Need help planning a black bear hunt Aug/Sept 2014.

[colonel00]

Well, my father is turning 65 and we had a party for him last weekend where I gave him the gift of a trip to Alaska and the choice of the game he wanted to pursue. The basic choices were caribou off the Haul Rd but I knew this would probably be too tough, black bear down in on the coasts or just to enjoy some fantastic fishing on the interior rivers and some silvers down in Valdez. Several years ago it would have worked great to do the fishing and he could try to get a bear outside of Valdez like in Jack Bay. Unfortunately I believe the dates are moved back to the 10th of September for the bear opener which is quite a while to just hang around after the silvers in Valdez are done. I know I could bring him up later and just do the bear but man the fishing is so much fun that I would love to find a way to do both.

So, are there any suggestions on some possibilities for getting a black bear with a bow in the late August time frame? I am waiting on my secret decoder ring to arrive so I can start making my way through this year's regs but I figured I would throw this out there and see what people suggested.

 

[Daughtery Taxidermy]

I have been doing my orientation work as I will be moving to Alaska next summer. I have in my searches a cool lodge called Ravencroft lodge http://www.ravencroftlodge.com/hunting.html that states they will pick you up out of Valdez and go about 25 miles north by transport boat to their lodge, where they offer both fishing and unguided bear hunts. The unguided bear hunts are only around 2,500 or so that is what caught my eye and they furnish you a boat once you get to their lodge and orientate you to places to go. Also after you get the bear you can spend the rest of the time fishing. Hope this helps.

 

[Roger45]

I have been doing my orientation work as I will be moving to Alaska next summer. I have in my searches a cool lodge called Ravencroft lodge http://www.ravencroftlodge.com/hunting.html that states they will pick you up out of Valdez and go about 25 miles north by transport boat to their lodge, where they offer both fishing and unguided bear hunts. The unguided bear hunts are only around 2,500 or so that is what caught my eye and they furnish you a boat once you get to their lodge and orientate you to places to go. Also after you get the bear you can spend the rest of the time fishing. Hope this helps.

My guess is that you mean to say they are SOUTH of Valdez, otherwise you are inland and this looks like it is on the ocean. That said, some of the richest black bear country around is out of Valdez. Look up on the peaks when you are there and you may see a number of Mountain Goats too. A fantastic area...but I know nothing about this lodge personally.

 

[colonel00]

Thanks for the replies. As I mentioned originally, the issue with the Valdez area is the season doesn't open until Sept 10th (pretty sure I am reading the regs correctly) and that really makes it kind of late to both catch the silver run and get a bear. It looks like I could try to get over to units 6A, 6B and 6C as their seasons open a little earlier. Also, trying to keep this kind of on the cheap. $2850 seems fairly pricey to essentially do the same thing I did several years ago with a rented boat on our own. Granted, the lodge looks to be pretty nice and I am sure they have great accommodations and make the stay wonderful. Again, it is the dates that really seem to be a killer. I did notice that they say the silver run is still strong at the time of the bear season (Sept 10th). I have heard of a late run of silvers in the Valdez area but never looked into it further. Anybody have any info?

Anyway, thanks for the help so far. I am still tempted to drag him up the Haul Rd and let him chase some bous around but I just need to be sure he is up to it.