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.