Alaska Bear Hunt

I managed to harvest a decent bear in Alaska.  It was truly a life changing hunt and an experience of a lifetime!

I hunted for six days with my guide, Jordan, who is an outstanding guy. He kept me motivated despite the four days of wind and rain and the fact we were living in a tent with no easy way to dry out our gear!

Minutes after we were dropped at camp, a small tent on the side of the mountain, we started to see bears. One bear was a big dark, lanky one and we just wished we could shoot that day (you can’t hunt the same day as you fly)

The first morning we saw two smaller bears together and no sign of the big guy from the previous evening which was not a surprise as he was 100 yards from camp and was heading in the direction of our trail likely catching our scent.

Then the rain started.  Four days of rain and wind which put a damper on the whole excitement of the hunt. We did, however, see bears, but they weren't wasting time heading up into the mountains.

Day five rolls around and finds us climbing to the peak of a mountain, about two miles from camp, allowing us to glass another section of the rivers below. With small rain showers every once in a while, sun and medium winds we decided this was the best place to be. It also gave me the opportunity to try to dry some gear, between showers, on the rocks of the mountain and hanging from the tripod.

I was at the point of giving up, frustrated and homesick. Looking all around and seeing nothing but mountains, realizing there is no way out but by plane, makes a guy feel contained. I said to Jordan "let's start heading back to camp" we agreed to skirt the edge of the mountain on the way back.

Five minutes into the walk Jordan spots a bear fishing in the river below. We quickly slid down the slope and headed for the river, which consisted of tall grass and brush. Getting to the river below was the easy part now that we were lower everything looked wrong! Where was the bear again??

The wind down below was almost non-existent which saved my stalk of the bear. Jordan gave me the sign to stop and listen; we could hear the bear splashing in the water and went like hell to get ahead of him. One attempt found us 20 yards from the bear, but all we could see was the top of his back, away we go again up the river to get ahead of him.

This time we failed again, hearing the bear just ahead of us splashing again. All we could do was head straight towards the bear and hope for the best, maybe getting ahead or meeting him with a clear shot.

As we approached an old beaver dam, Jordan whispers "there he is, right there", I stretch up over the grass and see the bear staring right at us. Using the dam as a rest I shoved the rifle through the tall grass, sweeping it side to side to get the grass to clear the barrel and sight line. Jordon held the camcorder up as high as he could, analysing the scene from the viewfinder. I quickly asked him if I could take the shot (bear was almost straight on) he didn't respond, I asked again, no response, I then decided in my mind I could make the shot, and it would be lethal! Just as I was about to pull the trigger, and the bear was getting nervous, he whispered "I got him", and I let the 375 bark. The shot was perfect, and the bear was finished. I did send one more on the way just in case.

Excellent hunt, great guide who made this a true adventure I will remember forever!

This was only part of the experience! The trip to Alaska was a sight to see along with all the wildlife. We’ve seen caribou by the hundreds, some moose and a wolverine not to mention lots of brown bears, the whole experience was amazing!!!