Karluk Lake, Kodiak, Alaska
Outfitter: Scott Mileur
Guide: B. Sternberg
Rifle: .375 RUM shooting 270 gr TSX
Another great hunt. Had this booked since 2013 and it was worth the wait.
Saw 7 bears the first day. Along with a few fox and about 40 mountain goats. Second day we hiked up a ridge to get a good view of another valley we hadn't checked out yet. Rain and snow all morning... Once it cleared up a little we glassed up a set of tracks high up on a mountain across the valley. At the end of the tracks was a big brown lump of something... We watched it for a while and sure enough a big fat head poked up and looked around before laying back down. He was too far to get a really good look but the head and nose looked good enough to get a closer look. The hike up to him was nothing short of a sheep hunt stalk. I couldn't help but remember asking my guide the day before "you guys ever shoot bears way up in the snow?"
Luckily he decided to stay in the same spot for hours and we were able to get a better look. He had dug himself a nice little bed so it was very hard to see how big his body was. So we had to go on head size alone. The wind was good but was swirling now and then. We got up to the snow line and dropped our packs. We were about 250-300 yards away at that point. The rest of the way was almost all open across fresh snow. To get a better shot we had no choice but take a chance and crawl across the open hillside. Luckily his head was pointed away from us and the wind was pretty strong in our favor. At about 200 yards I took a moment and setup my video camera and hit record (more on that later). We crawled to a small rise and got settled in. We were at 150 yards and it would have to do. Popped in my ear plugs and waited for the green light. He raised his head and sort of got up on his front legs. He knew something was up and looked right at us. As soon as I heard "ok shoot him" and I put three shots right in the sweet spot. He was done after the first shot but no reason to save ammo on a beast of this size. Second shot I forgot how to hold a rifle and got a little smooch on the forehead by the scope. Thank god I had plastic scope covers on.
So after a hell of a climb and a perfect stalk, there lay my Kodiak brown bear. Excellent hide and a big ol head. Once we got him out of his bed we saw that he was definitely in the "big" range. I already shot a nice bear years before so a nice bear with a good hide was what I was hoping for. I was very happy.
The work now was really about to begin.
Shot him about 3 pm. Finished skinning him out at about 6pm. We had about 3 miles to go to get back to the boat. Including a very steep descent of about 1000 feet. It took me about 20 minutes to go the first 30 yards. The snow was about waist deep and I'd go all the way in with each step. The snow also happened to be the perfect consistency to lock my boot in each time. Making it impossible to pull it back out without a lot of digging. Talk about a miserable hopeless feeling... Dragging the packs was slightly more productive so that's how we were able to finally make it off the snow. By the time we made it off the mountain we were exhausted and soaked from sweat and rain. We had to make a choice. Stay out in the field all night or drop the packs and bust our asses to get to the boat before it was dark dark. I had already had to spend the night in the field packing out a bear years before and I did not want to go 2 for 2. So we dropped the bulk of the load and made it to the boat with just enough light to make it back to camp. We made the right choice because it rained heavy all night. Entire next day was spent going back and packing everything out. I can't remember being more sore. My legs are still recovering.
Sheep hunt for the price of a bear hunt
* for the record. I am right up against him and have my hand right behind his hump.
Not sure on the size of the hide. Doesn't really matter to me. Probably somewhere between 9-10'
Body size I think might be slightly smaller than the bear I took on the peninsula but I think the skull is bigger. Both are awesome bears. This one will end up as a rug.
Outfitter, guide, pilots, staff at Andrew Air, and the ticket counter ladies at the Kodiak airport were all great. Thank you for another great experience.
took some decent video. Will post the link once I get it finished up.
Outfitter: Scott Mileur
Guide: B. Sternberg
Rifle: .375 RUM shooting 270 gr TSX
Another great hunt. Had this booked since 2013 and it was worth the wait.
Saw 7 bears the first day. Along with a few fox and about 40 mountain goats. Second day we hiked up a ridge to get a good view of another valley we hadn't checked out yet. Rain and snow all morning... Once it cleared up a little we glassed up a set of tracks high up on a mountain across the valley. At the end of the tracks was a big brown lump of something... We watched it for a while and sure enough a big fat head poked up and looked around before laying back down. He was too far to get a really good look but the head and nose looked good enough to get a closer look. The hike up to him was nothing short of a sheep hunt stalk. I couldn't help but remember asking my guide the day before "you guys ever shoot bears way up in the snow?"
Luckily he decided to stay in the same spot for hours and we were able to get a better look. He had dug himself a nice little bed so it was very hard to see how big his body was. So we had to go on head size alone. The wind was good but was swirling now and then. We got up to the snow line and dropped our packs. We were about 250-300 yards away at that point. The rest of the way was almost all open across fresh snow. To get a better shot we had no choice but take a chance and crawl across the open hillside. Luckily his head was pointed away from us and the wind was pretty strong in our favor. At about 200 yards I took a moment and setup my video camera and hit record (more on that later). We crawled to a small rise and got settled in. We were at 150 yards and it would have to do. Popped in my ear plugs and waited for the green light. He raised his head and sort of got up on his front legs. He knew something was up and looked right at us. As soon as I heard "ok shoot him" and I put three shots right in the sweet spot. He was done after the first shot but no reason to save ammo on a beast of this size. Second shot I forgot how to hold a rifle and got a little smooch on the forehead by the scope. Thank god I had plastic scope covers on.
So after a hell of a climb and a perfect stalk, there lay my Kodiak brown bear. Excellent hide and a big ol head. Once we got him out of his bed we saw that he was definitely in the "big" range. I already shot a nice bear years before so a nice bear with a good hide was what I was hoping for. I was very happy.
The work now was really about to begin.
Shot him about 3 pm. Finished skinning him out at about 6pm. We had about 3 miles to go to get back to the boat. Including a very steep descent of about 1000 feet. It took me about 20 minutes to go the first 30 yards. The snow was about waist deep and I'd go all the way in with each step. The snow also happened to be the perfect consistency to lock my boot in each time. Making it impossible to pull it back out without a lot of digging. Talk about a miserable hopeless feeling... Dragging the packs was slightly more productive so that's how we were able to finally make it off the snow. By the time we made it off the mountain we were exhausted and soaked from sweat and rain. We had to make a choice. Stay out in the field all night or drop the packs and bust our asses to get to the boat before it was dark dark. I had already had to spend the night in the field packing out a bear years before and I did not want to go 2 for 2. So we dropped the bulk of the load and made it to the boat with just enough light to make it back to camp. We made the right choice because it rained heavy all night. Entire next day was spent going back and packing everything out. I can't remember being more sore. My legs are still recovering.
Sheep hunt for the price of a bear hunt
* for the record. I am right up against him and have my hand right behind his hump.
Not sure on the size of the hide. Doesn't really matter to me. Probably somewhere between 9-10'
Body size I think might be slightly smaller than the bear I took on the peninsula but I think the skull is bigger. Both are awesome bears. This one will end up as a rug.
Outfitter, guide, pilots, staff at Andrew Air, and the ticket counter ladies at the Kodiak airport were all great. Thank you for another great experience.
took some decent video. Will post the link once I get it finished up.
