One of my best friends just got back from hunting brown bear in Alaska. This was his second trip with the same outfitter with the same result. On both hunts his guide told him to shoot, that is a monster bear. On his first hunt, 13 days and a 6 1/5 ft bear. The outfitter cut him a deal to come back. My buddy had to wait 4 yrs to go back. This trip worse than the first, guide swears shoot it's a 10 ft bear. My buddy says he will not shoot anything less than a 9 ft bear, that way if unsuccessful he can go again next year. This bear is also not even a 7 footer. My friend is sick over his hunt, I have never seen anyone this dejected.
Now my request for help. Who would you recommend
to contact to hunt brown bears in Russia? Are there any real 10 footers left? Any advice would be a hugh help.
Thanks

I can book you a hunt with Phil Shoemaker, and he is the best you will find for big bear. I sent Palmer who posts here if you need a reference. Phil hunts the Penninsula, in the SW part of the state within the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge and adjoins Katmai National Park. This area has the densest population of bears in the world and Phil's clients have set many of the existing records on bear. Also has some monster moose.

RM007,

Ray's advice is sound, and Ray is strait shooter.

In Kamchakta Safari Outfitters is a big player out of Cody Wyoming.

Cabelas and other similiarly sized booking agents will treat you like a 1 of 20,000 customer.

About 50% the Weatherby award winners use them.

That and Clark at Safari Outfitters is a hell of a nice guy, who has spent more time in Asia than Gehnghis Khan!

I used the Russian booking agent Profi-Hunt and would do it again in a heartbeat. They are based in Moscow and are very well connected on Kamchatka. The owner, Vladimir Melnikov is also one of the higher ups in the Russian guide association which doesn't hurt. And yes, there are still ten foot bears on Kamchatka. My advice is to do a Spring hunt and avoid the Fall hunts for bear.

Mike

I know a good eye doc. Sounds like the guide could use a thorough eye exam, get some glasses or contacts, so he can stop cheating his clients. He obviously doesn't know his A$$ from a hole in the ground, let alone how to judge a bear. Sounds like the additional 4 years of guiding didn't teach the guide anything either.

It is unfortunate that you friend put such confidence in the same guide for a second time just for a reduced future hunt. Reminds me of the time a kid that rode home with us in 7th grade got burned twice.

I pushed in the cigarette lighter, waited for it to eject, then acted like I was touching it with my finger, said it wasn't hot. He challenged me, stuck his finger in and burned the tip of his finger. I'll be damned if I didn't do it all again, acted like it wasn't hot at all. He took it and put another finger in there and....well, burned the tip of another finger.

Tell your friend to check out things with Ray.