Warm Alaska Winter?

[Rwolf]

Anyone know how the warm winter in Alaska will affect the spring bear hunting for coastal black bears? We are heading to Homer to hunt the Kenai peninsula in a few weeks. Worried the bears will have come out early and that they may be further up the mountains than on the coasts. Also hoping they will not be rubbed out.

 

[BRWNBR]

Yes for sure. Strong maybe. A definite possibility. But likely not.

Bear hunting conditions on a yearly basis in a nutshell.
coastal bears are usually down there cause of the food. If some slides on the mountain have opened up glass there as well. It hadn’t been warm. It’s been chilly wet and brutally windy this spring so far in the gulf. I’m headed to Homer tomorrow for some fishing.
Google search Faa weather cameras and you can likely see the mountain around Homer and get a feel for snow levels

 

[Luke S]

I've been wondering myself. The only year I experienced that was similar was 2019 if I recall. I remember riding a 4 wheeler around the Copper River valley in April (later years that would have been snowmachine time). I think I saw a bear on bait May 7th. Every year after that bears were not out consistently till the end of May and June was prime time. Hopefully we see a few earlier this year.

 

[BRWNBR]

Homer has snow half way down the mtns. Temps are in the 40’s and not much is greening up yet.

 

[Rwolf]

That is good to hear. The last time we hunted was around the 10th of May and they were not out much then. Hoping to time it better this year.