Alaska Black Bear Hunting: 6 Essential Items

Black bear hunting is no joke. It’s challenging and can push your patience to the limit.

Alaska black bear hunting is even more wild and equally as difficult.

If you’ve been to Alaska, you know it remains largely untamed. A thick, unwieldy expanse of wilderness and game. After two separate trips to Southeast Alaska, here’s a few things to include on your bear hunting gear checklist:

#1: A GPS For Black Bear Hunting

Alaska is one gnarly “last frontier”. The game can be plentiful, but the brush is thick and the roads are far and few between. Getting lost is easy. This means a good GPS should definitely be on your bear hunting gear checklist .

On my last black bear hunt, I got the chance to try out the Garmin inReach. This GPS can pair up with a smart phone allowing you review maps and routes, send text messages when there’s no service, and allows others to see your location.

Show how difficult and wild Alaska black bear hunting can be as I try to cross a log that spans a deep river with a black bear skin in my backpack.
It often takes a little creativity to get to where you the GPS is taking you in Alaska.

Although I preferred the more reliable Garmin, I also used OnX Maps. After downloading sections of map, I was able to track where I was at, set way points, and create trails.

#2: Waterproof Boots For Hiking Streams And Shorelines

A picture of use in a stream all with rubber boots on. The stream is full of spawning salmon and trees surround us.
Rubber, waterproof boots kept our feet dry while black bear hunting in the fall.

When it comes to bear hunting essentials, waterproof boots are a must in Southeast Alaska.

If you’re hunting in the spring time, you’ll be watching shorelines and constantly hopping in and out of boats to stalk bears. Alaska black bear hunts in the fall result in more hiking up and down streams.

Either way, you’ll be in and out of water all day long.

I have heard of people using waders, but I’ve found that I generally don’t wade through water deeper than my knee. For previous bear hunts, I’ve been a big fan of boots such as the Muck Chore or Xtratuf Legacy boot, although I’m sure any quality, waterproof boot will do.

#3: Rain Gear, Because Alaska Black Bear Hunting Is Always Wet

Using durable rain gear while breaking brush. The leaves are wet and we are surrounded by them.
Using our rain gear to keep us dry. I’m using the orange Grunden’s.

Alaska black bear hunting is a rainy, wet, and often miserable game, so rain gear is definitely needed on your bear hunting gear checklist. The islands that I’ve hunted in the past have averaged over 100 inches of rain a year.

Just to provide a little contrast, where I live in Utah, we get 18 inches a year.

So, quality rain gear is essential unless you want to be wet and miserable during your entire Alaskan vacation. Kuiu Yukon rain gear or the Sitka Stormfront jacket and pant are great options. They’re both built to withstand hard rain and have awesome reviews.

In the past I’ve used Grunden’s, which are not really designed for hunting, but they’re indestructible and can take on Alaska.

#4: A Sharp Skinning Knife

One of the greatest trophies of black bear hunting is a beautiful hide. They’re soft, warm, and make for an amazing story. But the only way to remove it cleanly and effectively is by including a quality skinning knife on your list of bear hunting essentials.

The Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC is a great knife for skinning while on an Alaska black bear hunt.
The Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC is an item I make sure to include on my list of bear hunting essentials.

The sharper the better. Skinning knives are plentiful, and a quick google search results in dozens of options, but replaceable bladed skinning knives have quickly become one of my favorites. I prefer to use the Havalon Piranta while removing the hide. It’s razor sharp and light. But when it comes to quartering and cutting off the paws, I’m a big fan of the Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC, it’s thick enough for dirty work, but still sharp enough to cut with ease.

#5: Binoculars And A Good Case

Using the Badlands Bino Case Mag while hunting streams in Alaska. This is an item I often include on my bear hunting gear checklist for fall bear hunts.
I make sure the Badlands Bino Case Mag is on my bear hunting gear checklist for any fall hunts.

A good pair of binoculars is essential for Alaska black bear hunting during the spring. In the springtime, black bears feed on the grass growing along shorelines. Glassing large swaths of beach and small coves is essential to finding a springtime bear.

On my last spring hunt I had the chance to use a pair of Vortex Crossfires, as well as a higher quality pair of Maven B1’s.

Fall black bear hunting is a little different. Binoculars aren’t necessary when it comes to finding bears, but they’re nice to have when trying to size them up. Hunting streams can result in a lot of breaking brush and the occasional slip, and I would suggest a quality binocular case that hangs off the chest, such as the Badlands Bino Case Mag.

#6: A Large Enough Rifle For Black Bear Hunting

Bears are big, tough, and can do some damage if you’re not careful. That’s why you should double check that a large-caliber rifle is on your bear hunting gear checklist.

Showing the bear I shot with a Winchester Model 70 .338 while Alaska black bear hunting.
It took two shots with this .338 rifle to drop this Alaskan black bear.

On both of my hunts, I’ve used a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .338. And on both of my hunts I’ve seen bears take a .338 round to the vitals and go into a violent spin only to be stopped by a second shot. According to Brad Fitzpatrick in his article “Best Rifles And Cartridges For Black Bears” .270 is the minimum caliber for black bear hunting.

Concluding Thoughts

While there are several other items that could be included on this list of bear hunting essentials, I think that these six items should always be included.

Alaska black bear hunting is truly a rewarding, eye-opening experience, and these items help you focus less on the “suck”, and more on the beautiful country and wildlife surrounding you.

So, what do you guys think? If I’m missing something you deem important or have a question, let me know below in the comments.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Bob Miller 17 May 2019 Reply

    Great article. One question – I noticed that you wear rubber boots. I know it is really wet in SE Alaska, but the traction is bad for rubber boots. Can you share some information on what kind you wear and are they less slippery than other kinds. Thanks.

    1. Wes Kolste 17 May 2019 Reply

      Hey there Bob! The past few hunts I’ve switched between Xtratuf Legacy boots, Muck Chores, and Bog Classics. The Xtratuf’s seemed to have the toughest soles and gripped the best on slick surfaces.

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