All of our hunts are fair chase and based from our vessel the Western Profit. For bear hunts, hunters will be accompanied by one of our guides in skiffs to locate animals, and then put ashore for the stalk. In the Sitka area, Kuiu island has the highest density black bear population anywhere in Alaska. There is also a healthy population of wolves on the island, and it is not unusual for hunters to have an opportunity at a wolf during black bear hunts. In general bear hunting is more relaxed than many other hunts. Typically the hunt will not begin until afternoon when things have warmed up a bit and bears are more active. So sleeping in is actually a thing on bear hunts! Typically a leisurely breakfast aboard the boat is followed up by a few hours of relaxing glassing where all manner of animals from bears, whales, deer, moose, sea otters, harbor seals, eagles and any number of other species may be observed. Not to mention the amazing scenery that is southeast Alaska. Or if you’re lucky, go pull up a pot of crabs for lunch/dinner! Next comes lunch, which tends to be the heaviest meal of the day. After that hunters and guides launch in the skiffs to begin the hunt. Hunting style, locales, and equipment differ between spring and fall, so we will break those out a bit more below. Fall brings streams full of spawning salmon to southeast Alaska. During this time bears are in the last desperate rush to pack on calories before the long winter hibernation. Egg laden salmon in the tight confines of a stream are a bonanza of high fat calorie protein, and the final significant feast before winter sets in and the bears den up until Spring. For this reason, bears are hyper focused on feeding, and it is not unusual to see large numbers in a small area simply feeding. During the Fall the focus shifts to these stream bound bears as they gorge themselves on salmon. It is common to see as many as 25 bears on a fall hunt. Hunters and guides will still use skiffs to go from the boat to shore, but then they follow the stream upward to find an appropriate location to observe bears as they come and go. The fall gives a better opportunity for archery hunters due to the close proximity of the bear. How close? Close enough to see the bear’s breath! Fall hunts are our favorite due to the amount of animal activity! Fall hunts tend to be colder and wetter than the Spring hunt, so the right gear, especially rain gear, is even more important.