BOAT-BASED BIG BLACK BEARS AND DEER – ALASKA #336

Prince of Wales Island has long been known for monster black bears in the outdoor community. The salmon choked stream surrounded by the dense coastal rainforest make this area prime habitat for big bears. The winters on “POW” are about as mild as it gets anywhere that black bears are found, not much snow and not as extreme as the rest of Alaska. This leads to easy hibernation, and less stressful living conditions which leads to bigger bears. We are looking at 7 foot plus bears as shooters, with finding an 8ft bear a possibility, (very rare, but possible). This boat based outfitter is located in unit 2 which is a special draw area for non-residents with about a 50/50 chance of drawing a tag – but if you contract through Hunt Nation with this outfit as your guide, the state will issue you a tag over the counter!

The hunting is all done on Forest Service lands in the Tongass National Forest under a special use permit, keeping the competition almost non-existent. They just bought a new 62’ boat and base all their hunts from it. Living on this charter vessel means they are putting you in the heart of trophy bear country. You can hunt your heart out knowing you’ll have a hearty feast and a warm bed to come back to. You will be cruising beaches in the springtime glassing tide flats, finding bears digging at low tide and grazing in grassy patches of uplands. They will hit these greenbelts first thing every year, kick-starting their digestive systems after the long sleep before they roar into the breeding season. The other hunt is in September, when sitting on prime fishing holes along the many creek mouths that pepper the coast is the ideal tactic. Whichever style of hunting you prefer, they can put you face to face with a monster black bear.

You can choose to use rifle or bow and your shots can be from in your face to 200 yards. Normally you will spot bears from the big home base or from a skiff that cruises the shore line and the many coves. When a bear deemed worthy of taking is spotted, an approach is decided upon and the stalk is on. You will want hip boots with good soles for gripping mud and wet stones. This is rain forest, so while temperatures are relatively mild, be prepared for plenty of moisture.

You will stay warm and dry on board, with very good food, hot showers, comfortable beds and endless views! Expect to see bears, otters, whales, eagles, ducks, seals and more. Sip a cocktail in the lounge and retire to a warm berth. Good living! This is a one bear area, and success normally is 100%, assuming good shooting and a reasonable degree of fitness.

2024 PRICES (subject to change without notice until deposit received)
(Sold out through 2025)
Fully Guided Coastal Black Bear Hunt
Southeast Alaska
Black Bear Hunt – $11,000. 1×1 $9,000 2×1 7 days

NOTE: The outfitter just upgraded from his 42’ boat to the newer 60-footer as a way to include his family along on these boat trips. His wife, a baby and one youngster will be on board. If this is an issue for you, we do have other boat hunts available. While many hunters might enjoy the company – if not just let us know that and we at Hunt Nation can offer other suggestions.

Fully Guided Sitka Blacktail Deer Hunts
You will hunt from the boat, all 60 feet of her, and this allows access to country that no one else touches while remaining warm and dry every night. PRICE INCLUDES 2 BUCKS PER PERSON! The season kicks off in August where you will find yourself 3,000 feet above sea level in the alpine, glassing and putting the stalk on bachelor herds of good bucks. The other peak season is November which marks the peak of the rut, and lends itself well to calling and sitting stands, much like the eastern whitetail. This time of year they will be down low cruising for does, running ridges and checking rub lines. They are also frequenting the tidelands where they are feeding on kelp and licking salt from the rocks at low tide. Like all other deer, they are dependent on edge habitat, with natural breaks in terrain and vegetation, providing the necessary food, shelter, and escape cover they need to survive. During the early season, it’s timberline, while down low in November it’s muskegs and the beach. We all know that success is all about access, and being 50 miles south of the nearest town, this outfit is one of a limited few that have it in this area. In addition to the outstanding genetics, mild winters, and excellent minerals, this makes Prince of Wales Island THE destination for your world class, Sitka blacktail deer hunt.

When most people think of western deer hunting they think of monster mule deer. This outfitter’s hope is to introduce to you his little cousin, the Sitka blacktail! We can start by looking at the all-time world record non-typical Sitka blacktail buck, 134 inches. So they are not a mule deer, however, very similar, but what they are is a unique little subspecies. He has taken a number of Sitka blacktail that pushed the 200 pound mark fairly easily. The typical buck that we see taken is a 3×3 or a 4×4, hopefully with some nice eye guards, and width out to the ears, making your trophy a 90-100 inch deer. You will hunt on Prince of Wales Island, amidst a group of islands in Southeast Alaska’s coastal wilderness known as the Prince of Wales archipelago. Remember that world record buck I mentioned? Yep, you guessed it, a Prince of Wales buck! It was taken just a 15 minute drive from the town of Craig, your jumping off point as you head for the wilds that these bucks call home.

Sitka Blacktail – $9,500. 7 days – Two bucks!! Deer hunts are the same structure as the black bear. Deer #3 and #4 are added for $2500 extra.

TRAVEL: Typically fly to Seattle and then onward via Alaska Air to Ketchikan. He sometimes is able to pick you up right in Ketchikan and proceed to the hunt area from there (4-5 hours). Otherwise you have a choice of taking a large ferry (reliable in bad weather) or hiring a float plane to get to Prince of Wales Island. We have done both, so just ask us.

BROWN BEAR HUNTS

The hunt will be based out of Ketchikan using the boat as basecamp and a 15ft inflatable skiff to access the beaches and flats after a potential shooter boar has been spotted. This is truly one of the most exciting ways to hunt bears in style, on the ground spot and stalk, with a warm comfy bed and a hot meal to return to every night. Under a strict USFS quota system, they only have three brown bear hunts per year in this area, keeping it under pressured.

All brown bear hunts can be combo’d with black bear on the same trip and include shrimping and crabbing at the client’s request. His area encompasses the Misty Fjords National Monument and Wilderness Area, based out of Ketchikan and Hyder, with access to one of the few remaining truly untouched hunting areas southeast Alaska has to offer.

Brown Bear – $26,000. 12 days
Goat – $18,500.

Brown bear are 12 day hunts and black bear are 7 days. If there are more than 2 black bear hunters then we can go out to potentially 10 days depending on scheduling. Longer hunts are a bit more expensive naturally.