Kodiak DIY Sitka Black-Tail Deer Hunt (6 day)

Hunting Sitka blacktail deer in Ugak Bay is a self-directed, do-it-yourself hunt. We provide the transportation to and from the coastline, warm lodging, and meals back at the lodge — but the hunt itself belongs entirely to you. All decisions in the field — where to walk, how to move, when to take a shot, and how to pack a deer — are made by the hunter. This is not a guided hunt, and no guiding or direction is provided. Access to the hunting country begins with a landing craft drop-off when tides and weather allow. The terrain rises fast from the shoreline — ridges, benches, muskeg basins, alpine bowls, and alder-drawn valleys. Kodiak doesn’t offer neat routes or marked trails. The land decides how you move, and the weather decides how the day unfolds. Some days the best ground is high in the open light; other days, the deer hold tight to alder and grass pockets close to sea level. The island teaches patience, awareness, and respect. Before stepping off the boat, we agree on a planned pickup time and general location. Each hunting party carries a Garmin InReach so we can text if timing or conditions change. Kodiak is known for fast-moving weather and shifting seas — a calm bay can build swell in a matter of hours. When conditions change and a beach cannot be landed safely, we do not force the approach. If possible, we move to a more protected bay or sheltered shore where the water lays down and a safe pickup can be made. If the weather closes the water entirely, the hunt doesn’t end — it changes shape. From the lodge, hunters can hike on foot into nearby valleys and ridges that hold deer through weather cycles. The island always decides the pace. We adapt, stay patient, and continue when the water opens again. Sitka blacktails are quiet, deliberate animals — small-bodied, sharp-eyed, and deeply rooted in the land they inhabit. They move like the terrain itself: sometimes hidden in alder shadow, sometimes visible from a long way off, standing still in the open like a patch of hillside until the light shifts and they reveal themselves. Success here is not measured only in harvest. It is measured in how the wind sounds along a ridge, how far your steps took you, and what you learned by moving in real country. This is not fast hunting. This is Kodiak — and the island sets the terms. 6 Day 7-night trip cost per guest: 6 guests - $3425.00 5 guests - $3750.00 4 guests - $4250.00 Dates: Mid-October - December 31 (Prime deer season). Resident hunters are allowed up to three (3) deer.  Bucks only, Aug 1 - Dec 31. Any deer, Oct 1 – Dec 31. Non-resident hunters are allowed one (1) buck, Aug 1 – Dec 31.