Alaska Black Bear Hunts
Alaska Private Guide Service
Smokey Don Duncan,
Master Guide #136
Alaska Black Bear Hunts |
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Benefits - APGS Hunt Black Bear Hunt Dates Black Bear Hunt Prices Licenses, Permits, Tags Black Bear Logistics Black Bear Camps Black Bear References Black Bear Trophies
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Alaska Black Bear Hunt InformationSee photos of APGS Alaska Black Bear Hunts on Picasaweb. Just select Slideshow or Individual photos of Alaska Black Bear. New for 2010: We now have a cabin based hunt utilizing 4 wheelers in the same general area as our river and boat based black bear hunts in unit 20. Also we have a fall spot and stalk hunt black bear hunt in unit 17. This is the best, most successful (99.9%), and inexpensive Alaska black bear hunts I offer. Late May to late June is prime time for interior Alaska Black Bear hunting in unit 20. I am the interior's most productive black bear hunting guide. Hunters fly into and out of Fairbanks. From 1991- 2008 I have maintained a 99.9% success rate on 5 day hunts. The average black bear taken is over six foot with about 50% - near 7 foot or bigger. The only way to leave with out a bear is to miss, miss repeatedly or not shoot at all. Plus; we have some free pike fishing near some of the baits if you like and if time permits. We can now offer fall spot and stalk black bear hunts during late September and early October in unit 17. See our Alaska Black Bear Hunting - 1 or Alaska Black Bear Bowhunting - 2 video. In the spring, these Alaska black bears have the longest and densest fur of black bears anywhere. I specialize in baited hunts along remote rivers. I add new black bear hunting areas every year in a 20,000 square mile area. Primitive weapon hunters, bow muzzle loader, spear, are welcome and all have taken Alaskan black bears in the past. I use ground blinds and portable tree stands set up, 5-25 yards from the bait. Quite often, we productively stalk the bears when moving in to the bait. 24 hours of daylight means the bears can't wait until after dark to come into the bait site. The prime time is between 9 PM and 2 am. This can be a dangerous hunt. Did you know, black bears are the most likely bear to stalk, kill and eat you? Some or most of the bears do not know they are suppose to be afraid of humans! They will walk right up to the blind and stare you down! Every thing that moves in the woods is potential prey. They will stalk you. And then there is the rut and possessive territorial males. That is why we put the bear on a cart and get out of the area and back to camp to skin them out. If you make a quiet, quick kill early in the evening, you can probably shoot another one that night. It is not unusual to see many bears in a night. 4 is average. Alaska black bears go into the RUT in spring, during our season, and we know how to hunt them. I target male black bears, leaving the in heat females to draw in more big boars. Don't say hunting with bait isn't sporting, challenging and fun until you hunt with us! When bears come in, they walk on bear trails and are virtually silent. "Black Ghost of the Forest" is a nick name well deserved. Black bears come from any direction, including from behind you; often they're close, really close. Now think about being in a natural ground blind 10 feet away from a big bear! The maximum adrenaline rush! You must be mentally prepared. This hunt is ideal for the individual black bear hunter, family hunt, or group of hunting buddies. I have had excellent success with two hunters and one guide frequently taking two black bears in one night. We field prep the trophies; skin, flesh, take out paws, turn lips and ears and salt the hide dry. The taxidermist should give you a break. We salvage the meat and hang it in game bags. Upon your return to Fairbanks, the hide and skull are sealed by Fish and Game and you can take them with you. If needed, we will ship your trophies to you or your taxidermist C.O.D. A full service meat processor is also available and he can ship your processed game to you. You can take the meat with you as baggage by placing in a “Rubber Made” tote or fish box. Spring Alaskan Black Bear is good eating; we recommend you take it with you; we accept and distribute anything you cannot take with you. -- top Benefits of Alaska Black Bear Hunts with APGS3 black bear limit; 2005 results. 10 hunters took 22 black bears. 2006 10 hunters took 12 black bears! 2007 - 4 hunters took 9 black bears. Several over 7 foot! In 2008 the first hunter took 3 bears in 5 nights plus missed a big one. The next hunters were husband and wife. She took one and he turned down everything else down in search of a 7 foot minimum size bear. They are booking to come back in 2009. She shot one the first night and he shot one the second night. The average black bear hunt lasted less than 10 hours on stand. On any given bait on any night the big ones can come in or they may not. The next hunters were father and 13 year old daughter. She got a nice one and he nicked one with a bow. The last 2008 hunter only had 3 nights. The first night he saw 4 bears and shot 1cinnimon bear. The second night he saw 4 bears and shot none. The last night he saw 8 bears including a 7 1/2 foot big black boar that got away and he killed a black phase bear later that night. Alaska Black Bear Hunting Dates2010 Dates: These are the dates that you will arrive into camp and depart camp. You will fly to camp between 9 am and 4 pm. Homeward return flight should be scheduled after 5 pm: 5/14-20; 5/20-26; 5/26-6/1; 6/1-7; 6/7-13. NOTE: 6/1-7 has 1 spot left for all hunts on the river. Please note, and keep this in mind when planning your dates: The bear activity at the baits start out slow early in the season. Then it will pick up as the ground thaws, water drains off, plants start to green up, bears start traveling and more bears will track the first bears to the baits especially as the rut kicks in. Therefore, we prefer to take hunters desiring only one bear early in the season and taking hunters wanting 3 black bears, or groups of hunters wanting multiple black bears, later in the season. Toward the end of the season, we need to watch for rubbed bears. The "prime time" is generally the middle of the dates listed above. So we prefer to start booking there and work both ways as needed. I call the "prime time"; the time when black bear activity and selection is good and the threat of a rubbed black bear is low. Prime time dates can vary some on a yearly basis due to winter conditions and spring weather but this is taken into account. All dates have produced fine bears in the past. -- top Alaskan Black Bear Hunting PricesHunt costs include flight from Fairbanks to and from camp and the first bear. All food, gas, boat etc… is provided. All you need to bring is hunting clothes, weapon, and game bags. Black Bear Hunt
To take a second or third black bear you must buy another bear tag, available in camp, and pay a kill fee of $600 per bear. *Outfitted and Unguided Hunt. 2 person minimum. All black bear hunters are eligible for a discounted outfitted (camp, boat, etc) unguided moose hunt for 2-4 hunters. Sept 5-15. Any size bull moose + bear, wolf + fowl. See the moose hunting page for details. Father/Son or Husband/Wife Hunt Price
Price includes one bear each. Extra bears are $600 each. Need a shorter hunt? We can do a 1-3 day hunt for a decent size bear (over 5 foot but probably bigger). You might even be fortunate and have a big one come in the first night. The shorter hunts are an excellent choice for those who are short on time and aren't picky on size. The price is only slightly lower since you'll most likely still get a bear and we will probably have to fly the plane both ways just for you. LIMIT IS RESTRICTED TO 1 BEAR /HUNTER. Prices for 1-3 day hunts. 1x1 hunts deduct $500. 1x2 hunters deduct $300/hunter. New Option for 2010In 2009 we went back to some old areas we use to hunt off the road system 130+ miles out of town. My Class A Assistant Guide has 2 cabins 8 miles off the road on a 4 wheeler trail. 1 main cabin and a guest bunk house cabin. We put out test baits last year and were thoroughly impressed with at least 3 - 7+ foot bears hitting our baits plus numerous others. This area has always produced bears earlier than the river baits. I think because they start out from the dens closer and many bears start off the spring by feeding on berries in the high country left over from the previous fall. Access is by vehicle and 4 wheeler or by wheel plane direct to the cabins. You can hunt the day you arrive if you go by vehicle and 4 wheeler. You’ll have the comfort of your own cabin, freezer, shower, sauna and electricity. The cost logistics of access make this hunt a little more expensive. The dates can be modified from the dates listed above. We will only take 2-4 hunters depending on how they book and how many bears they want. The first hunter/s will go by vehicle and 4 wheeler. The next hunter/s will fly in and the first hunter/s fly out. The second hunter/s will return by 4 wheeler and vehicle. Since the cabin area access trails are limited compared to the river system; I am restricting the limit to 2 bears/ hunter. Our hunting style is the same as the river except we use 4 wheelers to reach the baits. Cost for 5 nights hunting: 1 x 1 $4900 Second bear $600. 1 guide/ 2 hunters $3750 each., second bear $600. Recommended time frame beginning May 15. Transportation from Fairbanks to camp, round trip is covered in the price. All you need to bring is your hunting gear, weapon, game bags and bug spray Youth HuntersIf you are under the age of 16 you must have completed a basic hunter education course or be accompanied by a licensed adult who has completed a basic hunter education course. If you were born after January 1, 1986, you must have a hunter safety card. All non-residents regardless of age must have appropriate licenses. All non-residents 10 years of age or older must have tags and harvest reports. A hunter who is under 10 years of age may take big game only under the direct supervision of a licensed adult 18 years of age or older with the animals taken counted against the adults bag limit. -- top Licenses, Permits, TagsLicenses
Some pike fishing is available near some of the baits. This is not the trophy size pike but you can catch some fish between 18-36 inches. No part of this hunt price is for fishing. Any fishing, if available near your camp, is free of charge and is done as time allows. Fishing is not available at all camps. Tags
NOTE: A tag will cover any animal of equal or lesser value. You buy your hunting license and initial tag from me by mail before the hunt. Additional CostsNon-Hunter in camp $100/day, plus round trip airfare (approx. $350). Non-Hunter going afield $150/day, plus round trip airfare (approx. $350). -- top LogisticsTransportationYou will fly in to Fairbanks where you can stay at a hotel or Bed and Breakfast before/after the hunt. The next day you will fly to camp by float plane usually between 9 am and 2 PM. We use boats from camp to the black bear baits. At the completion of the hunt you will return to Fairbanks, get the hide(s) and skull(s) sealed at Fish and Game and you can fly home that night arriving home about noon. Fed X and UPS are located near the airport if you wish to ship anything yourself. -- top Alaska Black Bear Hunting CampsI provide a full camp with food; all you need is hunting gear and game bags. We have base camps and spike camps. Both camps have large free standing (stand up in) nylon tents (about 10x15) with plenty of mesh ventilation. Each tent has Rollo-cots and 3" fabric covered air and foam pads. Wood stoves are not needed but we do keep a campfire going on the banks of the river. Permafrost is usually nearby to keep drinks cool. We have shower tents. We have all the cooking apparatus needed including food. You bring any beer whiskey or tobacco for your needs. Give me notice if you need a light sleeping bag. All you really need to bring is your hunting clothes, game bags, and some mosquito spray. -- top Alaska Black Bear Hunting References#These people have been to most of my camps and have hunted all seasons and all game along with the fishing. *Hunted as father and son. #John Henderson, OH 216-272-4997 -- 2 time hunter 4 bears; #Joe "Kastaway" Kulis, OH 440-232-8352 - 1 time hunter 2 bears; #Bob Migliore, TX 409-737-3986 - 1 time spear hunter; *Les and Curtis Smith, UT 435-258-2144 - 3 bears; Ken Warr, UT 801-963-2627 - 2 bears; #Larry Roby, VA 434-933-8608 - 3 time hunter 6 bears; #Bruce Trapp, OH 440-247-6755 - 2 time hunter 3 with bows and 1 each with rifle and pistol; *Matt and Dan Emery, PA 814-328-5279 - rifle and bow respectively; James Swidryk, NJ evenings 201-991-0860 - pistol hunter; #Vernon "VJ" Jacquel, PA 814-476-1058; *Rich Warren, TN 901-837-1736; Tim Sherick, PA 814-765-1019 2 bears pistol and rifle; Jeffrey Pannier, PA 412-915-9505;Joe Schleuter, MO 573-929-3800; Carmon Bennet, VA +3 friends 540-483-7454 - all got 2 bears; *Gordon and Jason Marsh, AL 334-567-0853. See our complete list of REFERENCES from all hunt and fishing trips. PLEASE NOTE: A hunters' tag is considered filled out if they wound a black bear that is not found. If they clearly "miss" a black bear, they pay a $350 penalty to maintain first bear status. The 2nd and 3rd bears are charged under the same conditions. This isn't practice and there is no good excuse for missing a whole bear at 10 - 25 yards. You miss - you pay. -- top Fall Black Bear Hunting Unit 17. Spot and Stalk Hunts. Sept. 20 - Oct. 10There never has been an over abundance of black bears in unit 17. The brown bears far out number the black bears in all areas of unit 17. During the last 3 years, my pilot, Tom O’Connor, who lives in the area, has reported seeing good size black bears in a particular area during the same time of year. In 2009, I had the opportunity to hunt brown bear in this area. Besides getting a brown bear the second day; we confirmed from the ground the number and size of the black bears Tom was seeing flying over. I now feel comfortable offering 1-2 spot and stalk black bear hunts in the fall. Here is the deal: Hunt dates are between Sept. 20- Oct. 10 for a 7 day hunt. We pick you up in Dillingham and fly you to camp. This is a guided hunt for 1 or 2 hunters /guide. We do not offer drop off or unguided hunts because we may very well be hunting brown bear in the same area and for the benefit of both hunters we need coordination between camps. All you will need to bring is your personal hunting gear and weapon. Some fishing may be available. I do not think this would be an ideal bow hunt because most of the black bear are pretty spooky due to all the brown bears about. The good thing about this hunt and this time of year is; the black bears tend to be high up on the hills eating berries and staying in the open where they can see brown bears and they feel comfortable enough to be out during the day for long periods. That means we can spot them and have enough time to stalk them. In 2009, we saw most of the bears from the runway. The camp is surrounded by hills and not mountains and you have long range visibility so your eyes can cover lots of ground. You need to be in good enough shape to cover the ground that your eyes are seeing. Prices for 7 hunting days. Price includes flights to and from camp, food and camp equipment. You buy your $85 hunting license and $225 black bear tag from me. 1 guide/ 1 hunter $5500. 1 guide/ 2 hunters $3750. Smokey Don Duncan's Explanation of why this is charged: It is not always possible to tell if a black bear was missed completely or not. We have to check it out in most cases; how could you miss at 10 yards? That means we have to disturb and scent up the black bear trails and the bait area which costs us more than the black bear that was scared off. Alaska black bears don't always bleed right away so we have to cover the escape trails looking for blood and tracks. While doing this we are probably scaring other black bears that were trying to come in. And we may lose a productive bait for several days afterward not to mention the spooked black bear will hang up away from the bait if it ever comes back at all. And the blind is definitely done for that black bear. You get to pick your shot. Nobody makes you take it. I asked one guy who took offense to this policy; "How many bears do you think you should be able to miss before my end of the bargain is fulfilled?" No answer. That is why I charge for a "missed black bear". Several factors can prevent missing or wounding a bear and they apply to everyone regardless of "skill, knowledge and practice". First, put a scope on it if you can. Especially pistols or rifles with only open sites. Under low light conditions at 2 am the black sites disappear on the black hide of the Alaska black bear. People who wear bifocals must have scopes, period. Second, the black bears can be close and intimidating for a long period of time. Understand maximum sustained adrenaline rush sometimes. There is a good chance that even the simplest of "check off lists before you fire" is thrown out the window or forgotten altogether. And third, know your weapon and practice with it. The hunt is easy and the shots are close but intimately knowing the weapon is still mandatory. Unfamiliarity is never an excuse. -- top A special note to those afraid of Alaska mosquitoes. Yes, we have them. No biting flies or anything else. They are more of a nuisance than anything. You'll need a head net with good visibility, large mesh and thin thread. A lot of mosquitoes at the bait is a great sign. The black bears bring them. The more mosquitoes the more black bears. We use insect repellant. It doesn't bother the black bears. Sometimes we'll use "Yard Guard" and spray the blind area to eliminate the nuisance. In reality, by the time you put on your camo clothes they can't bite through. About the only thing you need bug dope for is your hand or thin glove. Bring unscented cutters in the pump bottle. Do not try to bring aerosol cans on the planes. You can buy those in Fairbanks and bring on the float plane. -- top Thinking of, or heard of hunting black bear on Prince of Wales Island? The following is letter, dated March 2008, from a registered hunting guide who lives on POW Island. "Dear Smokey, Hunters and myself are not even seeing large numbers of black bears period. I’ve been a guide for 16 years and I tell them, “Well you should have come here 5-6 years ago before the big push of hunters pounded this place. When you harvest around 500 black bears a year for a long time, you’re going to have a impact on the bears.” This island is not that large of a land mass, even though it is the 2nd largest island in the US. Most of the S. E. Ak. coastal areas have seen a large increase in the number of black bear and black bear boat hunters. The bears have been shot and killed or educated. It ain’t like it used to be years ago. I personally would recommend that hunters take a good hard look at your area up north before going on a black bear hunt anywhere else. Because of the vast country and your remote location your area is kicking some butt for large trophy class Black bears! Hell, just being able to shoot 3 black bears a season should tell people, there's a lot of good bears in your area! UPDATE: The Board of Game severely restricted black bear hunting in the Prince of Wales area. Good, smart move. Just not soon enough. The damage has been done and people and businesses harmed. -- top |
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Smokey Don Duncan, Owner, Master Guide #136 and P.H. All content © 1991-2009 Alaska Private Guide Service |
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