ne of the questions I am most often asked about hunting brown bear on the Alaska Peninsula is whether to come in the spring or during the fall. There are many factors to consider in making this choice and both seasons offer both advantages and disadvantages depending on your own requirements. With out further fanfare let's address the issues.
As you probably know brown bear seasons occur on the Peninsula everyother year. The fall season occurs from 10-25 October during the odd numbered years, '97, '99, etc. The spring season is currently 10-25 May during the even numbered years, '98, 2000, etc. These dates have been in place for many years and are not expected to change. If they do I will update this page, indicating the new dates.
The most critical factor on any Peninsula hunt is the weather. The Alaska Peninsula can generate some of the world's worst. This is especially likely in the fall with the onset of winter. The average year 'round wind velocity at Cold Bay is 35 mph. During the fall hunt it can be expected to have several days of winds accompanied by rain in excess of 100 mph. It is not practical to hunt at this time and the hunter and his guide will more likely be huddled in their tent with their feet against the fabric as hedge against the tent and you sailing across country. Planes will not be flying so getting in or out is not likely.
This weather is, in my opinion, the biggest factor for success. It can make mice of men, rip your tent and make your bread soggy. As guides, familiar with the Peninsula, we are (hopefully) mentally prepared it, though it may not be our first choice for a honeymoon. The two most common comments from hunters after spending several days with their feet against the sides of the tent are "If it's brown I'm shooting it," or "I want to leave." This is the reason I make my hunts sixteen days instead of eight. This way you can take a day to carbo-load and steel yourself for the remaining days of the hunt. If you are hampered by weather during the short hunt you are up against the wall when you finally get the opportunity to get out of the tent and into the field. You might be forced to take the next available bear or go home empty handed. Maybe it's a big one, maybe it's not. As famed baseball announcer Harry Cary used to say, "You make the call!"
OK, now that we have the caveats out of the way, because I assume you want the real story and not sugar coating, let's get on with the pro's and con's. Besides that it's bad for your teeth and I would consider myself remiss if I didn't tell you what could happen, though it may not.
n the lower end of the Peninsula, during the fall season, we have a salmon run. This will be the focal point for every bear the area. Tons of easily accessible food in shallow drainages. The bears will feed on the salmon during the night and drift off into the surrounding hills rest during the day, bedding down in alder patches. The good part about the fall is that you will usually see lots of bears if you are positioned at a visual vantage point.
Now what you really want is a big bear, not average. The largest bears will rarely be seen during the day, unless one emerges (briefly) from his bed to quench the thirst an almost all protein diet can generate. You must, you must, you must be in position to see the bears coming off the creeks before you can see without the aid of a flashlight. The big bears will be leaving the creeks either during the night or when you can barely see. This requires you to get up very early and make your way to your position in the dark. It may entail a route that circumnavigates some hills so that you do not "stink up the valley." You may or may not have to walk a great deal depending on where your camp is located.
You will likely spend most of your day on the hillside scanning for the lone emerging bear or planning your stalk on the big one you saw leaving the creek, and have, no doubt, pinpointed his bed or the last point he was visible. This hillside position can range from pleasant, on a sunny day, to uncomfortable, on a rainy and windy day.
If you are lucky enough to see what you want you and your guide will proceed as the situation requires. If not, you will likely wait until dark then hike back to camp for the night. If you have to go for several days with this procedure you will be in for some long hunting days. Getting in late and leaving early. The days get shorter by about six minutes/day.
Your first thought may be that since you will see more bears during the fall that should be the best time to come. Could be, but there is something else that is not often considered. Consider that you have finally found the bear you are looking for and have decided on the stalk. OK, but where are all those other bears that were in the area bedding down? Since the big ones have gone into the alders early along with a few others the remaining bears on the creek are likely to be females and cubs and they may well be out there until late in the morning. Not something you want. But as they begin to wander to the hillsides to bed down you may have to negotiate around them. More noses, more eyes, and more ears to contend with. Then there are those that have bedded down that you have not seen. These can be real minefields. These problems usually can be solved but it is something that is worth looking at.
As you can see, during the fall, most of your problems are factors of logistics and weather. Condition of the hide is generally good and given everything else, will be better in the fall than the spring, though you should look for vacant patches that may be caused by disease.
he spring hunt is my personal favorite primarily because of the better weather and longer daylight. It barely gets dark in the spring and staying out in the field when after a bear is a distinct possibility. Spring storms are a possibility but not a likely as during the fall.
Two things come to mind when considering the spring hunt: hide condition and walking. The bears are coming out of the dens at this time and if hides aren't damaged from freezing to the ground in the den they will soon start rubbing. There is that possibility but it is not a sure thing. Usually the animals can be taken within the first few days of the emergence and the hide will generally be as good if not better than during the fall.
During the spring you will likely have to walk a great deal. Certainly more than in the fall. With bears coming out of the den in the high country you will have to make your way there. You will have to cover lots of country looking for the dens, tracks or animals. Usually males will be coming out first, followed several days later by females and cubs. This helps to eliminate the problem encountered in the fall of stumbling over other bears during your stalk. This also means that there will be fewer bears but a higher ratio of males.
As the bears emerge they will seek out vegetation and grasses as a first meal though they will not turn down carrion if available. This means that they will be heading for the lower elevations and the coast. Lots of travel during the first days out of the den, except if the weather turns cold then the bears may remain near and possibly return to the den for a day or two. If so there is the chance to ambush the bear as he returns.
In either case, lots of walking will be involved. If you are in shape and your feet are as tough as the rest of your body then you are set to enjoy the hunt.
As I mentioned I personally prefer the spring hunt, but I will take either. More often than not it boils down to when you can go. If I have time after this fall's season, that is if all my hunters fill out early, then I will hunt for myself. As I rarely get to go I, like most hunters, have to take it when I can get it.
There you have it! Both season sounds good, don't they. The question is now, as former speaker of the House, Tip O'Neil said, "Is you is, or is you ain't."
