Goat success on Kodiak

[AK Troutbum]

My hunting buddy and myself drew party tags on Kodiak this year and just got back from a successful hunt. We both tagged out with mine being an 8" x 5.5" billy and my buddies being a 8.5" x 5.5" billy. We had great weather for the most part, although the evening that my buddy shot his was blowing very hard with a driving wet snow. While taking pictures with my phone it ended up getting soaked and shut down on me, so I lost all my photos for the entire trip. Needless to say I was pretty bummed but oh well, I still have the memories. Here are a few photos taken with my buddies phone.

[ScottH]

Congrats on the goats. Looks like you had a great hunt!

[alukban]

That sounds like it was an awesome trip! That is beautiful country.

I would love to do a trip like that one day... I would even volunteer to just be camp cook and porter

I am more impressed with the big bore handgun shots I'd love to know what caliber and load you used.

While I'm asking, what was your hunt tactic and how did you get the actual shots?

Also, what was the gear list and how many days were you out?

[AK Troutbum]

The handgun was my buddies and it's a .454 Casull. He had brought a half a dozen rounds of birdshot ammo for it and that's what we were using on the Ptarmigan.
As far as hunting tactic, we were initially flown into a lake at around 1300' elevation and set up our base camp, then headed up into the goat country which was at about 3000' and about 2 miles or so from base camp. Our plan was to spike for as long as we had to until we got our first goat, basically just spot and stalk, then we would pack it back down to base camp and head back up for our second. We had planned for a 12 day hunt, but only ended up being out for six days. Our first day of hunting I shot my billy, and we packed it back down to base camp the next day, and turned around and went back up the mountain. My buddy got his billy on our fifth day of hunting. We were going to stick around and do some deer hunting, the limit is three each, but we decided to head back home and get the meat processed instead.
As far as gear we used, we were both shooting Kimber Montana's his being chambered in .325wsm and mine was a .300wsm. For our base camp we were using a seek outside 12 person tipi and for our spike tents, we were using a seek outside LBO, and a bear paw wilderness designs cuben fiber Pyratent.
For my pack I used a Kifaru DT1, and my buddy used a Mystery Ranch.
For bear protection I brought a Smith & Wesson .500 with a 2 1/2" barrel and my buddy brought his .454 Casull also 2 1/2" barrel.
We both wore Kuiu Vias camo, which works very well in the terrain we have here.
Our sleep systems used were both enlightened equipment quilts and Thermo rest XTherm pads. I also used a ti goat bivy and my buddy used a bear paw wilderness designs bathtub floor.
We are very lucky to have all the hunting opportunities that we have here. If you ever get a chance you should definitely make the trip.
Take care, Greg

[Nathan C]

That's awesome, congrats!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alukban]

Thanks for the detail Greg... sopped it all up!

[AK Troutbum]

Oh, one thing I forgot, Kestrel Knives. I purchased a titanium skinner, and a stainless steel caper earlier this year, and this was my first time using them. They worked great, stayed extremely sharp throughout the cleaning of both goats including splitting lips, turning ears, ect. I am super satisfied with these knives, especially the skinner.

[kevin_t]

I like the Kestrel a lot

[Forager]

OUTSTANDING! Even more so with the proper use of "snake shot" loads for the .45LC. There are few things finer than a fresh grouse breast over a campfire in the mountains, and I can figure that ptarmigan fills in likewise.

Great pics, too.

[Rebel70438]

Awesome post!