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28 June 2007

What Does a Guided Alaska Black Bear Hunt REALLY Cost?

Posted by Darrell under: Black Bear; Alaska; Planning a Trip; Guides - Tips, Ideas, & Info .

Ok, so you’ve found a guided, fully outfitted hunt for $XXX dollars and now you want to know - What is it really going to cost me? Well, if its an Alaska Spring Black Bear hunt, I can tell you. Even if its not an Alaska Spring Black Bear hunt, a quick review of my ‘expenses’ during my recent bear hunt might help.

I booked my trip via Cabellas Outdoor Adventures with Keegan McCarty of Ocean Point Alaska Adventures based out of Juneau. I took my 12 year old son as an observer and we stayed in Alaska for 2 full weeks. Here is what it cost:

My Trip’s ACTUAL Cost

$5,750  Alaska Spring Black Bear Hunt Cost (1×1 fully guided)

$1,400 Additional Cost for Observer (I took my 12 year old son along)

$1,766  Airline Tickets For Two to Juneau (Roundtrip from Springfield, MO)

$ 308   Meals & Tips for 3 Days We Were In Juneau Prior To Hunt

$ 360   Tours in Juneau (for two) prior to the hunt (Tramway & Zipline)

$ 602   3 Nights Hotel Lodging (Goldbelt Hotel)

$ 330   Alaska Non-resident Hunting/Fishing License w/King Salmon Stamp

$ 225   Alaska Non-resident black bear license

$ 474   Specialty Gear Required & Purchased On-site at Urging Of Guide (Rain Gear & XtraTuf Boots)

$ 500  Guide Gratuity

$ 779    Meals & Tips for 6 Days after Hunt

$   25    Laundry Expense (a necessary evil)

$ 149    Automobile Expense After Hunt (Gas & Parking Fees)

$ 952    Tours After Hunt (Included Charter Air Flights to Skagway & Taku Lodge)

$ 226    Fishing Equipment & Supplies Bought On Site (& Left In Alaska)

$1,203  6 Nights Lodging After Hunt (Goldbelt Hotel)

$ 219    Meat Processing

$ 229    Shipping Meat Home

$ 500   Aproximate Taxidermy Cost (Detail Work & Tanning Only - Still Have To Pay For Mounting)

$ 200   Skull Bleaching

$16,197  Total I Spent For This Trip

The above number doesn’t include stuff you might forget to bring along or gifts you might pick up along the way. This isn’t really a fair comparison of an average Alaska Spring Bear hunt because it was really a bear hunt combined with an Alaska sightseeing and fishing trip.  Caleb and I spent a total of 2 weeks in Alaska. And, to be fair, I wasn’t pinching pennies. I let Caleb decide much of what we did, regardless of cost. We booked our airfare at the last minute, too. We could have saved about $400 if we’d have purchased it when I first checked the price. So, the trip could be done for less, even if you were spending two full weeks in Alaska. I wouldn’t plan on a ‘lot’ less, though. You could probably have a similar experience (minus a few pricey tours, meals, & gear) for three to four thousand less.

What, though, if you are strictly travelling in for your Spring Bear Hunt, and then quickly exiting Alaska? A fully guided and outfitted hunt could be done for much less. For logistical reasons, you’d probably still need (and some outfitters might require) to spend one day before and one day after the hunt in a hotel.

So here is what a more ‘conservative’ approach to a guided Alaska Spring Black Bear hunt might cost:

Alaska (1×1) Hunt - With 1 Day Before & 1 Day After Hunt In Hotel:

$5,750   Going Price of 1×1 Alaska Boat Based Spring Black Bear Hunt 5-7 days hunting

$ 750     Airfare

$ 400    2 Nights Hotel Cost (Stay at hotel with free shuttle service)

$ 100    2 Days Worth of Meals & Gratuities

$ 305    Bear Tag & Hunting License (Fishing Licenses Cost Extra)

$ 500    Guide Gratuity

$ 225    Meat Processing

$ 225    Shipping Meat Home

$ 100   Shipping Hide Home For Taxidermy (Actual Taxidermy Costs Vary)

$8,355 Plus Taxidermy Is Actual Cost of Your $5,750 Hunt

 If you have a friend that is going to hunt with you, you’ll save money by doing a 2×1 hunt and sharing some of the obvious expenses - such as lodging. You’ll also save between $500 and $1,000 on your outfitter expense, too. So, a 2×1 hunt might cost as little as $7,000 each if you really watch your pennies.

So, is it worth it? It totally depends on what you are looking for out of a trip. For me, it was worth it. I took a beautiful bear, am now enjoying the meat, and had a wonderful time with my son - at an important time in his life.

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