Believe it or not, Kodiak’s deer season opens August 1.

I’ve been surprised and delighted with the number of deer I’ve seen along the road recently. But I’m also affirming that it’s as difficult as ever to see them once they step off into the tall grass and brush.

How in the world can you find deer in all that vegetation?

That is more than an idle question for first time Kodiak deer hunters. Heck, most of us old timers are still asking it!

When the grass is chin-high on a tall hunter, waist high deer are a special challenge. Moving through Kodiak’s grass and brush is a noisy affair, and you’ll often spook nearby deer without seeing them.

There’s no substitute for time in the hills to learn how to hunt Kodiak, especially early in the season before vegetation abates with the approach of winter.

But rather than leaving you to spend the years needed to really get stealthy in Kodiak’s jungles, I can provide clues and strategies that will help you see deer. Beyond that, I can also help ease your movement from place to place even when you’re not looking for deer.

The first thing to notice is the changing character of Kodiak’s vegetation. The grass may be chin high or over your head in some areas, but barely knee-high in others.

It grows tallest at lower elevations, and especially on well lit, south facing slopes. And the higher you go up a mountainside the shorter the grass. And not only is it shorter on the shadier north facing slopes, but thinner and not nearly as prone to tangle your feet and trip you.

As you move about you’ll also discover that the grass thins right along the ridge tops. You will also find plenty of game trails on ridges, which will further ease your movement.

At lower elevations you can sometimes find easier passage simply by getting out of the grass. The alders get really tall on those same south facing slopes that produce the tall grass. In many cases you can walk upright within them while avoiding the grass altogether.

Moving through the alders can be an advantage when you’re trying to stay out of sight while stalking closer to deer. You still have to spot the seams or open pathways within the tangle of limbs, but the easy routes are there when you look for them.

Another key access route through Kodiak’s grasses, salmonberry bushes and fireweed is timber. Any time you can follow a finger of spruce up a hillside, you’ll find the walking easier.

Why do I keep giving directions for moving uphill?

Two reasons.

For one thing, the deer spend a lot of summer in the high country. Just uphill from the last alders you’ll find yourself in short grass and tundra. Without a doubt you will spend part of your hunting days up there, both for easy travel and for more chances at deer.

But it’s also easier to spot deer in tall grass when you look back downhill at them.

I usually climb about halfway up Kodiak hills, even when I have no intention of hunting the high country. Sure, that puts me halfway to the top if I spot deer above me.

But it also gives me a birds-eye view over all that grassland below. And deer that are invisible from below are in easy view from above.

Just because the deer like the high tundra, don’t get lulled into thinking that’s the only place to find them.

They frequently move downhill into the tall grass and brush overnight, then return to the high country during the day.

Remember my mention of all those game trails on the ridges? Those were probably made by deer in their daily moves between the lowlands and the high tundra.

Are you picking up some clues now?

When you spot deer below you, especially in the early morning, you might not have to stalk closer for a shot. All you have to do is anticipate their route and intercept them as they continue their climb.

That is a key insight if you prefer hunting at short range with handguns, muzzleloaders or archery. When you can’t quietly sneak close to deer, you might as well let them come to you.

In the areas I hunt regularly I know where most trails lead. And I’m especially proud to know where a scattering of trails funnels into one trail. Deer spread over broad areas in the lowlands tend to concentrate in those points as they move uphill, vastly improving odds that they will come within range.

My favorite spots feature nice resting places for me out of sight from a trail junction, but with a clear view of all the trails leading up to it. One in particular brings deer within 20 yards of me, provided I have the patience to sit and the will power to sit still.

But don’t feel that August deer hunting is purely a short range affair! In fact close range is more an exception than a rule, reflecting my preference in hunting methods more than a requirement for successful hunts.

Long range hunting and shooting is, if anything, easier than getting close.

Once you get up onto the ridges above Kodiak’s lowlands you can easily spot deer not only on your own ridge, but on those far away. Then it’s a question of having the range built into your outfit or simply closing the gap between you and the deer.

Key to my long range hunts is a good pair of binoculars. In older hunting stories you’ll see frequent recommendations for 7x binoculars. While those certainly work, I prefer 10x for Kodiak. They make it easier to spot horns in a bucks-only season, plus they greatly help spotting deer partially hidden by vegetation.

Even better for long range is a good spotting scope. In my experience powers greater than 40x are pretty well wasted due to mirage, while powers as low as 20x are a great advantage over binoculars.

Unless you are really experienced at range estimation, a good laser rangefinder is indispensable in this kind of open country, long range hunting. I used to think I was pretty good at range estimation until I finally bought a rangefinder. Now I couldn’t live without it!

My favorite rifle calibers for long range will shoot flat enough to hit right on or higher at 200 yards when sighted in a couple of inches high at 100 yards. A 30-06 with 150 or 165 grain bullets easily meets this criteria, and so do lots of other calibers.

My all time favorites are the 7mm Remington Magnum or 270 Winchester which add markedly to that level of performance however. Many of the newer magnum calibers are even better.

But here’s a final thought for your long range ambitions. How are you going to hold steady for shots when the grass is too high to for prone shooting?

I carry a walking stick and use that as a shooting rest. It helps a lot for offhand shots, but it’s the next best thing to a bench rest if you can manage to sit down for your shot. Even if that means tromping down some of the grass in front of your muzzle.

Kodiak’s August deer hunts are certainly challenging. But they are also among the more unique and enjoyable hunting experiences in the world.

I admit a special affection for Kodiak’s high country. If you have always had a yen for a Dall sheep hunt, but can’t afford one or manage to draw a tag, trophy Sitka blacktail deer on Kodiak provide a great alternative.

Picture yourself high on a mountain lying on a soft cushion of tundra to peer through a spotting scope. A flicker of movement and a rattle of rocks alerts you. Finally you spot them.

A pair of bucks with velvet racks reaching far above their heads moves into view….

Hank Pennington is on our panel of expert outdoor advisors.

For more info on this or any other subject contact the store directly

Thanks

Jesse Glamann