Kodiak Island is truly a special place. Having now hunted Sitka Blacktail on Kodiak on four separate occasions, I wanted to share some of the specific and unique gear lessons I have learned from my adventures on the island.
FIRST, SOME CONTEXT
It is worth noting that all of my personal experiences on Kodiak have been in early November, and that the specific gear lessons and recommendations I am highlighting in this article are for that general time of year. Call it mid-October through November.
In addition to timing, it is also important to know that the context for these recommendations is particularly for a boat-based or lodge-based hunt, where you have the opportunity to return to some comfort, accommodations, and the ability to dry out at night.
Also, these recommendations are primarily for a Sitka Blacktail hunt and not specifically for other big game hunts on Kodiak — most notably Mountain Goats.
If you are hunting Kodiak in a different time of year, or executing a hunt with a different style (alpine backpacking, in-the-field basecamp, etc), or big game other than Sitka Blacktail, then these recommendations may not be completely relevant for you, though I would expect some crossover.
GLOVES (SEVERAL PAIRS)
A recurring theme of hunting Kodiak is that there is often a unique and demanding combination of factors that requires gear to keep you warm, keep you dry, and remain durable when busting through brush and thorns.
That combination of factors creates the need for a combination of gloves...
A TOUGH GLOVE
When hiking from the shore and climbing towards the alpine on Kodiak, you will encounter brush, thorns, and poor footing. You will slip, slide, and instinctively grab for hand-holds. You will push vegetation out of the way to create a path through dense cover. You need a glove that can protect your hands during this portion of your hike, or your hands will pay dearly.
You need a glove to protect your palms, as well as the top side of your hands, such as these Mechanix Gloves or Ironclad Gloves.
A WATERPROOF GLOVE
Even when it isn't actively raining or snowing, Kodiak is often wet. I could explain more about the "why" behind this recommendation, but let me just cut to the point and tell you to buy these Showa Gloves. They are waterproof, comfortable, durable, and inexpensive.
Mark uses the Showa gloves to keep his hands dry and warm while covering country and looking for mature bucks.
They're tough enough to hike in (see above), but since they are waterproof and fleece-lined, you will likely overheat hiking in them in all but the coldest conditions.
These Showa Gloves and one of the "tough gloves" mentioned above will always be in my pack (or on my hands) on a Kodiak hunt.
Also, the Showa gloves are phenomenal for fishing, if that is part of your Kodiak adventure.
AN INSULATED GLOVE
When hunting Kodiak, you often work really hard to get up past the brush line, then slow down to find and hunt deer. After you have worked hard and inevitably sweat to some extent, you're now entering the alpine, where you slow your output and are generally facing cooler temperatures and higher winds.
By November and beyond, there is a good chance that you will need to change to an insulated glove for stationary glassing sessions. A puffy mitt is key if the forecast has the temperatures dipping and the winds climbing for your hunt.
There are many packable insulated mitts on the market, from hunting apparel companies, as well as outdoor and mountaineering companies. Personally, I have had a pair of First Lite Brooks Glassing Mitts for over 5 years now, and they have been fantastic.
CLOTHING & LAYERING STRATEGY
If you are looking for some general advice on clothing and layering strategies for backcountry and mountain hunts, we have already done some great content about that.... here, here, and here.
A snowy, windy day filled with brush-busting while tracking Sitka Blacktail on Kodiak Island.
Let me highlight just a few things that are relevant, but could be easily overlooked, for the specific context of these mid-to-late fall hunts on Kodiak. (Remember, we have already established that you need to try and stay warm, stay dry, and need items that are tough.)
RAIN GEAR
I am torn on recommending rain gear for Kodiak. I mean, yes, you need rain gear. But the specific recommendations are hard to make.
Lighter, breathable rain gear is good for hiking, but is problematic for brush-busting. It may not keep you dry, and you may end up with some tears. (My Sitka Dewpoint would be an example in this category.)
The toughest and most waterproof rain gear is going to be difficult to hike in and pack around. (Think of heavier, non-membrane or "rubber" rain gear.)
The rain gear that is somewhat breathable, relatively light, sufficiently tough, and quite waterproof is going to be very expensive.
If you have, or can afford, good 3- or 4-layer rain gear, then that is going to be your best bet overall. Examples would be the First Lite Omen or the KUIU Yukon TR.
If you are going with something lighter, I would stay on the budget side and know that you are not getting peak performance or ideal durability, but at least you are not investing the most money. I would hesitate to recommend spending good money on lightweight, premium rain gear (such as my aforementioned Sitka Dewpoint) specifically for a Kodiak trip like this, as it may come home with damage.
Of course, the harder you're hunting and the more you're pushing it in the pursuit, the more demands you are making in this gear category.
ADDITIONAL & UNCONVENTIONAL LAYERING
We often only think of rain gear as an over-layer, but it isn't out of the question to use your rain pants as your primary pants, directly over a base layer or "long john" bottom. When Kodiak is cold, wet, and windy, just wearing rain pants over a base layer bottom is an excellent choice. (Yes, I mean, no primary hunting pants worn.)
When not just wearing rain gear, my primary hunting pants for Kodiak tend toward something a bit warmer and tougher than I take on most of my hunts in the Lower 48. The First Lite Sawbuck Pant provides great durability and good water-resistance, but lacks some features (hip vents, pocket layout, etc). On my recent hunt, I tested the new Argali Torex Pants, which were fantastic.
Another thing I do on Kodiak, which I rarely do on any other hunts, is carry an extra mid-layer fleece in my pack. This has saved me several times, after finding myself wet — either from external precip or drenched from inside my outer layer with sweat — after brush-busting, climbing, and then finally making it into the alpine, where I slow down to start hunting. Being damp and moving slowly in the cold can be uncomfortable, if not outright dangerous, and having a truly dry layer to stay warm can help keep you hunting longer and harder. My favorite mid-layer is the Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece.
Finally, puffy pants are a worthwhile consideration that have made some very cold days in the alpine much more tolerable.
FOOTWEAR & TRACTION
I won't spend much time on boots. (Here is a good deep-dive on footwear for hunting if you want more info on this topic.) If you have a pair of hunting boots that work well for you on other mountain or backcountry hunts, bring them.
The most unique demand for footwear on Kodiak isn't the boot itself; it is the fact that you should add traction to your boot.
Mark used his Black Diamond traction spikes to side-hill across an icy slope and get in position to shoot this Kodiak Silver Fox.
Between the steepness of Kodiak's slopes, the thick vegetation, and the commonly wet conditions, I highly recommend carrying and using an external traction device.
Most hunters won't need full-on crampons, but some form of "micro spikes" is essential to have. These devices are light to pack, easy to put on and take off, and provide ample traction for nearly all conditions of a Sitka Blacktail hunt. I have used and benefited from the Original MicroSpikes, the lightweight Black Diamond Distance Spikes, and I am excited to continue testing the new MicroSpikes Ghost.
While we are talking about boots (and have already talked about pants), it is a fitting time to "connect the two" and say that a good pair of waterproof gaiters is a "must" on my list as well. I really like the Peax Storm Castle Gaiters or the Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters.
Finally, on the topic of boots, consider bringing a second pair if you already have them (and have the space to bring them), and/or seeing if your lodge or boat offers boot dryers to use overnight. If not, consider a portable and packable boot dryer, such as the Grakksaw Backcountry Boot Dyer.
RIFLE READINESS
If you are hunting Sitka Blacktail deer with a rifle on Kodiak, be comfortable setting up to shoot from a seated or kneeling position with efficiency and accuracy. Between the terrain and cover (vegetation) of the Island, combined with the speed at which deer tend to show up out of nowhere and then disappear right in front of your eyes, it is not common to be able to find and create a perfect prone position for shot opportunities.
At a minimum, have Quick-Stix on your trekking poles and know how to set up and shoot from them.
While glassing for deer in the brush on the hillside, Mark's rifle rests at the ready on Wiser Precision Quick-StiX.
Additionally, consider carrying a tripod to shoot from, if your rifle system can adapt to it. I carry both Quick-Stix (for quicker kneeling and seated shots) and a tripod (for more stability and security, when time allows) when I hunt on Kodiak.
SEEMINGLY RANDOM RIFLE NOTES
Since we're talking about rifles, let me add a few random rifle-related notes that I have learned from hunting Kodiak...
Bring the shortest suitable rifle you own. Brush-busting with a long rifle should be avoided, if possible. My first rifle hunting experience on Kodiak is what initially pushed me towards a rifle with a folding chassis and a short barrel.
Cover your scope, whether with scope caps or with an external scope cover. Between vegetation and moisture, you want to keep your aiming device clear and clean.
If you set up to glass for bucks, be ready to shoot. As I mentioned previously, these deer seemingly show up out of nowhere and disappear when you blink. Do not sit down and start looking for deer within your effective shooting range unless you either have your rifle set up or have a predetermined plan to set up and shoot efficiently.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Finally, a few additional notes...
Only bring a spotting scope if you really care about the trophy quality of the buck you're after. In general, you don't need to spend long amounts of time behind the glass, and binos are usually suitable to judge a "good" buck that is worthy of pursuing or shooting. And if you're using a riflescope with a higher-end zoom range, that can be used to take a final look at a buck before deciding to shoot.
Image-stabilized binoculars are an excellent choice for this specific hunt. There can be quite a bit of "glassing on the move" from unsupported positions, which is where image-stabilized binoculars like the SIG Zulu 6 excel.
Patrick from Exo Mtn Gear glasses for deer while traversing a windy ridge.
Consider bringing a lightweight, leakproof insulated bottle. When you're wet and cold, a hot coffee (or tea, or cider, or whatever) is a welcome treat. On our trips out of Foxtail Lodge, we typically leave the lodge with hot coffee and enjoy it hours later on the mountain while hunting.
If you are on a group trip where you will be filling multiple tags and packing out multiple bucks over the course of your hunt, consider using a liner, such as a contractor's bag, over your game bags to keep your pack clean when packing meat. On several of our trips, we have been packing meat out day-after-day, and it is nice to be able to keep the pack clean. We use our K4 Dry Bags for this purpose, which you can easily rinse and dry overnight, to be ready for the next day's hunt.
Last, and certainly not least, be aware of bears. While Kodiak's bears are notoriously large, and you should be prepared to encounter one, you do not need to be paranoid. We recommend hunting in pairs or groups, carrying a sidearm, and most importantly, just staying aware. In terms of sidearms, we use 9mm because of its shootability and capacity, loaded with Buffalo Bore, and carried in a Deadfall Design Guardian Chest Plate or an Ivory Holster EMG.
RELATED RESOURCES
- Article & Video: How To Shoot A Rifle With Your Pack & Trekking Poles
- Article & Video: How To Fly With a Rifle (and Gear) For Your Next Hunt
- Podcast: Hunting Kodiak Island for Sitka Blacktail Deer, Part I (2019)
- Podcast: Hunting Kodiak Island for Sitka Blacktail Deer, Part II (2019)
- Podcast: Live from Kodiak (2025)
- Podcast: Our Kodiak Blacktail Hunt, Pt 1 (2021)
- Podcast: Our Kodiak Blacktail Hunt, Pt 2 (2021)
- Podcast: DIY Kodiak Adventure — A Listener Story
- Podcast: Questions with a Kodiak Guide
Mark Huelsing is the host of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast and works at Exo Mtn Gear — though he's never been able to figure out his job title. Connect with Mark by sending him an email (mark at exomtngear.com) or DM @MarkTheFark on Instagram.