spot to the upper left of the runway.
Hard to soak in all the scenery and feelings when I approached the boat, almost 2 years of planning and I'm almost on the boat.
On Saturday afternoon the 10th we hunted on an open rolling point that the Captain called Cape Trinity. It was like hunting pronghorn on a bog. Every deer we saw was already looking at us and when I set up my tripod and bino's the first thing I saw was a brown bear. Well I saw 2 more and told my friend that I wanted to go away from them.
We walked about a 1/2 mile and sure enough when I set up I glassed another sleeping bear about 200 yards to the east.
Anyway, my friend Joe shoots a 4x4 and we rush like crazy to get it out of there before the local bears find us.
After getting back to the "Spirit" our home for the week, we move up into Deadman Bay to hide from the wind for the night. Next morning we wake up at 6:00 to have breakfast... wait 2 hours for the sun to come up so we can get the skiff safely to shore and start the climb to the deer. We glass up a 4xfork right away and I honestly wanted to hunt for something a bit larger. up the hill we go through the neck deep crap and alders. After a couple hours and over the top we come to an awesome valley the smells like rutting deer. Set up to glass and sure enough bucks chasing does all around. I decide to stalk a buck bedded with a doe I get about 300 yards and they start running. Surely I didn't spook them.... so I start looking for bear (something I did often) I look back to the deer and a pretty big buck chased off the one I was stalking. Bino's off the tripod so I can use it for a rest, and just as the buck starts to mount the doe. Well... I guess I could have let him pass on his genes. (a few pics of him)
My first Sitka Blacktail
When I saw the back forks I couldn't help it, he went down in a spot that we could see so I took the time for multiple pictures. Next is a picture of the valley he was in. Once again how could this get any better??? I thought the flight was worth being there.
The next morning we head back to the same valley and another friend of mine kills his first deer ever, (can't find any pics to post).
So the easy going (stupid) people from NM that we are, take pictures soak up the moment, bone out another deer and the guy on bear watch says "what the F*** is that??"
Yep that little bump that looks like it's in another state is a bear running back and forth trying to get us away from his deer. Picture is a bit crappy, but I wasn't waiting for a Kodiak moment. The deer is boned out so we grab the meat, our gear and give him space. We go about 300 yards stop to pack things a bit better and look back (often). Here comes another bear from below.
A few pictures and we are back to the boat (it was really a bit more exciting than that).
More in another thread...
--Bill
Loading up in Kodiak.
With not much wind it was only a 35 minute flight to Akhiok with amazing views, the flight alone was worth the trip.
This was my first look at Akhiok, our boat is the white spot to the upper left of the runway.
Hard to soak in all the scenery and feelings when I approached the boat, almost 2 years of planning and I'm almost on the boat.
On Saturday afternoon the 10th we hunted on an open rolling point that the Captain called Cape Trinity. It was like hunting pronghorn on a bog. Every deer we saw was already looking at us and when I set up my tripod and bino's the first thing I saw was a brown bear. Well I saw 2 more and told my friend that I wanted to go away from them.
We walked about a 1/2 mile and sure enough when I set up I glassed another sleeping bear about 200 yards to the east.
Anyway, my friend Joe shoots a 4x4 and we rush like crazy to get it out of there before the local bears find us.
After getting back to the "Spirit" our home for the week, we move up into Deadman Bay to hide from the wind for the night. Next morning we wake up at 6:00 to have breakfast... wait 2 hours for the sun to come up so we can get the skiff safely to shore and start the climb to the deer. We glass up a 4xfork right away and I honestly wanted to hunt for something a bit larger. up the hill we go through the neck deep crap and alders. After a couple hours and over the top we come to an awesome valley the smells like rutting deer. Set up to glass and sure enough bucks chasing does all around. I decide to stalk a buck bedded with a doe I get about 300 yards and they start running. Surely I didn't spook them.... so I start looking for bear (something I did often) I look back to the deer and a pretty big buck chased off the one I was stalking. Bino's off the tripod so I can use it for a rest, and just as the buck starts to mount the doe. Well... I guess I could have let him pass on his genes. (a few pics of him)
My first Sitka Blacktail
When I saw the back forks I couldn't help it, he went down in a spot that we could see so I took the time for multiple pictures. Next is a picture of the valley he was in. Once again how could this get any better??? I thought the flight was worth being there.
The next morning we head back to the same valley and another friend of mine kills his first deer ever, (can't find any pics to post).
So the easy going (stupid) people from NM that we are, take pictures soak up the moment, bone out another deer and the guy on bear watch says "what the F*** is that??"
Yep that little bump that looks like it's in another state is a bear running back and forth trying to get us away from his deer. Picture is a bit crappy, but I wasn't waiting for a Kodiak moment. The deer is boned out so we grab the meat, our gear and give him space. We go about 300 yards stop to pack things a bit better and look back (often). Here comes another bear from below.
A few pictures and we are back to the boat (it was really a bit more exciting than that).
More in another thread...
--Bill
Looks like a great hunt, with some serious pucker factor from all the bears.
