Alaska Big Game Hunting Bear Hunt

[OkieHunter84]

I’m planning a brown bear hunt in August of 2027 and I have spoken with Alaska Big Game Hunting about being my outfitter. I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has any experience with this outfitter. I appreciate any information.

 

[jimbires]

you could ask Alaska Big Game outfitters for references , keep in mind if they supply the reference it will most likely be positive . have a list of questions you would like to ask , sometimes I go blank when I'm talking with someone like this . or better yet get another guy from your crew to be there with you . use the speaker phone and ask questions . you get to talking to a reference , he might tell you exactly how it is . or you'll get the idea he's BS- ing you .

good luck , I enjoyed the planning of a hunt . then me and the crew would get together and talk things over .

 

[OkieHunter84]

you could ask Alaska Big Game outfitters for references , keep in mind if they supply the reference it will most likely be positive . have a list of questions you would like to ask , sometimes I go blank when I'm talking with someone like this . or better yet get another guy from your crew to be there with you . use the speaker phone and ask questions . you get to talking to a reference , he might tell you exactly how it is . or you'll get the idea he's BS- ing you .

good luck , I enjoyed the planning of a hunt . then me and the crew would get together and talk things over .

I appreciate it. I asked him for 4 or 5 of the people that used him that didn’t fill their tags. He sent them over to me immediately. I will do some calling tomorrow and try to get the low down.

 

[salmonchaser]

Not necessarily did not fill tags but people who had a bad experience, iron that out. Did the client have a bad hunt because the outfitter didn't do his job, because of environmental conditions or because the client didn't do his part.
Check with the State, and if he operates on Federal ground with them as well for complaints.
Confirm he is properly licensed with the state and with the feds. There are still guys guiding up there who lack licenses. Troopers have started citing, that's an administrative arrest, clients of unlicensed guides.
Put in a call to the local brown shirts, AST doing game enforcement wear brown shirts. Has the outfitter been cited, any of his guides?
If all the above check out, follow up with who flys you in, extra flight to get my bear out, moose yes bear probably not.
With references, camp gear and conditions, terrain and access, tundra is no joke. Guaranteed if the camp gear is crap your hunt will be too.
That's just a start.

 

[salmonchaser]

August is early for hides but ideal for finding bears on salmon. The conflicts are guys like me flying into remote streams to fish for the trout and Grayling following the silvers and sockeye into the streams. I would talk to your outfitter about that.
I worked mostly down in area 9. I don't know Tony but checked, he is Skookum. There is quite a bit of native corporation ground in 17, be like hunting private ground down in the states, sort of.
It is good bear country in 17.

 

[jimbires]

I appreciate it. I asked him for 4 or 5 of the people that used him that didn’t fill their tags. He sent them over to me immediately. I will do some calling tomorrow and try to get the low down.

I've been called a couple times , 2 or 3 , for reference on a hunt / guide service . I was always more than willing to talk honestly with the guys . I enjoyed that too . kind of relived the hunt .


keep in mind , you can have a bad hunt and still score on the animal . tagging one is not what makes for a good hunt , but it does help ease the pain .

 

[OkieHunter84]

August is early for hides but ideal for finding bears on salmon. The conflicts are guys like me flying into remote streams to fish for the trout and Grayling following the silvers and sockeye into the streams. I would talk to your outfitter about that.
I worked mostly down in area 9. I don't know Tony but checked, he is Skookum. There is quite a bit of native corporation ground in 17, be like hunting private ground down in the states, sort of.
It is good bear country in 17.

We will be hunting in 17. Hopefully I get some honest references.

 

[OkieHunter84]

I've been called a couple times , 2 or 3 , for reference on a hunt / guide service . I was always more than willing to talk honestly with the guys . I enjoyed that too . kind of relived the hunt .


keep in mind , you can have a bad hunt and still score on the animal . tagging one is not what makes for a good hunt , but it does help ease the pain .

I really hope for the money that you have to pay now for a brown bear hunt you could walk away with a trophy. It would definitely be hard to convince the wife to let me go back a second time to try and fill another tag. The pain would be dang near unbearable coming back empty handed.

 

[JD338]

I’m following this thread with keen interest.

JD338

 

[salmonchaser]

Think about being in your pick up location a day or two early. I would guess Dillingham but regardless, nothing like spending two or three days of your hunt waiting on weather. Dillingham or King Salmon are just not that exciting. Talk to your guide if he thinks that might be viable. We have a good friend who guides down south on the Penninsula. Many times he would use one of our cabins after picking up his client in King Salmon because they couldn’t fly to base camp. It happens.

 

[OkieHunter84]

Think about being in your pick up location a day or two early. I would guess Dillingham but regardless, nothing like spending two or three days of your hunt waiting on weather. Dillingham or King Salmon are just not that exciting. Talk to your guide if he thinks that might be viable. We have a good friend who guides down south on the Penninsula. Many times he would use one of our cabins after picking up his client in King Salmon because they couldn’t fly to base camp. It happens.

I will be flying into Dillingham a day early. I spoke with the guide and he said my best bet for weather would be the August hunt. Unit 17 is also a 2 bear unit so hopefully I can bring out 2 in 1 trip a long with a blackie.

 

[Cneelk]

Guy miner didn’t you do a grizzly hunt?

 

[salmonchaser]

I will be flying into Dillingham a day early. I spoke with the guide and he said my best bet for weather would be the August hunt. Unit 17 is also a 2 bear unit so hopefully I can bring out 2 in 1 trip a long with a blackie.

I agree with Tony on the weather. Mid August is traditionally the best weather during the summer. ADFG is really trying to reduce bear numbers in that unit, they are playing hell with the moose calves.

 

[Guy Miner]

Guy miner didn’t you do a grizzly hunt?

Yes. It was a great hunt up north in the Brooks Range. Quite a bit different than hunting the big coastal brown bear. It's entirely possible to hunt for a week and not see a grizzly. The other hunter in camp was on his third grizzly hunt and hadn't taken a shot! He got a fine grizzly on our hunt.

I was wondering about coming home without a bear as I didn't get a shot until day 7 or the 9 day hunt.

Then there was a bunch of shooting in a hurry at pretty close range.

https://katmaiguideservice.com/ - Joey Klutsch

https://www.alaskaskookumguides.com/ - Lyle Becker

I booked with Lyle - he was a fountain of great info before the hunt. He hired Joey for the hunt too. Both were excellent guides. Joey was with me when we got the grizzly. Lyle and the other hunter in camp had flown out early after that hunter got a bear, and Lyle was needed at home. I have nothing but good things to say about either of them or the hunt.

Regards, Guy

 

[salmonchaser]

Every time I read Guys post I remind everyone there are two sides to a successful hunt. I’ve know Joey since he was little, I doubt there is a better hunter working as a guide in Alaska. To paraphrase Joey’s opinion of Guy “IF every one was as ready to hunt and understood that it’s an adventure, guiding would be easy.” Lyle Becker is also a top drawn guide/outfitter. Every time I see Joey he asks “is your friend going to come moose hunting with me” High praise from Joey!

 

[salmonchaser]

I will be flying into Dillingham a day early. I spoke with the guide and he said my best bet for weather would be the August hunt. Unit 17 is also a 2 bear unit so hopefully I can bring out 2 in 1 trip a long with a blackie.

Bugs!!!!!!!