Alaska

Anybody ever shoot a black bear in Alaska??

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Yep, I shot one, the wife shot one, best friend shot one and I took another guy out and he shot one. Seen tons of them, only shot a few. Why do you ask?

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

I went out there 3 years ago with a guide on a boat(very long and bad story, the guide is in JAIL now) but was wondering if anybody had good success.
Tell m,e a little more about your hunt

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

  Dang, Kraig, nothing like being a showoff!!
  Paul, I think you found your man!!!

Jeff

I didn't mean to sound like a show off but I absolutely loved it up there hunting bears. I forgot to mention I lived in Fairbanks for 3 years. We baited all of ours in. It's a lot of work once they start working the bait to keep the bait barrel full but well worth it I think.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

If you're looking to go back up there let me know, I could probably help you out. All the places I know are north of Fairbanks, but they are loaded with black bears. 

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Sorry to hear you got a dud trip, Paul. Can't think of anything more frustrating. I'm mostly a do it yourself guy but as far as the story goes: It was the first late summer in Alaska for me. My friend offered to take me to one of his bait stands and the wife and I accepted. At this point we had never hunted bears over bait before. We were pretty excited to go. We drove about two hours north of our house and met our buddy at the lodge he stayed at most of the summer and fall. It was about 8 at night when we got in the stand. It doesn't get dark that time of year till about 2 in the morning. There was a 55 gallon drum on the ground about 50 yards in front of us full of bait. My friend added some fresh bait and climbed up in the tree with us. The stand was made out of plywood and 2x4s. It fit all three of us comfortably. My friend was just there for support I guess. He didn't bring a weapon and quickly fell asleep in the stand. Everytime I'd move the wife would SHHHHH me and look at me cross :) She was in the zone I guess. Anyways about and hour later i looked straight down and saw a big old ball of black fur heading to the bait. I froze and gently started shaking my buddy awake. He snapped awake and as loud as could be said "WHAT?", and the beare slipped into the thick brush. We whispered what was goin on and he said "ok keep your eyes peeled he'll be back". Before we could do anything there was a bear at the barrel, getting a belly full. Once my friend said the bear was big enough, the wife got the .270 leveled out and hammered her first black bear. The bear crashed through the brush and let out one of those eary death groans. One down. As we were hi fiving and grinning My friend says "OK you ready?". "Ready for what" I said. "Its your turn" he said. I turned and looked and saw another bear about the same size sniffing the blood from the other bear the wife shot not 3 minutes earlier. My friend told me to take him through the shoulders, he didn't feel like tracking two bears in the brush. I let the .300 mag loose and put my first Alaskan black bear on his back. The wife got me by one inch, hers was 5' 11" and mine was 5' 10". Not record breakers by any means but the whole trip was just awesome. Got the hunt on our handycam as well. On our way back into town that night we stopped at a natural hot springs and soaked in the whole day. Man I miss Alaska.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Boy does that sound like some real fun times! Can I play?