Black Bear Coopers Landing, Alaska Sept. 17-25

[alaskabound]

My dad, 2 brothers and I are coming up to Alaska September 17-25. We rented a forest service cabin on Juneau Lake, north of Coopers Landing. We will be doing some fishing and at least two of us will have bear tags. We did a similar trip about 6 years ago to Upper Russian Lake so we are aware of the terrain and plethora of grizzlies and we will take the necessary precautions. I've got a couple questions though:

• From what I've been able to find, it seems like there is a healthy population of black bears in the area. Can anyone back this up? Most of my info comes from the Palmer Creek Road area south of Hope but I would imagine this area would be similar considering the proximity.
• I know our dates are a little late but it's what we had to work with. How late are we?
• I know this area is pretty dense with grizzlies. That being said I would like to spike out, especially if I lay eyes on a bear late or get up into an area with a lot of sign. Is there anything specific I should look for in a spot to set up for the night? My intuition tells me I'm safer above the tree line in a fairly open area. Am I off base here?
• I'm not big into fishing, I'm just planning on bringing a handful of spinners. Any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Arctic_Beaver]

I've stayed at this cabin, and mountain biked and hiked the Resurrection trail quite a few times. I've also hunted in nearby areas often. Your dates are great for Black Bear, I don't think you'll be late. There might be some termination dust falling toward the tops of the mountains at that time. There will still be blueberries up high, that the black bears will feeding on. Generally speaking, you are likely to glass black bears up higher above treeline feeding on blueberries. Brown bears will tend to hang lower in the thick stuff. I believe some salmon still make it up to Juneau Lake to spawn.

If it were me, I might take the row boat out on the lake early in the morning or evening and glass both sides of the mountain faces for bears to see which side has more activity or better access through alders. Or you could commit to just going for one and getting above the alders and then glass. If you wanted to spike out, you're kind of committing to getting above the brush and then finding a spot flat enough, which will be likely be up high and most likely exposed FYI.

 

[alaskabound]

I've stayed at this cabin, and mountain biked and hiked the Resurrection trail quite a few times. I've also hunted in nearby areas often. Your dates are great for Black Bear, I don't think you'll be late. There might be some termination dust falling toward the tops of the mountains at that time. There will still be blueberries up high, that the black bears will feeding on. Generally speaking, you are likely to glass black bears up higher above treeline feeding on blueberries. Brown bears will tend to hang lower in the thick stuff. I believe some salmon still make it up to Juneau Lake to spawn.

If it were me, I might take the row boat out on the lake early in the morning or evening and glass both sides of the mountain faces for bears to see which side has more activity or better access through alders. Or you could commit to just going for one and getting above the alders and then glass. If you wanted to spike out, you're kind of committing to getting above the brush and then finding a spot flat enough, which will be likely be up high and most likely exposed FYI.

Thanks for the info, I really do appreciate it. My original plan was to commit to one side or the other (east or west) but I like your plan better. I'll definitely take a day to glass from the lake and come up with a plan of attack.

 

[Sourdough]

Those dates are near perfect. I have bears still in my yard into mid October, and sometimes Brown Bears into mid November. You "might" get a few inches of snow. Palmer Creek is my backyard. And has been for most of the last five plus decades.

I prefer the Juneau Lake country to the Upper Russian Lake country for bear hunting, about equal in bear population, but open hillsides are easier for spotting. Unless your choosy on the size of bear, I would not bother with spotting scope.

To get an accurate feel for the expected weather just before your departure........monitor the 511 Alaska highway weather cameras, especially Summit Lake, camera on the Seward Hwy. it will be more relevant then the Cooper Landing camera, because it is at the same elevation you will be camped. And actually not very far away, as the magpie flies.

 

[alaskabound]

Those dates are near perfect. I have bears still in my yard into mid October, and sometimes Brown Bears into mid November. You "might" get a few inches of snow. Palmer Creek is my backyard. And has been for most of the last five plus decades.

I prefer the Juneau Lake country to the Upper Russian Lake country for bear hunting, about equal in bear population, but open hillsides are easier for spotting. Unless your choosy on the size of bear, I would not bother with spotting scope.

To get an accurate feel for the expected weather just before your departure........monitor the 511 Alaska highway weather cameras, especially Summit Lake, camera on the Seward Hwy. it will be more relevant then the Cooper Landing camera, because it is at the same elevation you will be camped. And actually not very far away, as the magpie flies.

My dad actually wanted to go back to Upper Russian but I talked him out of it. I'm glad to hear you think I made the right choice. And I am not choosy, we will be making due with binos.

I will check out the cameras, thanks for the tip.

 

[Sourdough]

I will check out the cameras, thanks for the tip.

Those cameras are an under appreciated goldmine. In the winter I can sit sipping coffee in my nice warm cabin and while pondering what I want to do that day, look at those cameras for two hundred mile radius and view the actual "current" weather in those locations.

 

[Dexter Grayson]

Those dates are perfect, and that area has a very good population of bear! They will be up high on the berries.

 

[EastMT]

I hunted the Kenai for black bears quite a bit. Get up in the alpine, when you are even with the goats you are there. Find a good overlook and glass, mind your wind as they will bail fast with a whiff of you. E scout some areas, ideal a point that comes out that you can check one side, then the other.

I liked to get up there midday, hang out until almost dark, rarely went without seeing some.

Best tasting meat around is the fall berry bears. Intestines will be about 6” in diameter packed with berries, good meat!

 

[alaskabound]

I hunted the Kenai for black bears quite a bit. Get up in the alpine, when you are even with the goats you are there. Find a good overlook and glass, mind your wind as they will bail fast with a whiff of you. E scout some areas, ideal a point that comes out that you can check one side, then the other.

I liked to get up there midday, hang out until almost dark, rarely went without seeing some.

Best tasting meat around is the fall berry bears. Intestines will be about 6” in diameter packed with berries, good meat!

Thanks for the tips. I've heard berry bears are some of the best game meat. I just got my first elk last year, it will be hard to top that.

 

[mtnbiker208]

say hi to the cabin for me. I winter camped in there a few times in the early 90's.
Bring a mountain bike, great riding there.

 

[alaskabound]

say hi to the cabin for me. I winter camped in there a few times in the early 90's.
Bring a mountain bike, great riding there.

My wife and I were just in Idaho a few weeks ago hiking in the Selway-Bitterroot. I try to get out there every spring, I absolutely love it.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Get a trail map in case you decide to wander. Crescent lake trail was great for blackies back in the day too.

 

[Luke S]

There is a Nat Geo Trails Illustrated map of that area that's pretty good. I can't add to the bear hunting info because it's a bit out of my usual stomping grounds. But if you tag out and have free time I'd highly recommend the hike past Exit Glacier to see the Harding Icefield (near Seward). I spent 4 summers running a wilderness program for kids all over southeast Alaska. So far that hike is my favorite day hike.

 

[alaskabound]

There is a Nat Geo Trails Illustrated map of that area that's pretty good. I can't add to the bear hunting info because it's a bit out of my usual stomping grounds. But if you tag out and have free time I'd highly recommend the hike past Exit Glacier to see the Harding Icefield (near Seward). I spent 4 summers running a wilderness program for kids all over southeast Alaska. So far that hike is my favorite day hike.

I ordered a hard copy of that map. As for the hiking, I doubt I can talk the rest of the guys into it but I will definitely keep it in mind for when my wife and I make the trip.

 

[Luke S]

Sounds good alaskabound. I'd also suggest a phone app like Gaia or OnX with satellite image downloads combined with USGS map downloads. My favorite combo if I suddenly have to plan a gnarly I'd trail route.

 

[alaskabound]

Sounds good alaskabound. I'd also suggest a phone app like Gaia or OnX with satellite image downloads combined with USGS map downloads. My favorite combo if I suddenly have to plan a gnarly I'd trail route.

I use an app called Alpine Quest. It comes with USGS, Google and Bing maps & aerials. You can download a map area for offline use but what I really like is that if you view a map, it's automatically downloaded. So as I am getting ready for a trip and looking at maps, it's automatically saving them. I have OnX and Earthmate (InReach app) and tons of others but I use this over all of them most of the time.

 

[AKSandman]

@alaskabound pm me if you want more info on the area.

 

[Wigeon kryptonite]

Timing is great. Tons of bears. I killed one close to there a few years ago while I was sheep hunting, so definitely look up high.

I rendered the fat down from mine and it was great, so keep that in mind when your skinning it out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alaskabound]

Timing is great. Tons of bears. I killed one close to there a few years ago while I was sheep hunting, so definitely look up high.

I rendered the fat down from mine and it was great, so keep that in mind when your skinning it out.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We will definitely be keeping some fat. Steve Rinella is part of the reason for my black bear obsession. There is a Meateater episode where he cooks bear meat in rendered bear fat and talks about the fat.

 

[Dhosera]

Been there, done that. From MI too I see! Your plan, and dates are solid. Its a tough hunt, but you should find success. There's some pretty smart guys on here that have already confirmed things such as binos & forget the spotter, Blueberry Bear meat is freaking silly good, Bear dense area, look crazy high in the alpine, and such. Palmer creek road is overhunted but still worth a drive to the little campground near the end or use as access to go up and over into better areas. We hiked up in them hills looking for bear and found some old abandoned mines and such. Pretty cool area. Ill be up there a fuzz later doing the same thing in a different area on the peninsula so don't worry about being too late. As for the fishing, should be some old reds worthy of nothing other than a picture in the Russian @ that time of year. Target the fresh late run silvers & trout. We've slayed as late as mid October on late run silvers. Rainbow fishing is silly that time of year and is a bead game. The Russian should be good, unless you can grab a charter on the kenai. Goodluck and do us a favor and report back when your done!