Need recomendations for Prince of Wales deer hunting

[WoolyRunner]

Hey everybody,

Im starting to plan a deer hunt on Prince of Wales Island. I was hoping to turn to you folks for some help. Ive narrowed down my decision to doing the unguided but furnished hunts (where the outfitter supplies cabin, vehicle, etc). Does anyone have any experience with this? Can you please point me in the right direction?

Thank you

[Ridgerunner]

Tagging , this one is on the list for sure

[WoolyRunner]

Ive already done a search for POW deer hunting on here and I could only find stuff from 2010.

[SWiley]

I'm actually planning a trip with a couple buddies of mine for the 2015 season. We are also looking at unguided but furnished trip. I've done a lot of research and everyone I talk to pointed me towards Thorne Bay Lodge. Here is the link to their website: http://www.thornebaylodge.com/home.html You can pm me if you want more info I've found.

[npaull]

Another place to check out would be Blacktail Bobs Base Camps. Google it.

[runamuk]

I'm actually planning a trip with a couple buddies of mine for the 2015 season. We are also looking at unguided but furnished trip. I've done a lot of research and everyone I talk to pointed me towards Thorne Bay Lodge. Here is the link to their website: http://www.thornebaylodge.com/home.html You can pm me if you want more info I've found.

hmmmm wonder who they are Thorne bay is a tiny place my sisters lived there for a while growing up.  Wonder if my Fairbanks sis knows who it is

[PolarBear]

I've done it from a skiff based out of the fishing lodge that I worked at.  There is plenty of state or timber land where you could DIY.  McKenzie Inlet West of Ketchikan was virtually untouched as far as hunting and was loaded with black bear and deer.  Rent a boat in Ketchikan, take some camping gear and cruise the beaches while you fish and look for critters and spots to hunt.  Just remember that at certain times of the year the tides can fluctuate up to 30 or more feet.

[TheHunt]

I worked in Thorne Bay about 30 years ago.  There were lots of bears as well as deer. 

You should have a ton of fun. 

[cougarbart]

I have done it! Unguided deer and bear combo plus wolf just in case! We rented a truck from a guy in Craig and stayed above laundromat and drove damn near everywhere on the island! Pm me I will answer questions you have!

[WoolyRunner]

Thank you for all of the info. Ive done quite a bit of research and am glad that I used you guys for info.

[cougarbart]

The locals use spotlights all November!lol

[WoolyRunner]

There are wolves on PoW Isle?

[cougarbart]

Yes there's wolves on pow!

[Cat hunter]

Hunted there this fall ( November ) WE took the Alaska ferry Bellingham to Ketchican, then the Inter island ferry to Hollis Rented a pick-up in Hollis. It was waiting for us at the ferry terminal. We stayed in Coffman Cove at Ocean View  R V & Campground  renting the bunkhouse. Five of us went and had a great time.

[grundy53]

I have a few cousins that live there. If you have any questions I could ask one of them. They've lived there their whole lives.

[grundy53]

There are wolves on PoW Isle?

Yes.

[gasman]

I did a DIY bear hunt with Ribka in 2012. Still have the info saved on my comp and I would be happy to share what I learned and found.


Send me a PM if you want and try to answer any questions I can 


Good luck, I dream of going back and hunting some day, wayyyy to much 

[Chesapeake]

I grew up there, go there every year or so, and my folks and sister still live there. I'll be up there in July fishing as well. Hunting opens for non-locals about August 16. There are a few of the "cabin, truck, and skiff" outfits. I've never heard bad about any of them other than guys complaining that they wouldn't provide suggestions on where to hunt. They can't do that. It's a thin line to walk between "outfitting" and "guiding". Driving up and renting a forest service cabin might be better when figuring meat hauling ect. The 12 mile arm cabin is administered by another outfit so don't show on the Tongass NF site. Something to keep in mind.

[jamesfromseattle]

For some reason I thought non-residents in Alaska had to go with an outfitter or guide for big game hunting?

Don't know why I thought that but would love to be wrong about it. If so, sounds like I have another trip to put on the list...

[Katmai Guy]

For some reason I thought non-residents in Alaska had to go with an outfitter or guide for big game hunting?

Don't know why I thought that but would love to be wrong about it. If so, sounds like I have another trip to put on the list...

Only for sheep, goat grizzly/brown bear and I think, musk ox.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Anybody thinking of going guided on POW, Id recommend Johnnie at Muskeg Excursions. I've met him personally and he's a great guy.  He also guides black bear on POW and goats and Brownies in the Misty Fiords.

http://www.muskegexcursions.com/hunting/southeast_alaska_deer_hunting.htm

[Stickerbush]

Tag

[Stickerbush]

Any updates to this trip? This is something I would love to do in a few years

[cem3434]

Tag

[WoolyRunner]

We booked our trip for October. I was lucky enough to get drawn for a black bear. Getting stoked.

[WoolyRunner]

After a loooong wait..the time is nearing for my PoW Adventure. Ill be PMing some of you for last minute trips.

[addicted2hunting]

I am planning on doing this trip in 2 yrs or so... anyone with good info Id love to chat. I was thinking float plane to a NF cabin like Josephine lake but not sure how the logistics with meat would work with 3 guys worth of deer and weight limits on the plane.

[WoolyRunner]

Heres my update. We've seen 47 Deer. All Does. 7 bear. I took a nice 250 lber. I know there are bigger (seen them) but this one had an excellent coat....anyways.. 47 Does. Not 1 single buck....

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Wooley, how high up are you hunting? Early in the year the big bucks will mostly be very high. But about this time of year, they start moving down to get ready for the rut. They start chasing off the spikes and young forkies. Sometimes this time of year I do really good at the 500-1000 or so foot level. If you haven't been finding bucks, change your altitude either up or down. When you start seeing them concentrate on that altitude.  Sitkas migrate up and down by the season and what food sources are available and this time of year by where they are in the pre rut.

[WoolyRunner]

Wooley, how high up are you hunting? Early in the year the big bucks will mostly be very high. But about this time of year, they start moving down to get ready for the rut. They start chasing off the spikes and young forkies. Sometimes this time of year I do really good at the 500-1000 or so foot level. If you haven't been finding bucks, change your altitude either up or down. When you start seeing them concentrate on that altitude.  Sitkas migrate up and down by the season and what food sources are available and this time of year by where they are in the pre rut.

We've been high. We've been low. We've been medium. Now the count is 57 Does. 7 Bear. The only place we havent been is the alpine. And thats only because I donf know how to get there. Today we were around the 1100 level. Saw A LOT of Buck chit. I mean A LOT... bumped 2 Does. That was it. We fly out tomorrow. Then the studying for next year begins. But I think we'll be coming back later in the season. Its rained here on PoW for 6 straight days now.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Ahhh You guys caught the end of Hurricane Oho. I heard Ketchikan got 8 inches of rain one day last week.

In that kind of weather, I like still hunting in the timber with either a carbine with open sights or a shotgun with buckshot. You'll come right up on them in their beds or catch them feeding. They don't hear you or smell you coming. Shooting is close range and sudden.