Deer Hunting | Hunt Kodiak Raspberry Island Remote Lodge

Sitka Black-Tailed Deer Hunting

at Kodiak Raspberry Island Remote Lodge is defined by our remote location within the Kodiak Island Archipelago — steep, roadless terrain accessed by boat and earned on foot — balanced each evening by the comfort of returning to a warm lodge, a good meal, a hot shower, and a well-earned night’s rest.

Raspberry Island, with direct boat access to nearby Afognak Island, supports a healthy and huntable population of Sitka black-tailed deer in steep coastal habitat shaped by the North Pacific. Mountains rise directly from sea level to over 2,000 feet, covered in dense Sitka spruce, alder, salmonberry, and open alpine ridge lines.

Trails into deer and elk country are largely their own — narrow, overgrown, and steep. Success varies and depends on the ability of the unguided hunter, prevailing weather, and the daily location of animals. Glassing across folds in the mountain, moving quietly through spruce and alder, and understanding how deer use this terrain are central to the experience.

We host Sitka black-tailed deer hunters from late September through December. Early season often finds deer at higher elevations. As temperatures drop and snow accumulates, movement shifts toward mid-elevation forest and, at times, shoreline habitat. Seasonal patterns are influenced by weather rather than calendar alone.

Many who hunt here return year after year, drawn back to familiar mountains and the quiet satisfaction of earning an animal in truly wild country.

SITKA BLACK-TAILED DEER HUNTING – FAQ

Deer hunting here is physically demanding. Every hunt begins at sea level and may require climbing steep slopes through alder, salmonberry, and spruce forest to elevations approaching 2,000 feet. Success is often related to a hunter’s ability to move steadily through uneven, wet, and difficult terrain.

Our deer hunts are conducted as unguided daily drop-off and pickup hunts. Each morning, we transport hunters by boat to selected locations based on weather and hunter preference. Pickup occurs at a predetermined time or by VHF coordination if necessary.

Late September through late October generally favors higher-elevation hunting and spot-and-stalk strategies. The table fare is tremendous. The rut typically begins in early November, with a second rut occurring in mid-November. As snow may accumulate and temperatures may drop later in November, deer movement may shift lower toward mid-elevation forest or shoreline habitat.

In accordance with Alaska’s wanton waste regulations, hunters are responsible for packing out all required meat and hanging it in our on-site meat house to cool and age. You may use our equipment to butcher your animal yourself, ship the meat to a processor, or, if properly handled in the field, donate it to the lodge.

Yes. Sitka black-tailed deer hunts may be combined with Roosevelt elk and/or sea duck hunting, depending on tag structure, season dates, and availability. We also offer our Fish Hunt Combo trip during the third week in September.