He wasnt raised in a family of hunters, though his uncle William Horstman hunted small game and deer in the Adirondacks. Fish and Wildlife Service. Checkout Mike Horstman on The Hunt on the History Channel, or call 907-942-7738. They have an amazing sense of smell, good eyes, and good hearing. Our brown bear season on Kodiak Island takes place every spring April 20 May 5 and every fall October 25 November 8. He earned the title of Master Guide 15 years ago. It is hard to imagine how big these bears can get. Ex-NFL pro turned bear guide Eric Fischer is a no holds barred hunter who believes in pushing himself and his hunters to their limits. I have hunted with Lance Kronberger twice for big bears and twice connected - Peninsula Brownie in '14 and a giant Grizzly in '19. This subspecies of brown bears are very wary of humans and will avoid contact, although, they do not typically show signs of aggression, its important to remember to treat them with caution and respect. Often times bears will be on the beach eating kelp and other carrion that washes up. I consider him a legend himself. Bears in captivity typically weigh more than wild bears so that gives him the edge. Located only 100 yards or so from the sea, our main camp consists of traditional Kodiak style double-walled tents and Weatherport tents, all of which have diesel or propane heaters, generated electricity, and comfortable bunks. These days, Horstman guides about three or four bear hunts in the spring and two or three in the fall. At high elevations they can often be found in hillside burrows or rocky caves covered in snow, and at lower elevations they may be dug in among alder roots. The only other native mammals on the island are river otters, bats, red foxes, tundra voles, and short-tailed weasels. This polar bear was a wild bear found in the Kotzebue Sound,Alaskain 1960. That research contends that phenotypic plasticity, meaning the ability of individuals to reach different body types depending on the environment, and resource availability, for example the abundance of protein-rich foods, could largely explain size differences. His hunter, Mike Redes, is living his dream on this bucket-list hunt. Cubs from the same litter can have different fathers. Once in camp, we will orient you and you will be paired up with a guide, and often a second guide as well. From the dense forests ofSitka spruceon the northern islands, to steep, glaciated mountains that rise to 4,470feet (1,360meters) along the central spine of Kodiak Island, to rolling hills and flat tundra on the south end, Kodiak bears are adaptable and use almost all habitat types on the Kodiak Archipelago. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Growls are most common during only the most antagonistic of interactions. Im planning on a Kodiak brown bear hunt in fall of 2021 or Spring 2022. If you've ever wanted to experience the thrill of seeing bears in the wild, Kodiakhome to the Kodiak brown bear (or "Alaskan brown bear")is a great place to do it. Other mammals have been introduced over the years. Bart the Bear was a famous Kodiak bear that was trained to be an animal actor. If you would like to see clips of Mike and his expertise on Kodiak bear hunting and sitka blacktail deer hunting click on link above. Hunting brown bear is all spot and stalk. Horstman, who hunted, trapped and fished throughout his adolescence, decided early on that he wanted to go to Alaska to hunt. We access our sizable hunt area using 18 24 foot ocean skiffs, as well as a small jet boat for accessing small creeks, and a zodiac raft. Bears communicate primarily using body language and are therefore quiet much of the time. Fair Chase: We believe in fair chase hunting. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. If you would like to see clips of Mike and his expertise on Kodiak bear hunting and sitka blacktail deer hunting in the wilderness of Kodiak Island, click the link above. The outfitter was Jake Fletcher, Fletchers Guide service and the area was Frazier Lake. The success of your Kodiak bear viewing expedition cannot be measured by how many bears you see or how close you can get to the bears, but by the quality of the experience. Which might seem random, until you understand that theyre both serious outdoorsmen. His guarantee to each Kodiak bear hunter is to do everything possible, within the confines of the law, to make your Alaskan Kodiak Brown Bear hunt safe, successful and the experience of a lifetime. Their fur looks more sleek in the late summer, as they regrow their outer-most guard hair, and it is thickest in the fall just before hibernation. Gregs guiding career on Kodiak Island began in 1988 when he began guiding Kodiak Bear hunters in Olga Bay with Scott Mileur, for the legendary bear guides Bill Pinnell and Morris Talifson (Last of the Great Brown Bear men). Ecosystem with large, flat areas of grasses. We love hunting on Kodiak Island. Upon arriving, Horstman crashed on the couch of some family friends. The downtown visitor center, located next to the ferry terminal, is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. year round. Camp is equipped with satellite telephone, and air/marine radios for emergency communication. Photo by Debi Lander. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. Get in touch and be the one hunting with Mike. Your Kodiak brown bear hunt begins with you arriving on Kodiak Island. Eric Fisher is best known as a professional football player, but the Michigan native is also a serious outdoorsman. Traditionally and historically over the years Ive been able to produce 70 to 80 percent success, he said. Each morning we get up early, eat a nice breakfast and utilize boats to get to one of the various bays of the area, where we will go to shore and hike to a glassing hill. On most of these hunts, its just Horstman, a client and Horstmans dog Adele, a five year old German Wirehaired Pointer. You cannot find a guide that will work harder to find you the trophy of a life time. We will help you schedule all charter flights to and from camp. There are eight species of bears: Kodiak bears have been isolated from other bear populations for 12,000 years, so they really are a unique species. As you can see in the video above, the first installment of Carhartts new Back to the Land video series, Fisher isnt just a tough competitor, hes a solid shot. Over 3,500 Kodiak brown bears live on the island. So, we can see us there, just send me an E-mail on nevacove@yahoo.com in order to scale the appointment. I might do a dozen hunts a year, altogether. Researchers estimate that the Kodiak bear population numbers about 3,500 animals. 907-486-4782 or 800-789-4782 or www.kodiak.org for information on guides, air and water transportation, and lodges. Boat based $27,500 for bear and $30,000 for combo. In fact, there are only 496 bear permits that are available during certain hunting seasons. The review from History Channel : However, Kodiak bears have six functional nipples . Veteran bear guide Mike Horstman is on his second hunt of the season. Camps: Kodiak bear base camp consists of comfortable outfitters tents with cots, tables, lanterns, propane heaters etc Camps are dry, clean, and sufficiently equipped to keep you comfortable in all conditions. The review from History Channel : We were always trying to find those honey holes that everyone looks for, Fisher says, and we had a bunch of them.. Thank you for reading! Depending on the year, I try to do one or two moose hunts and some goat hunts. Alaska, United States Sea duck hunting is most often done in conjunction with Sitka blacktail deer hunting, but if you're interested in focusing only on these great birds, let us know! Our hunts are 15 hunting days - the full duration of your permit. Kodiak Island supports very healthy populations of these amazing animals. Often times we will see bears from the boats as we cruise to the various bays, and if the situation is right, we are able to put to shore and do a stalk. Mothers have not eaten during the roughly six months of denning and giving birth. Silverback Gorillas vs Grizzly Bears: Who Would, Polar Bears vs. Grizzly Bears: Which Would, The 9 Best Books About Bears Safety Tips and Species Insights Reviewed and Ranked, The IUCN has the polar bear officially listed as Vulnerable, See a Grizzly Bear Ride a Bison Like a Boat in an Incredible Fight at Yellowstone, This Timid Wolf Tries to Steal a Whole Elk From a Gigantic Grizzly, Watch an Injured Elk Outsmart a Grizzly Bear, Send It Tumbling, and Escape to a Nearby River, Bear Quiz - 985 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz, Watch This Grizzly Bear Dominate a Massive Elk in the Middle of a River, An Absolutely Gigantic Moose Makes These Grizzlies Look Like Teddy Bears, Posse of Horses Dares Grizzly to Charge In Tense Showdown, Discover the Largest Kodiak Bear Ever Recorded, Brown bears (Kodiak bears and Grizzly bears). I cant remember anybody that I wouldnt take again. Its way more involved [in Alaska], he said. No other place in Alaska invokes the mystery, adventure, and. Next time I am going to Salzburg, Austria. Larsen Bay, AK 99624. phone (907) 847-2238. With over 40 years of guiding experience, Mileur's Guide Service proudly offers big game hunting on Kodiak Island and in the Alaska Range! We typically conduct 2 hunts in the spring and 1 in the fall. The IUCN has the polar bear officially listed as Vulnerable, but the last listed date of assessment was August of 2015. Matt arrowed his bear at 30 yards on the eighth day of his Alaska Peninsula hunt. Scott moved to Alaska in the late 70's and began guiding soon after. Includes: Kodiak hunts include land use fees, your own professional guide, airport pick up, in field transportation, meals, and lodging during your hunt. His trainers were Doug and Lynn Sues that worked with Bart on several films including the starring role in The Bear. Like all hunts, bear hunting especially takes great patience and a willingness to work hard in all weather. We must submit a Brown Bear Permit Application for you between November 1 and December 15 in order to be eligible for the following years hunt. This can offer a huge advantage over just using the boat, especially if you know there is a large bear in an area, or if you want to access other parts of the area that do not lend themselves to boat access. Email Us. These areas host great genetics and have always produced Boone and Crockett bears. You'll take a 45-minute flight across the Shekilof Straits to Katmai and land at either Hallo Bay or Geographic Baywherever the bears are more prevalent. For some hunters, its the opposite and they purposely go out looking for bears. In addition, some bear encounters may not be reported at all. He hunts Karluk Lake and Red Lake areas. During their hunt Mike spots one of the biggest bears hes ever seen on the island, and christens him Big Papa. At Flickenger Ranch, rancher Chris Flickenger and his wife Shelly are still plagued by the bear that killed one of their horses earlier in the season. For the most part, everyone is very congenial and polite. Typical litter sizes on Kodiak are two or three cubs, with a long-term average of 2.4 cubs per litter. Salmon makes up about 64% of their diet, with another 26% being plant matter. The bears main concern in the fall is getting fat enough to survive winter, whereas in the spring their main goal is breeding. We will meet you at the airport, take you to get your Brown Bear Permit, and any other paperwork you need. It gives us additional options, and along with using the boats, helps us give you the best chance at taking a bear. In the Crosshairs The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. We may never know because polar bears do not live on the Kodiak islands. Kodiak Bear Facts. The camp consists of three acres privately owned by Jim. Mid June - Mid August. Although bears do especially well in remote wilderness areas, they are also regularly seen in the town of Kodiak and in outlying villages. If you exercise common sense, you have a big advantage. The river system is home to the second largest returning sockeye salmon run on Kodiak, although it has not always been the case. He spotted the black bear while hunting in the Adirondacks with his cousin and a group of guys he said had been hunting there for years. Brown bears are heaviest just before hibernation in the fall, lose 20 to 40% of their body mass during hibernation and are lightest in the spring or early summer. Trained under Pinnell and Talifson. Fish and Wildlife Service for ground travel through Canada or export to other countries. Bart was born in captivity at the Baltimore zoo in 1977 and lived until the year 2000. 1998 - Present. Matt may be reached at mjohnson@summitpetroleumllc.com. It is just a perfect outfit for the next gun show. All rights reserved. http://yourcliftonpark.com/2016/03/02/jonesville-man-now-leading-bear-hunts-in-alaska/ While the population of Kodiaks appears to be stable, there is concern about their numbers decreasing due to more humans moving into their range. Contact Us About A Bear Hunt on Kodiak Island. The Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) is a type of brown bear (Ursus arctos) and is one of the two North American brown bear subspecies - the other being Ursus arctos horribilis. He was a Kodiak bear that lived at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota. The beauty of Kodiak with its amazing marine life, including whales of all types, porpoises, seals and sea lions, crystal clear blue water birdlife, all of which can be seen on a daily basis, will leave a lasting impression. Kodiak bears are larger than brown bears and Grizzlies. And now, it is a high time for me to go hunting. 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