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There has always been a lot
of discussion and numerous articles have
been written about what animals would be
included in the top ten hunting trophies in
the world. Alaska's big Brown Bear is almost
always included on that list. This is truly
an outstanding big game animal and is a
formidable adversary. He inhabits a land
that is shrouded in mystery. Some of the
world's worst weather conditions are
frequently endured on the Alaska Peninsula.
It is a huge land with volcanoes, large runs
of spawning salmon, whales and walrus
cruising along the shoreline, and a few
native villages sparsely spread along the
coast. As a result, this land is difficult
to access which makes it more challenging to
provide a first class hunting operation. The
Brown Bear's senses are keen. He has an
outstanding sense of smell and will often
leave an area that has human scent. He is
also a nocturnal animal that prefers to
sleep most of the day and travel about at
night. His strength and agility is
legendary. It's quite a sight to watch him
climb up and over a twelve foot vertical
rock wall. If surprised or wounded he can
quickly become the most dangerous creature
that you will ever face in your lifetime.
The biggest Brown Bears in the world live in
Alaska. They come from the Alaska Peninsula
and Kodiak Island. Equal numbers of record
book bears come from each of these
locations. The State of Alaska manages both
of these areas for maximum trophy quality.
The Alaska Peninsula is managed through a
reduced hunting season. The yearly two week
seasons are split with a Spring hunt being
offered on even number years 2004, 2006,
etc. and the Fall hunt being offered on odd
numbered years 2003, 2005, etc.. On Kodiak
Island the Bear population is managed by
reducing the number of hunters allowed to
hunt through a permit drawing system. In
most of Alaska, only one Brown Bear is
allowed per hunter every four regulatory
years.
At the Conventions, one often hears an
outfitter or a booking agent say that the
biggest Brown Bears in the world are taken
on the Kamchatka Peninsula. These statements
are either made by honest people who don't
know the difference or by unscrupulous
dealers that are trying to book a hunt.
Unfortunately, it is usually the taxidermist
that gets blamed when a supposed 10 foot
bear turns out to be only 8 1/2 foot. If you
want a true 10 foot Brown Bear you must hunt
Alaska.
On the Spring Peninsula hunt the Brown Bear
come out of hibernation during May. They
lounge about their dens for a few days and
then come down out of the snow looking for
food and the boars hoping to participate in
the annual breeding season. Comfortable tent
camps are strategically set up to take
advantage of these patterns. The weather can
be miserable
on the Peninsula so the tents are top
quality and are designed to withstand strong
winds and keep the rain out. Plan to bring a
top quality sleeping bag and pad as well as
the best rain gear that you can find. Ankle
fitting hip boots are a must and can be
purchased in Anchorage if you have enough
time to shop.
The general method of hunting is to spend
the daylight hours glassing the slopes and
watching for a worthy trophy class Bear. Not
much walking is done because the goal is to
keep human scent to a minimum. Once a good
Bear is located the stalk is planned and
executed. More likely than not the stalk
will require that you intercept the bear as
he travels down the mountain.
The Fall hunt is conducted in October while
the salmon are still spawning. You will
generally hunt along salmon streams or in
areas that the Bears frequent as they travel
from one favorite fishing hole to another.
Because the Bears are traveling more, camps
are occasionally moved to take advantage of
higher Bear concentrations along rivers that
hold more salmon. The weather can be worse
in the Fall with the temperatures getting
colder each day. It is generally in the
worst of the wind and rain that you will
find the huge Brown Bear out feeding. They
seem to be impervious to foul weather.
However, guides and hunters are not so bring
warm clothes that dry easily and dress in
layers so you can add and take away clothes
as needed.
Whether you hunt in the Spring or the Fall
you are hunting country that has
consistently produced some monster Bear. If
you truly want an opportunity to take a 10
foot Brown Bear you should plan to hunt on
the Alaska Peninsula for a trophy that is
highly ranked among the best in the world. |
