BROWN BEAR (Kamchatka and Khabarovsk)

The Asiatic Brown Bear is found from the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan throughout Eastern Siberia to the Pacific coast of Russia.  By far the largest bears are found in the Russian Far East in the provinces of Kamchatka, Magadan, and Khabarovsk.  These salmon-eating bears compare favorably in size to the bears of Alaska and numerous trophies with hides squaring over 10 feet, have been taken.  The largest specimens (several exceeding 11 feet) have come from the Kamchatka Peninsula.  Our success rate exceeds 100%, as many hunters taken two bears.  During the last sixteen seasons, (more than 350 hunts!) no hunter has returned without at least one bear (this is the best record in the Russian bear hunting industry).  The population is quite high at the moment and hunting pressure has been kept modest in our three outfitting areas.  Normally, several bears can be seen each day and the hunt, although strenuous, is usually just a search for the biggest possible trophy.  There are generous quotas on the number of licenses issued and we can routinely arrange two licenses per client.  The best hunting is had in the spring from late April until the end of May and in the fall during October when hunts for other game such as snow sheep, moose, and caribou can be combined with the basic bear hunt program.

As with the bears of Alaska, there has been much exaggeration regarding the size of the bears in Siberia.  Hunters should be realistic in their expectations in order to avoid disappointment.  Mature bears in Kamchatka usually weigh between 700 and 1000 pounds, and hides square eight to ten feet.  These bears are identical in every way to the Brown Bears of Alaska and trophy sizes tend to run larger in Russia, due to lower hunting pressure.  The bears of Khabarovsk (mainland) run somewhat smaller than bears from Kamchatka (peninsula).  The coastal regions of Magadan produce the smallest coastal bears of the Far-East.  Bears found further inland in Magadan and Yakutsk are smaller yet, comparing favorably in size with the inland Grizzlies of Alaska and the Yukon.

We have explored the Far-East extensively and have selected what we consider to be the finest and most remote areas available.  These hunting areas encompass many thousands of square miles and are outfitted with several camps each.  Normally four hunters, each with his/her own guide, can be accommodated in each camp.  All hunting is done on foot, or from snowmobiles.  For hunters who wish to cover an even greater amount of territory, we can also arrange helicopter charter service (at additional cost) in order to establish spike camps as far as 200 miles from the nearest settlement.

We offer well equipped, tented base camps with a full staff of guides, skinners, cook, and other camp personnel.  Camps are equipped with field beds, medical kit, satellite telephone, and other conveniences.  All tents are heated and supplied with electric lighting.  Spike camps are also used for those who wish to penetrate deeper into the mountains. 

Travel to/from camp (often more than 100 km from the nearest town) is accomplished by helicopter.  The cost of the charter helicopter flights to/from camp is included in the price of the hunt.  If hunters wish to be moved around during the hunt, in order to hunt more territory, the cost of additional flights must be born by the hunters. 
 
Programs vary from region to region, but are normally 12-14 days in duration, and allow 8 actual hunting days.  Arrival and departure dates are set based on the flight schedules of the airlines serving Petropavlovsk which may be reached from Moscow.  Special itineraries containing more or fewer hunting days can be constructed upon request.