Kamchatka Brown Bear Spring Hunts

ABOUT OUTFITTER:
This "American-Based" outfitter company has partnered with Huntin' Fool to bring hunting and traveling in Asia to an entirely new level and experience. They deliver only the highest quality big game hunts, primarily throughout Mid Asia, and a select few distinguished locations. This is one of the many reasons we at Huntin' Fool have chosen to work with them. They conduct their planning and organization with precision and excessive consideration for contingencies. Their lodges and concessions are primarily exclusive, offering our clients the assurance that they are in complete control of the quality of the hunt experience, as well as finances. Every season they strive to improve their offerings, never settling for “good enough”, so each year the opportunities increase, as does the customer service and experience.

This outfitter is all about people, operations and quality. They understand that clients expect an experience reflective of their investment in the expeditions they plan and purchase. With this comes the expectation of receiving clear communication, transparency, and memories that bring a smile to their faces for years to come. Their goal with each client is to exceed expectations by way of providing world-class opportunities! Repeat clients have become the norm! This is due to the unique offerings by this outfitter that provide a highly personalized experience, while maintaining an emphasis on continuous improvement. While many consider a satisfied hunter to be the single metric for success, they hold the belief that mastery is a process, and that they can always make the next hunt even better than the last.

For all of these reasons, Huntin' Fool Adventures has confidently chosen to work with this outfitter to provide comfortable, safe, enjoyable experiences in Asia! From the time of booking, to the return trip home, our collective goal is that each client chalks up a positive memory of a lifetime!

HUNT DETAILS:
Spring in Kamchatka brings deep snow, with the only uncertainty being how many feet each season will deliver. Snow, however, presents no obstacle for the expert Itelmen guiding team. Like the Alaskan Eskimos and the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, the Itelmen rely on highly tuned snow machines to locate fresh tracks and spot bears. As they traverse the hunting area, hunters are transported in sleds, similar to methods used on Polar Bear and Central Barrenground Muskox hunts.

This hunting approach differs from the traditional spot-and-stalk method. The depth of the snow dictates how much stalking—or even walking—is possible. Snow is typically so deep that hunters dismounting the sled may sink to their thighs or waist, making walking impractical. Consequently, the combination of snow machine and sled is often the only practical way to access the hunting grounds, locate bears, and position for a trophy shot. This method is not only practical but also a cultural tradition for the Itelmen, with hunters adapting to it out of necessity.

A big coastal brown bear in its prime has few equals in big game hunting. Their awe-inspiring size, power, and speed can leave a hunter speechless. And anyone who has already taken a big bear has experienced an incomparable adventure because they hunted. They know first-hand that it’s one thing to locate a big bear, and another thing altogether to close the distance, intercept him within range, and take him.

The guides are true experts in trophy hunting. Each morning, they leave camp with the goal of securing a 10-footer or larger, driven by the abundance of big bears in the region and their own pride in delivering trophy-quality animals. Fully committed to the principles of selective hunting, they focus on wide skulls, large bodies, and fully furred skins—the qualities that draw hunters to Kamchatka. They understand why hunters choose this destination and consistently deliver on those expectations. A hunting destination with a unique calculus for success on big bears is the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. Think of the area as the center of gravity for big coastal brown bears. By big, and without exaggeration, think trophy-class boars that begin at 9.5 feet square and go beyond 10, some approaching 11-12 feet square every year. Guides set out with the objective of realistically taking 10-footers on every hunt. This raw, unspoiled frontier holds big bears of this class in such numbers that during the Spring season hunters will see 10-20 absolute shooters per day among 30-40 bears in total seen each day by each hunter. Nowhere else does this happen, let alone happen with predictable regularity in the remote reaches of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Hunters will be warmly welcomed by Russians along their journey and while in camp. They genuinely appreciate the opportunity to resume employment that is enabled by visiting American hunters. At a very human level, our Russian hosts are thankful that hunters can look beyond geopolitics and resume placing trust in their culture, hospitality, and hunting skills.

Each hunter will be assigned a highly experienced career guide whose life is professional hunting. Finding and taking big bears is their time-proven skill and passion. Their hunt operator speaks English and has hosted successful hunts for over 25 years. These hunts in Kamchatka will be supported by their own English-speaking hunt manager who also has 25 years of experience developing and assisting bear hunts at this camp. He will provide V.I.P.
clearances, manage all in-country logistics, and ensure camp operations perform to expectations.

For many years, hunters have taken their bear within 1-2 full days of hunting, and once the bear is down, many opt to take a second bear which is available on a trophy fee basis. In fact, there is no limit to the number of bears that can be taken, and the area that we hunt has averaged 2 bears per hunter for 25 years.

Hunts are spot & stalk and conducted on a 1 hunter to 1 guide basis. Two sets of two guiding teams depart camp and each individual guide and hunter will split off to hunt their chosen section of territory. Guides use snow machines to cover territory and tow the hunters on sleds in a manner very similar to the way the Inuit guides operate polar bear and musk ox hunts in the Arctic. The norm for many years in this camp is that hunters take their chosen bear within 1-2 full days of hunting. Once their bear is down many hunters elect to take a second bear on a trophy fee basis (declarable either before the hunt, or electable while in camp). In fact, there is no limit to the number of bears that can be taken, and the area that we hunt has averaged over 2 bears per hunter since the program was established.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
The camps consist of several heated cabins where hunters reside and bunk. A separate facility is used for dining with meals prepared by an experienced camp cook. The exclusive hunting area is vast and remote, accessible only by helicopter charter, which is included in the hunt price. The camp features heated cabins, with hunters sharing the largest cabin. Accommodations are simple yet functional, providing ample space for comfort and storage of each hunter’s gear. A dedicated camp cook prepares hearty meals, including bacon, eggs, porridge, soups, meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Sleds are stocked with satisfying lunches and hot tea for the field. Water is drawn from nearby springs and pristine streams and boiled to ensure purity.

LICENSE INFORMATION:
Outfitter will have all licenses and tags for clients upon arrival.