Hunt a Kodiak brown bear with Mike Horstman
Kodiak Brown Bear hunt with a Master Guide Mike Horstman is an experience of a lifetime!
KODIAK ISLAND is big bear country, and we have taken record book Kodiak brown bears from this area for the last 30 years. If you have your sights set on a trophy KODIAK BROWN BEAR, your chances are excellent. We average 90% SUCCESS and 100% EFFORT. Hunting Kodiak brown bears is a unique privilege.
Because of the worldwide importance of Kodiak brown bears and the restrictive regulations governing Kodiak brown bear hunts, it is important that you have a Master guide.
Kodiak Guide Service booking form
*Don’t forget to choose hunting dates and a “Kodiak brown bear hunt”- option in the option field!!!
A Kodiak bear hunt overview:
Traditionally, Kodiak Natives (Alutiiqs) hunted Kodiak brown bears for food, clothing and tools. Kodiak brown bear heads were usually left in the field as a sign of respect to the spirit of the Kodiak bears.
Today hunters harvest about 180 Kodiak brown bears each year under tightly controlled regulations. Hunters who are not residents of Alaska must hire a professional guide. Over 70% of the Kodiak brown bears killed by hunters are males. Alaska brown bear hunting on Kodiak is a dream of big game hunters worldwide. Kodiak Guide Service specialises in Kodiak brown bear hunts and Alaska big game hunting adventures.
Kodiak Brown Bear hunt with a Master Guide Mike Horstman is an experience of a lifetime! Mike Horstman has exclusive guide use areas. These areas have the largest brown bear population on Kodiak Island. Check Mike Horstman out on The History Channel’s “The Hunt” and “Mountain Men”. Mike is featured on several seasons.
Mike Horstman distinguishes himself as an ethical, responsible and an experienced Kodiak bear guide with the most effective means of hunting a Kodiak brown bear. He knows where and how to hunt Kodiak brown bears and his record of success at Kodiak bear hunts shows it.
Michael Horstman has over 40 years of professional experience as Alaskan hunting guide and his track records proof it. Although Michael Horstman guides hunters for many Alaskan species, he specialises in Kodiak brown bear hunts.
Kodiak Guide Service phone: 907-942-7738
E-mail: mike@kodiakguideservice.com
Kodiak Guide Service will contact you as soon as possible. No inquiry will go unanswered if you provide us with your contact information. Please understand that we might be out on a hunt and it may take time to respond.
The current price for Kodiak brown bear hunt is $35500.00
10 DAYS OF HUNTING.
YOUR HUNT WILL INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION FROM KODIAK AIRPORTS TO AND FROM THE CAMP. ALL LODGING, MEALS, GUIDES, MEAT AND TROPHY CARE TO THE AIRPORT. FIREARMS, BACKPACKS AND SLEEPING BAGS CAN ALSO BE PROVIDED.
NOT INCLUDED: HUNTING LICENSE AND TAG FEES, COST OF NON-HUNTING COMPANION, FLIGHT TO AND FROM KODIAK ISLAND
Hunts Itinerary
Base Camp
– Once hunters arrive in Alaska, they will be put up in a privately owned lodge, where hunters will be provided with a hot meal and shown to one of the multiple guest cabins where they can store personal items.
– Here we will organize hunters gear, fire rifles if necessary, and ensure all paperwork, licenses, tags, etc. are in place before heading into the field to begin the hunt.
– Depending on weather conditions and arrival times, hunters may then depart directly to spike camp, or spend the night at the lodge
Licenses and Tags
– Hunters should purchase their hunting licenses and required tags online well in advance of their arrival. These can be purchased from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and will be mailed directly to hunters homes prior to their trip. Please
coordinate with me to ensure proper hunting licenses and tags are secured well before your trip date. All information concerning that is here : http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/
Please fill up the licence here and send it ot me : http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.main
Spike Camp
– Spike camps consist of high quality tents known as “Bomb Shelters” designed specifically for use in Alaska’s harsh weather conditions. These tents are equipped with cots, propane cookware/heaters, and plenty of food and fuel for the hunt.
Hunters should bring their own sleeping bag and pad, synthetic sleeping bags are recommended.
– Rafts are available for use, and depending on the hunt location and weather conditions at the time of the hunt, as well as hunter preference, a float style hunt can be conducted. Backpack style hunts are also an option, depending on hunter preference and fitness level.
– Sheep hunts are almost exclusively backpack hunts. Spike camps will consist of two or three man tents with freeze dried food, and lightweight gear and cookware.
Hunters should pack minimal gear and plan to carry all personal items, clothing, and hunting gear.
– Spike camps will be in place and attended before the hunters arrive at base camp.
Hunters will be loaded into light aircraft and flown to the hunting location, which may be anywhere from a 15 minute to a one hour flight away.
– Any special needs or dietary considerations should be arranged with me prior to the hunt to ensure a comfortable camp experience.
– All guides will be equipped with a satellite telephone or comparable communication equipment, and assistance is always a phone call away. Once an animal is harvested, the guide will notify myself or camp staff to retrieve the animal as soon as possible.
– Safety is always my first priority, and inclement weather can cause delays in small aircraft flights, but I will be available for assistance with an aircraft standing by at all times during the hunt.
Hunting Style and Weather
– Hunting style is all spot and stalk method, and hunters should come prepared to spend long days on the spotting hill glassing for trophy animals. Good rain gear and optics are top priority on this hunt.
– Weather during the months of August and September can vary greatly as this time of year marks the changing of the seasons in the Arctic. Hunters should be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions, including cold and wet conditions. Temperatures can range from 25 to 60 °F, and can bring rain, wind, and even snow.
Trophy Care, Export, and Departure
– Trophies will be transported from the field, back to the base camp by myself and camp staff. There they will be cared for and prepared for shipment. Arrangements will then be made to ship trophies to a trophy exportation company in Anchorage, Alaska. From here hunters will be contacted directly by the export company to arrange transporting their trophies to a taxidermist of their choice.
– After returning to the base camp, hunters will be made comfortable and will be able to relax and regale camp staff with tales of the hunt while their departure arrangements are changed as necessary.
State of Alaska License & Tag Fee
License and tag fees are in addition to the cost of the hunt and fees are paid directly to the State of Alaska prior to arrival. Licenses and tags are purchased online at www.adfg.alaska.gov and shipped to hunters at their home address. Please note that a Big Game Locking Tag can be used on a species of equal or lesser value, e.g. a Brown/Grizzly tag can be used on a Moose but not visa versa. In many cases, a free harvest ticket will also be required to accompany your locking tags, I will aid you in selecting the correct tags and harvest tickets for your hunt.
Brown bear, Grizzly bear license fee is $1000 NonResident and $1300 NonResident Alien
Recommended Gear List
Hunting Gear:
– Quality binoculars- You’ll look through these all day!! 8X32 or 10X42 recommended
– Spotting scope w/tripod (optional)
– Rangefinder if desired
– Rifle of appropriate caliber with at least one box of ammo
– Quality sleeping bag rated to at least 10°F (synthetic recommended)
– Sleeping pad
– Bivy sack (recommended for Sheep hunters, optional for Moose/Bear hunters)
– Quality backpack; internal frame or daypack OK for Moose/Bear hunters
– Trekking pole and/or shooting stick (optional, recommended for Sheep hunters)
– Lighter, matches, knife, water bottle Nalgene or equivalent (two for Sheep hunters)
– Headlamp and/or flashlight
– License, tags, harvest tickets, and photo ID (archery certification card if appropriate)
Clothing
– 4-6 pair wool or synthetic socks
– One or two sets of wool or synthetic long underwear (top & bottom)
– Two long sleeve top layers (synthetic shirts/light jacket)
– One mid weight layering jacket
– One synthetic or down insulated jacket or vest
– Wind resistant top & bottom
– High quality rain gear top & bottom-Don’t skimp on these!! I recommend bringing Helly Hansen rubber rain gear to go over any Gore-Tex style rain gear
– Wool or synthetic winter hat
– Waterproof gloves
– High quality hiking boots w/gators; especially important for Sheep hunters! Please break in your footwear (use for at least a month) before your hunt!
– Ankle fit hip boots or Simms Gore Tex wader pants with Simms wading boots for
Moose & Bear hunters (Simms wader pants recommended)
Personal Items
– Toothbrush, sunscreen, required medications, etc.
– Camera, book
– Alcohol/tobacco if desired
– Cashiers checks or cash as required for trophy fees and your guides gratuity
– Positive attitude and desire for success!
Hunt contract for Kodiak bear hunt
Alaska State law (AS 08.54.680 and 12 ACC 75.260) requires a big game Registered Guide-Outfitter to provide a written contract to document services being provided and items for which the client is responsible. A contract shall be delivered to the client within 90 days after receipt of deposit, or before services are provided, whichever is earlier.
Client may only sign contract if the following statement is true. “..My right to obtain or exercise the privileges granted by, a sport fishing, hunting, or trapping license is not suspended or revoked in another state or province.”
Delay of client arriving in the field on schedule or departure of client from field before the contract hunt ends will not result in a refund. All deposits and hunt payments are non refundable. All hunt dates are final unless other arrangements are made with the Registered Guide-Outfitter. Harvest of an animal terminates the hunt and a wounded animal is considered a harvest. The purchase of trip insurance is suggested.
When contacting Kodiak Guide Service please be patient. Most of Kodiak is remote and our access to cell and email service can be very limited. Michael Horstman is happy to answer questions regarding Kodiak Guide Services offers and hunts. Be assured Kodiak Guide Service will respond to your emails and messages. Response time may vary from immediate to a couple hours, few days on up to a week in the event we are in remote camp with no service at all.
Mailing Address:
Kodiak Guide Service
P.O. BOX 8286 Kodiak, AK 99615
PHONE.: +1(907)9427738
E-MAIL: MIKE@KODIAKGUIDESERVICE.COM or NEVACOVE@YAHOO.COM
Kodiak bear general information
Kodiak bears live exclusively on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago and have been isolated from other bears for about 12,000 years. Kodiak bear is the largest bears in the world. Kodiak bears become sexually mature at age 5 and can continue to produce cubs throughout their lives.
Kodiak bears do not defend territories, but they do have traditional areas that they use each year. Because of the rich variety of foods available on Kodiak, bears here have some of the smallest home ranges of any brown bear population.
Kodiak bears are serially monogamous, having one partner at a time, staying together for a couple days or a couple weeks.
