Trip Info & Rates - Alaska Black Bear Hunts

Treasure Hunter Lodge operates fully guided hunting trips for giant coastal black bears out of Klawock, Alaska on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. The outfitting business is run by Kurt Whitehead, a USCG Captain and Master Alaskan Guide (License #211), and Trina Nation, a USCG Captain and licensed assistant guide. Both are members of the Alaska Professional Hunters Association, Safari Club International, and the Boone & Crockett Club.

Prince of Wales Island is the third-largest island in the USA (bigger than Delaware), 135 miles long and 45 miles wide. It's the only major Alaskan hunting destination with no brown or grizzly bears—only coastal black bears, Sitka blacktail deer, and wolves. The island's temperate climate, dense spruce-hemlock-cedar forest, abundant food sources, and 668 miles of rocky shoreline create optimal black bear habitat. There are more record book black bear entries from Prince of Wales than anywhere else in North America.

Bears on Prince of Wales were reclassified by Safari Club International as "Coastal/Island Black Bears" due to their massive size. Hunters regularly take bears weighing over 350 pounds with skulls scoring between 19.5" and 22".

Spring hunts are normally lodge-based but can be boat-based from the Glacier if preferred. Kurt and Trina hunt the first signs of bears around April 10th through May 10th when most bears emerge from dens. Spring hunting involves primarily glassing beaches from the fast boats (Treasure Hunter or Trinity), then returning to the lodge for meals, showers, and comfortable queen-sized beds. The rut makes bears more active and visible. Physically easier than fall hunts due to boat-based spotting rather than hiking creeks.

Fall hunts (August-September) can be lodge-based, boat-based, or tent-based depending on weather and opportunity. Rivers teem with salmon, drawing hungry bears for close encounters. Fall bears are cagey and not rut-crazed, requiring more skill and dedication to harvest. Multiple bear sightings per day are normal. Described as ideal for adventure seekers, bow hunters, and bear enthusiasts—"NOT for the faint of heart."

Glacier - 38' custom fiberglass twin-diesel charter boat with Coast Guard approval. Features include comfortable bunks, full bathroom/shower, large galley with stove and BBQ, satellite radio, two Honda generators, hydraulic anchor winch, and full safety complement (life raft, survival suits, fire extinguishers, AED, carbon monoxide detector).

Treasure Hunter - 26' custom Crozier Craft aluminum welded boat (2015) with single Honda 250hp engine and 15hp kicker. Equipped with state-of-the-art Garmin chart plotter with radar, GPS, depth sounder, Marine VHF radio, Lamiglass and Phenix fishing rods, Shimano reels, and PowerPro/P-Line fishing line.

Trinity - 19' custom Crozier Craft aluminum skiff (2016) with Honda 90hp outboard. Features Garmin GPS, center console steering, forward-facing swivel seats optimized for bear spotting, and full USCG safety equipment.

The lodge sits on Big Salt Lake with panoramic views of water and mountains. Main level features: - Three private bedrooms (two with queen doubles, one queen single) - Full kitchen with gas range, microwave, coffee/tea stations - Dining area seats 10 - Custom tile-floored bathroom with walk-in shower and heated no-fog mirror - In-floor radiant heat throughout - Master suite (Captain's Quarters) on upper level

Outdoor amenities include wrap-around waterside deck with lounge chairs, fish cleaning station where Kurt fillets daily catch while bald eagles watch, boat launch for kayaks and small skiffs, and a 6-foot custom stainless steel fire pit ("Trina's Pyromania Activity Center") for evening gatherings.

Attached garage houses fish processing with state-of-the-art Multi-Vac vacuum sealer and three freezers (two chest, one upright). Summer yard produces blueberries, huckleberries, and salmonberries used in Trina's cooking.

Kurt Whitehead grew up in Kalispell, Montana, played football for the Wyoming Cowboys (1989-1993, co-captain 1993), graduated with a Business Administration degree. Started guiding float fishing trips in Alaska in 1995, full-time guiding beginning 1996. Has guided brown bears, grizzlies, black bears, mountain goats, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, deer, wolf, and waterfowl across Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Africa, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and New Zealand. Established guiding business in 2004. Holds USCG Master 100 Ton Captain's License, FAA Commercial Pilot's License, and Master Guide/Outfitter License #211.

Trina Nation grew up in Carbon County, Wyoming, graduated University of Wyoming (1997) with degrees in General Biology and Fish & Wildlife Management. Daughter of long-time Wyoming hunting guide Bill Nation. Moved to Alaska full-time in 2007. Has personally harvested reindeer, Sitka blacktail deer, coastal black bear, mountain goat, common grizzly, and Alaska Yukon moose. Served two seasons as deckhand and wildlife spotter on a Sitka wildlife watching tour boat. Holds USCG Master 100 Ton Captain's License, Alaska Assistant Hunting Guide license, and Alaska Fishing Guide license. Excellent cook and wildlife spotter. On the boats since 2007.

• •First-class lodge or Glacier accommodations
• •Fully guided hunting every day (1-on-1 unless arranged otherwise)
• •All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks and drinks
• •Butchering, skinning, and processing of bear hide/skull
• •Airport transfers
• •All USDA Forest Service permits

Not included: licenses, tags, taxes, gratuities, or travel to Klawock.

Klawock is 52 miles west of Ketchikan, AK. Most clients fly Seattle → Ketchikan on Alaska Airlines (direct, 625 miles northwest), then Ketchikan → Klawock on Island Air. Total travel time from Seattle: approximately 3 hours.

• •Phone: 907.738.5000

• •Mailing Address: PO Box 388, Klawock, AK 99925

• •Deposit: $3,500 per person required to hold a trip. All payments non-refundable. Accepted: check, cashier's check, or cash.

• •Specialty Services: Also offer Sitka blacktail deer hunts, sea duck hunts, and Alaska fishing trips (halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon).