Alaska DIY black bear hunt
Alaska is well known for it’s sheep, moose and grizzly, but one of the funnest and most economical species to hunt is the black bear. In Alaska you can hunt black bears unguided or DIY and for the archery hunter on a budget it’s an excellent choice. There are two main options that are reasonably priced for the prospective bear hunter. You can either stay at a lodge, hunting the coastal regions of southeast Alaska or you can choose a more formidable option, a drop hunt in the vast interior. It’s really a personal preference for the hunter when it comes down to it. Both hunts have plenty of bears. You’ll just have to ask yourself if you want a more comfortable lodge based hunt or a more rugged ” conquer the wilderness” type of hunt. Both are similarly priced.
One thing to keep in mind is that some areas have a law that says a wounded bear counts as a dead bear. So if a bear is hit and not recovered, your tag is notched. Most areas are not this way however, but know your regs just in case. Spring is this author’s preference for hunting black bear in Alaska with archery or rifle. It truly is a magical time after 7 months of a brutal winter. The land’s rebirth after its long winter dormancy is a sight to behold. It literally teams with life!
As in much of Alaska grizzly and black bear ranges do overlap so be sure of your target. Alaska does not have the number of color phase bears the lower 48 has so if a bear is any color other than black there is a really good chance its a grizz.
Whichever option you decide you will not be disappointed. Alaska is a place of supernatural beauty and an unguided black bear hunt is a perfect way to experience it’s splendor.
Print
PDF
