Brown Bear

Introduction to Brown Bear Hunting:

The brown bear (Ursus arctos), is the largest land carnivore on earth and represents for many hunters the apex of dangerous game quarry. Safari Club International recognizes 8 subspecies and varieties of brown bear, found in remote parts of North America, Eastern Europe and across Asia to the Russian Far East.

We offer hunts for brown bear in Alaska, Canada, Romania, Croatia, Armenia, Turkey, and Russia. We have arranged more than 1,000 bear hunts over 40 years and are considered by many experienced hunters to be bear experts. The largest trophies are found in Alaska and in the Russian Far East.

Russia

Hunting Russian Brown Bears:

Click Here to watch Giants of the Russian Far-East
Russia – The Hunting Consortium has worked in Russia since 1987 and have more experience there than any other outfitting company. We are the only American firm with our own full time staff in Russia. Since the collapse of communism, Bob and our Russian professional hunters have explored the most remote parts of this vast country, finding the very best bear hunting areas and creating hunt programs there for our clients.

The Hunting Consortium offers hunts for all four (4) varieties of brown bear found in Russia (Eurasian brown bear, Siberian brown bear, Kamchatka brown bear, and Amur brown bear). By far the most popular hunt has been the Kamchatka brown bear hunt on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which are comparable in size to the Alaskan coastal brown bears. Our hunters have enjoyed a 100% success rate for the last 22 years (more than 300 brown bear hunts) – the best record in this industry. No one else can match that kind of performance. We offer the best guides in the Russian Far-East and have a Hunting Consortium manager travel with every group, in every camp, throughout their stay.

During this state of evolution in Russia, the chances of taking a big bear may be better there than in Alaska. Genetically, Kodiak bears achieve the largest size, but bears over ten feet have become rare. Virtually identical in size to the bears of Alaska, the bears of Kamchatka are very large, and the chances of finding a legitimate ten foot bear in Kamchatka are good -perhaps better than in Alaska. Also important is that the hides of the bears in Russia do not tend to be as rubbed as the hides of the bears in Alaska, which leads to a better trophy quality in Russia.

While hunting Russia bears, all of our hunters have taken brown bears over eight feet, with the majority of those bears being over nine feet. Approximately 10% of our hunters have taken bears over ten feet. In Russia, there are no limits regarding licenses and hunters may take multiple brown bears, while Alaska allows only one.

Hunting Consortium hunts Russian brown bears mainly during the spring, when the heavy snows on Kamchatka make it possible to evaluate the tracks of any given bear before the pursuit begins. However, we also offer a combination hunt for both brown bears and moose in late October and November. The moose found on the Kamchatka Peninsula are some of the largest in the world. Alternatively we also offer a late season moose hunt in November, when the snows have come. However, during this late season hunt, the bears are usually already hibernating.

North America

Hunting Grizzly Bears & Hunting Brown Bears:

Alaska – In Alaska we represent several of Alaska’s most famous outfitters. Bob Kern is a member of the Alaska Professional Hunters Association (APHA) and has hunted and traveled in Alaska for many years, as has Rob and members of our staff. The outfitters we represent there are the very best that Alaska has to offer, both on Kodiak Island and on the Alaskan Peninsula. The average size of Alaskan brown bears is 9+ feet, but each season several over 10 feet are taken.

The largest of all coastal brown bears are found on Kodiak Island where both spring and fall hunting seasons are offered. Also very popular is the Alaskan Peninsula, which has produced many huge bears during the last two decades. One of our favorite hunting areas lies adjacent to the famous Katmai National Park. This area has the highest density of brown bears in Alaska and has been made famous by the National Geographic and Disney films, shot in the park.

Canada – We also offer highly successful hunts for inland grizzly bears in British Columbia and Arctic grizzly bear in the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut. In every case the operators we represent are experienced professionals with the very best hunting areas and many years of successful hunts behind them. We visit, vet and hunt with every operator we recommend.

Europe

Hunting European Brown Bears:

The Hunting Consortium is also the leading company in producing big European brown bears. European bears reach the largest size in Romania. However, Croatia is a less expensive option but the bears are smaller. European brown bear hunts also take place in the western part of Russia, but the success rate is somewhat lower than in Eastern Europe.

Romania -The Hunting Consortium was the first company to develop hunting programs for tourists in Romania after the revolution in 1989. Bob Kern has hunted and guided throughout the country since then. Hunting Consortium still has a full time manager in Romania, Adrian Bulbescu. In the current edition of the Safari Club International Record Book almost all of the top 10 bears were taken by Hunting Consortium clients.

Since hunting opened to foreigners again in 1989, we have had a continuing success rate of 100%; the best record in this industry. For a big trophy brown bear (400 points and up) we usually need only 3 to 5 hunting days in the spring to assure success. Exceptional bears (500 points and above) may take longer. In Romania we do not arrange hunts for bears below 350 CIC points. However, bears of this size may be taken in Croatia.

With regard to timing, these baited hunts are best done in early spring. Generally, the last week in March and the first two weeks of April are when the largest bears are taken. Fall hunting takes place in October and early November.

Croatia -In Croatia the hunting is similar and also very successful. The bears in Croatia, however, to not reach the size of those in Romania. Nevertheless, the prices are cheaper and the service is excellent, including great food and local wine. In Croatia one can combine the beat hunt with hunts for many other European species. The success rate in Croatia is virtually 100%.

European Russia – In the European part of Russia we offer baited brown bear hunts in September and in May. The bears of the European part of Russia compare favorably in size with those of Croatia, but the success rate in Russia is lower – ca. 80%. These are, however the cheapest European brown bear hunts.

Travel Arrangements

As a full service travel company, the Hunting Consortium will make all necessary flight and hotel arrangements as well as procure any required visas and firearm permits. Hunting Consortium can assist you in getting the best airfare routing that best suits your desired itinerary and destination. When you are ready to book the hunt, we will construct a custom itinerary plan for you, designed to your specific requirements. Hunting Consortium will provide you with complete advice and suggestions on everything related to the hunt, from equipment and immunizations, to trophy shipping and a host of other necessities. Each of our hunters receives detailed information material on the hunts, country, inhabitants, and travel formalities. The firm also provides every hunter with a map, equipment checklist and other articles designed to prepare them for the hunt. Our staff is available to you seven days a week to answer any questions you may have concerning the organization or execution of the hunt.

We at the Hunting Consortium pride ourselves in planning hunts that deliver the right results for every client according to his/her own individual taste, budget and trophy quality aspirations. Bear hunting is a very complex theme, so we encourage those interested to contact us for a thorough briefing and consultation, in order to determine the right hunting option.