Day 1
Arrived at Kodiak city at 8:30 am where Sam Fejes met us and informed us that we will be heading to camp at 11:30am. We went thru our gear and left anything behind that we will not need in camp. We are flying out in a Havilland Beaver on floats where we are limited on weight. Has we flew across Kodiak Island I noticed that they had a hard winter lots of snow and everything is covered. We landed 3 miles out from Todd and Wills cabin because the ice was still in front of their cabin. They had to hike in with sleds with their gear. Wished them luck and I took off with the pilot to head to my cabin. A
5-minute flight we were circling my cabin. I was looking at the pilot funny because there was no water where he was circling. We come in to land and it was all ice that we landed on with the floats. I was glad to see my two guides waiting for us. Alaska law states that you cannot hunt the same day you fly in case you would spot a bear it would not be a un-ethical hunt. We spent the day in the cabin getting to know each other. By 4pm where we landed are 3500 pound plane it was not safe to walk on the ice any more. First time in 2 days getting to lay down and get some sleep. Hopefully Bryce and Brooke are feeling better.
Day 2
Wind and rain all night. Waiting out the storm in the cabin. The ice turned really black overnight. Coffee is on. We have a really good viewpoint from the cabin to watch for bears so for now we will stay here. 2pm wind has picked up some more rain is still light. The wind on Kodiak seems to never quit blowing. Had a Red Fox come by the cabin looking for scraps. 6pm saw are first bear he is a shooter. He is on the other side of the lake about a four-hour walk. If the lake were still frozen good enough to walk on he would be only a 15-minute walk. Too dangerous to try. The bear went in to the bushes and chased another nice bear out. They had a stand-off for 1 hour and went separate ways. Hopefully we will see the bear earlier tomorrow so we can make our move. We will watch him until dark.
Day 3
We woke up to our surprise that our bear was still in his bed. We load our gear and prepared for a 4 hour hike. The rain came down all night and had no reason to quit now. Winds were between 30 and 40 mph. As we made our way around the lake we noticed the bear was on the move to0. He was heading the same way we were but at the end of the lake there is a huge flat area that is all brush where we will definitely loose him in. Everyone’s pace picked up we needed to beat the bear down and around the lake. The only thing we had going for our selves is that the bear did not know he was in a race. When we made it to the end of the lake it had seemed like we did beat the bear but now as we rounded the corner we lost visual of the bear and where he was going. We decided to climb half way up the mountain so we would have a good view of the bear. No more than getting up the mountain we rounded the corner and we spotted my bear down by the lake. We made our way back down to a little nob where we should have a good view. We got sit up with my .416 on a pack got comfortable and waited. Just like that he rounded the corner coming at us. His head was huge, arms looked like tree trunks as he came at us. He got within 90 yards when I let him have my first shoot of the .416 straight in to his chest. He absorbed the first hit and turned to run away. I chamber another round and shoot him in the back, which was enough to stop and turn him broad side where my 3rd shot found him again thru both lungs. Picture perfect! In true Alaska style freezing rain and 50 mph winds with the snow covered mountains in the background and my Kodiak bear at my feet.This hunt started 7 years ago when my wife Steph booked me the hunt at the SCI show for Larson bay lodge on Kodiak island where I hunted at 3 years later. We hunted for my bear for 10 days with no luck. I left the island knowing that I would be back because the hunt will continue. We rebooked a hunt at the next SCI show with Sam Fejes for two years later. Where I finished my hunt. Kodiak Alaska will always have a special place in my heart. I have never been so cold and wet and climbed so many mountains and when I went to bed every night my muscles screamed with pain. I loved every minute and can’t wait to come back. I miss my family and can’t wait to hold them again. Love you Steph. Without you I would never be able to do these adventures. Thank you
Day 4
Rain and wind again all night. Even getting out of here will be a adventure. We are stuck here until the weather lifts which hopefully will be tomorrow. We will have to pack everything to a open bay about 3 hour hike away when it does clear. Fleshed the bear hide and skull and hung out. Lots of time to think about your family. Tomorrow we are to meet a boat at 12:30 pm to get me to a landing strip.
Day 5
Got up early packed all my gear. Satellite phones aren’t working right away. Finally at 9:30 am we got a call out right before we were going to take off and the island is fogged in. No flights today. Un pack! Buck O. my guide is going to walk out to meet the boat and go to Todd’s camp. Buck O. hasn’t had a bath in 15 days and there is a bath at the other camp. Another 3 hour walk after the boat ride. I decide to stay put I hope Todd is seeing bears! Matt my packer will stay here. Matt is a Minnesota boy to.
Day 6
Meet boat at 3 pm and plane in Aunkitya at 6:30 pm. Just a 3 hour walk in between. Walking in Alaska is kind of different it takes 5 steps to move forward 1 step. 8 pm made it to Kodiak city.
