Brown Bear hunting

70 hunting trips from 40 outfitters starting from $1,394

hunting trips

$1,394

starting from

outfitters

About Brown Bear hunting

Brown bear, a.k.a. grizzly (genetic studies confirm it is the same species) historically occupied all temperate climate zones in Europe, Asia and America. Habitat loss and conflicts with humans have dramatically reduced its range. With the future of grizzly hunts in the Lower 48 still uncertain, the only two areas in North America that offer brown bear hunting are Alaska and Yukon. Russia is the prime alternative for an American who is looking for affordable bear hunting opportunities. Other countries where brown bear season is open include Estonia and Croatia.

Where to hunt Brown Bear

United States 33 hunts

Russia 22 hunts

Croatia 9 hunts

All countries (5)

Price distribution

The most affordable brown bear hunts are to be found in Russia. Actually, the prices are so low that many people find them suspicious - you can fit the price for a brown bear hunt, travel exclusive, in the European part of Russia in $2,000 (read the blog story that explains how it’s possible). Prices grow along with average trophy size as you move eastward, and are just over 10,000 for the legendary Kamchatka bruins. The prime trophies and well-equipped outfitters for brown bears in the USA (Alaska), especially on the famous Kodiak island, and Canada (Yukon) command premium prices as well.

$1,394

$11,546

$21,698

$31,850

$42,002

Tags, Licenses and Rules

Bears are not endangered in the areas where hunting is legal, nevertheless, hunting is strictly regulated to make sure populations remain healthy. Brown bear hunting in Alaska and Yukon does not require tag draw, but non-residents must be accompanied by a licensed guide. Hunting female bears with cubs is universally banned; trophy hunting discriminates against harvest of females anyway, because male bears are significantly bigger and most females don’t reach the size that will satisfy a trophy hunter.

May 11, 2017

From Europe to Kamchatka: Seven Options for Bear Hunting in Russia

When to hunt Brown Bear?

There are two main seasons for bear hunting: in spring, after the bruins leave their dens, and in the fall, before the denning time. The former runs in March to May, the latter - August to October. Both seasons are similar, in that bears feed actively, in order to accumulate enough fat for the denning, or to compensate for calorie loss during winter sleep, and concentrate around preferred food sources such as salmon runs. In addition, less dense vegetation makes it easier to locate a bear and estimate its size. But different feeding strategies employed by the bruins call for different hunting methods.

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Hunting methods

In the USA and Canada the most common way of hunting brown bear is spot and stalk, especially on salmon runs when bears feed on the fish. The same way is practiced on the other side of the Pacific, in Kamchatka. In Europe most bears are hunted over bait. Russia offers the widest variety of hunting methods, including hunting with laika dogs (the hunters stalk the bear while dogs keep it at bay), hunting from improvised high seats placed where bears plunder oat fields, and hunting bear raised from its den (no, one doesn’t kill a sleeping bear in the den).

Rifle Hunting 59 hunts

Stalking 43 hunts

High Seat 29 hunts

All methods (12)

Meet your guides

Check out what outfitters have to say about their properties and hunting experience with them!

Bob Cusack

United States

Nestled on the Alaska Peninsula between Lake Clark National Park and the Katmai National Monument is the Cusack's Alaska Lodge. The lodge sits 200 miles to the southwest of Anchorage amid the beauty of wild Alaska. Your hosts are Bob and Lula Cusack, who built the lodge. Bob is a professional grade bush pilot and has been flying fisherman to remote locations for nearly 40 years. This is a rustic, luxury lodge that blends the best of wild Alaska with the best of modern society.

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Alisha Mutts Decker

United States

9.8

4 reviews

With over 40 years of guiding experience in Southeast Alaska and Glacier Bay National Park, We are an exceptional choice for your next hunting adventure in the Alaskan wilderness. We were formed in 1974 by Master Guides Jimmie C. and MaryAnn. Over the years, the business has grown to be one of the largest professional Guide/Outfitter operations in the State of Alaska. We are a family-owned and operated, with Master Guide Mutts and Zach carrying on the outfitting tradition.

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Bush TV

Check out an amazing footage from outfitters and landowners properties.

It is hard to get up

Oh boy its is very hard for this Bear to get up!

Bear search in Snow

This Bear is hard at work looking for something in the snow

Scratch my Back

This bear has a really bad back itch!

Yawning Bear

This Bear must have had a late night

Massive Brown Bear

Massive Brown Bear standing in the rain

Bear Snacking

Bear enjoys an afternoon snack

Bear eating grass

Beautiful brown Bear strolling about and eating grass

Bear fishing for Salmon

This huge Brown Bear is fishing for salmon in Alaska with Full Scope Outfitters

Brown Bear eating lunch

Amazing footage of a Brown Bear enjoying lunch in the water

Curious Shiras-colored Brown Bear

This Shiras-colored Brown Bear really wants to know what is going on and who is looking at him

Brown Bear

Brown Bear giving himself a fright at a feeding site

Brown Bear run

Brown Bear running away from a drone

European Brown bear

The brown bear is the largest land predator on Earth and are quite often a little ill-tempered. These European brown bears are no exception to that.

Alaska Brown bear

The Alaskan brown bear is the largest land predator on Earth. One reason for the exceptional size of these bruins is the plentiful supply of fat and protein in the form of salmon in Alaska's rivers and streams. Here's an up close and personal look a hunter got of this ritual for survival!

Kamchatka Brown Bear in snow

In terms of brown bear hunting, Kamchatka is like Alaska, only twice as remote and twice less expensive. Compare the prices for Kamchatka bear hunts to Alaska coastal browns, and see for yourself.

Kamchatka Brown Bear

Big Kamchatka Brown Bear playing with his food, not afraid that it might swim away.

Why hunt Brown Bear?

Since the dawn of times, bears and humans were two similar, intelligent and omnivorous species that competed for the same environment and food sources. No wonder the idea of bear hunting still makes people very emotional, on both sides of the hunting debate. It is these primal emotions that make hunters go find bears, not the prospect of a big rug or entry in the trophy book. This said, bear meat (where it is not infected with trichinosis) is a delicacy. Brown bear hunting is dangerous game hunting, so be sure you’re packing an adequate rifle and load combination, and listen to your guide well.