RE: Brown Bear
- Thread starter joesikora
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ColoradoOak
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RE: Brown Bear
I booked a Dall hunt with Todd and had a great time. He will take care of you. You should talk to Todd personally about the chances of finding a 10' bear. That's a tall order anywhere.
I booked a Dall hunt with Todd and had a great time. He will take care of you. You should talk to Todd personally about the chances of finding a 10' bear. That's a tall order anywhere.
joesikora
Long Time Member
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RE: Brown Bear
LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-08 AT 02:27PM (MST)[p]YD, I am looking at hopefully a 2009 fall hunt(Alaska season is even years spring odd years fall). Todd said fall is a more productive hunt do to the bear's feeding on the salmon. The bears are more concentrated.
Joe
LAST EDITED ON Jan-16-08 AT 02:27PM (MST)[p]YD, I am looking at hopefully a 2009 fall hunt(Alaska season is even years spring odd years fall). Todd said fall is a more productive hunt do to the bear's feeding on the salmon. The bears are more concentrated.
Joe
HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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RE: Brown Bear
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-08 AT 10:50PM (MST)[p]
I killed my giant bear on Kodiak Island in April of 2001 Without getting into a huge drawn out story, I will
tell you this.
If you want a truly large brownie, hunt the first
SPRING hunt.
The biggest boars are the first to come out of their
dens if you go later, you will see more bears, but you
will see smaller ones and will be tempted to shoot
one.
Also if you go later, you will see rubbed bears that
you will truly regret shooting.
Big bears are certainly killed in the fall too, but remember this, you will see a lot MORE bears including small and medium sized bears and you may be more likley to get an itchy finger and shoot a smaller bear.
Also, the weather is usually much worse in the fall with heavy rain common.
You may lose several hunting days due to being stuck in your tent, another thing is that the fall days are MUCH shorter, limiting your hours of glassing and hunting, when you have spent ten to fifteen thousand dollars, you want as many days available as possible.
Also the biggest boars get very nocturnal during the fall days and the leaves are still on the alders making glassing extremely difficult.
Hunt Kodiak Island or the south western most part of the
Alaskan peninsula.
Forget about southeast Alaska, they just don't produce
giant bears.
I took my 10 footer with
Brian Peterson (907) 783-1886 Girdwood, AK 99587
http://ugakbay.com/
He is a very honest, hard working guide with a real honey hole on Kodiak. He was very reasonably priced at the time.
He offers a 14 day hunt! ($10,500)
He is on the board of directoes of the Alaska Proffessional hunter's Assn.
He has MANY years of guiding under his belt considering he is still in his 40's.
Other great Kodiak choices would be:
#1
http://www.huntalaska.com/
Choice #1 is Scott Mileur Truly a legendary guide on Kodiak, Most honest, tough, hard working guy you will ever meet PERIOD.
LOTS of GIANT bears under his belt.
He hunts the legendary area of Olga Bay where Pinnell & Talifson trained him.
He too offers a 14 day hunt for the price. (VERY IMPORTANT!)
I would go with him if my life depended on killing a giant bear.
HOLD OUT FOR A BIG ONE, YOU WILL GET IT.
Friend of mine killed a 9'6 bear with Scott.
I know him and have talked to him for many years at the different conventions.
HE IS SUPERB.
I would have gone with him, but I just couldn't afford it at the time.
A couple of other top notch outfitters...
#2
http://www.kodiakbearhunting.com/
3.
http://www.alaskakodiakbearhuntingsafaris.com/index.html
Alaska Peninsula...
http://www.wildmanlodge.com/Hunting Photos 2007.htm
Has taken TONS of monster bears, but his hunts are short, very expensive and he runs a lot of hunters through his area, but he does really well on monster bears.
I hope you can attain one of these hunts.
They are adventures of a lifetime.
HH
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-08 AT 10:50PM (MST)[p]
I killed my giant bear on Kodiak Island in April of 2001 Without getting into a huge drawn out story, I will
tell you this.
If you want a truly large brownie, hunt the first
SPRING hunt.
The biggest boars are the first to come out of their
dens if you go later, you will see more bears, but you
will see smaller ones and will be tempted to shoot
one.
Also if you go later, you will see rubbed bears that
you will truly regret shooting.
Big bears are certainly killed in the fall too, but remember this, you will see a lot MORE bears including small and medium sized bears and you may be more likley to get an itchy finger and shoot a smaller bear.
Also, the weather is usually much worse in the fall with heavy rain common.
You may lose several hunting days due to being stuck in your tent, another thing is that the fall days are MUCH shorter, limiting your hours of glassing and hunting, when you have spent ten to fifteen thousand dollars, you want as many days available as possible.
Also the biggest boars get very nocturnal during the fall days and the leaves are still on the alders making glassing extremely difficult.
Hunt Kodiak Island or the south western most part of the
Alaskan peninsula.
Forget about southeast Alaska, they just don't produce
giant bears.
I took my 10 footer with
Brian Peterson (907) 783-1886 Girdwood, AK 99587
http://ugakbay.com/
He is a very honest, hard working guide with a real honey hole on Kodiak. He was very reasonably priced at the time.
He offers a 14 day hunt! ($10,500)
He is on the board of directoes of the Alaska Proffessional hunter's Assn.
He has MANY years of guiding under his belt considering he is still in his 40's.
Other great Kodiak choices would be:
#1
http://www.huntalaska.com/
Choice #1 is Scott Mileur Truly a legendary guide on Kodiak, Most honest, tough, hard working guy you will ever meet PERIOD.
LOTS of GIANT bears under his belt.
He hunts the legendary area of Olga Bay where Pinnell & Talifson trained him.
He too offers a 14 day hunt for the price. (VERY IMPORTANT!)
I would go with him if my life depended on killing a giant bear.
HOLD OUT FOR A BIG ONE, YOU WILL GET IT.
Friend of mine killed a 9'6 bear with Scott.
I know him and have talked to him for many years at the different conventions.
HE IS SUPERB.
I would have gone with him, but I just couldn't afford it at the time.
A couple of other top notch outfitters...
#2
http://www.kodiakbearhunting.com/
3.
http://www.alaskakodiakbearhuntingsafaris.com/index.html
Alaska Peninsula...
http://www.wildmanlodge.com/Hunting Photos 2007.htm
Has taken TONS of monster bears, but his hunts are short, very expensive and he runs a lot of hunters through his area, but he does really well on monster bears.
I hope you can attain one of these hunts.
They are adventures of a lifetime.
HH
RE: Brown Bear
I have known Todd for 5 years now and have hunted with him and Dan Montgomery, both guys know there hunting! I just had a couple of beers with Todd here a week ago as he was traveling through Wyoming. I would recommend Todd any day, he will wrok hard to find that 10'er, but that is a tall order for any outfitter, but I know he will do everything in his power to find one for you.
I have known Todd for 5 years now and have hunted with him and Dan Montgomery, both guys know there hunting! I just had a couple of beers with Todd here a week ago as he was traveling through Wyoming. I would recommend Todd any day, he will wrok hard to find that 10'er, but that is a tall order for any outfitter, but I know he will do everything in his power to find one for you.
RE: Brown Bear
Hello Joe,
I hunted Kodiak three falls ago with my dad at ##### Rohr's bear camp and it was a great time. My dad shot a nice bear but I never pulled the trigger. Passed many smaller bears and then the weather got rough and the bears disappeared. To give you an idea how cold it got on day 7 the saltwater bay in front of camp was icing up. Anyway, in spite of not firing a shot I am headed back this May to get my brown bear. I am going back to Rohr bear camp. I will post a report after my spring hunt.
Mike
Hello Joe,
I hunted Kodiak three falls ago with my dad at ##### Rohr's bear camp and it was a great time. My dad shot a nice bear but I never pulled the trigger. Passed many smaller bears and then the weather got rough and the bears disappeared. To give you an idea how cold it got on day 7 the saltwater bay in front of camp was icing up. Anyway, in spite of not firing a shot I am headed back this May to get my brown bear. I am going back to Rohr bear camp. I will post a report after my spring hunt.
Mike
B
BRWNBR
Guest
RE: Brown Bear
I've got openings for kodiak fall bear hunters in 2008 to enter the draw. i think the post in the general forum a while back was about the big bear my guy got this year, 10'6", a 10'er is a tall order for sure, 1 outa every 16 bears killed on kodiak has a 28" skull, so about 16 bears per year are over an honest 10', they don't grown on trees, i know one guy thats all he'd shoot, took him three years and over 50,000 dollars to get his 10 footer, other guys nail them on the first day. But...you certianly won't get one if you don't hunt them..
www.blackriverhunting.com has photos of the big one from last fall.
I've got openings for kodiak fall bear hunters in 2008 to enter the draw. i think the post in the general forum a while back was about the big bear my guy got this year, 10'6", a 10'er is a tall order for sure, 1 outa every 16 bears killed on kodiak has a 28" skull, so about 16 bears per year are over an honest 10', they don't grown on trees, i know one guy thats all he'd shoot, took him three years and over 50,000 dollars to get his 10 footer, other guys nail them on the first day. But...you certianly won't get one if you don't hunt them..
www.blackriverhunting.com has photos of the big one from last fall.
HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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- 5,002
RE: Brown Bear
Joe is talking about the bear season on the Alaska Peninsula.
Umlike Kodiak, It is open only in the fall on odd numbered years and only in the spring on even numbered years.
HH
Joe is talking about the bear season on the Alaska Peninsula.
Umlike Kodiak, It is open only in the fall on odd numbered years and only in the spring on even numbered years.
HH
CAelknuts
Moderator
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- 3,822
RE: Brown Bear
I'll also recommend Scott Mileur. I haven't personally hunted with him, as I killed my spring bear with Lynn Castle in 1985. I do, however, have a mount of a giant beat that a close friend shot with Harry Dodge, who guides or guided for Scott Mileur's outfit on Olga Bay. This beat, shot by Jim Azevedo, is the #1 Brown Bear in the Long Hunter Society Record Book. For those who don't know, this is the record book for muzzleloader hunters. My buddy shot a truly huge bear that squared 10'5" (Sorry, i don't remember the exact skull size, something like 29")with Mileur's outfit, and he has nothing except great things to say about Scott. He's also hunted Dall Sheep with him, and again had nothing but high praise for him. They had horrible weather on his fall hunt, and he didn't get a chance to hunt sitka deer due to the weather. But, he got the bear of many lifetimes. I'd like to do one more brown bear hunt in my life, and I'll probably book with Scott.
I'll also recommend Scott Mileur. I haven't personally hunted with him, as I killed my spring bear with Lynn Castle in 1985. I do, however, have a mount of a giant beat that a close friend shot with Harry Dodge, who guides or guided for Scott Mileur's outfit on Olga Bay. This beat, shot by Jim Azevedo, is the #1 Brown Bear in the Long Hunter Society Record Book. For those who don't know, this is the record book for muzzleloader hunters. My buddy shot a truly huge bear that squared 10'5" (Sorry, i don't remember the exact skull size, something like 29")with Mileur's outfit, and he has nothing except great things to say about Scott. He's also hunted Dall Sheep with him, and again had nothing but high praise for him. They had horrible weather on his fall hunt, and he didn't get a chance to hunt sitka deer due to the weather. But, he got the bear of many lifetimes. I'd like to do one more brown bear hunt in my life, and I'll probably book with Scott.
RE: Brown Bear
It's braggin time... Just got back from Kodiak and I killed a beautiful 9 foot boar. Of the five hunters 4 killed bears and one gentleman unfortunately wounded and lost a bear. Three of the bears were 9 footers + and 1 was a 10 plus. It was a real hog. I had a great time hunting out of Rohrer bear camp and would recommend them. I will be back in 4 or 5 years to look for a 10 footer. I will email some pics if someone knows how to post them.
Mike
It's braggin time... Just got back from Kodiak and I killed a beautiful 9 foot boar. Of the five hunters 4 killed bears and one gentleman unfortunately wounded and lost a bear. Three of the bears were 9 footers + and 1 was a 10 plus. It was a real hog. I had a great time hunting out of Rohrer bear camp and would recommend them. I will be back in 4 or 5 years to look for a 10 footer. I will email some pics if someone knows how to post them.
Mike
RE: Brown Bear
Got into Kodiak friday May 2nd and caught the float plane out on the third. Arrived in bear camp to rain rain and more rain. Day 1 of the hunt:
Breakfast at 7:30 and off to the spotting nob we go. 10 minute boat ride followed by about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour hike up the river and then a hard 1/2 mile up hill onto the nob. Half way up the bay toward the river mouth and wow we already see our first bear of the day. A smallish sow. We beach the boat and off we go. Climb up onto the spottin nob to find snow deeper than our hip boots on top. Very late spring in Kodiak this year. We settle in to a snow free spot and Sam builds us a lean to so we can get out of the rain. We start glassing... We see bears on and off throughtout the day totalling 16 but all are rubbed. Seems like these are the early bears that have been out for a while and down low below snow line. We are looking for the new arrivals Sam(my guide) tells me. Mid afternoon we watch two bears about a mile and 1/2 away fight for about 20 min. Sam guesses they are siblings just play fighting but the show was amazing thru his Spotting scope. 8PM rolls aropund and we start our hike out. We discuss spiking out the next few days but I opt for base camp till the rain lets up a little. We hike out the river and get to the tidal flat and spot Nathan(another guide) up the bay and he is directing a stalk from the beach. Craig from utah is after a nice boar. Nathan was an extra guide for 2 days since his hunter was not in camp yet. They direct a
stalk by using a orange space blanket. The space blanket is placed on the ground behind, in front of, to the right , left, or diaganol from the spotter to indicate to the hunters up the mountain which direction the bear is. Up hill, right, left etc. We sit down to help try and relocate the bear which is out of view at the moment. After a few min of looking I spot a different bear and he is a dark bear(usuallly a boar). We look him over good and Sam says he is atleast 8 1/2 and has a great hide with no rubs. Hmmmmm, decision time. I ask Sam if we should hike up the mountain and have a look at the bear and he says," If you hike up and look, you'll probably shoot the bear..." I think some more and tell Sam, "Let's go have a look at him" Sam smiles and off we go... Sam is 28 years old and I am 43. We jog a mile across the tidal flat and start up the mountian. I had forgotten just how steep alot fo Kodiak is. Up we go racing against time... Huuuuff, Puuuuf, I have to stop alot... I thought I got in shope for this hunt with My hour long hikes with a 40 pound pack on. Next time I do more hill work. Finally, we get to a point where we expect to look across at the bear from a downwind finger ridge but he is nowhere to be seen. Now things kick into fast motion. "There's a bear above us Sam says" He is gone into the jungle before I even see him. Sam ranges the opening above and it is 150 yards. He blows a couple soft notes in his predator call and out comes the bear... "There's your bear Mike, shoot him Sam whispers" I shoulder my MOd 70 .375H&H and decide I am moving way to much and need a rest. I move to my left and pull down a willow branch for a rest. The bear is facing I think straight on at a very steep uphill angle but is about in the brush. I feel good and touch my 2 pound trigger and the .375 roars. The bear is gone into the thick stuff. I see a few flashes of brown just below the opening but they are gone before I can shoot again. Sam tells me to stay put while he circles around and gets above the bear. A few minutes later I see Sam above me 200 yards or so raise up his gun. I yell up, do you see him? Yea, I think he is dead. I cirle around the brush and join Sam. We watch him for a few min and then aproach slowly and he is dead. Yeeeeeeeees, I am excited. He is a gorgeous boar with perfect hair. We snap lots of photos and come back to skin and pack him the next day. A first day bear, wow, but actually this was a day 15 bear for me since my last trip three falls ago I hunted fourteen hard days, stalked four different bears and never fired a shot. The next day was spent skinning and packing the bear and relaxing in camp. The next days I hunted with each of the other three hunters and even got to direct a stalk to the bear Craig killed on day 4. Watched the whole thing including Craig tumbling the bear up in the snow. I can't wait to go back in 4 or 5 years and maybe I'll hold out for a 10 footer... Or maybe not.
Mike
Got into Kodiak friday May 2nd and caught the float plane out on the third. Arrived in bear camp to rain rain and more rain. Day 1 of the hunt:
Breakfast at 7:30 and off to the spotting nob we go. 10 minute boat ride followed by about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour hike up the river and then a hard 1/2 mile up hill onto the nob. Half way up the bay toward the river mouth and wow we already see our first bear of the day. A smallish sow. We beach the boat and off we go. Climb up onto the spottin nob to find snow deeper than our hip boots on top. Very late spring in Kodiak this year. We settle in to a snow free spot and Sam builds us a lean to so we can get out of the rain. We start glassing... We see bears on and off throughtout the day totalling 16 but all are rubbed. Seems like these are the early bears that have been out for a while and down low below snow line. We are looking for the new arrivals Sam(my guide) tells me. Mid afternoon we watch two bears about a mile and 1/2 away fight for about 20 min. Sam guesses they are siblings just play fighting but the show was amazing thru his Spotting scope. 8PM rolls aropund and we start our hike out. We discuss spiking out the next few days but I opt for base camp till the rain lets up a little. We hike out the river and get to the tidal flat and spot Nathan(another guide) up the bay and he is directing a stalk from the beach. Craig from utah is after a nice boar. Nathan was an extra guide for 2 days since his hunter was not in camp yet. They direct a
stalk by using a orange space blanket. The space blanket is placed on the ground behind, in front of, to the right , left, or diaganol from the spotter to indicate to the hunters up the mountain which direction the bear is. Up hill, right, left etc. We sit down to help try and relocate the bear which is out of view at the moment. After a few min of looking I spot a different bear and he is a dark bear(usuallly a boar). We look him over good and Sam says he is atleast 8 1/2 and has a great hide with no rubs. Hmmmmm, decision time. I ask Sam if we should hike up the mountain and have a look at the bear and he says," If you hike up and look, you'll probably shoot the bear..." I think some more and tell Sam, "Let's go have a look at him" Sam smiles and off we go... Sam is 28 years old and I am 43. We jog a mile across the tidal flat and start up the mountian. I had forgotten just how steep alot fo Kodiak is. Up we go racing against time... Huuuuff, Puuuuf, I have to stop alot... I thought I got in shope for this hunt with My hour long hikes with a 40 pound pack on. Next time I do more hill work. Finally, we get to a point where we expect to look across at the bear from a downwind finger ridge but he is nowhere to be seen. Now things kick into fast motion. "There's a bear above us Sam says" He is gone into the jungle before I even see him. Sam ranges the opening above and it is 150 yards. He blows a couple soft notes in his predator call and out comes the bear... "There's your bear Mike, shoot him Sam whispers" I shoulder my MOd 70 .375H&H and decide I am moving way to much and need a rest. I move to my left and pull down a willow branch for a rest. The bear is facing I think straight on at a very steep uphill angle but is about in the brush. I feel good and touch my 2 pound trigger and the .375 roars. The bear is gone into the thick stuff. I see a few flashes of brown just below the opening but they are gone before I can shoot again. Sam tells me to stay put while he circles around and gets above the bear. A few minutes later I see Sam above me 200 yards or so raise up his gun. I yell up, do you see him? Yea, I think he is dead. I cirle around the brush and join Sam. We watch him for a few min and then aproach slowly and he is dead. Yeeeeeeeees, I am excited. He is a gorgeous boar with perfect hair. We snap lots of photos and come back to skin and pack him the next day. A first day bear, wow, but actually this was a day 15 bear for me since my last trip three falls ago I hunted fourteen hard days, stalked four different bears and never fired a shot. The next day was spent skinning and packing the bear and relaxing in camp. The next days I hunted with each of the other three hunters and even got to direct a stalk to the bear Craig killed on day 4. Watched the whole thing including Craig tumbling the bear up in the snow. I can't wait to go back in 4 or 5 years and maybe I'll hold out for a 10 footer... Or maybe not.
Mike
HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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- 5,002
RE: Brown Bear
Great story.
I hear there was some SERIOUS weather on Kodiak & the Peninsula.
Would the "Sam" that you were with be Sam Rohrer?
love some photos!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
HH
Great story.
I hear there was some SERIOUS weather on Kodiak & the Peninsula.
Would the "Sam" that you were with be Sam Rohrer?
love some photos!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
HH
eelgrass
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 31,440
RE: Brown Bear
Mike, I would be happy to post some pictures for you if you can email them to:
[email protected]
Eel
Mike, I would be happy to post some pictures for you if you can email them to:
[email protected]
Eel
RE: Brown Bear
Hi Joe,
They leave the meat for the Eagles, foxs, and bears. I am having a rug done since I have no room for a full mount unless we get rid of our piano(I was willing but my wife didn't agree). Piano, Bear, Piano, Bear... I still vote for the Bear but she gets two votes and I only get one.
But she never says no to hunting so I have no complaints...
Mike
Hi Joe,
They leave the meat for the Eagles, foxs, and bears. I am having a rug done since I have no room for a full mount unless we get rid of our piano(I was willing but my wife didn't agree). Piano, Bear, Piano, Bear... I still vote for the Bear but she gets two votes and I only get one.
But she never says no to hunting so I have no complaints...
Mike
