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[Hill]

Is this completely unheard of, or can it be done? I thought I saw a tape for sale which a bowhunter successfully stalked a grizzly with his bow. Is it possible to find guides for this type of hunt?

[Rayfromalaska]

Hill wrote: Is this completely unheard of, or can it be done? I thought I saw a tape for sale which a bowhunter successfully stalked a grizzly with his bow. Is it possible to find guides for this type of hunt?

You could do it in Alaska, but it would be extremely expensive. I don't know how much you would have to pay for such a hunt, but I would guess something like $7,000.

Now, if you watch the PSE video titled "Pursuing The Bruin," you will see a few bow hunters killing large grizzly bears from stands, and from high points near streams. You may want to contact PSE (the bow company) and find out where they conduct the hunts shown in the videos. Maybe they could answer your question.

[atomikall]

And you may wanna think twice they only show the successful hunts what about the ones where the stalking dosent turn out right

[atomikall]

The stand sounds like a better idea.

[rkaminski]

I hunted Brown Bear in Russia where they are about 1 foot larger than the ones in Alaska. It took 3 shots with a .375 H&H using a 300 gr bullet.
You would be taking your life in your hands.

[hunter777]

rkaminski wrote: I hunted Brown Bear in Russia where they are about 1 foot larger than the ones in Alaska. It took 3 shots with a .375 H&H using a 300 gr bullet.
You would be taking your life in your hands.

Man.....I'm jealous.

[SEAlaskaHunter]

As far as I know there has never been a hunter injured or killed while bow hunting for brown bear. Yes it can be done. Fred Bear himself stuck a truly massive brownie and lived to tell about it. Most of the hunts I have seen are spot and stalks not from tree stands.

[goldbelt]

I've heard of a few up here in southeast AK. I talked to a brown bear guide that takes bow hunters out and he says he has to shoot most of them after the bow shot. I don't know if this is an agreement between him and his clients or not. I would guess the bad part would be having to go after the bear in the alder or heavy forest up here. I work with a bear guide and I'll ask him. He does the spring hunt. Fred Bear shot a brownie near Juneau AK. I wonder if that's the same one SEAlaskahunter is talking about?

[expatriate]

When I see people say no bowhunter has ever been injured or killed while hunting browns, I think of Vegas. When you see a slot machine that hasn't made any noise in a long time, that just means it's due.

Could it be that the stealth of a bowhunter and lack of noise makes it less likely that the bear knows what's happening to him or where the threat came from? Do differing wound characteristics affect reaction?

I know it's been done, and I've seen it done on video with grizzlies. But personally I've got too much respect for those things than to get that close to them armed with a single-shot weapon that relies on cutting rather than shock.

[SNOWMAN0813]

Pick up the book"Life at full draw".It's a biography of Chuck Adams. His account of his brown bear hunt made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Especially when he told his guide " If things go bad, dont shot the bear( with your gun)unless he's gnawing on me"

[SEAlaskaHunter]

The reason Chuck didn't want his bear Shot is that it would then be disqualified for Pope & Young scoring and for credit twords his superslam. Pesonally I would say screw the scoring and shoot the devil if he was after me. Hopefully I will let you guys know first hand how an archery hunt for brownies goes. I plan on doing one this year if everything works out alright and I don't chicken out at the time of relase. I would like to hunt Yakutat or maybe Admeralty Island this year. If not I will stick a black bear here on POW.

[SNOWMAN0813]

Personally, I like to believe that I would have made the same decision Chuck did under the circumstances. Realisticly, I dont think I'd had the nerves to pull it off.

[RockyMountainAdventures]

Check out the thread.....

Bow Hunting Grizz!!!

[goldbelt]

SEALASKAhunter,
Are you still considering moving north . You'd be real close to your brown bear country for bow hunting. I hunt Admiralty Island annually for deer we usually start down by sitka and work are way back to Juneau on two crab boats a family affair. So we end up hunting all ABC islands Admiralty also known as kootznowoo " the fortress of the bear" Baranof and chichagof. All have good populations of brown bear. I've hunted Yakutat quite a bit and there are a lot of good size bears there also along with good moose hunting and great stream fishing and duck hunting in the fall as it's right on the flyway. You might consider renting a forest service cabin near Yakutat like the Atalio river cabin or the dangerous river cabin but you need to put in pretty early to get one and then you still have to get lucky to get the time you want. Yakutat is still one wild place a sportsmens paradise.

[SEAlaskaHunter]

Yakutat would be my first choise. I have heard the bear are not as big there but that does not matter to me. Any brown bear would be a trophy for me, the reason I want to hunt this area is for the chance to see a glacier bear. Some one brought one into the local taxidermist shop and he had a couple pictures of the rug. It was a beautiful bear. Do you happen to know if this is a special draw to hunt these bear or do they fall under the black bear tag? I know you are only allowed one every two years or something like that. Any info? It would be great to be able to bag a brownie and a glacier bear on the same hunt. I know I am asking for the imposable, but if you don't try you will never succed.