In this interview our friend Ansel shares reflections on his epic Alaska Mountain Goat hunt in Kodiak, Alaska. Anyone planning an Alaskan backcountry hunt or mountain goat hunt should read on for some great perspective. Read Ansel’s day-by-day narrative in Part 1 and Part 2.

Training for An ALaskan Mountain Goat Hunt

I was training for a marathon during the whole winter and spring prior to the hunt, so I was not very worried about my cardiovascular fitness, until an unfortunate foot injury that sidelined me for two months. After clearance from my doctor, with approximately 7 weeks to go to the hunt, my hunting partners and I slowly eased me back into loaded pack walks, progressing in length, steepness, and load every outing. I was not exactly where I wanted to be when the hunt came around, but it was as good as I was going to get. 

My hunting partners hiked together and did multiple training outings throughout the spring and summer, increasing fitness and testing gear. They are both dedicated outdoor athletes, with Eric being a survival instructor and mountaineer, and Christophe being a fitness junky and multi-sport athlete. I knew I was going to be the weak link in the chain, but one can only do so much in such a short period of time.

 

Packing for the Hunt

Our main logistical challenge was managing weight. After a gear check, we realized our combined body weight and equipment approached 1,000 pounds. Since the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver’s capacity was limited, we aimed to fly out under 900 pounds to leave room for harvested animals. We removed luxury items like lightweight cots, bulk food, an extra tent, and other non-essentials, bringing our total loaded weight to 883 pounds.

We flew commercially from Anchorage to Kodiak and stayed at a local hotel. Bulky cases and totes were left with the air taxi company. From Trident Seaplane Base, we took a direct flight to our chosen lake. This streamlined our travel and ensured we were prepared for the hunt without excess.

Harvesting a Mountain Goat

Finally being able to harvest the goat was a mixture of elation, frustration, and sorrow. Initially I thought I had missed or wounded the goat I had shot, and was incredibly frustrated with myself. I jumped for joy upon recovering the Billy.

However, the reality of the grueling journey back to camp set in after the initial joy wore off. One never knows just how many emotions they can feel in a day until they put themselves in this situation. Being able to double on mountain goats with my friends is definitely a top hunting moment of my life. 

Future Alaska Hunting Plans

My Midwest hunting roots are in chasing grouse, pheasants, squirrels, ducks, and any other legal small game. This occupied most of my waking fall and winter hours in hundreds of acres of woods and fields surrounding my childhood home. Ironically, I had largely abandoned the pursuit of small game since moving to Alaska. Pursuing large game is the primary focus of many who visit and live here. 

Longing for my small game roots, I recently brought home an 8-week-old labrador retriever puppy named Obi. His training has progressed rapidly and I am once again yearning for the duck marshes and grouse woods, with a new target species also added to the list: Ptarmigan. I am inspired by members of a few dog training groups in the area, and look forward to watching Obi figure out the highs and lows of pursuing gamebirds. Additionally, vacation time will be in short supply next year with multiple weddings to attend in the lower 48 next year (Including one for our very own Hunter!). Being able to hunt the road system with my pup will be much easier than trying to plan a multi-week excursion next year. 

Lessons learned from Kodiak

• • Trust your gut! Sometimes your first instinct is the best plan.

• • Plan extra time for travel on the front and back ends of any remote hunting trip. 

• • When it comes to route finding on Kodiak, the devil you know beats the devil you don’t. 

• • Nature’s cooler (snowfields) works, but keep an eye on the melt, and inquisitive foxes.

• • A good gear repair kit can save a hunt.

• • Even the stinkiest billy can provide surprisingly delicious table farewith proper meat care.

• • Always bring paracord, microspikes, and steak seasoning. 

 

• Ansel’s Alaska Mountain Goat Hunt Part 1
• Ansel’s Alaska Mountain Goat Hunt Part 2
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game