Alaska has over 98 percent of the United States population of brown bears, and more than 70 percent of the North American population, Biologists estimate there are about 30,000 of these big bruins in Alaska.
Bear populations in Alaska are healthy and productive. Densities vary depending on the quality of the environment. In areas of low productivity, such as on Alaska's North Slope, studies have revealed bear densities as low as one bear per 300 square mile. In areas abundant food, such as the Alaska Peninsula, Kodiak, and Admiralty Island, densities as high as one bear per square mile have been found. In central Alaska, both north and south of the Alaska Range, bear densities tend to be intermediate, about one bear per 15-25 square miles. These figures do not mean that each bear has this much territory for its exclusive use. The area occupied by any individual bear overlaps those used by many other bears. Both Black/Brown and Grizzly bears.
If your are planning a Brown Bear hunt keep the above open seasons in mind and note where the largest populations are. Yes, Brown Bear hunts are expensive, up to $20,000. The guiding industry has been hammered by Insurance regulations and escalating costs like everything else. Prepare yourself for the reality.
The oldest brown bear in Alaska was a 39-year-old female, while the oldest male was 38. Many live to this ripe old age, for bears. Brown bears usually give birth to their cubs in the den during January and February. Let's hope all goes well for a continuing healthy population of bears. Lower 48 would have more bears too, if the population and urban sprawl had not decimated their habitat. It's not the hunting that has crippled the population-it's too many people!
