Grandpa Mike Loc: Ohio

For the last year, I’ve been a follower of your postings and have learned a lot in the past.

I am in the early planning process for a return trip to Alaska in the summer of 2021. I am purely a hobbiest. I’ve been to Alaska before and shot a bunch of landscape and wildlife. Some of them actually looked pretty good. On this trip one of the main areas I would like to explore and photograph is Kodiak Island. I am looking for recommendations from my fellow UHH members on photo tours on Kodiak.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I haven't been, but I had a relative who did.
There are bears. Big ol buggers. Size and weight of a SUV. They're not afraid. They are sneaky, tho.
There may be hunters. Bears run TO gunshots. They want a free meal, first come first served.
Make sure you have an exit strategy,
Right offshore there's good fishing, but be in a boat. Bears like fish, too.

Cameralark Loc: Torrington, CT

Several years ago I spent a week at the Katmai Wilderness Lodge on Kodiak Island. I was there primarily for Kodiak bear photography. The experience was fantastic and the food was wonderful. The couple that run it are friendly and accommodating. The cabins are rustic. I have no hesitancy about repeating my trip.

slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

Sorry Cameralark, but I believe the bears in Katmai are Brown Bears, the only Kodiak Bears are on Kodiak Island across the Sheilikof Strait. Katmai is a great place to photograph bears, but it is not on Kodiak Island.
Steve

crapshooter Loc: Fox, Alaska

You must of been LOST

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

Kenai, Katmai, Kodiak .... too much Russian vodka leads to konfusion.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

I have been to Kodiak twice. The first time, we booked a week-long tour with Adventure Kodiak and spent a week taking pictures of Kodiak Bears. We spent the entire week around Afognak Island, which is the second largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago. The bears there were protected and quite tolerant of people. We were able to approach within 30 feet of groups of sows with cubs. I will stress, however, our guide had 13 years experience guiding for National Geographic Lodge, and our trip was prior to the ocean heating up to the current temperatures (which may have disturbed the salmon runs which would potentially disrupt the food supply and perhaps make the bears aggressive). We stayed around Afognak because we had a plentiful supply of bears, while other captains were calling around saying that they were striking out and wanted to know where there were any bears.

Our second trip was unsuccessful. The temperature was in the 30s with wind and driving rain the entire time. In addition, we managed to arrive between salmon runs, so the bears were inland eating berries instead of dining on salmon.

Grandpa Mike Loc: Ohio

Thank you, I’ll check into this area as well.

Grandpa Mike Loc: Ohio

Thank you very much, you bring up a great point - the timing of this trip will be very important.