GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTS

DATES: AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

Perhaps the best value in Alaska hunting today is a grizzly bear hunt. Grizzly bear is an icon of the North for many reasons: He’s smart, elusive, dangerous, challenging to hunt and field judge, and every hunter wonders how they would respond if confronted by a charging grizzly. An Alaska grizzly bear hunt will test every facet of a hunter’s skillset.

Grizzly bears (latin name: Ursos arctos horribilis) are cousins to the brown bear (Latin name: Ursus arctos). Grizzlies have earned this “horrible” reputation because indeed they do tend to be more aggressive than the brown bear. Though grizzly Bears are roughly ½ the size of a king-sized brown bear, they do indeed tend to be more aggressive. You are far more likely to be charged by a grizzly be than a brown bear. Grizzly Bears are more opportunistic in what they eat. Brown bears get much bigger because they live nearer to the coast where it is more temperate. Brown bears do not need to hibernate as long, as they have a much better food source, namely, salmon. The fat-rich salmon and better year-round food access allow brown bears to get much bigger.

Grizzly Bears eat, plant buds, berries, carrion, fish, moose, caribou, other bears, roots, mice, and dig out ground squirrels whenever they encounter them. When grizzlies in remote regions see a human, their first thought isn’t to run, but rather Is this something I can eat?  Also known as a “silvertip” due to their unique coloration, grizzlies live in the harsh interior and northern portions of Alaska. Population densities for grizzlies are typically far less than brown bears. On most Alaska grizzly bear hunts you can expect to see 2 to 10 bears. Average bear is 7-7.5’ squared.

In 90% of cases, I feel fall is the best time to hunt grizzlies. Spring hunts tend be fickle due to weather, temperatures, and terrain conditions. On fall hunts you know the bears will be out of their dens and actively feeding. Hide quality in the fall is also consistently good. I personally like August-early September when hunting in the Arctic, and mid to late September when hunting in Central or Western Alaska, as the fall colors are usually on full display and bugs aren’t so prolific.

A typical day of grizzly bear hunting includes hiking 1-2 miles to a glassing hill, glassing for 12 hours, and repeat. A bear’s sense of smell is 7,000 times better than a humans’. Therefore, hiking across the country is typically not advised unless you are spike-camping each day. Shots on grizzly Bears are typically 200 yards or less. I consider a 300 PRC or comparable cartridge to be adequate for grizzly bear, but you can never use enough gun for these predators. .375 H&H is my caliber of choice. A quality 1-8X scope is recommended. Swarovski is my choice for optics.

Being fit, having good gear, a good outfitter, a good guide, a familiar rifle, and a positive mental attitude is critical on an Alaska grizzly bear hunt.

Contact Billy to arrange your own Alaska bear hunting adventure!