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I am wanting to start research for a hunt that I have been wanting to do for a while. I want to take my Mom, Dad, Wife and I on a spot and stalk hunt for bear out of a boat. I have never been bear hunting and to be honest I don't have a huge desire to kill a bear right now, but I would like to do a more laid back hunt that we could take the women on. My Dad and I will be the only ones hunting. I would like to be able to do some fishing and be in a good area for sightseeing. Also I would like a boat big enough that the women wouldn't be cramped and miserable. They would both enjoy being part of the hunt(stalks......maybe videoing) just not shooting. This is just what I have been thinking in my mind, but I am totally ignorant to the opportunities. I would also welcome similar opportunities with other species (goats??) Interested to hear what some of you guys have done and think I should look into.
Southeast Alaska, Kodiak, British Columbia. Try googling "bear hunt from boat" and you will find multiple guides and outfitters.
Maybe consider Kodiak for Blacktails if bears aren't your thing. Some fun hunts where you stay on a boat each night.
I've been on spring bear hunts in Ontario where we ran bear baits from a boat and fishing for big Northern Pike was fabulous...
The guys that already killed bears would drop other hunters off to climb into treestands near the lake and then they would go out and fish until dark and pick the hunters up after dark.
Boat based hunts look like a blast. Good ones are definitely pricey for 2 hunters and 2 spectators though..... you are definitely north of $10k and likely $15k
I've done Homer Ocean Charters out of Homer AK and had a great time. They didn't cruise around like I thought they would and instead ran to Chrome Bay maybe 50 miles away and anchored. We'd see bear24/7 when ever you looked out the window and you could take the skiff and run the shoreline if you wanted. Lots of bear but it wasn't like what E.Don Thomas used to do and write about back in the 80's and 90's. You could fish if you weren't hunting off the back of the boat and catch smallish halibut, cod and other fish not meant for eating and we did pull anchor a few times to head out to deeper water for big halibut. Saw whales, otters, goats, bear, moose and the wilderness viewed from the ocean is awesome. Food was good and so was the crew. Plus, it NEVER rained. Not one day. I'd suggest you get on their emailing list if you're interested because they send out notices on deals now and again. And yes, I did kill a bear.
That said, I'd do a DIY hunt next time since that's about the easiest DIY to do.
$15k for two couples is not out of the question and I expected it to be at least that much. I am certainly open to something like Blacktails like Mr. Charlie mentioned, but having something that the ladies could be comfortable on is a must. If we can't find the right setup we might have to do a land based hunt of some sort out of a nice lodge. I mainly just want something more laid back. When we elk, deer and turkey hunt it is normally daylight until dark. This would be more fashioned toward a physically relaxing vacation.
Well Shiloh HOC might be just for you. It's pretty laid back. Hike the shore, hunt, fish, see the sites. Here's a few pics. The crazy starfish I caught on a hook fishing for halibut with a chunk of cod.
Gonna go take a look at their website Killinstuff. Thanks for the feedback. Were their boats nice enough to take your mom and wife on?
The boats are nice, 70' maybe????
No I wouldn't take my mother or any of my former wives but I'd sure take one or two of my girlfriends! The boats have nice sleeping quarters, showers and restrooms. Ladies would find it at least Motel 6 nice but with a much better view. Do understand that once you're out there, you're out there. No phone, tv, just water and Alaska.
I could put together a hunt for you in the Misty Fjords ... good fishing, shrimping & crabbing .... could be just Black Bear or combo Black Bear / Brown Bear.
But it would run over 15k for the deluxe vessel & fully guided 5 day Black Bear hunt.
Large Coastal Black Bear .... possible Cinnamon & a rare chance at a Glacier Blue Bear.
There are several fully guided Black Bear vessel hunts that hunt SE Alaska that would be nice enough to take the ladies along.
I know of a place you can rent a cabin for $500 per week per person and hunt bears DIY from a skiff spot and stalk on the beach in SE Alaska.
You can still hunt Glacier Blue Bears ?
Wow
Or am I confusing them with the whitish color phase of black bears along coastal of British Columbia that some refer to as Blue bears?
Muskeg that sounds interesting. Would you pm me your info so that we could talk more. My dad has killed a brown, but I haven't. I'd sure like to! I didn't realize you had a bear camp Mr. Bob. Don't you have a website with all of your stuff listed??
Glacier bears are "blue". Kermode bears are "white". They're totally different looking. If you want a "blue" bear, you should focus on the Yakutat area for your hunt.
Misty Fjords is the most beautiful part of the Tongass. It'd be a great choice for a boat (yacht!) based bear hunt. There are a ton of sites people pay to see in there that could be seen incidentally during your trip. I love it in there. It's on my "bucket list" to go goat hunting in Misty.
Muskeg, I was one degree away from you during my time in Ketchikan. Fran worked in our office on the water by the old moose lodge. Everyone there always spoke very highly of you.
well thank you .... for the kind words Halibutman. Frannie has retired and stays at our place on the Oregon Coast now. Alaska isn't quite done with me yet. I remember the under the street (viaduct) project. In all the years I have guided in the Misty we have taken one Blue Bear and sighted a couple more. Sighted one this spring over on our hunt in the Portland Canal. Also the Kermode (white) Black Bear is rarely seen in the very north east part of the Misty Fjords ... adjacent to the BC border. Very rare indeed. There is no law in AK against taking a Kermode but if one is ever taken a law will be passed. It has been illeagle in BC to take one for many years.
Shiloh ... pm sent
There was a kermode bear north of Juneau while I was there. I never got to see it myself, but there were some guys that took great pictures of it.
I agree with your assessment that a law would be passed to protect them should one fall to a hunters bullet/arrow.
I never did make it all the way around revilla in my little skiff, but I went around back enough times to fall in love with Misty. It didn't help my cause that my lady-friend at the time was the wilderness recreation specialist back there.
One of these days I'll get the time to book a proper goat hunt in there. Ideally, it'd be before you retire!
I'm not seeing it muskeg. Try again if you don't mind.
sent a PM again .... you can find my contact info in the Bow Site outfitter links.
