Black bear hunting question

[weber]

I will be coming to Wrangell and Prince of Wales Island in late October thru mid November to go deer hunting . I was wondering if it is possible to hunt black bear this time of year or even if there would be any around .

[corbanzo]

Yes and yes.  That I know of, there are no places in Alaska which have any part of the year closed to black bear hunting.  Anywhere south, while it is still warm, the bears should still be up and around that time of year, though they probably won't be moving around as much. 

[Dand]

Don't know what time of year it was but a long time ago a friend of mine took a very nice black bear from the Wrangell, Petersburg area.  A guy from my town goes down that way every few years to hunt black bear - usually spring I think.  You might want to contact the Fish and Game office in Petersburg to see what you can learn. Good luck. Get REALLY GOOD rain gear and boots for that time of year.  Wear fleece and poly pro or other wicking synthetics or wool. Cotton is bad in the wet.

[corbanzo]

Double that above statement on gear.  Don't take a chance... go with lightweight rubber raingear. 

[weber]

Thanks as always for the replies . Living here in San Diego I nearly cant recall last time I even saw rain !

Iam excited to be visitng , since this will be my first time in Alaska . Primarily deer hunting but if the opportunity to take a bear is there I will try. My partner was in the area twice last year and saw tons of bear in the summer but not when he went back in October . He managed to get two really nice deer . And had a great time as well .

[Winter Hawk]

Check the regs on use of the meat.  If I recall the Fall bear meat can be discarded, but Spring bear the meat has to be salvaged.  Fall is when they are eating fish and the flesh gets pretty rank.  After their long winter's nap, the meat tastes okay.  And also check the regs for seasons on bear.  A while ago I had a bear come to my deer call but it was in August and the season wasn't open yet, while deer season was.  It got pretty exciting as I stood up, wave my arms, yelled at him buit he still came on looking for dinner.  I finally put a round between his front feet (20 yards away he was) and he stopped to sniff where it hit.  He then took the hint and ran off.  I was using a NEF single shot .30-06 at the time, and felt very vulnerable while trying to reload real quick!

That was on Baird Peak near Coffman Cove.  I suggest you try there for deer.  It's a longish hike to get above timber line but a great place to find bucks.  When you get to P.O.W. stop at the Thorne Bay liquor store and ask the proprietor to point you in the right direction.

-WH-

[corbanzo]

Not sure about nonres.... but for residents, make sure and look at the changes in the regs.  All (from what i saw) alaskan resident black bear hunts now require a harvest ticket.