Brown Bear Hunts

Hunting Brown Bears

The largest land carnivore on the planet, the brown bear (Ursus arctos), is regarded by many hunters as the pinnacle of dangerous game. Safari Club International recognizes eight distinct subspecies and variants of brown bears. They can be found in far-flung regions of North America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Russian Far East.

Alaska Brown Bear Hunts

There are 30,000 brown bears in Alaska, according to estimates. Around 1,900 brown bears were killed in Alaska in 2007. Alaskan residents took seven hundred of those, while non-residents took 1,200 (or 67 percent). Some places have spring and fall bear hunting seasons, whereas others only have fall bear hunting. Killing cubs and pregnant females is prohibited. Brown bear hunters from outside Alaska must either use a guide or be accompanied by a family member who lives there.

Except for the islands west of Unimak in the Aleutian Chain, the islands of the Bering Sea, and the islands south of Frederick Sound in southeastern Alaska, brown bears can be found all around Alaska. Bears usually live alone and stay away from other bears, except breeding pairs and females with young. However, there are exceptions in areas with a high concentration of food supplies, like streams where bears can catch salmon moving upstream to breed.

The Kodiak Archipelago is home to the Kodiak Island Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos Middindorfi). This island chain runs over 150 miles from north to south and almost 50 miles from west to east. The geography and vegetation of these diverse islands vary, ranging from tundra to rainforests. Kodiak, Afognak, Raspberry, and Whale Islands are the four biggest islands in the group.

A current Alaska hunting license, a Big Game Tag Record, a brown bear locking tag, registration, and/or a drawing permit for the hunting region are required to hunt Kodiak brown bears. If you do not reside in Alaska, you must also provide evidence that a registered guide or a second-degree resident relative will accompany you. Before submitting an application for any Kodiak bear hunts, we strongly advise non-residents to set up a meeting with a knowledgeable big game guide.

The brown bear, also known as the grizzly bear (genetic research confirms it is the same species), had historically lived in all regions of Europe, Asia, and America with temperate climates. However, habitat loss and conflicts with people have significantly diminished their range. The only two places in North America that offer brown bear hunting are Alaska and Yukon due to the uncertainty surrounding grizzly hunts in the Lower 48. Russia is the best option if an American is looking for economical bear hunting. Estonia and Croatia are two other nations with active brown bear seasons.

Russian Brown Bear Hunts

Nearly everywhere in Russia offers brown bear hunting, but the Kamchatka Peninsula, the European Northwest, and the shoreline of the Sea of Okhotsk offer the best opportunities. There are believed to be around 150,000 brown bears in the area, and their number has been constant for many years. This surpasses the total number in all other nations combined. The habitat for brown bears in Russia stretches without interruption for 10,000 km (6,000 mi), from the border with Finland in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.

Russia has a large brown bear population, making hunting very successful. Approximately 30% of guided brown and grizzly bear hunts in Alaska or Canada are successful. In contrast, it exceeds 90% in many regions of Russia, and in some areas, the abundance of animals makes it possible for hunters to bring home many trophies. Russian brown bear hunts are much more cost-effective and much less likely to end in disappointment because they are less expensive than bear hunts in the US and Canada and have a three times better success rate. It is uncommon for a hunter to leave Russia without bringing home a trophy.

Hunting techniques are based on each variety of a bear's preferred food source, which differs from region to region. Russia is home to multiple subspecies of brown bears that may be found in various sections of the nation. Den hunting was allowed in Russia for a long time. However, it was banned in 2012 (to the great disappointment of many thrill-seeking hunters).

The southern regions of far eastern Russia are home to the Amur brown bear. This bear is medium to massive in size and has a darker-than-usual coat. It is thought to resemble the bears found on Japan's Hokkaido Island.

On average, the Siberian brown bear is bigger than its Eurasian counterpart. This is because the Siberian brown bear relies heavily on pine nuts during the summer and fall months to help it build up enough fat reserves to last through its winter hibernation.

St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Vologda, and Karelia are some locations where Eurasian brown bear hunts occur. These bears typically eat carrion, insects, small mammals, farmed grains like oats and barley, and wild berries in the European region of the country. The biggest European bear ever captured weighed 360 kg (790 lbs) and had a hide that was 260 cm long (almost 9 ft.)

Romania Brown Bear Hunts

Most brown bears in the EU are found in Romania. However, the exact number of bears there varies on whom you ask, including conservationists, the government, or businesses that profit significantly from trophy hunting.

Large carnivore trophy hunting, including that of bears and wolves, was outlawed in Romania in 2016. But to keep the population under control, various administrations have made exceptions. In accordance with these regulations, hunters have reportedly killed around 1,400 bears to date and are willing to pay $15,000 for a prize.

Over 6,000 brown bears are thought to exist in Romania. However, environmental organizations contend that the figure could be as low as 2,000, although the government claims to be unsure of the actual number.

Croatia Brown Bear Hunts

Croatia is one of the few locations where hunting for European brown bears is permitted. One of the most widespread subspecies of brown bears, the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos), inhabits much of Eurasia. It is sometimes referred to informally as the common brown bear, the European brown bear, the bear, and a variety of other names.

Before planning any brown bear hunt, contact an outfitter or a hunting agent to make sure the country you want to hunt in is still open for bear hunts. Some eastern European countries can change the rules almost overnight.