Blacktail Deer on Kodiak? Coast Guard Property Only

[Chicken-Farmer]

I transferred up to Kodiak 3 months ago and have been hunting for deer for the last month.I have hunted Anton Larson out by the Ski chalet, the back side of barometer Mountain on the Burma Loop Road and the beaver pond area out by Bear Valley.
 Today we bushwacked our way up the side of barometer Mountain 500 feet and then skirted the face for about a mile stopping along the way to glass down into the finger canyons below. We saw lots of deer sign but no deer. The climb was interesting to say the least, as we were bushwacking through large patches 6FT tall scrub alder and thick grass up over our heads. It took us 3 hours to make the climb and skirt the mountain face. We then headed over towards beaver lake and bear valley where we saw lots of tracks but still no deer.
 What are we doing wrong? Is Coast Guard property just too heavily hunted?

[Daveinthebush]

I don't know the property or the area.  But if you are busting brush you are probably too noisy and the deer are hearing you well in advance of your pursuit.

On the other hand.  The deer do migrate depending on the snow level.  You can often find all kinds of trails and sign in areas but no deer.  How fresh is the sign?  Are the edges of the deer tracks fresh and sharp? Old deer crap or new deer crap? Does the grass in the area show any signs of being eaten or brush browsed?

Also, in alders and heavy brush, deer soon learn that if they don't move, their safe unless stepped on.

Last time I was out in August the deer were up high on the rocky slopes.

[Dand]

The 4-5 deer I've taken on Kodiak (west side and south end, & Afognak) were all found by sneaking along the OPEN patches between alder thickets and watching for deer to come out in the open.  I did get one that popped up as I walked along the edge of some alders.  I've only hunted there in very late Oct  through Jan and there was no high grass, but I'd think they'd avoid the really high stuff - too easy for bears to grab them.

Yeah bushwhackin alders is a great way to get yourself exhausted while driving yourself nuts.  I try to avoid it.

[Double D]

I haven't hunted whitetail in Alaska, but I have hunted them in the heavy brush of the southern Oregon coast.

Like the others say stay out of the brush.  Take your binoculars.  Look in the brush with the binoculars. Don't look far look close.  Don't look for a whole deer, look for parts of deer; a leg, an nose, a tail, an eye, and ear, a side. .  Look across one draw into another draw, down into the brush, especially if it's exposed to the sun.
 
Walk the trails and look for little openings exposed to the morning or evening sun. Check these openings for deer sign.  If you find sign the next time you come there just stop and watch at the edge of it for a while.

Find the does. They usually stay pretty close to the same area. Check them every day early morning and late evening.  When the rut starts that's where the buck will be. Pay attention to how the does are acting.  they will tellyou with there body language if other deer are around

I have hunted Whitetail, mule deer, and blacktail.  Black tail are the toughest because of their habitat.

[dabigmoose]

Hunting kodiak is a whole different experience in hunting all together
side ways rain,sleet ,snow hard climbs and ya have to go into the brush with the Brown Bears.Also Alaska does not have any whitetail Deer there are black tail only.But once you have found a area that has sign do as
DD and the others recommend do not spread your scent all over the place.
Always be aware of your surroundings as The bears on these islands
tend to stalk the hunter . They have become habituated to hunters
being connected to a deer carcase as a  free meal for the taking.
dabigmoose

[lewdogg21]

The bears ate every last deer.   :-D


My dad fished kodiak for like 5 years so I know a little about what its like.  Best advice has always been given.  I understand your brush is a nastier version of what we have on the Cali/Ore coast.  Stick to open patches and glass for deer.  Then watch your back when your gutting.

[Paul Barnard]

I left Kodiak 5 years ago.  I did almost all my hunting on the road system.  My two best deer came from close to where you are hunting.  I took one on Old Woman the other on Barometer above the lake.  

The trick to Barometer is to take the hiking trail about 2/3 of the way up then walk along the edge opposite of Buskin lake.  It's a pain because you have to side hill, but goot boots give all the ankle support you need.  In a short while you will notice a plateau below you to your left.  You can see deer there, but not often.  The closer you get to the saddle in the mountain where you can walk across and look in the lake, the better.  Just before I crossed over the saddle one time I went slowly over a little peak.  My back was to the airport and this little peak was the last crest before the top edge of the mountain became impassably steep.  There were 14 deer in a small bowl 50 yards from me.  I passed on the largest.  I went through the saddle and glassed the bowl above the lake. saw several, but passed.  If you stand in the saddle facing the lake, there is a rocky peak to your left.  Ease up to that peak and take a look in the direction of Anton Larsen but down into the grassy areas.  You have to be stealthy, because if the deer see you, they will duck in behind the alders and hang tight. To pick back up on my earlier story, I did this and saw two bucks fighting in the distance.  To make a long story short, my buddy took a nice 3x3 and I took an SCI 5x5.  It is strictly a bone-em-out and back pack 'em down proposition.

The bottom line is, before the snow, get as high as you can as early as you can and glass then move.  Continue glassing thoroughly then moving slowly staying as high as possible.  I would always start at the Barometer trailhead at the first available light.  By the time I got to the top, the deer would be up and about feeding.  Same approach for Old Woman.  Don't bother with hunting low until the snow forces the deer down.  One mid August afternoon my wife and I went to the golf course and started glassing Barometer above.  I saw 14 deer.  The side of Barometer you can see from the golf couse is the most productive.   On my first hunt there, I counted 27 deer.  Most were out of range above me.  That's how I came up with the opposite side approach I described above.

When you get ready to fall bear hunt the road system, let me know.  I'll be glad to answer any more questions.  Hope this helps.

Paul Barnard