Black Bear

BLACK BEAR HUNTING

The North Gulf Coast & Prince William Sound is known for producing some of the largest black bear in the state of Alaska. Unit 06 provides black bears with premium habitat from Glacial moraines and coastal grass lands to berry covered slopes at higher elevations. Our spring hunts consist of targeting black bears at lower elevations where they forage on new spring growth and wild strawberries as where our fall hunts generally take place at high elevations that consist of fall berry crop. The black bears taken in our hunting area are known for their supreme thick black coats and excellent claws. Black bear hunts may also be added onto any of our other trophy big game hunts.

OUR BLACK BEAR hunts are typically combined with our Brown Bear or Mountain Goat hunts, not to say they can’t be combined with our Moose hunts. Season begins August 20 and runs till June 30 of the following spring. The Black Bear has thrived on the Gulf Coast due to the vast remoteness and densely wooded spruce forest providing excellent cover and safety from the larger Brown Bear. Our guides are very selective when taking Black Bear and look to harvest mature bears in the 6 ft or larger class with some bears squaring well over 7 ft. Being our area has an abundant number of Black Bear, our hunts are fair chase, spot and stalk rather than baited and are conducted 1 on 1 with you and the guide unless another hunter or non-hunter join you at your request. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game regulations state that in all areas of the state during Jan 1-May 31, edible meat must be salvaged and removed from the field.

LODGE HUNTS & SPIKE CAMPS

BLACK BEAR HUNTS are conducted 1 on 1 from either our main lodge or spike camps. Our lodge based hunts provide hunters with the obvious added comforts one would not receive in our spike camps although our spike camps are put together from the finest outdoor equipment. Our equipment has proven to withstand the harsh weather Alaska can throw at you. Top of the line tents, cots, heaters and frozen meals prepared by our lodge chef are provided in our out camps. Our guides have many years experience of conducting hunts in the field and are trained to provide not only a quality experience while hunting from our spike camps but also know how to insure comfort in the remote wilderness. Alaska Expedition Guides are wilderness first aid trained and have proven to be true professionals in the field on all of our guided hunts

TROPHY CARE AND EXPEDITING

All trophies are cared for in a professional manner. Hides and skulls are brought back from the field where our guides flesh the hide and turn the ears, nose, lips, eyes and remove the feet/knuckles from the trophy. Once complete, our guides will salt the hide to preserve the trophy for the next step in taxidermy to insure your trophy will arrive to our expediter in Anchorage safely. Our skinning and fleshing services are included in the cost of your hunt. All hides and skulls are tagged with our hunter’s name, address and contact information along with a separate tag with your taxidermist information before it leaves our lodge to the expediter. Expediting fees are not included in the cost of your Alaskan Hunt.

Frequently asked questions

Why hunt with Alaska Expedition?

Here at Alaska Expedition our guides have more than 10+ years experience in the field. Our main lodge and base of operations is also a full service sport fishing lodge meaning our guides are in the field longer than just hunting season and build familiarity with animal movements, habitat and location. Having the infrastructure of a full service lodge allows us to accommodate our hunters with a high level of service when it comes to Safety, Camp Locations and Overall Support during your big game hunt.

Where is Alaska Expedition Lodge located?

We are located in Alaska's Game Management Unit 06, on the Gulf Coast between Cordova and Yakutat on the famed Tsiu River.

Can I fish during my hunting expedition?

Absolutely! We encourage our hunters to get out on our local river and cast to our hard fighting silver salmon. The Tsiu River is home to one of the most premier coho salmon fisheries in the state of Alaska according to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Bring the family back to experience our world class fishery and show the kids a special part of Alaska.

When do we hunt Brown Bear?

We target Brown Bear both spring and fall here at Alaska Expedition with our spring season commencing in April and May and our fall season taking place in September and October.

When do we hunt Black Bear?

Black bear can be hunted both spring and fall here at Alaska Expedition with our spring season commencing in April and May and our fall season taking place in September and October.

When do we hunt Moose?

Moose hunting begins September 1st for us here at Alaska Expedition. We typically run our moose hunts through mid October but can hunt them till November 30 in our area.

When do we hunt Mountain Goat?

Mountain Goat season begins August 20 and runs till January 31st in our hunting area.

What kind of communications are available at Alaska Expedition Lodge?

Here at Alaska Expedition we have WiFi internet and Satellite Phone service.

How many hunters are in camp at a given time?

Typically our camp only allows 2 hunters during a period of 7-10 days unless we have special requests. We are not a production outfitter meaning we do not stack a high number of hunters in a area during a short season. Our hunting season is one of the longest seasons in all of Alaska and we choose to space our hunts out over a longer period of time and give our hunters a wider variety of country to hunt during their stay with us.

Are license and tags included in the cost of our hunts?

No, you will have to purchase the correct license and tags applying to the animals of your choice prior to your arrival at Alaska Expedition. Our office will provide you with specific information on how to purchase these licenses online.

Are references available?

Absolutely, references are available upon your request and we highly recommend you check references when selecting the right guide in Alaska.

How big of an area do we hunt?

We target a permitted area of more than 1000+ square miles of some of Alaska's most remote back country.

Where do we conduct our hunts?

We conduct hunts from both our main lodge and comfortable tented spike camps.

Can I bring a non-hunter in the field?

Yes, we can accommodate non-hunters in the field for an extra fee.

What is the weather like in the spring?

Temperatures are cool. Sunny days are the norm, but rain can be expected at times. Snow is possible, especially in April.

What is the weather like in the fall?

Temperatures are normally mild, but may be cold at night. Weather tends toward rainy, but there will normally be many sunny days. Snow is possible in September and likely in October.

What do I need in addition to a hunting license?

In addition to a hunting license, nonresident hunters must buy appropriate locking tags to hunt big game in Alaska — this tag is locked on the animal immediately after the kill and must remain there until the animal is processed or exported. Brown bears, and black bears from some areas, must also be sealed. This means taking the skull and skin (with claws and evidence of gender attached) to an officially designated sealing officer, who records data on the hunt and the animal and locks a seal on the skin (and skull for bears).

What are the laws regarding fire arms in Alaska?

In Alaska, hunters may generally possess and use firearms with few restrictions. State law prohibits the following unless you have been issued a Federal permit to possess such a firearm: Fully automatic firearms Rifles with a barrel less than 16" Shotguns with a barrel less than 18", and Rifles or shotguns less than 26" in total length Rifles, shotguns and handguns are legal for hunting in Alaska. Rimfire cartridges generally may be used only for small game. See the Alaska Hunting Regulations for details.

What caliber of rifle do we recommend?

When targeting Alaska's big game we recommend a rifle of a minimum .30 caliber. Brown Bear and Moose are large animals and we promote quick and ethical harvest methods. Goat hunts do not require a rifle of this caliber.

What distance should I sight my rifle in at?

We recommend sighting your rifle in to 100 yards and knowing where it shoots at 200-300 yards. We typically will not pick a fight with a brown bear over 200 yards as our area is heavily wooded but we ask that you know where your rifle shoots at this distance in the case this matter occurs. You will check your rifle for accuracy upon arrival at the lodge to insure your rifle traveled without being knocked off and is indeed shooting the way you left it. We also ask that you familiarize yourself and practice off shooting sticks before traveling to Alaska.

Discover Our Lodges

Our lodge is a full-service hunting lodge as well as fishing outfit.

A Full-Service Alaskan Big Game Guiding & Fishing Operation for Trophy Brown Bear, Yukon Moose, Black Bear & Mountain Goat Since 1989!

Remote. Wild. Alaska.

A Full Service Alaskan Big Game Guiding & Fishing Operation for Trophy Brown Bear, Yukon Moose, Black Bear & Mountain Goat Since 1989!

ALASKA BIG GAME HUNTING

Our team of highly qualified registered and assistant guides are sure to work extremely hard toward a successful Alaskan hunt. Whether you’re in chase of the magnificent Alaskan Yukon Moose, the massive Brown Bear, the majestic Mountain Goat or the beautiful Black Bear, Alaska Expedition Lodge is your ticket to experience the true wilds of Alaska.