In late October, I embarked on a hunt I had only ever dreamed of. It was always just that—a dream—mainly because I never thought I’d be able to afford a hunt of this caliber. After three flights, I finally arrived in Kodiak, with one more to go.
We woke up early, filled with anticipation and excitement, and made our way down to the docks where we would catch a floatplane to the south side of Kodiak Island. Honestly, if I never had to fly in another plane again, I would be 100% okay with that.
After waiting overnight to begin our hunt, decisions were made to take advantage of the weather and head for the top of the mountains in search of a mature Billy. We left camp around 9:00 a.m., setting a self-imposed deadline to harvest a billy by 2:00 p.m. What followed was the hardest hunt I’ve ever experienced. At 1:47 p.m., I found myself atop a mountain on Kodiak Island with a beautiful Kodiak mountain goat. The only problem? I still had to make my way back down with a full pack!
Big thanks to Paul and Miles from Alaska Outfitters Unlimited for their patience and hard work throughout the hunt.
Over the next 13 days, we spent countless hours searching the mountainsides and valleys in pursuit of our target—the Kodiak Brown Bear. We were also hunting what I jokingly referred to as the “participation trophy” of the Black Tail deer. Through wind, rain, snow, sleet, and anything else you can imagine, Kodiak proved to be an unforgiving landscape.
Though we didn’t manage to harvest the two animals we had tags for, the hunt was far from a bust. We had several chances at sealing the deal on a bear, but none were worthy of the title “Kodiak Brown Bear.”
Despite multiple encounters, including a charging bear, we didn’t harvest a bear on this trip—not for lack of effort, though. Everyone—whether the chef or the packer—gave their all to make it happen. It was truly a world-class hunt.
I plan to return to Kodiak in the spring of 2027.
A special thanks to Aaron Blomquist (Owner of Alaska Outfitters Unlimited), Paul (Guide), and Dana (Chef) for making this experience unforgettable.
