Need help on POW alaska spring bear

[Bearhunter]

Alright guys dont ask for help to much on here, but I have been trying to put together a spring bear hunt for a number of years now on Prince of Wales Island.  I have been following Cameron Hanes hunts for years now, reading all the articles and watching all the shows on the outdoor channel.  I have done a bit of research, lots of cabins to rent and boats,vans, and suburbans.  The hunt I want to do is a from a small boat cruising the fjords and bays, spotting and stocking and also have a couple baits going.  I never can find anyone serious about doing.  Is there anyone on here that has experienced this hunt before that would possibly be interested or some guys that are serious about bears that would like to do a hunt like this.  Were talking pope and young/boone and crocket blackies, melon sized skulls. someones got to have so experience or be interested in putting a trip together with me.  I will be using my bow but am not against hunting with some rifle guys.  I think that this trip is totally doable for 1000-1500.  Im thing around 1100 total round trip.  Thats bivosacking on the beach eating dungees and fish, a week of adventure.  Hunting-Cowboy this has got to be something you could be interested how bout anybody else.  James

[Bearhunter]

Oh ya forgot to mention that I would like to film most of the hunts while up there, Ive got the camera Cannon GL2, just need some partners.

[billythekidrock]

I hunted POW in September of 2006. We stayed in a couple cabins on and near Karta Lake. I was the only one with a bow and the only one not to kill a bear. Which was fine with me. They stunk to high heaven. One was a monster with a 20.5 green score skull that was easily around 500 lbs., one was a 300 plus lbs sow and the other was a dink. I did have a couple ops on small/medium bears, but wished I had brought my own rifle.
Tags, rentals and flight cost $1500 a piece for 4 guys. So I am thinking a two person trip could be almost $2500 each to cover the cost of gas on those little planes. You will need to plan on at least one, if not two nights in Ketchikan and you can get a discount on rooms if you are "weathered in". Promech Air is a great company and they even helped us find a private person to shuttle us by boat when they couldn't fly us in for a second day.
You will fly in on Alaskan air and then from the tarmac you will need to take a ferry to the mainland, yes, the airport is on an island. I don't remember how much the ferry cost but I am sure it was less then $15. Then take a taxi (try to call from home with flight time/numbe and have one ready) to Promech. You can not fly with camp fuel, but you can get it in Ketchikan. I would reccommend Mt House freeze dried and the Jetboil stove with 3 containers of fuel being more than enough. I packed 4 meals a day and came back with a couple extra. You will want a water purifier of some sort as well as some cool aid type drinks to flavor the water. You will probably get wet everyday and you may want to take a small tent to at least dry some clothes, (bring a couple extra cans of stove fuel).

If you get a bear you will need to have it checked by F&G so that will take another day. Your best bet is to get ahold of a Taxidermist in Ketchikan and have him help you with that. Make sure you take his number with you.

Don't buy anything from the jewelry shops as they are owned by the cruise lines which are owned by overseas interests.

What ever you do, do not let them know you are filming with a pro/prosumer camera, you will be required to purchase a permit if you are on state/usfs land. (I got that tip from a pro hunter/filmer from WA)

If you have anymore questions I will try to help.

[washingtonmuley]

Bearhunter,
I did that trip a few years back when I was living in Alaska. We saw some huge bears on the Island. My brother's bear was 19 4/16",Dad's was 19 12/16"(500lbs), and the my buddy shot a smaller boar. That trip was a trip of a life time. We hunted out of a forest service cabin and spent most of our time in the clearcuts.Feel free to pm me if you have some questions.
Good luck

Good luck

[Hunting Cowboy]

I never can find anyone serious about doing.  Is there anyone on here that has experienced this hunt before that would possibly be interested or some guys that are serious about bears that would like to do a hunt like this.  I think that this trip is totally doable for 1000-1500.  Im thing around 1100 total round trip.  Hunting-Cowboy this has got to be something you could be interested how bout anybody else.  James

Hey James.....You are right about one thing, I am interested in hunting bear on POW. I highly doubt Ill be available in the spring when you want to go, though. I haven't done any serious research on the cost of doing this, but I think 1000 -1500 might be a little bit optimistic, but maybe not. I worked on POW in the 80's and our logging camp was just out of Klowock (near Craig) and I can tell you there were a lot of bears up there. I've always wanted to return there to hunt. I kind of had in my mind hunting the clearcuts, but cruising the little bays and inlets sounds awesome.

billythekidrock is right about the airport being on an island. I remember having to ride that little ferry across to Ketchikan and walking down to the end of town and purchasing a sea plane out to POW Island. For a 19-21 year old kid, it was quite and adventure! I also remember how wet it can be. It would be a great trip and I'm looking forward to seeing any others who have done this type of hunt up there! (keep in touch bearhunter)

[bearhunter59]

Mmmmm, got me seriously considering this....just a matter of how many days are we talking, when, and cost.  Also, I think I'd lean more towards staying in a cabin, simply cuz it'd be easier to dry things out at night I believe.  But....I might be persuaded to sleep on the beach.  I have two small, lightweight, 2-man tents we could take.  One to sleep in, one to dry clothes in....just a thought.  Anyways...I'm thinking about it....give me a couple of days to think on it...decide if this 48 yo wants to do it the "Barta-way"....oh yah, I'm a rifle guy too, and that ain't changin'... anytime soon, anyway.  It could be interesting....The Bearhunter and Bearhunter59 POW Bearhunting trip...

[billythekidrock]

If you go the cabin route you will want to pay attention to the timing of your rental. I can not remember how many days ahead you can reserve them online, but I will tell you this, "stay up till midnight the day before and get it done ASAP!".

[actionshooter]

 Thats something I have always wanted to do. I have seen C Hanes vids and read his books. Looks like a blast.
 I would be surprised if it could be done for anywhere around a grand. Fares are way up right now.

[billythekidrock]

Yes, fares are way up right now, but if you booked ahead for spring or even Sept you could get a better deal.  We figured that if we had taken two more guys we could have saved almost $500 each (four of us). One of the biggest costs was the fly in and out of the island and then bumping up to an otter for the extra weight limit. With a couple extra guys that fare/fuel cost would have been alot lower for each of us.

Now keep in mind that our $1500 was only for license/airfare/rental/one night hotel. It did not include the second night in a hotel, eating out, cabs, ferry and trinkets. I think I took $500 cash and came back with better then half.

Four guys, 6 days, major airline, floatplane, rental cabins (we stayed in two different ones) should be able to do it for less then $2,000 each. Now if you only go with two guys and less gear you can charter a smaller float plane and that will save you big time. Just make sure your gear and the hides you bring back are under their weight limit so they don't bump you up to a larger plane.

Some info to get you started.
Promech, lots of good info.
http://www.promechair.com/charters.htm

Some cabin info. This is for Karta Lake, but there are other cabins around the island.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/cabins/pow/kartalk.shtml

[washingtonmuley]

Bearhunter,
What about driving to bellingham or I believe prince george and then jumping on the ferry? You could take your own vehicle and then ferry it from Ketch to POW. I thought about doing that the next time I went back to the Island. I would be interested if the cost was between $1,000 and $1,500.

[actionshooter]

I have also seen websites where you could rent boats, not sure of cost though, probably spendy.

[WDFW-SUX]

Don't buy anything from the jewelry shops as they are owned by the cruise lines which are owned by overseas interests.

They are actually owned by Hunt WA members.

[rougheye]

Im a fishing guide in Juneau and I know that the ferry doesnt save you much money and its another day or two depending on the weather   Also remember the weather is usually very wet and cold    cold being 40   50s   but it feels alot colder when your wet    That being said I shot a nice bear with my bow last year and it was a blast   lots of bears  everywhere

[billythekidrock]

Here are a couple more links:

This lodge rents vehicles..
http://flyquestlodge.com/5.html

Prince of Wales Ultimate CD Guide
http://www.princeofwalesonline.com/cd_ultimateCD.htm

[Bearhunter]

thanks for all the info everyone, Ive pondered wether to do the cabin thing or not, seems that there are alot up there Im just worried about picking the right one, and being stuck in a bad area?  Bearhunter 59 well talk when I get a little more time, thanks for the great info everyone keep it coming, got to go.