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Joined: Feb 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 |
Been looking at DIY options for a black bear hunt in Alaska for a while now. It seems 3 exist: A) Fly to Anchor town, grab a 4 WD, head down Rt 1, hunt in unit 7 or 15. B) Fly to Petersburg/Wrangell/Craig, rent a boat, hunt the shorelines, C) Rent a USFS cabin and hunt around the cabin or acquire some kind of floating vessel. There is always the option of hunting a 'DIY' with some type of outfitter (i.e. Coffman Cove).
I'm leaning to flying to SE AK, rent a boat, and hunt shoreline/flats. I have 3-4 areas picked out for possible camping/hunting. I'm focusing on areas 15-30 water miles from town and smaller bays in an attempt to get away from people and away from bigger boats.
I was born/raised in NW PA and am no stranger to big water having fished the Great Lakes most of my adult life - but we don't have tides, currents, or other tidal weirdness. If a guy was smart about moving around in a 16-18 foot open bow boat, what are the safety concerns along the bays/inlets in SE AK?
Any other comments welcome from those that have hunted AK black bears.
Thanks.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,542 Likes: 9
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,542 Likes: 9 |
Unit 2 is non resident draw but if you get drawn I'd go with Coffman cove adventures. He is for the DIY guy and you'll be well taken care of by Mike.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
--------------------------------------------------------- ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,521 Likes: 15
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,521 Likes: 15 |
Since going to a draw in lower SE, there is very little hunting pressure at all for bears in the spring. You used to see the army of camo show up around bear season, but I haven't seen that in years.
I'd focus on drawing POW, as the bears are just getting bigger at this point and they need killing. Rent a 4x4 and a boat and have a hell of a time. You don't need a very big boat as many of the areas are protected and inside waters. Just use your brain and watch the forecast. When it's windy, hike down into estuaries from the road system. Like I said, not much pressure anymore for spring bears on POW.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 |
Interesting on the spring time pressure. I talked to a couple guys that have done a SE AK spring hunt and they indicated they ran into people. Sounds like it may have been in the pre-drawing days.
As far as POW, that is good to know. I have 3-4 areas picked out in unit 3 because I was also trying to stay 'inside' and be a bit more protected. Back to the map and google Earth <G>
I looked at Coffman Cove and wouldn't rule them out. In fact, I have a call into Mike to inquire a bit more about his services. I'm trying to talk my wife into going. She'd stay in a tent but it might be a bit more enticing if she had a shower and hot food to eat.
Keep the thoughts coming!
Thanks.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,990 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,990 Likes: 6 |
Sounds like a great hunt. I have to put something like that together one of these years. Good luck.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
As Calvin said, watch the weather and the tides.
I beached an 18' skiff to take a crap one time. In the time it took me to sheit the boat was almost high and dry. When that tide gets going, it gets going. You have to see a 19' shift in a few hours to truly appreciate it.
Last edited by Steelhead; 06/13/17.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
What is the actual best time of year to hunt the spring bears?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
What is the actual best time of year to hunt the spring bears? In the fall
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
Those tides are just amazing to someone thats used to a foot or two for sure. Dingy would either be way high and dry or we'd have to pay out I don't recall how many feet of rope and make sure it was tied above the high tide mark...
Wife almost lost her good camera in valdez..put it on a big high and dry boulder while catching salmon and I was gone to get more lures and line on our honeymoon, and she never realized the boulder was now and island.... LOL. This in a matter of the time it took to drive from the oil terminus to town and back and probably not on a huge tide if I"d have to guess...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
What is the actual best time of year to hunt the spring bears? In the fall But I always heard it was best during hibernation.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,199
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,199 |
Best time would be mid to late May IMO. Memorial Day is always a good bet.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,858 Likes: 1 |
What is the actual best time of year to hunt the spring bears? 'Fall' was pretty funny........ Weeks 2 and 3 of May is what I'm planning given everyone I've talked to. Later you, the bigger the chance of a rubbed bear.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
What is the actual best time of year to hunt the spring bears? 'Fall' was pretty funny........ Weeks 2 and 3 of May is what I'm planning given everyone I've talked to. Later you, the bigger the chance of a rubbed bear. 2nd and 3rd weeks should be about right, but remember, no matter how much they rub their skull size stays the same.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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As long as its not a dink and has a nice hide, I'd be skippy happy. A 5.5 - 6 foot bear likely die from Nosler poisoning...........
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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