Alaskan black bear guides?

[WonkyWapiti]

My buddies and I are talking about saving up for a 2012 Alaska black bear hunt possibly in conjunction with a Sitka blacktail hunt.  We're wanting to book a guided hunt aboard one of those liveaboard boats so we can also possibly do some fishing during the down time.  Does anyone have any recommendations for a guide service they have used before?  If not, then any hints or tips in general in what to look for in a guide service?  I've never booked a guide before but we thought this would be a fun man trip and if we start saving now we can afford it.  Thanks in advance.

[Machias]

Contact Dean Hendrickson, here is his website, very honest, hard working guy.  I don't believe he does this exact type hunt, but he does have a bear hunt up there for HUGE blackies and he would be a great source of information for the type of hunt your looking for.  Tell him Fred Moyer "Machias" referred you.

  http://community.webshots.com/user/FullCryHounds

[WonkyWapiti]

Thanks Machias

[BLKBEARKLR]

Although I never used him, I always did it on my own, everyone that I had talked to said he was top notch

http://www.alaskagoodtimecharters.com/alaska_fishing_alaska_cruise/alaska_black_bear_hunting_trips_alaskan_black_bear.asp

[WonkyWapiti]

That looks like a good one too Blkbearklr.  Infact, I had already bookedmarked that website from a google search the other night.  I do appreciate the input.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Wonky, you will like it up there, where they hunt I have seen 17 bears in one day. They are all over the place and the fishing is top notch also. Good luck to you up there..

Joe

[AKBowman]

CHECK THE REGS. I'm sure you already have but if you're looking to hunt bears and deer in the same trip than you may be out of luck. Lots of units the seasons dont coincide.

Good luck you will have a great time. Most the times guides will soak crab pots and shrimp pots for you. Amazing trips.

[WonkyWapiti]

I'll have to check the regs but alot of the websites I have been checking out talk about blackbear/sitka blacktail combines hunts so I have to assume they must coincide.

[klickman]

Those hunts are available but are actually a little tougher than you would think.  Deer tend to avoid where the bears are.  Prince of Wales Island is your best bet for both, but all along SE AK is doable.  Most people hunt bears on the salmon streams in the fall.  The deer at this time, especially the bucks, tend to be above the treeline.  If I were you I would recommend doing a hunt focusing on one and if you get a chance at the other its a bonus.  Check the regs as well there are new rules about black bear hunting in the fall on Prince of Wales Island.  Prince William SOund is another opiton.  Great bear hunting the deer hunting is OK.  Hope this helps

KLICKMAN

[manitobabob]

please do yourself a favor and call dale adams adams alaskan safaris   sitka alaska 907-747-6108  0r his cell 9077383743tell him u taked to bob croom from pennsylvania, and trust him he is absolutely incredible ive hunted brown bears and black bears with him, you will fish hunt crab shrimpand i guarantee u you that you will never find a more honestdedicated outfitter in all of alaska. he has an uncanny ability to spot bearslike no other ive ever found.. and ive been around the totem pole a few times...we ate king crab till we couldnt eat any more, caught halibut, cod etctill our arms were to sore to bring in more.. we froze and brought home a 5 gallon pale full of shrimp, cleaned and deveined, saw seals, whales and everthing else that moves or swims... dale will stop his boat or renavigate to see anything that he thinks will intrest u.. he also tookm  a side trip up to the glaciers it took a whole day.  we took mhis boat up to a place where water fell approx. 500 ft down stuck a glass under it and drank it just incredible he took us right up to the glaciers, guess u get the point, he will customize the hunt to you... i promise you he is the man...   all i ask is some pics. when you get back.. any more info just ask   thanX

[WonkyWapiti]

Thanks Klickman and Manitobob, the more I research this for the group the more I think we will concentrate on the bear hunt for the group and the fishing will be a bonus and maybe plan a deer hunt for another time.

[klickman]

NOw you have to ask yourself spring of fall bears?  Spring bears will either have excellent hides or poor hides, a fall bear typically has fair to good hides.  Fall bears you typically don't have to salvage the meat, which would save you one shipping. 

You mentioned also that you would like to do some fishing as well.  What type of fishing do you want to do?  There are a few places here in Southcentral AK that you can do either boat based hunts or you could do a land based bear hunt.  The land based hunt in the spring would all you to river fish for kings, fish trout and lots of pike.  In the fall it would be silvers, trout and pike.  In SE its gonna be an ocean fishing deal in the spring and ocean or river fishing in the fall.  If you want to do a land based hunt in south central check out www.theotatmaadventures.com.  Hope This helps

KLICKMAN

[Gobble Gobble]

Check out Chris Ericksons web site www.tokriver.com it is only one page but he is the #2 trophy brown bear guide in Alaska. I met and talked to Chris over a beer about bear hunting last August when he dropped in to say hi to some friends (who also assist when needed on hunts). I know you were interested in black bear but check him out anyway.