My good friend Thornell did it again, this time in Russia on a huge Brown Bear. As his luck usually runs, the first day and within the first hour found him and his guide tracking a large track that was dragging another bear carcass. Eventually they found the bear; semi asleep above them at 258 yards. Not too bad with a .338 or another flat shooting 30+ caliber but Thornell had his .416 Rigby. The guide asked if he thought he could make the shot and after finding a decent rest on the snow mobile, he said yes and let one blow out the tube, hitting the bear, staking him to the spot. The last fatal shot was at 25 yards. Everyone took a bear but a few opted for a second bear. This boar measured out the largest on the trip. Thornell told me it was one of the most adventurous trip of his career, the most enjoyable seeing the scenery and sites but he probably wouldn't do it again.

That is a helluva trophy!!!

I've done the Russia Brown Bear hunt twice. It is by far, the most interesting adventure hunt I've participated in. It's a real step back in time about 50 to 70 years. I think it is probably what Alaska Brown Bear hunting was in the 50's and 60's.

It's well worth doing. BUT, I do know what he means when he says he probably wouldn't do it again. It's a real ball buster in terms of travel. If you can do it from Anchorage, I'd go again. If you have to do it through Moscow, I'd pass.

The Moscow route is brutal. For me it was, Dallas Ft. Worth to Munich, Munich to Moscow on day 1, 3 hours rifle import permits and immigration, then 3 hour traffic to the hotel (one of the most expensive cities in the world these days). Day 2, 3 hour traffic to the airport in Moscow, 3 hours rifles and passport issues, followed by an 11 hour flight from Moscow to Kamchatka, 2 hour drive to the helipad, then 2 hour flight to the camp. On the way back it was the same in reverse, but Moscow to Chicago where we had to overnight again prior to catching the final flight to DFW.

All this for 5 scheduled days of hunting. The good news is you'll get a bear in 5 days. You'll probably get your bear on day 1 or 2. But it's a LOT of travel for a little bit of hunting. If you can opt and take the 2nd bear while there, it makes it more bearable (pun intended)!

You lost me at "finding a good rest on the snow machine".

Ski+3

With snow at 3' and deeper, you won't get far on foot. Some areas was much deeper. Snowmobile's are the only means of navigating.

congrats to Mark...

Will do Tim.

Very Cool!

Congrats!!

L.David Keith
Are you still offering these hunts?
Went to your web site had prices from a few years ago I believe. Have you reposted any new Hunt offerings for this.
Thanks

Cool hunt... pardon the pun!

Joeblack2345, yes, if prices do not change, cost is $13,900 for the 8 day hunt. Second Bear is $4,000. Each hunt session is restricted to 4 hunters in camp. I'll PM you more details when I get next years details. Thank you, LDK

What were costs and time to get trophies back to U.S.?

A few changes were made as now you must go through the "dip & pack" type process so we are expecting about a two months wait. I'll post final cost and details when they clear US Customs.

Thats a great bear. I understand the average is more like 8.5' though, just saying. A great adventure for sure.

In some lesser areas, true, bears would average 8+ feet but in this area, they are bigger due to size of the area and numbers of mature bears. Out of the six this group shot, only one was under 9+ feet. It was a beautiful "grizzly" colored bear that went 8'6" and that was his second. Only two hunters shot a second bear.

LD:

What are you look8ng at (ball park) for flights- costs?

I'm hoping next week to sort out all details as I'm going to upload a lot of pics, then choose the most informative ones to post here with the open offers remaining. Airfare was around $2,000 but I'll get as much as possible until bears start shipping home, then I'll add those charges.

I hadn't mentioned before but the Fall bear hunt is mostly spot and stalk rivers. You may encounter a single bear or half a dozen feeding on Salmon. You are looking for a bear that meets your desires, hopefully one of those boars over 9 feet at least. I think the upcoming photo's will explain more than I can type at this point. I'll be posting as much detail as possible soon. Thanks for your interest, LDK

I appreciate the quick reply. I have looked at hunting over there recently.

Looking forward to the additional pic's and information.

What are the skulls measuring ? B&C or SCI ?

Unveliable ,nice bruin ,i would love to take one with my cz 375hyh open sigthed but im limited to guide in my country .

Rowland Ward or SCI for Americans but there are several other choices in the east. We won't know what this last bears officially score until they arrive in the US and are measured.

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
Rowland Ward or SCI for Americans but there are several other choices in the east. We won't know what this last bears officially score until they arrive in the US and are measured.

Thanks, as an Alaskan bear guide I always find it interesting to compare sizes as it is not that far from the Alaskan peninsula to Kamchatka. I have looked at hundreds of records of skulls of Russian bears and always wondered why they seldom grow large enough to qualify for B&C

Phil, they're from Russia...smaller brain cavity due to excessive Vodka comsumption.

Ridgetop, client advised me his bear ran around $1,600 for dip & pack, crating, permits and shipping. It has been tanned and is now at the taxidermist.

458Win, average skulls are 24 with the larger skulls at 26. Tops will be in the 27 inch range, SCI. Minimum for SCI is 22.

Proletariat Communist bears don’t have to think or eat much I reckon. Don’t need a big skull.
Just genetics is the non humorous answer.

Sounds like Democrats.