There is a difference! According to a pamphlet issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game the Kodiak Brown bear is a separate strain of bear that has developed over the past 12,000. Because of the island environment and its abundant food supply of vegetation and natural fish runs these animals are the largest land carnivore in the world. The estimated density of these animals is one bear to every square mile.

Raspberry Island offers guided spring and fall hunts for the land largest land carnivore. All hunts require a permit that is obtained by a spring and fall lottery drawing held twice a year by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Non resident hunters are required by law to have a registered guide to hunt these animals. A hunt contract between the guide and hunter needs to be on file with Fish and Game in order to complete the permit process and for the hunter to hunt.

Our spring hunts are outfitted from our 42 foot commercial fishing boat. There are several advantages to this method of hunting. The boat is our moving camp with bunks, a full galley and the most stable platform for glassing for the big animals. No more cramped tents and damp sleeping bags and we can move camp to look at a new area when ever we or the weather wants us to. Maybe the biggest advantage to boat hunting is the food! It’s hot and fresh, no freeze dried unless a big animal spotted requires a spike camp.

Hunting dangerous game takes time and patience. We want our hunters to see enough bear and to make several practice stalks so they are comfortable with these animals in close proximity. Good physical training is a must as sometimes we make one or more stalks on a given day. Our goal is to get the hunter undetected and as close as possible to the animal to insure a good clean harvest. Our hunts are fully outfitted and staffed with a ratio of at least two and a half to one, staff to hunter. Each hunter will have their own guide and packer with a spotter/cook left on the boat to insure a hot meal when hunters return from the field. Our guides use only top of the line optics like Leica, Swarovski and Ziess to gather as much information as possible to determine the pros and cons of each animal spotted.