Brown Bear hunting

Gift Bear

Gift Bear

The following article was written by my hunter Dr. Dave Gandee of Buckhannon, WV.  He took his beautiful brown bear in the spring of 1994 and his story was printed in The Alaska Professional Hunter Magazine in the spring of 1997.  It was one of the many 10’ plus bears that AAA harvested in our Cold Bay area.  This bear was taken within one-half mile of where three other 10’ plus bears had been shot.  That included our first bear, a 10’10” taken by George Caswell in 1984 and the 11’3” that Dan had guided Randy Cain to in ’92.  George was guided by Brent.  Randy’s brown bear was the largest bear killed in 26 years and was tied for the SCI World Record with a skull size of 30 5/16”.

For those of you familiar with the saga of the road from King Cove to Cold Bay through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge they have already constructed part of it.  The area where the photos in the story were taken where Dave shot his bear and where Dave and Dan were spotting from is now a parking area for the heavy equipment used in the road construction.  The road goes right over our camp site.  King Cove is no different than any other small village in Alaska without an all-weather airport.  They are doing this in the name of medical emergencies, spending millions of dollars.  It’s been a political hot potato for at least the last twenty years.  We tried to stay out of it because we were paying the King Cove Native Corporation to hunt on their land.  I personally think it is a waste of tax payers’ money.   

I hope you enjoy Dave’s memories of his brown bear hunt.

Cold Bay Trophy Bear

Cold Bay Trophy Bear

I’m posting a story written by one of my clients, John Bermen.  The story was published in the Alaska Professional Hunters Magazine in March, 1989.  This bear was and still is the largest bear that I have ever guided on.  It was also the largest bear taken by a guided hunter in 1988 and received the first place award from Safari Club International, scoring 29 5/16 SCI points.  I received a .270 Remington Model 700 mountain rifle from the FNAWS Association for guiding the hunter on “The Outstanding Animal of the Year” for 1988.  That’s the rifle where I had the stock cut down for my wife.

What I find so aggravating about hunting for a 10’ bear is I hunted brown bear for myself eight different times and never killed a 10’ bear.  Then Brent and I formed AAA Alaska Outfitters and I guided on a 10’+ brown bear the first three springs and the fall of ’89. Four 10 foot brown bears our first five years in business and I wasn’t hunting any differently than I did my last four personal hunts.  I even hunted in AAA’s areas on two of my hunts.  To this day I still don’t understand that.  That being said, I hope you enjoy John’s story about a great bear. 

My Quest For A Brown Bear

My Quest For A Brown Bear

After two years of hunting in Alaska I had taken two sheep, two goats, two caribou, a moose and a black bear.  Not bad for a beginner.  All I needed now was a grizzly or a brown bear.  When I received my assignment to Alaska the only animal I knew I wanted to hunt was the grizzly.  I had read in various books and magazines that the grizzly was mean and caution was paramount while hunting in Alaska because those bad boys were out to get you.  However, after two years of hunting in numerous areas I hadn’t even seen one.  In talking to many hunters, taxidermists and biologists I decided that I would rather have a big 8’ to 10’ brown bear than a mean 6’ to 8’ grizzly.

God Saved Me

God Saved Me

This story could have ended much differently and had a title like, “Three Strikes You’re Out.”  With my airplane accident, getting stuck in the mud and now turned up-side down in the raging ocean it could have gone either way.

AAA’s guides had crossed the bay for fourteen years in the Zodiacs with no major problems.  Even this trip, had I left 30 minutes earlier we would have been on the other side before the seas flared up and there would be no story.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  That God has a plan and I am a part of his plan.

I became a Christian or was saved when I was 9 years old.  I prayed prayers of gratitude all the time but for whatever the reason I normally didn’t pray for things or ask for help.  I guess being young, dumb and independent made me think that God had made me strong and I could do most anything myself.  But I will say when you know it is over it is almost too late to ask for help.  I was at that point and I know that when I prayed for God’s help, He rescued me.

Read my story on how God Saved me.

I Can Do This

I Can Do This

This story would not happen in today’s world and I for sure would not have had to walk out.  The Satellite phone has changed everything about what could be an emergency.  I worked for four different guides in 1983 and none had radio or telephone communications.  All of these guides are still in business today and wouldn’t even think about not having a Satellite phone.  Most have multiple phones.  Single sideband radios were the only option back then.  Many times the signals were not very good and in some areas no signal at all.

After my being involved in this particular incident, Brent and I made sure that we had some type of communication for AAA Alaska Outfitters.  We purchased a portable single sideband radio from Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage.  Like I said, some days the signals were so bad you couldn’t use it but that usually didn’t last but a day or so.  It was better than nothing!

As soon as Satellite phones came out we purchased one.  It weighed 28 pounds and cost $4,200. They charged us $2 a minute but it was a great feeling when I landed my cub at camp and could call Karen to let her know that I had made it.  If you ever stop by Surveyors Exchange in Anchorage ask Antonio to show you that big phone.  He still has it there.  I personally think Surveyors Exchange is one of the best places to rent or buy a Satellite phone in Anchorage.

Hope you enjoy my first guiding experience.

Hair's Breadth Bear

Hair's Breadth Bear

Since it is brown bear season I thought I would add another story about hunting the big guys.

In 1984 I had the good fortune of meeting and guiding Kurt Jaeger from the small country of Liechtenstein.  I really enjoyed my time with him.  We had a great hunt and he harvested a beautiful 37 1/2" Dall ram.  He booked to come back on a brown bear hunt in our Cold Bay area for the spring of 1986.  He harvested a massive 10'+ brown bear and later wrote a story that was published in a German Hunting Magazine and was picked up and published in the SCI Magazine.  Now it is on line under Guns and Hunting and I have attached that link for your enjoyment.  At that time, Kurt was the only hunter in Liechtenstein who had ever harvested a sheep and brown bear. 

Before he printed the story he gave me a call and told me I would not like it because he added a few extras to make it exciting.  He did this because he was told by the editor that they didn't want another "hunter kills a brown bear story" but something more exciting.  We all know that everyone sees things a little differently anyway.  He is a good story teller and a better writer than I am so I think most of you will enjoy it.  He wrote that I said, "He is a lucky _____."  That is something I would have never said then or now!  With that I hope you enjoy.  Read the story

A Walk with Roger Morris

A Walk with Roger Morris

Every now and then I will post a story written by one of my clients or grand kids.  This story was written by Tom Wells and it was published in the Alaska Professional Hunter Magazine in 2002.  I guided Tom on two more hunts where he harvested a 40" ram and a 60" moose.  We had a wonderful time and I am proud to call him my friend.

It Pays to Wait

It Pays to Wait

This was the first story I wrote after Brent & I formed AAA Alaskan Outfitters in December 1983.
It was our first season and a great one.


"lt Pays To Wait"


As Brent Jones and I stood in the air terminal at Cold Bay
waiting for the Reeve Bird to touch down, I thought back to the
last three months of planning, equipment shipping, and camp
setup. Our first brown bear season as partners of AAA Alaskan
Outfitters was about to begin.


We had worked hard getting everything we needed, but I kept
wondering if we had forgotten or overlooked something. It was
too late now, though, for the plane had landed and our very first
clients, George Caswell, of Enid, Oklahoma, and Tim Orton, of
Walker, Minnesota, were standing in front of us. The excitement
of taking a big brown bear was evident on their faces. After quick
introductions, we grabbed the luggage and were on our way.