Hunting Reports

Antonio Adán Plaza

Kodiak´s double trouble

Mountain Range: Kenai Mountains
Area: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Altitude: 1001 - 1500
Organizer: Mudicaza/ Sam Rohrer

Antonio Adán Plaza

Density:
Medium to high. The presence of mountain goats is obvious, with numerous groups of nannies accompanied by kids. The main challenge is locating mature billies, which are far less numerous and much more discreet. The strategy therefore focuses on avoiding groups with kids and trying to locate solitary males or small bachelor groups. They are also very reluctant to even consider taking older nannies without kids from within larger groups.

Terrain:
Although the hunting elevations are not particularly high compared with some of the world’s major mountain hunts, the terrain is demanding. The slopes are extremely steep, with major elevation changes and alpine terrain combined, depending on the season and location, with coastal fjord country.

Distances are enormous and the mountainsides are vast, so much of the difficulty lies not only in the physical effort of walking, but also in locating the animals and then reaching them. There are extensive areas of loose rock, large scree slopes and wide-open terrain with virtually no scrub vegetation to provide shelter or a place to rest.

Tent Camp:
Yes. This is a classic American backpack hunt. You sleep in a tent and move camp whenever the area you are hunting fails to produce animals.

This adds considerably to the physical challenge, as every move means packing up and carrying the tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, clothing and all your personal gear again.

Average Daily Walking Time:
Hunting days are long, usually more than 7–8 hours. On some days, much of the effort involves long approaches and constant climbing and descending; on others, the emphasis is on glassing from elevated positions, spending many hours behind binoculars covering vast expanses of country.

On this hunt, it is important to understand that some days involve many hours of searching and glassing before you even begin the stalk towards an animal.

Accommodation:
The base of operations is located directly on Uganik Bay, in a small and fairly basic cabin camp. It is simple, but perfectly adequate and comfortable as a logistical base for the different activities operated by Rohrer Bear Camp in the area, particularly fishing and bear hunting.

Food:
One of the drawbacks of this style of hunting is having to carry enough food for approximately one week.

Breakfasts and lunches are simple and practical, consisting mainly of oatmeal, snacks, energy bars and chocolate bars. In the evening, freeze-dried meals provide something more substantial after a long day in the mountains.

Water is not a particular concern. The abundance of lakes and small streams means that water can generally be found without difficulty.

PH & Guides:
I was fortunate to hunt with an excellent guide, a 41-year-old former serviceman and highly experienced hunter. From the very beginning, he showed an exceptional willingness to hunt hard and help me with anything I needed.

He was communicative, easy-going and clearly enjoyed every day in the mountains as much as I did. A true mountain enthusiast.

Organisation:
Very good.

The logistics involved in hunting this part of Kodiak are inevitably complex due to the absence of roads and the reliance on boats and aircraft to access certain areas. Once in the mountains, however, the overwhelming feeling is one of complete isolation from civilisation.

Would I Recommend It?
Yes. I would strongly recommend this hunt to anyone looking for an authentic American backpack-hunting experience where every trophy has to be earned.

Mountain goat density is good, although finding a mature billy requires work. The high number of nannies with kids also has a significant influence on how the hunt develops.

The scenery is spectacular, and some sections can be technically demanding, particularly along the ridgelines. Overall, however, it is a hunt within the capabilities of any experienced mountain hunter who arrives in good physical condition.

The biggest challenge is the weight of the backpack, particularly when changing camps and having to carry all the bivouac equipment, clothing, hunting gear and food once again.

Possibility of Combining the Hunt with Other Species:
Yes. I was able to combine the mountain goat hunt with Sitka black-tailed deer, one of the characteristic game species of Alaska and the coastal areas of British Columbia, Canada.

September is not the prime season for hunting Sitka blacktail, but at this time of year both species can be found in the same mountainous areas.

The most popular and easier period for hunting Sitka deer is during the November rut, when they move down to lower elevations and areas closer to the coast in search of milder, more heavily forested country.

During the summer, however, these deer remain mainly at higher elevations, sharing feeding areas with mountain goats. Hunting them in this environment is somewhat reminiscent of stalking mountain roe deer in European ranges, although here everything takes place on an entirely different scale.

Shots:
As is common on many mountain hunts, long-range shots are often necessary because of the vast, open terrain. In this case, however, the stalk on the goat allowed us to get considerably closer.

The mountain goat was taken at 152 metres after a perfect stalk from below.

I took the Sitka black-tailed deer at 404 metres, in much more open and rolling terrain where there was no realistic possibility of getting closer.

Weather:
September brings cool temperatures, with daytime highs of around 15°C and nighttime temperatures that can fall to approximately 3–4°C. The main challenge is not so much the cold itself as the rain, fog and humidity, all of which are common in this environment.

High-quality waterproof clothing is essential. On a multi-day tent-based hunt, the ability to stay dry and properly manage your clothing and equipment is absolutely fundamental.

Equipment Used: