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Step 1
Gear up. Hunting the Kodiak requires a good deal of equipment if you're going to be successful. The cold weather of the Kodiak Archipelago, to which Kodiaks are native, makes heavy-weather clothing mandatory. In terms of weapons, the smallest effective caliber that Kodiak hunters use is a .30-.60 rifle with a 180 grain bullet. Considering the weather conditions of Alaska, a waterproof rifle is also a good idea.
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Step 2
Sight in and get your target practice. It's recommended that you sight in on the range and not while you're out hunting. Get lots of practice after you sight in since Kodiaks are not only elusive but also surprisingly fast and nimble for their size. The last thing you want is to miss or just wound a Kodiak and have the animal turn on you as you reload.
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Step 3
Get to Alaska. Your jumping off point for the Kodiak hunt is one of the main cities of Alaska. From there, you can travel by light plane to the Kodiak Archipelago. Your best chances of bagging a big bear are in the spring, when male bears are out in full force. Although the bears are more likely to be rubbed during spring, your chances of finding a bear are greatly increased.
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Step 4
Use a guide. Unless you're a legal resident of Alaska, you need to use a guide to hunt Kodiak. The guided hunting trips are expensive, starting at $10,000 and going up from there. If you happen to be a resident of Alaska, you still need to secure one of the few Kodiak permits issued each year and comply with the strict constraints that govern Kodiak hunting.
