This Started about year ago when I grew big interest, on hunting a mountain goat. After looking for outfitters in bc and Alaska I had decided bc and between 2 outfitters but always talked myself out of it due to trying to be financially smart and timing.

Then doing my normal scrolling on fb pages a last minute cancellation hunt become available on the 27th for Oct 9-16th. I called the outfitters immediately and Called one of my buddies that guides for another outfit and he verified outfitter was legit. So I booked it.

With less than 2 weeks to get gear together plus some Type of hiking shape, the 2 weeks were hectic and fly by.
Also running my own business had to adjust work which was easier said than done, but on the 8th we were Kodiak bound.


Day 1

We flew info base camp by float plane, unloaded gear I wasn’t planning to hike up the mountain and then checked rifle. Lucky rifle was still on so had hot Meal and got ready for next day.

Day 2

We had hot breakfast, then loaded on a skiff and took a 40 min boat ride up the bay to where we would start hiking.
We beached at 9:30 and began. The hike was by far the most difficult thing I’ve done physically. Breaking through the alders and salmon Berry vines was unbearable. After many breaks and 4 hours later me and my guide finished the 3000’ elevation change and 3.5 mile hike to spike camp. After arrival we sent tents up. And then about half mile further up the peak to do little scouting. Found few goats but nothing worth going after. Also so a big brown bear with 2 cubs headed back to camp and went to bed


Day 3
Woke up before daylight made some hot oatmeal. This Texas boy froze it was 6 degrees that morning and iced over. We set up our day packs and went off. We hiked about 1.5 miles back into the bowls and climbed up onto one peak to glass. After getting to the peak we glasses up few Nannie’s with kids and couple young billies but nothing worth going after. We made our way to another sharpe ridge and soon as we reached the top we found a good Billie alone at the top of the mountain crest. After glassing him good we decided he was good one to go after and we dropped out packs and put on our whites to go after. We were about 700 yards away when we spotted him and wanted to cut it to least 350. After dropping below the peak and making our way closer we rose back up and he had bedded down. We got to 320 and I felt comfortable for the shot so we began getting everything set up. We had been dealing with clouds coming in and out all morning, and while getting set up to shoot it came in thinly once again. After about 20 mins the clouds lifted I ranged him with my binos one more time dialed and scope and got ready. My guide told me to shoot
Him until he was out completely to dry and anchor. him we knew he had a good chance and taking hard fall. First shot was great directly through both shoulders hitting all vitals. He then starting kicking and turned directly facing me I reshelled and hit him center of the chest. He then was down completely but unfortunately gained monumental and took the hard fall…… but goat down I was extremely happy. After going to get the rest of our gear we had a hard hike back down the steep shell mountain to get to him. Everything was frozen so I was little nervous. After about 30-40 min we made it to him. He busted some horns on both horns and busted his face up some but for the fall he took wasnt to bad. We took some pics notched my tag and began skinning and cutting him up. It took us about 2.5 hours to get him taken care of and then we made the trek back to spike camp. We got back around 4:30. Unloaded the metal made some pasta with jet boils and went to bed.


Day 4

When we woke up was cold again 9 degrees and frosted over. Made some oatmeal. Packed up camp and started the trek back. Going down wasnt was tough for me surprisingly even though packs were heavier. Took us about 4 hours to get to the beach where someone met us with a skiff. There we made the 40 min boat ride back to base camp. Where we hung up the metal took care of the cape and had a warm dinner. We planned to hunt a Sitka deer the next day. I was excited because it was gonna prolly be the only time I ever had the opportunity.

Day 5

We wake up have warm breakfast. Get day packs ready and head up the mountain. The deer were pretty high right now so we had another 2-2.5 mile hike up the mountain through the brush to get to the ridges where we could glass. It took us about 2 hours to get there, this mountain was little thicker than the mountain we hiked to get to goat country. Once we got to the knolls to glasses we spots does immediately but no bucks. After glass for while we made our way along the ridge and continued to glass. After few hours and several spots to glass i spots the first buck of the day. He was bedded down facing us. After looking at him we decided he was a 2x2 but not exactly what we weee wanting so continued along the ridge. After coming up on couple more knolls we made our way up one and we jumped a decent bucks he wasn’t huge but as we ran off I asked me guide his thoughts. He said decent bucks be hard to beat with weather coming in and them not rutting. For the day we had seen 1 other buck and maybe 15 does and fawns. We had an additional packer today which we wouldnt have the following days so I took that into an account and decided I’d shoot him. He stopped at 230 by time we made decision I wrapped my hand in my slick and took aim. I made a good shot little low but it was pretty steep angle down. He ran about 30 yards and piled up. Made our way to him took pics. Notched tag and began to skink and quarter him. Took us about 2 hours but got him packed up and headed out. We had about 3 mile hike out to the beach. All thick brush off course. Took us about 3 hours but made it back where we got picked up by skiff. Had dinner and called it a day.


Day 6

Slept in, my legs were beat. Had breakfast/lunch then went and caught some small halibut and cod. Came back to have dinner and called it a day.

Day 7

Just started getting my stuff together to float plane out and make trek back to dfw


Overall the trip was an awesome experience, Alaska is something special I’m so glad was able to get on the cancellation hunt. Between the price and experience this hunt will be extremely hard to beat. But I think I maybe creating an addiction because I love it here and already Planned to come back to Kodiak to hunt in 27.

Great job all around Alaska is something everyone needs to experience.

What a fantastic combination hunt young man! Well done. Definitely addicting country.

You did it right.

Sweet!

Well done Sir. I always enjoy the stories that go a long with the pictures. Looks like a majestic place. Congratulations on getting it done.

awesome! Hunting Sitka blacktail ruined me from hunting whitetails here. And they taste pretty stinking amazing as well! Alaska gets in your blood. Are you already planning the next trip?

That's some of the hardest hunting you can do. I did it when I was 32 and in great physical shape and it nearly killed me.
But it is one of my greatest memories. Congratulations.

Great hunt and report, and really tough hunts. Love that goat

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

That's awesome, nice work!

Amazing experience. Way to go. Great report and and thanks for posting all that. Now get back here and hunt deer.

Great job! Alaska is an amazing place, i dont think i will ever hunt there just due to many factors, but sure glad to read stories of folks who do go there and are successful!!

Good write up and congratulations!

What a great experience! Thanks for sharing. Hope to get to AK to hunt at some point.....it's a bucket list item.

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

I've fished in Alaska (salmon and halibut, including a float plane fly-out), but never had the opportunity to hunt. If I was blessed to hunt there, I think I'd have to go after a huge moose.

roughly how much was the cancellation hunt?

Thanks for sharing your experience. I really enjoyed it

Congrats on a nice billy and buck!!! Thanks for sharing your story. A hunt you will always remember.

Thanks y’all it was an awesome trip. For those who asked I do plan to come back in 27 for brown bear it’s on the books, and looking for dall hunt for for 26 but it prolly will be in nwt. For who asked the cancellation hunt was roughly 30% off original cost

Awesome goat and a dang nice deer too! What area of the island did you hunt?
My son is stationed there again and we're going to try to do a goat hunt in 408 at the south end next year.

outstanding adventure

Need to get up there one of these days

Awesome experience!!

Congrats and thanks for sharing your hunt. Certainly nice animals!