Kodiak 1990-93

Hunt 1 - Part 1 of 2

I lost my boot sole kicking in steps in the hard snow while climbing up a mountain ridge near Shearwater Bay. I had to stop on the narrow ridge and attempt repairs to my boot with a camera strap.

Hunt 1 - Part 2 of 2

Once over the mountain, I spotted a buck bedded down in the middle of some alders. I slowly slid through the snow until I could find the proper angle to shoot through the tangle of alder branches. As soon as I shot the buck, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. About 100 yards away was a brown bear. Luckily the bear decided to head away from my location.

Hunt 2 - Part 1 of 5

Hunting in the vicinity of Saltry Cove with my brother Joe and brother-in-law Gene.

Hunt 2 - Part 2 of 5

During our hike in, I was forced to navigate through the low clouds for several miles using only a compass, altimeter, and topo map. This was before the days of affordable handheld GPS units. Through expert navigation, and considerable luck, we ended up exactly in the hunting area we wanted.

Hunt 2 - Part 3 of 5

Here's Joe in deep thought after our long hike in.

Hunt 2 - Part 4 of 5

After the clouds lifted and the rain stopped we decided to air out the tent and dry our clothes and gear.

Hunt 2 - Part 5 of 5

Here's a little spike we got during the trip. We had to slide down a steep ravine several hundred feet to get a suitable shot. The hike back up with the buck in our backpacks was even more fun!

Hunt 3

Here's another spike Joe and I got on a separate hunt on one of the many ridges near Saltry Cove.

Hunt 4 - Part 1 of 2

On a HOT August hunt with my friend Dean and my brother-in-law Gene. If you look on top of the mountain behind me, that little spot is Gene. That mountain is where we first spotted the buck from. Gene stayed on the mountain to give us hand signals, while Dean and I made a stalk on the buck. While cresting the small hill just before the buck, I stepped on a twig. The buck jumped out of his bed and started to bolt. I dropped him with an off hand shot after his first couple steps.

Hunt 4 - Part 2 of 2

Here's Gene on one of our glassing stops. Later that same day on our way back to camp, Gene saw a buck and made an incredible long shot.

Hunt 5 - Part 1 of 6

Here's a view of Red Lake during a fly-in hunt with my brother-in-law Gene. Red Lake is on the extreme south-western part of Kodiak, about as far from Kodiak city as you can get on the island.

Hunt 5 - Part 2 of 6

One of the many deer (and bears) we saw that trip. We made a base camp near the shore of Red Lake and spiked out on two day hunts from there.

Hunt 5 - Part 3 of 6

Glassing for the big ones...

Hunt 5 - Part 4 of 6

A pair of handsome bucks. After Gene shot his buck, the noise spooked out 3 bears and a few deer including the one I shot after it walked right in front of me!

Hunt 5 - Part 5 of 6

During a return trip to base camp with fresh deer meat in our packs we encountered a sow and her cub. This was truly a "close encounter" for several reasons. Not only were we near one of the sow's cubs, but we were also right next to her food cache. Gene and I managed to get by her by leap-frogging; taking turns with one person aiming at the sow while the other walked by her within less than 20 yards.

Hunt 5 - Part 6 of 6

The next day I had another encounter with a bear; this time it was back at base camp while I was looking for water and I didn't have a gun with me. Luckily I made it back to base camp before the bear made it to me!

Hunt 6

An awesome Kodiak buck that I played cat-n-mouse with through some of Kodiak's notoriously thick alders. Gene got a real nice buck earlier that day too.