Alaskan Black Bear & Wolf Hunting

Spring Black Bear Hunting with Glacier Guides

A spring Black Bear hunt with Glacier Guides typically consists of six hunting days in the field. The hunting season starts in Mid April and concludes the second week of June. This is one of the premier times to experience Southeast Alaska as the flora and fauna that inhabit the woods and water are awakening from their winter slumber, with the renewed optimism and growth that the spring season brings. During this season, the bears are emerging from their winter dens and venturing to the beaches and grass flats in search of the various food sources that will sustain them throughout the spring. A typical spring diet for a black bear consists of new plant growth, sedge grasses, kelp, small crustaceans, and any carrion that they can scavenge from amongst the surf whipped beaches.

Hunting is done via the spot and stalk method. Skiffs launched from the yacht are used to survey promising stretches of shoreline or to gain access to the various grass flats and estuaries that hold a black bears favorite spring diet. This is a one hundred percent free range, fair chase hunt conducted in one of the most breathtaking environments that a hunter could ever experience. The hunter should be prepared to spend his time afield wearing chest waders and wading boots with the ability to walk at least two miles over slick and uneven ground. The typical distance for a shot on a spring black bear is generally inside 100 yards with the field position being widely varied. Due to the terrain, shooting sticks are often not functional, therefore a hunter should be well practiced in the various field shooting positions, including off hand and prone. Quality gear and optics are a necessity, as many hours are spent glassing and surveying the shorelines. There is always an incredibly abundant and diverse amount of wildlife to view along with the bears, to include marine mammals, birds, whales and orcas. Your eyes will appreciate the benefit of high quality optics while observing these wonders of nature.

A Typical Spring Day

A typical spring hunting day with Glacier Guides is high on adventure and low on stress. With the relaxed atmosphere the spring season brings and late evening hours of a spring hunting day, mornings generally consist of a hearty breakfast and enjoying the relaxation and comfort that the Alaskan Grandeur provides. Breakfast is generally served between 9:00 and 10:00am with the ensuing hours used to relax and prepare for the day afield. Lunches are generally “sack lunch” style to order, taken into the field as we embark on the days adventure. Occasionally, weather and other circumstances may dictate that we eat lunch on board before we depart for the hunt. Departure from the yacht for the hunting day typically takes place between 1:00 and 3:00pm. The most productive time to find the class of bears we are seeking is in the late evenings as the largest of bears spend much of their time feeding nocturnally. Therefore, we hunt late as the we find the bears to be the most active as the evening approaches last light. Travel back to the yacht after the days hunt will often be in the dark, between 10:00pm to midnight. A well earned dinner prepared by our chef will be served between 11:00pm and 1:00am.

Fall Black Bear Hunting with Glacier Guides

A fall black bear hunt with Glacier Guides generally consists of 6 hunting days to take place in September. These hunts occur amongst the many streams and rivers where the salmon are actively spawning, drawing the bears to congregate and feed as they prepare for their winter hibernation. The opportunity to view and hunt these bears as they fish for salmon provides a very unique and exhilarating hunting experience. Our custom Yacht, the Alaskan Grandeur, serves as base camp while access to the streams and estuaries is conducted via 18 foot powered skiffs. The style of hunting involves hiking up the respective streams, still hunting along the way and sitting over the many fishing holes being frequented by the bears. This is a very unique method of hunting as you will be completely immersed in the midst of the Tongass old growth rain forest. Hunters should be able to walk upwards of two miles in chest waders, with the terrain consisting of slick, moss covered rocks, logs, trees, and uneven undulating ground. The hunting is generally in very close quarters with the bears, with shots often coming inside of 50 yards. A hunter should be well versed and practiced in various shooting positions, to include sitting, off hand and prone.

A Typical Fall Day

The day starts with a home style breakfast, generally served around 9:00am. Depending on the weather conditions, a sack lunch will be prepared for our day in the field with a departure time somewhere between 11:00am and 1:00pm. Occasionally, poor weather may dictate we eat lunch on board with a departure taking place later in the afternoon. As the large boars tend to be fairly nocturnal this time of year, we find the hunting is often most productive as we approach last light. Therefore, we hunt very late, right up to the last moments of functional light and the coming darkness. After the days hunt we will return to the Alaskan Grandeur for dinner, generally served between 9:00 and 10:00pm.

Wolf Hunting with Glacier Guides

While you are on your black bear adventure, the opportunity to harvest a wolf either during or after your black bear hunt is a potential possibility. While most wolves are taken incidentally, occasionally we will set up and attempt to call the wolves in if a pack is known to frequent the area. These wolves that inhabit the islands of Southeast Alaska are a very unique subspecies of the grey wolf, known as the Alexander Archipelago wolf. These wolves are very distinct from the more common grey wolf that inhabits the rest of Alaska and the western United States, in both stature and genetic makeup. The opportunity to harvest an Alexander Archipelago wolf is one of the rarest and special experiences that a hunter could ever hope to accomplish.

Combo Hunts SPRING & FALL Pricing

• Black Bear Hunter $14,000
• Non-Hunters $6,000
• $1,000 Wolf harvest fee
• Plus License, Tag, Air Charter, HPF

Glacier Guides is an authorized licensed vendor for Alaska Department of Fish and Game. We will arrange for necessary license, tag, and registration permit requirements for your fishing or hunting trip, taking the guessing and uncertainty out of the picture. Please contact us if you have any questions.