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Brown Bear on Baranof - Sitka
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Just six months and a long awaited hunt will begin. Hunt is via ship/boat out of Sitka.

What is normal for the last week of May as to bear movement? I expect it to be weather dependent but what is "normal" activity for this time of year? Bear is expected to be between 8-9 ft, does this sound normal for the territory? What kind of fishing can be found in the area this time of year?
 
Posts: 1324 | Registered: 17 February 2004Reply With Quote
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By the end of May, all the bears should be out and about. Earlier, around the end of April, the chances are better that any bear you see would be a boar.

I think you'd be a lucky dude if your shoot a nine footer. It happens, but I suspect 8 foot is much more likely.

Good luck!


Brian
 
Posts: 778 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 23 May 2002Reply With Quote
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I had to look a the regs again. It looks like you can hunt all the outside drainages until May 31. I'm used to a May 20 deadline.

If we have a winter like last year, the bears didn't really start coming out until the end of May. Beaches in Tenakee Inlet (Chicagof Is.) had 10 FEET of snow in April.

The outer coast is milder. I'd say you'll be hitting it during the tail end of Prime Time. BW could be right in that things may be a few week earlier on the outside. Not sure what he know about the Sitka area, tho.

Fishing in Sitka sucks! ha ha ha ha

Top 1 or 2 saltwater ports in all of Alaska - Craig is also pretty damn good also. You shouldn't have any problem catching some finfish and shellfish.


 
Posts: 2097 | Location: S.E. Alaska | Registered: 18 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Mike_Dettorre
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My Spring 07 Brown Bear Hunt outta Sitka

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3411043/m/842109476


https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8521043/m/632105576


Mike

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.



What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10094 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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just curious, whos your guide?


If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tuff.
 
Posts: 396 | Location: S.E. Alaska | Registered: 01 January 2007Reply With Quote
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Mike thanks for the link to your hunt and the other on gear, etc. Looks like a great hunt you had.

I will be a happy camper on anything 8' or greater.

I am booked with Scott McLeod and already planning the trip. Seems like that is a lot of the fun in these excursions and of course getting to see the beautiful country outside the great state of Texas.

Thanks to all for sharing.
 
Posts: 1324 | Registered: 17 February 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bob in TX
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Hey MG,

I just saw this thread!! You will be living one of my dreams!! I look forward to your hunt report and photos. Our gang will be chasing black bears up in Canada at the same time.

Good Hunting,

Bob


There is room for all of God's creatures....right next to the mashed potatoes.
http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/
 
Posts: 3065 | Location: Hondo, Texas USA | Registered: 28 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Both my brwonie hunts started about May 10, the rut seeming to start about the 15th. Some hides were rubbed. An early spring might leave you with many hides rubbed that late in May. Suspect you will see lots of bear, some of which will be sow with cubs. Have a great hunt; it will be a lifetime of memories. May I suggest you consider gatting to Sitka 2 days in advance of your boat trip? Lots to see in Sitka; be sure to visit the Raptor Center. Stay in a B&B and get a chance to meet the residents. Alaskans are really great people/ Chaz
 
Posts: 279 | Location: michigan | Registered: 12 July 2005Reply With Quote
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i think your gonna have a real good hunt


If your gonna be dumb, you gotta be tuff.
 
Posts: 396 | Location: S.E. Alaska | Registered: 01 January 2007Reply With Quote
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You should have a great hunt . The later the hunt the more bears you will see and boars are looking for sows that time of the season . Most big bears are taken the last couple weeks of May. Scott hunts the lower southeast side of Baranof for the late season excellant salmon fishing and you will not have any company. Eight foot bear should be the expectation.So far winter in Sitka has been mild snow at fifteen hundred feet.


outfitter,southeast Alaska, brown bear, black bear ,mt goat
 
Posts: 66 | Location: southeast alaska | Registered: 13 November 2007Reply With Quote
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Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge of the hunt/area. I am really looking forward to seeing the beautiful country and any bear over 8' will be a big plus for the trip.

I am thinking about taking a 35 Whelen w/250gr partitions, however just back from the range and they appear to be keyholing at 100 yards. If I can't get this problem solved may have to take the 375 H&H which I am certain is the hands down favorite in any event.
 
Posts: 1324 | Registered: 17 February 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of Mike_Dettorre
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Muygrande,

Either the Whelen or the 375HH are obviously fine. I would shoot the one with the most nostaglia.

Some other gear things. I would buy an waterproof day pack stuff just gets wet. A bore snake is a useful item.


Mike

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.



What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10094 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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