NAME: Ursus Arctos Middendorf
LOCATION: Bristol Bay, Alaska
TYPE: 10 Day Base or Spike Camp
HUNTS: Fall Offerings

Hunting Brown Bears With Dave Marsh

I hunt brown bears in the fall in Southwest Alaska in the area commonly referred to as Bristol Bay (GMU 17B), currently maintaining permits that cover well over 2 million acres of state park and DNR land in this prime hunting location. Sometimes we’ll access the country via a Cessna 206, but mostly we’ll use a Piper Pacer - both equipped with floats. This hunt originates in Dillingham and the significant scheduled bush flight expense to and from the hunting camp, at the beginning and end of each trip, is included in the price of the trip.

The traditional approach to brown bear hunting is operating out of an established camp that consists of a coordinated assortment of shelters that can include a large dome tent for clients that doubles as a field kitchen, and mountain tents typically for staff. As you might expect, there are cots, tables and chairs, lamps, and countless other details that make your stay warm, dry, and comfortable. Fare is as hearty and varied as a weight conscious wilderness setting will allow. This mostly translates into high quality freeze dried type meals supplemented with other odds and ends. In short, breakfast includes various hot and cold cereals, lunch is assorted meats, cheeses, trail mixes, and chips, and dinner is a one dish main course and often a sweet for dessert.

We also can incorporate spike hunting since over the years we have discovered that putting a camp on our backs and climbing into choice country has been a very successful way to hunt brown bears. This puts us in a position to “go to sleep and wake up with the game” without spending a lot of back and forth time getting into and out of the most productive areas. The weather is dynamic during any given year and at any given time so you should expect and be prepared mentally and physically for the worst. Meals are portioned and specific and the whole approach is similar in style to the extremes of remote sheep hunting. Clients must be in very good shape and be willing and able to carry sizable loads that often require several trips in order for this hunting style to be satisfactory and successful.

No matter the choice of hunting techniques that we as a team decide on, brown bears are very abundant in my area (two bear bag limit) with the population continuing to increase. In addition to a great density there is a proliferation of color phases ranging from deep coffee brown to wheat straw yellow which also makes my area very attractive. We’ll usually find them in open glades feeding aggressively on berries or on brushy hillsides grubbing roots but there is also the possibility of getting a bear that is visiting a kill site - his or ours! Weather conditions throughout the season are usually overcast, more than likely wet, but always windy. As stated, hunts are offered 1x1 or 2x1 September 19-28 and September 28 - October 7. Black bear, wolf, and wolverine are also considerations on these 10 day trips. I have been hunting brownies since 1994 and clients in a reasonable condition with the right attitude continue to have an excellent chance at taking a dandy trophy while on this personally guided and often staff supported hunt.