Archives: Black Bear

Keegan,
I wanted to thank you for the absolutely fantastic hunting experience you and your guys provided for us on this trip.

I have five beautiful mounts to get done and that is what I hoped for but not sure what the reality would be.

The food was great, you guys were great to hunt with and really went out of the way to help us.

Couldn’t have asked for better weather, I know you can’t fix that but it worked out beautifully.

I will absolutely push your hunting experience for future hunts with my friends.

Again, thank you for a great trip of a lifetime.

John Broussard

My wife says I’m spoiled, and maybe she is right. Every time I have hunted in Alaska I’ve had the pleasure of hunting with Keegan McCarthy. This year was my second time bear hunting with Keegan and it was another great trip.
When you plan the trip of a lifetime and a trip to Alaska is certainly that, you need to feel at ease. Hunting with Keegan and his staff they have your safety and your enjoyment in capable hands. No matter what situations that come up they are more than qualified to handle the challenges of Alaska. I can’t stress how comfortable you feel about your safety in a boat and how qualified they are. I’m not a swimmer and have a fear of the water, but never have I felt more comfortable around water.

That all being said. The trip is the hunt and the accommodations are a bonus.
We had the pleasure of being on the Sikumi this year a first class boat with everything to make your stay very comfortable.
The hunt was an unbelievable experience for me and my friends. Hunting monster black bears in Alaska has been my lifelong dream. I killed a great bear on May 5th 2012 with Keegan. What a fantastic hunting experience. Keegan made my lifelong dream come true. Not only did I kill a great bear, but so did my buddy and the other hunters too.
I’m coming back in the spring of 2014 to hunt black bear with my son.
If you want to hear more about my trip of a lifetime and how much I truly enjoyed my time in S. E. Alaska with Keegan McCarthy and my buddies feel free to contact me for a reference.
My name is Gene Gautreau and I’m from Loveland Colorado. My number is 970-685-0920

In 2008, my buddy Pete and I decided to book a Spring black bear hunt with Keegan in SE Alaskato celebrate our 50th birthdays. I called the fellow that ran Cabela’s Outfitter Service for a recommendation. After telling him what kind of a hunt I was looking for, he suggested I check out Keegan. What a hunt!! We each took a fantastic bear – Pete’s scoring 20-12/16. Keegan and his assistant, Jason, provided us with a perfect adventure. The Tyler II was comfortable, the scenery was majestic, and Keegan’s cooking was outstanding!! Didn’t expect eggs benedict with freshly caught crab for breakfast on a bear hunt. I was so taken with that first experience hunting with Keegan, that I’ve since booked three more hunts with him. He’s become more that a damned good guide to me – he’s become a good friend. Just don’t try to out-walk him!!

Steve Robillard, Suring,WI

Dear Keegan,
I will never forget your words, “Dang it’s a sow and a cub!” as you peered through your binoculars, and equally my husband, Jon, saying, “Look again” as he looked through his binoculars. “It’s a big bore and a sow!” My heart started beating faster, as we realized we were looking at the spectacle of two very large brown bears making love! It was the most unbelievable hunt I have ever had, and I got the brown bear of my dreams thanks to you and Coastal Alaska Adventures on Admiralty Island. He was the second brown bear I saw on the second day of hunting. What a perfect bear he was, at 8’6”, to start out my spring brown and black bear combo hunt in May 2013.
On day four it was Bill Kaltschnee’s turn to guide us on my black bear hunt. We took the skiff to the mainland and found a good one. Could I pull off another perfect shot? The bear was in a little dip devouring grass like a lawn mower. Finally after what seemed like a half hour I got the shot and kaboom! The bear collapsed on the spot. Compared to my brown bear, my black bear looked like a midget but he measured 6’4”. Again, on the second day of black bear hunting.
Outside of the hunting one of the most fun things was dropping crab and shrimp pots or dropping a line in and catching a fish. Nothing beats fresh right out-of-the water seafood prepared by chef Jason Ronimus. We were glad we found Keegan’s booth at SCI, and enjoyed his luxurious 70-foot yacht “Sikumi”.
Alaska is beautiful state and it was wonderful seeing it by boat. We passed lush, thick forests, crystal clear water, and rocky shorelines all teeming with birds and wildlife. Saw hundreds of bald eagles, who were roosting in the trees or swooping down to catch herring. We were entertained by sea otters, seals, and humpback whales.
I can only say the nicest things about Keegan McCarthy and Coastal Alaska Adventures, it was everything I had been promised and I exceeded my own expectations with two huge trophy bears. Truly an Alaskan Bear Bonanza.

Best wishes,
Siri

I think it would be very easy to say that a big part of my heart lives in Alaska; its beauty and size never ceases to amaze me. I even worked there during summer break from professional school. Lets put it this way I want to be buried there.

I have had some very disappointing experiences in Alaska with a sub-standard guide but this was not true with Keegan McCarthy. I have had the pleasure of hunting for big black bears in Alaska twice with Keegan. During the first trip the weather did not cooperate with the hunt at all. This in turn made Keegan try even harder to get us a bear. I was impressed with his tenacity but yet calm demeanor.

The second trip we had the pleasure of staying on the Sikumi, which was a first class experience from the beautiful staterooms to the excellent cuisine. I was also impressed with the friendliness and class of the crew and guides. I could have tried a different outfitter but I was really impressed with Keegan and his crew and wanted to “stay with a sure thing”. Boy was I glad that I did, I got my “pumpkin head” and a set of gnarly teeth. I think that anyone would enjoy the “full Alaskan experience with Coastal Alaskan Adventures.

Please call me if you have any further questions. 303-829-6273

Jeff Marlatt
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

I first met Keegan when he was an assistant guide for Scott Newman while on an Alaskan Brown bear hunt back in the middle 90’s. Since then I have been on 3 separate hunting adventures with Keegen in one of my favorite places on earth, the Pacific Northwest.

When Keegan became a master guide and outfitter my brother Scott and I booked a hunt with Keegan for Spring Black Bear. All of my expectations of Keegan as an Alaskan Guide were met. Not only was he very knowledgeable of his hunting area and the numerous black bear he guided us to, but the waters of Alaska can be treacherous and although young in age his experience as a boat captain helps assure that your trip will be as safe and pleasurable as possible. Keegan, his wife Chelsea and staff soon became good friends.

I then joined Keegan on 2 separate Sitka Black tail hunts. One was an archery hunt and one was a rifle hunt. Both were for 2 separate outdoor television programs I produced. The one thing I have learned after 30 years as a wildlife producer is to do as much homework as possible in finding the best place to document and hunt a particular species.

I didn’t hesitate to give Keegan a call. There was a tremendous amount of game to pursue and I can’t even count the number of beautiful Sitka Black tails that we harvested with both bow and rifle not to mention the incredible Sea Duck hunting we experienced. And there is nothing better then after a long day of hunting to return to a full pot of Dungeness crabs to feast on back at the warm floating lodge.

What can I say besides the fact that Keegen is a very respected and reputable guide who will go to extremes to make sure you experience a hunt of a lifetime? As long as I am alive I will yearn to hunt with Keegen and Coastal Alaska Adventures. You owe it to yourself to experience this true Alaskan adventure at least once in your lifetime.

Tim Gauthier, Michigan

Having hunted on 5 continents and over 60 safaris Ocean Point Alaska and more importantly Keegan McCarthy offers a excellent experience with quality trophies , explicit scenery and excellent customer service . The uniqueness from hunting from a boat is you see new country almost every day which gives one an excellent perspective of the country and trophy quality. Another great mention is the opportunity to fish, crab and shrimp during the down times . The customer service is great and Keegan is a very likeable Guide with great knowledge of the area.

I hunted with Keegan in 2010 and again in 2013.

Robert Bo Carter

2011 Spring Black Bear Hunt.

What a Dream Hunt! Everyone in our group filled their tag and the food and camaraderie was awesome. Our Bears were incredible and Keegan works really hard to make your hunt the best it can be. The fact that they are great people to be around is a bonus. Cant wait to go back!

John Coler

My priorities for a hunt are: Legal, Safe, Fun and the opportunity to harvest a quality trophy. Keegan and team hit the mark on all accounts. I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in SE Alaska Black Bear.

John Eicher

The 2011 spot and stalk spring black bear hunt with Keegan McCarthy along coastal Alaska was a great father son adventure for my son and I. We seen lots of game including whales, seals, moose, wolves, eagles, otters and lots of black bears. Keegan was very patient with me when I passed up a very nice brown colored black bear because I wanted a black colored black bear. We both got seven foot bears with 19 inch skulls and very nice pelts. My son I would give Keegan an A+ for the great food, equipment and bear hunt.

Dennis and Travis Erickson