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Hunting the Brown Bear in Alaska - First-Timer needs help
- Thread starter RastaMan
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Wildalaska
Moderator
Heck, I've heard a number of the native subsistence hunters use AR's.
You have heard wrong.
WildplustheyarenativehuntersnottyrosliketherestofusAlaska ™©2002-2010
tighty whitey
New member
A friend of mine went hunting in Alaska and the guide insisted that my friend could only use a specific gun so I'd imagine that you are likely to encounter a lot of push back as to your goal.
It is my understanding that a hunter will ensure that their prey will not suffer unreasonably and to attain that result you should, in all good conscience use a gun and ammo combination of sufficient power to put the bear down with certainty. From a review of the responses so far, I think you know the answer. (BTW I'm very new to guns and have never hunted. I'm hoping to go on a hog hunt soon.)
Peace, g.
It is my understanding that a hunter will ensure that their prey will not suffer unreasonably and to attain that result you should, in all good conscience use a gun and ammo combination of sufficient power to put the bear down with certainty. From a review of the responses so far, I think you know the answer. (BTW I'm very new to guns and have never hunted. I'm hoping to go on a hog hunt soon.)
Peace, g.
Residents, and relatives accompanied by said residents don't need a guide.
Congratulations on finding the regs.
However, it is a completely irrelevant point unless the OP happens to have an immediate relative who is an Alaskan resident. Given the fact that the OP has spent the last couple of decades in NY City, and now Jamaica, the outlook for that is dim at best. Even still, I don't know of any resident of AK that would condone the hunting of brwon bears with a 7.62x39mm.
Having spent 3.5 years in Alaska in the early 60s, and took two Kodiak bears I would not even consider such a cartridge or rifle as the AK and 7.62x39. the two I took were with a .300 WBy which took several shots after the first 180 Nosler went through both shoulders, and a .375 which only required one shot.
My buddies used .35 Whelen and .300 Wbys. None of us ever had any problem but some did require follow up shots. While a 30-06 will do a fair job I know of at least one other friend who lost a Brown after shooting him with a 30-06.
I once was on orders to go back to Alaska and was going to take a .35 Whelan, and a 330/06.
It never made any sense to me, and still doesn't, that a person gets a chance of a lifetime to hunt big bear, and takes an under powered rifle. If I did not have a gun like a .338 I would buy one. The cost is miniscule compared to what a guide and licenses will cost.
I agree that there is not a guide in Alaska who would take a hunter armed with a 7.62x39. It might even be illegal, but I have not checked.
When I was there in the early 60s you could take a polar bear, either a brown or grizzly, and three blacks each year. I never hunted polar bears.
My advice is to get a proper rifle or skip the hunt.
Regards,
Jerry
My buddies used .35 Whelen and .300 Wbys. None of us ever had any problem but some did require follow up shots. While a 30-06 will do a fair job I know of at least one other friend who lost a Brown after shooting him with a 30-06.
I once was on orders to go back to Alaska and was going to take a .35 Whelan, and a 330/06.
It never made any sense to me, and still doesn't, that a person gets a chance of a lifetime to hunt big bear, and takes an under powered rifle. If I did not have a gun like a .338 I would buy one. The cost is miniscule compared to what a guide and licenses will cost.
I agree that there is not a guide in Alaska who would take a hunter armed with a 7.62x39. It might even be illegal, but I have not checked.
When I was there in the early 60s you could take a polar bear, either a brown or grizzly, and three blacks each year. I never hunted polar bears.
My advice is to get a proper rifle or skip the hunt.
Regards,
Jerry
therealdeal
New member
Jamaica,
trust your guide&the guys from alaska on this forum. if you find a guide who doesn't care about your safety but does your money, thats not a good thing either. You prefer what you prefer w/regards to firearms, but be open to a better+alternate weapon for this hunt also. there are reasons why the guides do these hunts certain ways(besides covering their a$%). good luck. if you can afford it, I think the hunt will be a great experience. then again, there is also lion hunting
trust your guide&the guys from alaska on this forum. if you find a guide who doesn't care about your safety but does your money, thats not a good thing either. You prefer what you prefer w/regards to firearms, but be open to a better+alternate weapon for this hunt also. there are reasons why the guides do these hunts certain ways(besides covering their a$%). good luck. if you can afford it, I think the hunt will be a great experience. then again, there is also lion hunting
trooper3385
New member
I was just being sarcastic by the way.
therealdeal
New member
trooper, that was a good one. I just re-read
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
We pretty much have a consensus, so let's wait and see what the OP has to say, now...
Rifleman1776
New member
The AK round is a pipsqueak. Big Brownies need big guns for certain kills.
I have read stories of Brown Bear experiences. In one a known killer was finally put down. When it was dressed numerous bullets from a variety of calibers were found in it's hide and muscles. They never penetrated to the organs. Brownies are tough.
And, do consider all the expenses, travel, guide, clothes and a biggie, taxidermy. I have been told the total expenses can range between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00. If someone will fund it for me, I would love to go on a Kodiak Grizzly a/k/a Brown Bear hunt.
I have read stories of Brown Bear experiences. In one a known killer was finally put down. When it was dressed numerous bullets from a variety of calibers were found in it's hide and muscles. They never penetrated to the organs. Brownies are tough.
And, do consider all the expenses, travel, guide, clothes and a biggie, taxidermy. I have been told the total expenses can range between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00. If someone will fund it for me, I would love to go on a Kodiak Grizzly a/k/a Brown Bear hunt.
So are you saying the AK round will not do any damage to the bear? It wont even slow it down?
That's not what people said. It is impolite to put words in other peoples mouths.
They said that the 7.62x39 was inadequate for use on large bears. They also said that no Alaskan bear guide would let you use a 7.62x39 to hunt large bear.
The people who responded include Alaskan residents and people who have hunted large bears. I'd suggest their advice might be worth listening to.
RastaMan said:So are you saying the AK round will not do any damage to the bear? It wont even slow it down?
The 7.62x39mm (the "AK round", as you say) does not offer sufficient penetration to ethically harvest a large bear. If you plan to hunt large bears, the baseline for your cartridges should start at .338 Winchester Magnum and get bigger from there.
Theoretically, you could kill a large bear with a 7.62x39mm to the ear.
Theoretically, you could invade Iran with a slingshot and a goofy grin, but that don't make it a good idea.
sc928porsche
New member
I used to hunt lower 48 browns and black bears with my 300WM. It did quite well, but those bears were a bit smaller than the ones up in AK. My firs hunt in AK with the 300, too 2 well placed rounds to get it down and out. Quite a bit of difference. For AK, I now use a 378WBY and it does the job very well.
The last thing you really want is to hunt something that can eat you without proper equipment. As you are aware of by now, the 7.62x39 (AK 47) is not the correct cartridge for the job at hand. It would be similar to dealing with armed bank robbers and you with a Daisy air rifle.
The last thing you really want is to hunt something that can eat you without proper equipment. As you are aware of by now, the 7.62x39 (AK 47) is not the correct cartridge for the job at hand. It would be similar to dealing with armed bank robbers and you with a Daisy air rifle.
TheGoldenState
New member
So are you saying the AK round will not do any damage to the bear? It wont even slow it down?
With all the comments/advice that is what you got?
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
RastaMan, an AK round will likely kill a Big Bad Brown Bear. Eventually. Your problem becomes one of dealing with a very unhappy and irate half-ton of teeth and claws. That's commonly known as a "one time event", to the detriment of the shooter.
For any dangerous game, whether it be Alaska or Africa, a shot which is not a near-instant put-down means dealing with a charge. Large, dangerous-game animals when wounded should be thought of as bullet sponges. They can absorb far more than a pipsqueak cartridge can deal out.
Few hunters care to be field-dressed by the intended target of their hunt.
For any dangerous game, whether it be Alaska or Africa, a shot which is not a near-instant put-down means dealing with a charge. Large, dangerous-game animals when wounded should be thought of as bullet sponges. They can absorb far more than a pipsqueak cartridge can deal out.
Few hunters care to be field-dressed by the intended target of their hunt.
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