Kodiak Blacktails by boat?

[retfed]

My son could still be assigned to Fort Rich. in Anchorage fall of 08 so we are thinking Kodiak for Black tails. I have seen a few trips that are centered on staying aboard a fishing boat and put ashore everyday to hunt. Basically unguided, they drop in twos with a radio.  But $1800 - $2000 is a lot of money for 6 days. I'm coming from Virginia so I have a lot of added transportation cost too.

I've read the couple of posts re the Kodiak road system hunting. Where can I find info on a land based drop off type of hunt. We are both experienced campers and I wonder if we could find an outfitter to do this kind of hunt? Is renting 4 wheelers or a 4x4 for remote camping access an option? The bottom line is we are looking for the most economical Kodiak hunt with the best chances of connecting.

Thanks

JC  retfed

[deltecs]

The small seaport of Whittier is located about 60 road miles south of Anchorage.  There are several charter boats that will drop you off on one of the islands in Prince William Sound and pick you up on a pre determined date.  The cost of these charters is substantially less than the cost of airfare just to get to Kodiak.  Prince William Sound has good deer population and some nice trophies.  These are the same deer as on Kodiak Island.  Once you son gets his transfer, he can research the charter possibilities before you decide.  The next deer hunting season opener traditionally is Aug 1, 2008 for bucks only until 10/1/2008 when it is either sex until 12/31/08.

[A-ALLOY]

the road system is a little crowded and 1 deer only. There are drop off hunts available by boat and plane (any day you take off in a float plane is a good day).Good silver salmon fishing in the fall and lots of ducks also. If your son is a resident by next season he can go for mountain goats (the strangest animal and the chance to suffer a lot of pain I love it). Keep researching, drop offs are good, public use cabins are up in the state park. It does cost a lot but life's short, walk in the woods, climb the mountain,stroll
on the beach, play with the bears!

[retfed]

All good ideas.
We are in the early stages of these plans, but it does take a while.
Yes he will be a military resident and is already looking into goats for next fall, with or without me.
So what is the bear populations on the PW sound islands?
Being an east coast Whitetail hunter I wouldn't worry about a deer hanging for a few days in camp. How do you handle that up there? Say it is a planned 3 day hunt and you harvest a deer early. Can you hang them high enough and far enough away from camp not to be bothered by bears?

JC

[deltecs]

All good ideas.
We are in the early stages of these plans, but it does take a while.
Yes he will be a military resident and is already looking into goats for next fall, with or without me.
So what is the bear populations on the PW sound islands?
Being an east coast Whitetail hunter I wouldn't worry about a deer hanging for a few days in camp. How do you handle that up there? Say it is a planned 3 day hunt and you harvest a deer early. Can you hang them high enough and far enough away from camp not to be bothered by bears?

JC

It depends on where you go hunting.  Most of the deer are near or around large timber so hanging them high is not a problem.  The problem is how far up the tree can you climb to hang the rope over a branch.  And some of those areas have black bear which do climb trees better than we do.