2026 POW Black Bear

[Rowdy99]

Hey guys,

Gearing up to head over to Prince Of Wales with a spring bear tag in my pocket. We will be staying with Coffman Cove from June 6th-14th ish (maybe longer). Very excited to see Alaska for the first time and hopefully have an opportunity at a bear after getting our teeth kicked in Idaho last May! Any gear recommendations/flight and travel tips/ friendly advice would be greatly appreciated for this group of Texans!

Anyone else from rokslide planning on being in the area around that time?

We will have a few females with us that aren't big hunters. Outside of doing some fishing, is there anything that is "must see's" for them while we are hunting?

Thanks guys!

 

[Supercubtrapper]

Getting smoked salmon chowder at The Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan would be a top priority for me.

 

[Rowdy99]

Getting smoked salmon chowder at The Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan would be a top priority for me.

I am glad you mentioned this, we should have a day on each end of the trip in Ketchikan!

 

[Coveyleader]

Depending on how you’re getting there, the large cardboard fish boxes are your friend. The cardboard color, not the white ones. They are compact and will fit a 7+ foot bear hide if you happen to shoot a big one.

Halibut will be close to shore, and I would much rather stuff those boxes with fish and let the eagles dine on that delicious ocean flavored bear. FYI you’re not required to salvage bear meat after June 1. In some cases, the meat is most likely better than the hide in that region.

That time of year you will see baby blacktails laying right in the road. They will look like road kill but they’re alive and well. The bears actually start hunting the roads for them.

 

[Rowdy99]

Depending on how you’re getting there, the large cardboard fish boxes are your friend. The cardboard color, not the white ones. They are compact and will fit a 7+ foot bear hide if you happen to shoot a big one.

Halibut will be close to shore, and I would much rather stuff those boxes with fish and let the eagles dine on that delicious ocean flavored bear. FYI you’re not required to salvage bear meat after June 1. In some cases, the meat is most likely better than the hide in that region.

That time of year you will see baby blacktails laying right in the road. They will look like road kill but they’re alive and well. The bears actually start hunting the roads for them.

Plan on flying into Ketchikan and taking the Ferry over to POW! I appreciate the intel on the fish boxes, that has been a topic of discussion for our group. We did read we aren't required to salvage the meat after June 1. Do you think its worth taking some of the premium cuts just to try? Or will it all be too fishy?

We have a couple fawn distress calls we plan on taking and potentially utilizing. We have a vehicle and a skiff to use. We have been trying to decide which tactic to initially focus on. Riding the beaches or walking/calling closed logging roads.

 

[Coveyleader]

Bears are hit and miss up there. I guess it would really depend on where I shot him but you can alway try, no harm in that. Sometimes they smell "neutral" and I'd say those might be worth it. The farther from the salt, possibly better, but the majority of the the bears there are "fish bears" at some point in the year.

I may be jaded a bit, as I hunted the island right at the time before it blew up, and the last time was 3-4 years ago. As of late, you just don't see bears from the truck like you used to. I remember back in 2001, bears were like deer on a evening drive in the midwest. They were literally everywhere. You would think I'm BSing you to say we would see 15-20 bears a night. It would be interesting to chat with the locals up there price per gallon of gas vs bear seen from the truck.

Like everything, changes happen. I couldn't imagine that place in the 80's and 90s. Some of the old stuff I read, and the same bays we used to explore were noted having a couple B&C bears on the same beach year after year sometimes 2 on the same beach, the same night.

I'd take that skiff all day long, and make sure you can get to remote places with it. I'd also stay away from known guided areas or easy to get to places. You will be disappointed as the bears just don't hang out on the beaches in those areas. Have fun, the saltwater fishing there that time of year can be better than the bear hunting.

 

[wildwilderness]

Bring waders and excellent rain gear. I bet you see bears.

If you are borrowing a skiff I’m sure they will give instructions, and beware the huge tidal changes and currents they create.

POW was my first trip to Alaska with Kodiak second. Loved it so much I ended up moving here!