Brown Bear Hunt Alaska

[wes01]

Hey guys so I am new to the thought of a Brown Bear hunt in alaska. I understand that there are 2 seasons Spring and Fall and the years alternate. I wanted to get some thoughts on what season is best and why and also the likes and dislikes of the season. I am older so me tracking 20 miles a day is not a good idea for me but i was thinking like a hunt by water would be cool. Any help or insight is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Scottf270]

The peninsula is a even spring and odd year fall season. Most will say a fall hunt is less demanding as bears on fish may be more predictable.

Kodiak and other areas have yearly spring and fall seasons. Costs run from expensive to very expensive based on guide and location. If you have a budget, that will narrow down your options some.

 

[wyosteve]

PM sent.

 

[TXHunt]

Yep, budget is going to determine where you go. Everything on Kodiak and Peninsula are $30k+, you can do other areas for half of that but the size of bears goes down.

 

[Nine Banger]

I was locked in on starting to put in for Kodiak tag last year.

I heard Spring bear will produce the best hide ever but overall, more bears have good hides in Fall.

I found out right before the deadline to apply that the guy I wanted to go with requires 300 win mag with 200gr copper solids so I didn't pursue it any further.

I train with a few hundred rounds before hunts and don't want to shoot like that. I still want to go but need to put the time and effort into finding someone that is comfortable with 6.5 PRC on down.

 

[6mm Remington]

I went grizzly bear hunting with Ovis Outfitters on the North side of the Brooks Range way above the Arctic Circle in 2019 and had an awesome hunt and got a fabulous 7 1/2' boar grizzly. He is just gorgeous. Matt & Emily Thoft are great folks who have great people working for them. I would feel comfortable going with Ovis Outifitters again on anything they guide for in a heart beat. Might try and contact them and see what they have to say. David

Ovis Outfitters | Brown Bear

We are a big game guiding service providing quality hunts for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, dall sheep and more throughout Alaska.

www.ovisoutfitters.com

 

[BRWNBR]

For bears near water.

Fall on the Alaska peninsula is going to be your best bet. There are bears on the water in the fall on Kodiak but the season is a month later. A lot less daylight and a lot less fish typically.
Your other option is south east Alaska. Bears eating tidal grass. Ride around in a skiff. Hop out and stalk a bear. Return to your yacht. That would be a spring hunt. Spring is the best time I would say for finding more large bears because of the amount of activity and pursuing sows.

Other options are fall tundra hunt’s, cheaper but as others have said. Likely hood of the bears being about a foot smaller on average is there. Same with baited brown bear hunts. About 10k less than Kodiak or the peninsula. Average bear shot on Kodiak is about 8-8.5’. Same everywhere. Keep that in mind as a realistic figure. They aren’t all 9 foot plus bears anywhere.

 

[Swampr42]

My buddies and I did a Brown Bear Hunt on the Peninsula last Spring with Blue Mountain Outfitters. We went 3 for 3 on bears, mine was 9’5” and my buddies were 9’4” & 9’7”. Not a cheap hunt but Tracy and his guides are great and have a top notch operation.

When we flew out of camp and back to King Salmon we were hearing bear harvests were way down and other hunters were blown away that we all killed big bears.

 

[Jared8054]

I was locked in on starting to put in for Kodiak tag last year.

I heard Spring bear will produce the best hide ever but overall, more bears have good hides in Fall.

I found out right before the deadline to apply that the guy I wanted to go with requires 300 win mag with 200gr copper solids so I didn't pursue it any further.

I train with a few hundred rounds before hunts and don't want to shoot like that. I still want to go but need to put the time and effort into finding someone that is comfortable with 6.5 PRC on down.

No guide is going to let you bring a 6.5prc or down. What guide would want to have to go into deep brush tracking a brown after only a 6.5 hit it. Bit irresponsible don’t you think? Sure it might take down an elk but a wounded elk isn’t going to maul you to death.

 

[Catag94]

I went grizzly bear hunting with Ovis Outfitters on the North side of the Brooks Range way above the Arctic Circle in 2019 and had an awesome hunt and got a fabulous 7 1/2' boar grizzly. He is just gorgeous. Matt & Emily Thoft are great folks who have great people working for them. I would feel comfortable going with Ovis Outifitters again on anything they guide for in a heart beat. Might try and contact them and see what they have to say. David

Ovis Outfitters | Brown Bear

We are a big game guiding service providing quality hunts for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, dall sheep and more throughout Alaska.

www.ovisoutfitters.com

View attachment 854422 View attachment 854423

I talked with Emily and they sound great and have a concession in a great are. They are definitely on the short list for now.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

No guide is going to let you bring a 6.5prc or down. What guide would want to have to go into deep brush tracking a brown after only a 6.5 hit it. Bit irresponsible don’t you think? Sure it might take down an elk but a wounded elk isn’t going to maul you to death.

Brown bears have been killed by arrows for a long time, a 6.5 with the correct bullet does a lot more damage than an arrow.

 

[Catag94]

Brown bears have been killed by arrows for a long time, a 6.5 with the correct bullet does a lot more damage than an arrow.

Have you asked any BB outfits or guides about that caliber? No doubt it could and likely would be fatal, but I don’t believe any serious ones are going to allow it.

Arrows kill by causing massive bleeding, much more bleeding than many if not most bullet wounds. I’m not saying they are better but there is a difference. The don’t do near the skeletal damage or deliver anywhere close to the energy. It’s not a great stretch to decide which caliber rifle to use based on archery effectiveness, in my opinion.

I just booked a 2028 Brown Bear hunt and rather than try to convince them to let me bring my 7MM REM Mag, I just bought a .375 HH, a preferred round by several guides. Also, since I’m buying a new rifle anyway, I figure why not get one that could be used for other dangerous game.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

I’m not trying to argue with an outfitter. He can make his own rules. I just chuckle when I hear some say .300WM or larger…or archery.

 

[Theringworm]

If a hunter can’t follow the outfitters suggestions before the hunt you probably shouldn’t book with that outfitter. They all have their reasons why the do or don’t do something, or recommend or don’t recommend something. They are the experts and I am their guest. I have only had two recommendations I didn’t agree with by an outfitter, both of which were actually required caliber requirements. Guess what, I wanted to hunt with them so I bought the caliber they wanted me to bring. All went well. That's why it’s important to ask questions before you put down a deposit.

As far as brown/grizzly bear hunts go, some recommend 375h&h or bigger, some say 300 win mag or bigger, some say to not bring anything bigger than a 30 cal. All just depends on the outfitter. Ask questions, find someone that tells you what you want to hear and go hunting.

 

[Scottf270]

I'm going with the guy who can get me a big bear. I don't give a crap about caliber opinions either way. If a guy produce big bears for his clients and tells me to bring a water pistol all I can say is " filler up".