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Hope your going with backup!!I just finished hunting for one here.I had a draw for an area where bears on the average are 7-8.5 foot.I used a 64# long bow even though I didn't get a shot I felt comfortable.I think that is what counts.Hope your hunt goes well.
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I would not hesitate to use 60 lbs. Biggest job is getting close and staying cool so you can make a good shot when it presents its self. This is not easy to do as most of us are not accustomed to being that close to a big animal like a brown bear. Good luck to you . Alaska Jim
Posts: 15 | From: Alaska | Registered: Dec 2006
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make sure you are backed up all bears are vey fast way faster than you and there have been charges that were not stopped by guns so be mentally prepared for what ever woodbender
Posts: 215 | From: warrensburg MO | Registered: Mar 2005
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when Fred killed his grizzly isn't that the only bear he needs grizzly/Brown.. same bear diffrent locations??
Posts: 757 | From: winfield missouri | Registered: Jun 2005
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If you are talking about Fred Eickler he did take a Brown bear last spring in Alaska. He took a grizzly, black bear and Polar Bear all in the same year, 2005.
P&Y and B&C recognize Grizzly bears and Brown bears as being seperate species in their record books.
-------------------- Jack Shanks Posts: 2062 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2003
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Jack did not know that..learn something everyday on this great site...so you do need the griz and brown bear both for the slam..plus others.. Scott
Posts: 757 | From: winfield missouri | Registered: Jun 2005
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G'day guys, I don't get much of a chance to get on here often but whenever I do I always find some good info. I'm a "bowhunting only" outfitter here in Australia for Water Buffalo, Axis deer and hogs. This year I'm taking time off from guiding in October and have booked a hunt on the Alaskan Penninsula for Brown Bear. Last year some of the Trad guys helped me with some questions on bow weight, arrow weight and broadhead preference. I've taken that all on board and believe I'm on track there. Now I'm hopeing that some of you fellows that have hunted Brown Bear, might be able to give me a little insight on what to expect in the way of actually hunting these big bears? I believe we will be spoting and stalking bears on or along spawning creeks or along the coastline. Could anyone give me some idea on just how sharp are these bears on movement and detail? How does there hearing rate? I imagine the noise of a river or beach could have a bearing on the noise factor? Is their nose as good as a hog's say or better? Did anybody take a Brown Bear on the Penninsula with Trad gear last Fall? I know that if a shot opportunity presents itself it won't be the equipment in check but the guy behind it. I'd appreciate any advise. Bill.
Posts: 49 | From: Tully Heads Australia | Registered: Oct 2004
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Basalt, sorry I can't help you as far as experience on a spot and stalk. The hunt I did was from tree stands set near where bears were known to fish.I can tell you they have a super scense of smell though. We tried to keep our scent to a minumum and approached and left our stand sites by walking in the streams we were hunting over. You might want to read the book Bear Hunting in Alaska by Tony Russ.
-------------------- Jack Shanks Posts: 2062 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2003
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Yes, phenomenal noses and hearing and will pick up any movement but stationary objects they may overlook. When a bear is on fish they can really get distracted so your odds of getting close will go up if they get distracted by fishies.
It's difficult to find anyone to fly residents onto the penninsula for bears as the outfitters seems to have the flight service kinda locked up from what I understand.
You won't need as much bow for these bears as you do for your buffs.
Posts: 2319 | From: Moose Pass, Alaska | Registered: Mar 2003
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Jack, thanks, I will try and get a copy of that book. Did you encounter many bears during your hunt? Thanks Steve, that's what I expected and I'm hopeing we can come across them fishing. From what I can gather the outfitters have certain hunting concessions on the penninsula? I think that's how it works but I'm not sure?
That seems to be the case with the bow weight but I've desided to shoot my 68lb limbs [the sme ones I killed my Buffalo with] just to be sure.
My outfitter tells me that there are some good Black bear up there as well, not a lot but some real big guys. So he has suggested I get a Black bear tag as well ?
Posts: 49 | From: Tully Heads Australia | Registered: Oct 2004
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The latest of Dr. Ashby's reports, on this site, dated 11272007, indicates that the key point in penetration is arrow weight. It also indicates that 650 grains is a key threshold for penetrating large bones.
If I had your opportunity I think I might go up to 700 or 750 grains. And based on his reports I would use a two blade head with a chisel point........Grizzlys most likely. In fact I have a few of those on hand in case of need.
Posts: 212 | From: Sacramento Valley | Registered: Sep 2003
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68# would be a good number. I have carried either a 66# osage selfbow or 66# laminated longbow on my brown bear trips. I have one friend that shot one with a mere 55# longbow but it was a smaller bear.
I would highly suspect that the amount for a NR Alien black bear tag would just be $$ thrown away but I'd hate to have you find one nose down if you didn't get the opportunity based on what I said!
Most of the larger black bears are in Southeast Alaska but I'm sure they get some decent ones but I bet 300# or a bit more is upper top end where as that is an average adult male in SE AK. Plenty big however.
Posts: 2319 | From: Moose Pass, Alaska | Registered: Mar 2003
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Thanks Bill, I'll be guiding and hunting with Doctor Don again this year in August and no doubt we will be talking Bear hunting over a couple of cold beers. I have read all of Uncle Don's books and they are a great read. Don has taken Russian Grizzly but has yet to take a Alaskan Brown bear I believe. He will be hunting them around the same time as I am this year and we hope to meet up at the end of the hunt. I like to try and gather as much first hand info on the animals I plan to hunt, especially if I have never encountered them before so I appreciate any imput from the "Tradgang".
Yes Steve, I feel pretty comfortable with the 68lb and it won't have to be a monster Brownie just to get a crack at a mature boar will make me very happy.
I think you are right there with the Black bear tag but like you said, I'd hate to not have one and there was a good Blackie head down, bum up in front of me.
Steve I've only seen a couple of Black bear in the flesh and never actually got to draw on any. I've been studying a lot of DVD's on both Brown and Black bear to try and get some idea of what to expect but I bet there is nothing that can compare to a real life close encounter?
I know a lot of my clients have trouble picking the size of our Water Buffalo in both body and horn size simply because they have never hunted them or been up close to them before.
Just out of intertest, do Brown Bear eat Black bear or what?
Bill.
Posts: 49 | From: Tully Heads Australia | Registered: Oct 2004
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