Kodiak Brown Bear Hunting
Kodiak Brown Bear Hunting
This is it. The ultimate Alaskan hunting experience for serious sportsmen that want to target the undisputed big game champion of the wild north. The Kodiak brown bear is well known as the world’s largest brown bear subspecies. Hunting trips in search of Kodiak brown bears take place in some of the most spectacular remote areas in and around Kodiak Island.
At Alaska Hunting Pros, we help you set up your own hunt by putting you in contact with an experienced, well-respected local Kodiak brown bear hunting guide. Travel to remote hunting grounds takes place aboard one of our custom catamarans, fully equipped to ensure your comfort and safety.
The boat acts as your remote hunting camp where you eat delicious hot prepared meals, take a shower, and sleep in a comfortable bunk in a heated cabin. During the day, you will spend your time in search of your trophy, and your boat is fully equipped to process and freeze any animal you harvest.
Spring and Fall brown bear hunts are available.
DIY hunts are $1,000 per day. Fuel and groceries not included but all cooking is included. Minimum hunt is ten days. Available on North Kodiak Island, Afognak Island, or Shuyak Island. Maximum 3 customers – 1 catamaran, 1 skiff.
Guided brown bear hunts are $28,000 per client. Drawing only for Afognak Island. Hunts are ten days and boat-based.
To participate in a brown bear hunt, you are required to draw for a permit. We work with professional guide Burr Henriksen, who can help you go through the process of drawing for your permit.
Kodiak Brown Bear Drawing
A guided Kodiak/Afognak brown bear hunt will require you to draw a tag. We will collect a one time deposit of $1000 for you to be entered into the drawing each year. When you draw the tag your deposit will go towards the total cost of this hunt.
If you wish to opt out of the drawing, your deposit may be put towards the total price of an Alaska Peninsula guided brown bear hunt, which is a guaranteed hunt (no draw required).
Are you ready to book your own Alaska brown bear hunting trip? Contact us today and get the details.
What to expect on your Alaska brown bear hunt
The first thing you should expect is for your brown bear hunt to fully live up to your expectations. People from all over the world come to Alaska to experience the unspoiled natural beauty and some of the best hunting and fishing known to man. If you’ve always wanted to experience a true wilderness hunt, you are not going to be disappointed.
One of the primary reasons that hunting trips with Alaska Hunting Pros are so incredibly memorable and successful is that we take you to remote areas impossible to access without a boat. This makes it possible for you to experience that sense of total wilderness immersion that’s simply not possible in most other places.
You will leave for your brown bear hunt from Kodiak Harbor, eventually anchoring in a protected cove. Boat-to-ground transport allows you to access the shoreline, fully equipped for your time in the bush. Your licensed brown bear hunting guide is none other than Burr Henriksen, Owner of Alaska Safaris and Trading Co. LLC, who arguably knows the region better than anyone. Gabe acts as Assistant Guide for Burr, and will guide you and your party on the Alaska Hunting Pros’ vessels.
After a day of hunting, you will come back to our U.S. Coast Guard inspected boat where you can relax, enjoy a hot prepared meal, and sleep comfortably in your own bunk. The entire boat is heated, which is very welcome during the fall months when temperatures can drop dramatically overnight.
In total, our catamarans feature four bunks in a camp-style setting. We take two hunters on our trips (four on the boat, including Captain and Guide), and it’s sometimes possible to hunt for multiple species on a single trip, depending on the time of year, regulations, and game availability.
If you or the other member of your party has special needs, we will bend over backward to accommodate. Simply tell us ahead of time, especially if you have dietary restrictions or medical requirements that must be acknowledged.
All you need to bring along is your gear, hunting license, and brown bear drawing permit. We recommend bringing an assortment of clothing well suited to the Alaskan environment. If you’re unsure of what to bring, simply contact us directly and we will help you get set up.
Imagine it now, taking a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime Kodiak brown bear, draped in the majestic scenery of the Alaskan outback. Back at the boat, share stories with your travel partner and crew, get a good night’s rest and be ready to roll the following day after a hot cup of coffee and a hot breakfast.
These are the hunting experiences we remember for the rest of our lives, and the memories we share with friends and family that become legendary. Are you ready to experience your own Alaska brown bear hunt?
Kodiak Island
The home of the biggest brown bears
Kodiak brown bear history is fascinating and many hunters are surprised to hear how they ended up on Kodiak Island and why they grew to such legendary sizes.
During the last ice age, Mainland Alaska and Kodiak Island were connected by a massive sheet of ice. During this time, brown bears migrated into the Kodiak area. When the ice sheet melted, brown bears were landlocked on the island.
The main reason Kodiak brown bears grow to such monumental sizes is because of their salmon diet. While interior bears often feed on small game, Kodiak brown bears feed on protein-rich fish salmon that allows them to grow big and strong.
From a physiological perspective, the Kodiak brown bear isn’t that much different from a mainland grizzly bear. However, there is a big difference in their size. While mainland grizzlies often weigh between 250 and 800 pounds, the Kodiak brown bear usually weighs between 650 and 1,500 pounds.
Kodiak brown bears have interacted with human inhabitants of the island for millennia. The brown bear was well respected in native communities and many tribes did not say the word “bear” while traveling through the woods because it was believed that saying its name would draw its attention.
The climate on Kodiak Island and the surrounding area is considered a subpolar oceanic climate, which basically means it’s rainy and often overcast, with wind and fog common.
Contrary to what you may see in a Hollywood movie, Kodiak brown bears do their best to avoid human contact. If a brown bear is surprised, which sometimes happens when people are hiking, or threatened they have been known to attack. They may also attack when protecting a kill or if they’re attracted to human food in developed areas.
Safety in the bush is our highest priority and we go out of our way to avoid the pitfalls that often lead novice Alaska hunters into danger. Keep in mind that bear attacks are still exceedingly rare, especially in Kodiak.
All about
Afognak Island
Our Alaskan brown bear hunting trips are conducted on Afognak Island, which is part of the Kodiak Borough and lies only three miles distant from Kodiak Island. Indigenous people inhabited the area for thousands of years before Russian Settlers arrived in 1784.
Russians were in high demand of sea otter pelts. The native Alutiiq peoples already had strong trade routes established with Tliglits living in Southeast Alaska, so trade with the Russians wasn’t anything new. However, demand outgrew supply and it led to the extinction of the local sea otter population.
The populations of Russian settlers and native peoples learn to live with one another to a certain degree and intermarriage between the communities was common. Some Russians learned the ancient ways of the land and some Alutiiq people converted to Russian Orthodoxy.
Today, people come to Afognak Island to do many of the same activities that were enjoyed by natives and settlers alike. Hunting and fishing are popular with visitors and locals. Wildlife abounds in the region, both on land and in the ocean.
Wildlife and hunting in the Kodiak region
If you’re reading this page then it’s obvious you’re considering one of our world-class Kodiak brown bear hunting trips but there are many other hunting and fishing opportunities in and around Kodiak. What follows is a brief overview.
Sitka blacktail deer
This deer species is native to Southeast Alaska but was introduced to Kodiak in the 1930s. Sitka blacktail deer are related to larger mule deer, which are found all over Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Hunting for Sitka blacktail deer is done on Kodiak and Afognak during the fall months.
Caribou
While Alaska caribou are typically associated with the large herds in the northern part of the state, Kodiak also has a population of caribou on the southwestern part of the island where there is suitable habitat. Hunting for caribou is done in this area during September and October. Blacktail deer are also targeted in this same area during this time.
Roosevelt Elk
In 1929, eight Roosevelt elk calves were transplanted to Afognak Island from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The calves were captured in 1928, and the effort to establish them on Afognak was successful. Roosevelt elks also thrive on the Raspberry Islands. Roosevelt elks can be targeted by hunters in Afognak during the same time period as our Kodiak brown bear hunts.
Sea ducks
There is an incredible variety of birds in Kodiak, making it a bird watcher’s paradise. Sea duck hunters can target a number of sought-after species including pintails, mallards, surf scoters, mergansers, harlequin ducks, and many more. Sea duck hunts also take place during the same time of year as our brown bear hunts.
Fishing
The fishing around Kodiak is as good as anywhere else in Alaska. Popular species to target include every variety of Alaskan salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. If you’re interested in a fishing trip, check out our other website for Alaska Ocean Pros.
Other varieties of wildlife around Kodiak
Hunting is all about being outdoors and experiencing nature in its natural state. Kodiak offers a backdrop like no other. It’s a place where wildlife abounds. At any moment, you may see something truly extraordinary and these experiences often revolve around wildlife.
In the ocean, you may see gray whales, humpback whales, minke whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and a wide variety of birds. The lands are occupied by beaver, marten, fox, and a variety of other woodland mammals.
Fun fact: There are no black bears on Kodiak Island.
Why choose us
For your Kodiak brown bear hunt?
First and foremost, Kodiak is our home, and hunting and fishing are our passion. When it comes to the Alaskan lifestyle, you can’t fake it. Either you thrive in the bush or you fail. With decades of combined experience under our belts, we know how to ensure every one of our guests is provided with the best possible Alaska brown bear hunting experience.
Your Assistant Guide, Gabe Linegar, will take you and your partner on one of our custom boats, providing all transportation, lodging, and food. Every detail is carefully planned to maximize your chances of success while ensuring your safety.
About the owner of Alaska Hunting Pros
The owner of Alaska Hunting Pros is Gabe Linegar. Gabe started his business back in 2004 and grew it into one of the premier hunting outfits in the state of Alaska. He works as a fishing and hunting guide and loves the outdoors.
When it comes to hunting Alaska’s most feared predator, there is no substitute for local knowledge and expertise. Gabe understands you’re paying good money to have a good time, which is why he and the Hunting Pros team always go out of their way to make your trip the best it can be.
Are you ready for the Alaskan brown bear hunt of a lifetime?
A Kodiak brown bear hunt is something every hunter dreams of. It is arguably the pinnacle of the sport and what better place to plan your hunt than the place where the world record was harvested?
If you are thinking about planning a brown bear hunt, it’s vital that you plan well ahead. You will have to draw a permit from the Department of Alaska Fish & Game. Plus, you will also want to be well-prepared ahead of your trip.
Because Kodiak brown bear hunts happen in the fall, the weather may very well come into play. Fortunately, Alaska Airlines offers routine service into Kodiak, so gone are the days of frequent multi-day flight delays.
Contact
Contact us today and we will help you plan your trip of a lifetime in search of the great Kodiak brown bear.