Ban On Nonresident Bear Hunts Take Toll On Alaska Guides

The state of Alaska’s dramatic decision last week to close all bear hunting – Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commssioner Doug Vincent-Lang quickly changed the state’s tune that day and kept resident bear hunting open – nonresidents aren’t able to participate in the spring bear hunts, with most beginning in May around the state. That will have a drastic effect on local hunting guides who often depend on visitors from the Lower 48 and around the globe who come to the Last Frontier for some epic bruin hunting.

Here’s more from KTUU, focusing on the popular bear destination of Kodiak Island:

According to Rohrer, he will likely lose out on two-thirds of his yearly business income with the loss of the spring bear season. 

The non-resident spring bear hunt in Kodiak brings 2.5 to 3 million dollars to our island every year,” he said. “That’s all lost and frankly, there’s no way to replace that.”

While Kodiak is one of the more popular communities for those looking to bag an Alaskan brown bear, it’s certainly not the only one. Rohrer tells KTUU that guided hunting brings in an estimated $78 million statewide, and that around half of that stays in rural communities.