USA: Help On A Black Bear Hunt Prince Of Wales Island Alaska

[Jfet]

I got an email today from the Alaskan Fish and Game Department. It informed me that I had drawn a nonresident self guided black bear tag for the Prince of Wales Island in South East Alaska. The hunt will be for the spring of 2020. Yep, need some advice, tips, and other useful thoughts. I have know idea what's about to happen. I wonder if Christopher Columbus felt this way right before he sailed. This will be a true voyage of discovery.

 

[Mike B]

I don’t have any helpful info, but congrats and have a great adventure!

 

[stug]

Randy Newberg has done some videos on self-guided bear hunting in SE Alaska.
This is part 1 of 7

This one is about packing and planning

 

[Jfet]

Randy Newberg has done some videos on self-guided bear hunting in SE Alaska.
This is part 1 of 7

This one is about packing and planning

Randy Newberg is how I got started down this path. He does an amazing job on sharing his knowledge on how to do these type of hunts. Thanks for the links.

 

[BnC 04]

Congrats on the spring draw. PM sent.

 

[Ryan]

Personally I lose no sleep over bears but I have a friend that does a bowhunt down there most springs, let me see if he will divulge anything of use.
Offhand I'd look into the Alaska Marine Highway System to take the ferry up there from the lower 48. Get good rain gear and if you use a firearm go with stainless and synthetic, POW is wet. Do your research on state, fed and native lands. End up on the wrong one and things can get complicated fast.

 

[ack]

Call local biologist and warden in Ketchikan and a float plane outfit there....Like the guy said ,use stainless and good rain gear..No down..Use to be a lodge there that rented cars...

 

[Milo]

Get in touch with Mike Warner at Coffman Cove Adventures. Lodge with everything you need for self guided black bear. Very reasonable price, truck, boats, great food and amazing hosts (says so on his website). It will be a great time.
.

 

[BWH]

Kurt Whitehead with Treasure Hunter. He is a bear & fishing guide out of Klawock, AK. He & Trina are great.

 

[Ryan]

My friend says look up McFarland's Floatel. They rent trucks, skiffs, and cabins.
http://www.mcfarlandsfloatel.com
Good luck!

 

[Ridgewalker]

I’d take a rifle big enough for brown bear defense.

 

[Milo]

I’d take a rifle big enough for brown bear defense.

No brown bears on POW

 

[Ridgewalker]

No brown bears on POW

Oops, thought I read an outfitters website that offered both black and brown bear hunts there. I must have misread it, or misinterpreted where it was. Sorry...my bad!

 

[BnC 04]

Oops, thought I read an outfitters website that offered both black and brown bear hunts there. I must have misread it, or misinterpreted where it was. Sorry...my bad!

Several of the islands North and Northeast of POW have browns. Probably a matter or time and coincidence one takes a wrong turn during a morning swim and ends up on POW. Kuiu never had them "supposedly" nor did I see any sign when I hunted the island but I see they are there now.
Lots of the outfitters that hunt POW blackies have lots of close options for brownies as well.

 

[Milo]

Oops, thought I read an outfitters website that offered both black and brown bear hunts there. I must have misread it, or misinterpreted where it was. Sorry...my bad!

The islands and mainland near POW have some good brown bear hunting and outfitters sell hunts for those. Might be a matter of time before they get to POW too, hopefully not. Good luck.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Plenty of outfits that rent space on their boats with skiffs to get you to shore to hunt. Surly the way I would hunt POW. What a great hunt you have ahead!

 

[WAB]

I ran a boat out of Valdez for years. Prince William Sound is not Prince of Wales but a few things I would do based on my experience:
1) as stated previously, get ahold of local fish and game. Ask specifically:
- what is the typical peak week for spring bear activity. In PWS this is the week of May 10. I suspect it is earlier in POW.
- when do bears typically begin to rub. Nothing worse than stalking in on a great bear and finding out his hide is ruined.
- this will be a spot and stalk hunt. Find out what the level of beach activity of bears is. Are you better off land or water based for your spotting?
- this is a huge island. Find out what areas are recommended for quality trophies and low hunter pressure.
- ask for recommendations for a cabin. There will be forestry service and private cabins available. If you need to be waterborne, find one that also offers a skiff for use. I would NOT camp. I have done a Bunch of it. If you are not extremely well equipped and capable at camping in a cold wet environment you will be miserable. Coming back near hypothermic to a nice warm cabin vs a cold tent is a game changer.
- get the topo maps of the area you intend to hunt and study them.
- take a gps, a backup gps and a compass.
- find out about comms. Cell will certainly not work. Portable marine or sat are a good idea.
- if waterborne have a plan for the loss of your boat. We kept a zodiac and go bag ready when running the coast.
- If waterborne, study the tides and understand how to work with them. I once had a guy motor past me in a cove in the middle of the night. When we got up in the morning his 30’ boat was on its side 300 yards from the water. Apparently he had not heard of spring tides or taken a glance at the tide tables. Greenhorn.
- if waterborne, understand basic outboard maintenance and have two fuel tanks and lines. Ensure you have at least basic tools.

That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. Get local knowledge! This could be the trip of a lifetime or a nightmare. Preparation will determine which.

 

[Milo]

WAB has great advice.
I second the opinion on NOT camping. You could try to do it on the cheap but by the time you ship gear, rent truck or rent boat, you can stay at a lodge offering self guided hunts for little more. I recommended Coveman Cove Adventures (Prime Rib is on the menu) but there are others that have similar packages and I'm sure they do well. I have spent a crazy amount of time cold and wet in a tent in Alaska, but POW is not where I would choose to do that. There is no reason to.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

WAB has great advice.
I second the opinion on NOT camping. You could try to do it on the cheap but by the time you ship gear, rent truck or rent boat, you can stay at a lodge offering self guided hunts for little more. I recommended Coveman Cove Adventures (Prime Rib is on the menu) but there are others that have similar packages and I'm sure they do well. I have spent a crazy amount of time cold and wet in a tent in Alaska, but POW is not where I would choose to do that. There is no reason to.

Did you mean "Coffman Cove Adventures?" https://www.coffmancoveak.com/

 

[Milo]

Did you mean "Coffman Cove Adventures?" https://www.coffmancoveak.com/

That's them - Mike and Sarah Warner.

I shouldn't drink and type