Grizzly Bear Hunt

[RB]

Hey gang,

I am looking at applying for a Grizzly tag in SE Alaska, the draw odds are good and I have some connections  (first and foremost family in state that will be my guide) but I am curious about the meat, anybody eat the meat? The main reason to apply is it would be a once in lifetime hunt if drawn (for me) and would like the rug. This would be a rifle hunt in the fall of next year.

Who has done this and what were the pros and cons?

Thanks

[WA hunter14]

My girlfriends dad killed one on the last day of his hunt and the weather wouldn't allow the plain to pick him up for 4 more days and he had no more food so he ate nothing but the bears heart for 4 days 

[Gringo31]

I've done the hunt you are looking to do under the same circumstances....

Much of the bear scat I saw was at least 50% worms.....



Let me put it this way.  Alaska has some of the most impressive/aggressive salvage laws there is.  You can't do things up there that you can down here.  If you were to shoot ground squirrels, rock chucks etc up there, you must salvage them.  Meat, hide....something.  There is no shoot to shoot.

That being said, they don't require you to take the meat from a brown/grizz and THAT says something. 

I hear that eagles and crabs like brown bear meat. 

[Ironhead]

The pros are... you get to go to Alaska and hunt Grizzly Bears, the only con I can think of is leaving the meat behind. I went on a recent Grizzly hunt and had an absolute blast. We saw Bears every day!

[boneaddict]

Not a meat hunt. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Well time is winding down as the application deadline is coming

[RB]

Thanks Guys, I have heard over the years that the meat can be eaten but it has to be "just right" and heard to not even touch it. The thought of having a Brown Bear rug is kinda cool though when it is all done it is still going to cost several thousand dollars to accomplish, shoot just the tag is $1000 now, add air fare, food,  fuel and rental fee for a boat it adds up.

[PlateauNDN]

I've never hunted any bear and I've got a question? What is the issue with Alaska brown/grizzly meat that they don't require taking any?

This type of hunt has spurned my interest after reading it here and seeing an episode of one.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well when I shot my brown bear it was a fall hunt. We didn't eat any of it which is typical. However with that being said my guide did say they have eaten a little in the past but just a meal or two's worth. It doesn't help we were 5 miles hiking in and packing a 10 ft bear hide weighing close to the 200 lbs is enough. Plus chances are the fall bear is going to be fishy tasting as they will be feeding on fish. However chances are you will be hunting along the shoreline. Sure is nice to have that big bear rug taking up space in my house but the thought of just shooting him for his hide didn't sit well. More so out of respect

[RB]

Well when I shot my brown bear it was a fall hunt. We didn't eat any of it which is typical. However with that being said my guide did say they have eaten a little in the past but just a meal or two's worth. It doesn't help we were 5 miles hiking in and packing a 10 ft bear hide weighing close to the 200 lbs is enough. Plus chances are the fall bear is going to be fishy tasting as they will be feeding on fish. However chances are you will be hunting along the shoreline. Sure is nice to have that big bear rug taking up space in my house but the thought of just shooting him for his hide didn't sit well. More so out of respect

Yeah that is one of the reasons I have not done it before, but my brother might be leaving Alaska in the next couple years and this would really be the only chance to get a Brown Bear at a reasonable cost.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea Ryan you better apply for that permit. You will probably kick yourself later wishing you had. Not sure what the draw odds are but take in mind you have to purchase a Lisc, permit fee(small), then bear tag if you draw. Having kindred saves you a chunk of change for not having to hire a guide.

[RB]

Yea Ryan you better apply for that permit. You will probably kick yourself later wishing you had. Not sure what the draw odds are but take in mind you have to purchase a Lisc, permit fee(small), then bear tag if you draw. Having kindred saves you a chunk of change for not having to hire a guide.

There are three tags and 12 people applied for them last year this is a non resident hunt and a guy cannot hire a guide if drawn it is for family members of residents. Yes license is $180 and tag is $1000 if drawn, Deer tags are $300 and they let you buy up to four.

[Skillet]

RB - got another pm heading your way when you weed out your inbox 

[Southpole]

Ryan 

[Kazekurt]

I have eaten Grizz meat(back straps) a couple times and I thought it was decent.  Both times the meat was off of an interior bear though so there may be some difference based on the bear's diet.

[RB]

RB - got another pm heading your way when you weed out your inbox 

Fixed it, wow did not realize it was full thanks!

[RB]

Ryan 

 

[JWBINX]

I've shot 2 mountain Grizzly's in British Columbia back in the 90's ,1 in the spring and 1 in the fall, yes most people shoot this type of trophy for
 the hides only, However I don't kill anything that I don't consume! I made North country sausage and had a couple of the hams
smoked at Mt. View meats. The sausage was great and hams were good. If you were to see worms in the meat of course you should not eat it.
It's tough to kill something, skin it and leave the meat even though it does not get wasted. Good luck on your draw! Nice to have relatives in AK.

[RB]

I've shot 2 mountain Grizzly's in British Columbia back in the 90's ,1 in the spring and 1 in the fall, yes most people shoot this type of trophy for
 the hides only, However I don't kill anything that I don't consume! I made North country sausage and had a couple of the hams
smoked at Mt. View meats. The sausage was great and hams were good. If you were to see worms in the meat of course you should not eat it.
It's tough to kill something, skin it and leave the meat even though it does not get wasted. Good luck on your draw! Nice to have relatives in AK.

This is the kinda reply I was hoping for thank you. Just submitted last night for the draw and will find out in February if drawn. Crazy easy to apply and fairly inexpensive $185 to buy a hunting license and apply for two draw hunts ( I put in for really long shot Moose hunt as well) if drawn the Bear tag is $1000 though.

[Katmai Guy]

I've shot 2 mountain Grizzly's in British Columbia back in the 90's ,1 in the spring and 1 in the fall, yes most people shoot this type of trophy for
 the hides only, However I don't kill anything that I don't consume! I made North country sausage and had a couple of the hams
smoked at Mt. View meats. The sausage was great and hams were good. If you were to see worms in the meat of course you should not eat it.
It's tough to kill something, skin it and leave the meat even though it does not get wasted. Good luck on your draw! Nice to have relatives in AK.

This is the kinda reply I was hoping for thank you. Just submitted last night for the draw and will find out in February if drawn. Crazy easy to apply and fairly inexpensive $185 to buy a hunting license and apply for two draw hunts ( I put in for really long shot Moose hunt as well) if drawn the Bear tag is $1000 though.

Goodluck, but the real expense comes when you have to hire the guide after being drawn.  They know they have a captive audience

[RB]

I've shot 2 mountain Grizzly's in British Columbia back in the 90's ,1 in the spring and 1 in the fall, yes most people shoot this type of trophy for
 the hides only, However I don't kill anything that I don't consume! I made North country sausage and had a couple of the hams
smoked at Mt. View meats. The sausage was great and hams were good. If you were to see worms in the meat of course you should not eat it.
It's tough to kill something, skin it and leave the meat even though it does not get wasted. Good luck on your draw! Nice to have relatives in AK.

This is the kinda reply I was hoping for thank you. Just submitted last night for the draw and will find out in February if drawn. Crazy easy to apply and fairly inexpensive $185 to buy a hunting license and apply for two draw hunts ( I put in for really long shot Moose hunt as well) if drawn the Bear tag is $1000 though.

Goodluck, but the real expense comes when you have to hire the guide after being drawn.  They know they have a captive audience

I cannot hire a guide if drawn this is only good for second degree of kindred it states it on the application. The Moose I could hire a guide if need be, but I might have a better chance at winning the powerball than drawing that tag, but you can't win if you don't play!

[wideleft]

I'm sure the other bears, wolves, magpies and scavengers will appreciate your effort and success.  Those winters are brutal, and to have a protein packed meal just sitting there is good for the ecosystem.  Good luck and enjoy the hunt if you get drawn.

[TeacherMan]

If fish and game doesn't require you to take the meat there is a reason  I've tried it several times and it has never been good. Awesome hunt! Put aside an additional 3k for your rug 

[RB]

If fish and game doesn't require you to take the meat there is a reason  I've tried it several times and it has never been good. Awesome hunt! Put aside an additional 3k for your rug 

Thank you for the reply was hoping those that have had it would chime in, and yes the rug will not be cheap 

Really impressed how easy it was to apply and how many times a guy can apply for the same hunt.

[TeacherMan]

If fish and game doesn't require you to take the meat there is a reason  I've tried it several times and it has never been good. Awesome hunt! Put aside an additional 3k for your rug 

Thank you for the reply was hoping those that have had it would chime in, and yes the rug will not be cheap 

Really impressed how easy it was to apply and how many times a guy can apply for the same hunt.

6x the fun 6x the money thats how AK works lol... If you put in for a SE tag start making your plans now 

[RB]

If fish and game doesn't require you to take the meat there is a reason  I've tried it several times and it has never been good. Awesome hunt! Put aside an additional 3k for your rug 

Thank you for the reply was hoping those that have had it would chime in, and yes the rug will not be cheap 

Really impressed how easy it was to apply and how many times a guy can apply for the same hunt.

6x the fun 6x the money thats how AK works lol... If you put in for a SE tag start making your plans now 

Except Bull Moose can only put in 3x

[mountainman]

Hunted out of Sitka a few years back. You will have a blast! The "Shiras" brownie's grow Big and Dark👍

[j_h_nimrod]

I lived in Sitka a number of years and killed two of my own brown bears and was on a few other hunts, before and after the kill. I ate parts of at least 5 different bears killed in both spring and fall on fish streams. None that I ate was worse than some rutty bucks I have eaten, and some was downright good. I have had the same experience with black bears up there. I think the turned up noses to bear meat stems from mainly here say (so-an-so says bear meat is bad so it must be) and a general dislike of the idea of wild omnivore and carnivore meat by most people.

Save the meat unless there is a good reason not to.

To clarify, spring brown bear is recommended to be saved and you have to retain spring black bear in most areas. Only fall bears are exempted from salvage.

I like that AK lays out in the regs what is mandatory to be salvaged.  It really kind of disappointed me about the ambiguity of what needs salvaged in WA and that in ID only the main muscles needed salvaged.

Can’t remember about the AK squirrels and marmot regs, but you can shoot cormorants and crows as long as you keep some feathers.

[mountainman]

I lived in Sitka a number of years and killed two of my own brown bears and was on a few other hunts, before and after the kill. I ate parts of at least 5 different bears killed in both spring and fall on fish streams. None that I ate was worse than some rutty bucks I have eaten, and some was downright good. I have had the same experience with black bears up there. I think the turned up noses to bear meat stems from mainly here say (so-an-so says bear meat is bad so it must be) and a general dislike of the idea of wild omnivore and carnivore meat by most people.

Save the meat unless there is a good reason not to.

To clarify, spring brown bear is recommended to be saved and you have to retain spring black bear in most areas. Only fall bears are exempted from salvage.

I like that AK lays out in the regs what is mandatory to be salvaged.  It really kind of disappointed me about the ambiguity of what needs salvaged in WA and that in ID only the main muscles needed salvaged.

Can’t remember about the AK squirrels and marmot regs, but you can shoot cormorants and crows as long as you keep some feathers.

did you know Scott Elmer with the fire dept.? We hunted off Halleck Island, stay I g at Allen Point..

[j_h_nimrod]

I knew Scott by name only.

I hunted Nakwasina, Halley Is, and stayed at Allen Point more than a few times!  Great area up there!

[RB]

I knew Scott by name only.

I hunted Nakwasina, Halley Is, and stayed at Allen Point more than a few times!  Great area up there!

Have hunted Deer out of Nakwasina, Fish bay, Redoubt lake, Necker Bay, North Arm and other assorted hole in the wall beaches. My brother and his buddies never wanted to hunt Bear just left them alone and up until this year never really thought about it, but the way hunting is going I think it would nice to have a rug from there before it is not available any more. 

[TeacherMan]

I lived in Sitka a number of years and killed two of my own brown bears and was on a few other hunts, before and after the kill. I ate parts of at least 5 different bears killed in both spring and fall on fish streams. None that I ate was worse than some rutty bucks I have eaten, and some was downright good. I have had the same experience with black bears up there. I think the turned up noses to bear meat stems from mainly here say (so-an-so says bear meat is bad so it must be) and a general dislike of the idea of wild omnivore and carnivore meat by most people.

Save the meat unless there is a good reason not to.

To clarify, spring brown bear is recommended to be saved and you have to retain spring black bear in most areas. Only fall bears are exempted from salvage.

I like that AK lays out in the regs what is mandatory to be salvaged.  It really kind of disappointed me about the ambiguity of what needs salvaged in WA and that in ID only the main muscles needed salvaged.

Can’t remember about the AK squirrels and marmot regs, but you can shoot cormorants and crows as long as you keep some feathers.

Meat does need to be salvaged on black bears if harvested prior to 6/1. And generally is very good. With that said all the blackies we shot last season were from 6/10-6/25. Both brownies that I've eaten where Fall bears. One shot in unit 15 (the meat even smelled fishy) the other was out of 13 and the meat on that was was just strong tasting. Rutty is a good analogy. the one out of 13 was a very old sow. 15yr old+ bear. I'm sure that didn't help. I have eaten polar bear when I was working up in the Arctic and honestly it was better in my opinion than brown bear lol. Still a little fishy and extremely dark meat. If I shot one in the Spring I would salvage the meat. In the Fall (only brownie hunts I put in for, Kodiak because I can turn it into a deer hunt as well) I'll let the other bears in the area enjoy it.

[Skyvalhunter]

Funny thing about Kodiak bears. When I asked my guide about the meat and told me that the eagles are the ones that take care of it, Sure enough the day after when we were fleshing out the hide the eagles had eaten half of it and the next day when we left to get a blacktail there was hardly anything left. Those eagles are all over the dang place there. They had to of eaten 2X their weight in bear.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Good Luck!