Griz Hunting Advice

[Matt in AK]

Sourdoughs,

You steered me right with your black bear hunting advice :grin: .  How about some tips for Mr Grizzly.  I'm leaning toward some trips into Area 13, figuring since they're allowing year-round hunting with no tag required there must be too many grizzlies in there -- good assumption?  I figure to hunt 'em about the same way as black bear by getting above treeline where the berries are.  What advice do you have for me?

Oh yeah, Spring hunts are out.  This Fall is it for me.  I hope to deploy in January and, unfortunately, will leave Alaska in July when I get back :cry: .

Thanks again if I haven't said it before guys.  I've learned what little I know about hunting up here from ya'll.

[Dand]

I know air charters are real spendy but did you ever look into my suggestion of a float trip or fly out into the Mulchatna area?  A trusted friend tells em he's heard of quite a few brownies in the area and the season is pretty liberal.  It might be more affordable than you expect.

Too bad the season isn't right now.  Here in Dillingham a lady on the radio this morning described a huge bear that demolished her garage door and tore up one wall of the garage.  She says that after the insurance agent quit laughing he agreed they would cover the damage.

[Matt in AK]

Dand,

I looked into a couple of charters.  Some insist on two hunters.  I'm alone.  All are expensive (understandably, but this ain't the year for me spending a lot of money).  I can hitch a ride to King Salmon on a C-130 and am exploring that possibility.  Who knows?  I'm also hunting the Rex Trail for moose in Sept and will bring along a predator call...just in case.

Thanks for thr suggestions....

[Dand]

There can be a few brown bears right around King Salmon.  Don't know what the regs are around there.  I think the long time biologist Dick Sellers may have moved out this spring - don't know for sure but you might want to get hold of him if he's still there.  Can you get to Cold Bay on military aircraft?  They used to have a special registration hunt close to town to thin out bears hanging around town.  Might look into that too - but I think it would be difficult without knowing the country.  Lots of open tundra down there and weather can be nasty.  Most of the close to town bears are smallish as I recall.

Good luck.

[BW]

Matt,

When checking out Space A flights, don't forget about the Coast Guard C-130's that fly into Elmandorf.  They fly into there all the time from Kodiak.  The CG helos conduct operations in Cold Bay during certain times of the year, and the Hercs fly support missions for them there.

Also the Army flies a C-580 (I think that the designation, it's a Citation Jet) down to Washington a couple times a month, and they land in Sitka for fuel.

[Dand]

Just found out this weekend that Dick Sellers, long time ADFG wildlife biologist in King Salmon, retired and left the state.  Sorry to learn he left.  He is a very good biologist and knew the Alaska Peninsula very well.  I guess no game biolgist is in the King Salmon office these days.  I don't know who is covering for the area now.