Spent the last week chasing black bears on Prince of Wales Island with my husband and a friend of ours. I was the loser without a tag this trip. Neither of them got a bear, we came close a few times, but just couldn't make it happen. The weather was just a touch cooler than usual, which seemed to keep the bears from showing. It's a mostly DIY trip, staying at a lodge that provides amazing cabin accommodations, 3 meals, a boat and a vehicle, but you are then on your own to go hunt. There were several other hunters in camp - 2 connected, 1 did not, as well as some hunters who were staying at a forest service cabin, that also didn't connect. It was great to share info with them, and always great to meet some cool folks from around the country.

The amount of wildlife we encountered was just awesome. Tons and tons of blacktails, river otters, sea otters, beaver, black bears, wolves, bald eagles, ridiculous amounts of birds, bugs and mink. One mink got a little too friendly and I thought I was going to have to wrangle the little guy. I was sitting minding my own business eating my PB&J in our moss covered wood edge spot, when I see movement, and at the same time the mink that is now 2' from me, we lock eyes. I gasped, my husband turned and that dang mink jumped right at my leg. He then blew out of there, thankfully.

On the boat one afternoon, we watched a wolf chase a blacktail buck into the water. That buck was swimming for his life, while the wolf just paced the shoreline and eventually ran it up the pass for a mile or so before ducking back into the woods. We saw the most bears from the boat, and had a few opportunities to get the guys on shore to stalk. Between that and covering a lot of ground on the island itself it was hands down one of my favorite trips to date. The perfect combination of DIY, but with the comforts of a nice place to sleep and some good food that I didn't have to prepare. Our home base was Coffman Cove Adventures, and the owners Mike and Sarah were top notch. Got to chat trapping wolves on the island with Mike, as well as mink, which are basically like rats there.

Anyhow, it was a nice break from technology, and the world, and we are already planning to go back, but this time hopefully I'll have the tag. I took a LOT of pictures and video, but here's a few of my favorite pics from the trip.

Nice pics., hope to make Iowa and hear some stories!

Shoulda stopped by for a beer or 5

Looks like some nice country to spend a lot of time in.

Pencil me in for 2027

Sounds like a bold little mink! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us

Just shoot me a message when you get on island air or the IFA