Unit 17B Brown Bear

Max333

FNG
Joined
May 27, 2020
Messages
18
Hey Guys!

Hope you’re doing great !

So I booked a brown bear hunt through Steve’s outdoor adventures for this coming August in unit 17B Alaska with guide Justin Johns. Hoping to shoot a 9 footer with my bow! This is my first western hunt and I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about that unit, the guide or anything at all that you think would be helpful

Thanks !
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Messages
2,058
Location
Eagle River, AK
Alaska just did a big aerial depredation cull in that gmu. They killed 94 brown bears. Hopefully it wasn’t in the area you will hunt?

Brown bears with a bow can be tough! Not sure I could pass on a legal bear with a bow to hold out for something bigger… good luck should be an adventure either way

For a first western hunt that is diving off the deep end
 
OP
M

Max333

FNG
Joined
May 27, 2020
Messages
18
Alaska just did a big aerial depredation cull in that gmu. They killed 94 brown bears. Hopefully it wasn’t in the area you will hunt?

Brown bears with a bow can be tough! Not sure I could pass on a legal bear with a bow to hold out for something bigger… good luck should be an adventure either way

For a first western hunt that is diving off the deep end
Wow no way I did not know they killed 94 bears in that unit that kind of sucks lol. This was in 2023?

I’m definitely not looking to pass a legal bear. This hunt im looking to just be successful if everything works out I’ll try for Kodiak one day in life.

Yep I was just so sick of hearing people say “oh we should do this hunt or that hunt one day” and never wanting to put things together so I said screw it im booking this hunt and going off the deep end!
 
Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Messages
2,058
Location
Eagle River, AK
Yes that was last year-


Once again not sure if that is in your guide area 🤷🏻‍♂️


The best brown bear hunts are on Kodiak and the Peninsula but they are very expensive (gmu 8,9) or if you can draw gmu 10 it’s pretty much a guaranteed bear.

Kodiak is pretty much a 100% draw for Non Residents since they currently give half the tags away as outfitter welfare- a source of contention for the residents who can’t draw. (Not even if they pay for the outfitter- NR only tags)

The Peninsula is OTC but you pay for it
 
OP
M

Max333

FNG
Joined
May 27, 2020
Messages
18
Gotcha yea guide is in the western third of 17B.

Yep I definitely want to do the peninsula or Kodiak but as this is my first western I’m doing a little less expensive and “easier” hunt.

We shall see but hopefully this hunt works out. The guide does moose also and it’s supposedly a really good moose area so if successful I’ll probably book a moose hunt with him in the future lol
 

Alder_

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
150
Location
⚡️
I think he said Justin Johns, who also has a concession in 17A.
I don't think all 94 bears were shot in 17B.
I think most of them were in Unit 18, but that's just across the border.

Lots of bears in that country.
 
OP
M

Max333

FNG
Joined
May 27, 2020
Messages
18
Yep it is Justin Johns any info on him?

Also per google - The bears were shot from the air in and around Wood-Tikchik State Park in southwestern Alaska

I am hunting Tikchik which is kind of annoying but looks like it was mostly cubs they took out. Either way I’m just going to go into it with a very positive attitude and hope to shoot an 8’+ bear
 

BRWNBR

WKR
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
751
Justin’s good people. Bear numbers will likely be down a bit after all the predator control they are working out that way. A 9’ bear will likely be rare over there. Guided out there quite a bit and only ever saw one bear over 9 I knew of. But they are there! Amazing country. Get a fishing license!
 
Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
90
How did the hunt go? I used to work for Justin and think about that lake system almost daily. Hope you came away with great memories and pictures, at the very least!
 
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