Bear hunting, in my opinion, is the most diverse kind of big game hunting because every hunt is so diferent than the next. From spot and stalk, baiting, or hound hunting, to the incredibly vast types of terrain that black bears live in, no two hunts are the same—that’s why I’m always open to new bear hunting adventures. 

Prince Of Wales, Alaska is a bear hunter’s paradise. Until this past year, I had only dreamed of the thick, green rainforest that blankets most of the relatively desolate island. I have been blessed to hunt black bears in Alaska before, in Petersburg and on the Yukon Flats near the Arctic Circle, but never on POW island. Known for its pumpkin-headed black bears, POW is also home to wolves, sitka blacktail deer, flying squirrels, and not-so-cute banana slugs. And while the land-based wildlife is incredible, the bays and inlets are brimming with frequent sightings of humpback whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals, and sea lions. I had heard stories over the years of exciting bear hunts on the island and I was thrilled when my then-fiance now husband, John Bair, had the idea of applying for black bear tags for the upcoming season. 

We’ve had numerous friends who have gone to POW for hunting and fishing adventures and have stayed at Eagle Lodge near Whale Pass. Eagle Lodge specializes in do-it-yourself style hunts where the hunt is up to you but there’s a nice, relaxing lodge, hot shower, and delicious meal waiting for you after a long day’s hunt. The only mistake we made was putting in separately for the tags and not as a party. As luck would have it, I drew a fall tag and John didn’t. Many people visit Eagle Lodge for the renowned salmon fishing alone, but I’m not sure that was at all consoling until he was actually hauling in huge salmon on the trip. 

The island is only slightly larger than the state of Delaware, but it’s actually the fourth largest island in the United States and has approximately 6,000 residents. Thanks to the logging industry at the turn of the century, POW has a road system but many miles are not paved. In my opinion, that only adds to the adventure. Once we booked the trip for the first week of September, we were advised to fly into Ketchikan and catch the Inner Island Ferry. It operates every day, taking passengers on a beautiful three hour ride from the airport in Ketchikan to a town called Hollis. From there, the fine folks at Eagle Lodge picked us up and we hit the main paved road that cradles the entire island. 

The cabins at Eagle Lodge were nestled into the hillside directly above the beautiful bay that was loaded with starfish, sea urchins, and sea otters. Eagles were soaring overhead, letting out their screams as they searched for spawned out salmon and other sea life. The cool, salty ocean air smelled refreshing and the skies seemed to be whispering the hint of a rainstorm. Big, finger-sized slugs crawled along the wooden staircases that lead from the cabins down to the bay. We dropped oour hunting and camera gear at our cabin and were treated to a delicious dinner at the main lodge that would rival any five star New York restaurant.

On this do-it-yourself style hunt, Eagle Lodge oters each hunting party a vehicle to use during their stay. If you’re hunting in the spring, you can use a ski boat to cruise the shore line in hopes of finding bears scavenging for ocean life. In the fall, most hunters use one of their trucks or SUVs to drive to the numerous creeks and rivers hoping for black bears gorging on the salmon as the pinks and silvers make their way upstream to spawn. 

Unlike any other bear hunt I had been on, this trip offered the luxury of salmon fishing while you hunt. We drove our truck just a few minutes from the lodge every day to various river locations that were brimming with salmon. You could see the hundreds, if not thousands, of fish swimming their way upstream to their fateful end. Most looked healthy and alert, darting quickly through the fast moving water, while others we named “zombie fish” sat on the bottom, their bodies white from deterioration and mouths gasping for a few final breaths. 

We slid on our waders, gathered our hunting, fishing, and camera gear, and walked through the incredibly dense rainforest down to the river’s edge. I remember wondering if the paths we were on were created by fishermen or bears. I later discovered the answer was both. I brought along my Desert Eagle .429 pistol after hearing stories of many bear hunters having close encounters along the creeks and streams. I also had my trusty 28 Nosler in case we couldn’t close the distance. 

Heath, my good buddy and cameraman, is an avid fisherman but he was having the same dilemma I was. Could he be fast enough to put down the fishing pole, go grab the camera, and be prepared if everything went down fast? With the terrain being so thick, it was easy to see how a bear could suddenly appear at the water’s edge, grab a fish, and efficiently disappear into the lush undergrowth of the forest before we could even get a shot off or capture it on film.