SE Alaska blacktails

[mdunc8]

I voluntarily bumped myself from a flight this morning in exchange for a sizable travel voucher. I don't do much flying, so I'm thinking about using it as an excuse for my first trip to Alaska. With the flight covered, I think I could manage an August PWI or SE mainland hunt. I still have to convince the wife and coerce a buddy to tag along, but I think I could make it happen if work allows. I've never planned a hunt quite this big, so I'm guessing I'll need a little logistical help. For the time being though, I'd love to hear recommendations about whether to hunt PWI or the mainland and any other insight folks are willing to offer.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

MD: I just applied for my "fall bear tag" for PWI. Hopefully I'll get drawn and hunt bear and deer this fall on the island. On a side note I am headed there the first week in June of 2014 as my three buddies drew spring bear tags (I did not draw). Fly into Ketchican... ferry to Hollis and then on to your destination. I will stay with a friend near Coffman cove this spring.

In a previous post some guys mentioned some lodges on the island.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[Kaitum]

If you go in August, plan on hunting the alpine meadows. That'll require a good hike to reach or you might charter a floatplane to an alpine lake. If you're hiking in think backpack style hunt. If flying in you can take a bit bigger camp, depending on where you end up camping/hunting. If your voucher gets you to Juneau, you can use the ferry system to access a number of outlying communities to start your hunt. Those early season alpine hunts are an amazing experience, definitely something you'll always remember.

 

[mdunc8]

If you go in August, plan on hunting the alpine meadows. That'll require a good hike.

That's exactly what I was hoping/planning for. I don't have the budget for a plane.

IIf your voucher gets you to Juneau

Would you suggest the Juneau area over Ketchikan/PWI? Although it sounds like y'all are swimming in blacktails up there, feel to PM if you'd rather not discuss on a public forum.

 

[big28hunter]

Like pointingdogsrule I also applied to hunt bear this fall on PWI. If I don't draw I still plan on going to hunt ducks and deer and also do some fishing. Our party is staying with http://www.fishorhunt.com/Hunts.php. My buddy who organized this trip hunted with them before and had a great experience. He didn't hunt sitka's however their website shows some dandies. I hunted sitka's before on Kodiak Island and if your successful make sure you bring every piece of venison home with you.

Good Huntin'

 

[dustinf]

I hunted blacktails on Etolin the first week of October, and all the bucks were still above treeline.

We flew commercial into Ketchikan, and then a float plane to an alpine lake. We made base camp at the lake, but backpacked a spike camp up above treeline.

 

[Kaitum]

I wouldn't suggest Juneau as a starting point for your hunt. Limited alpine access and much more hunting pressure than some of the islands. Use the ferry system to get to smaller communities. If you don't have a car on the ferry it'll be quite cheap. Are you set on August? If late season is open then you can hunt down low around Douglas Island (accessible from Juneau).

 

[mdunc8]

Thanks Kaitum. Can you point me to a good map of the ferry routes? I've found a list of the towns they service but haven't found a good map that makes it easy for me to see where they actually go.

I'm probably stuck with August if this trip actually happens. I don't think I could push it back due to work/family obligations and other hunts. However, I'd prefer to hunt those alpine meadows I've been seeing pictures of, so I'm not sure I'd want to hunt much later even if I could.

 

[Kaitum]

This link will take you to the AK Marine Highway site, there's a map with the routes: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/routes.shtml

The picture dustinf posted above is pretty tell tale of what you might experience on those alpine hunts - once you're "up there" they give you a sense of being on top of the world.