The Best Times for Brown Bear Hunting

Brown bears range in size from 180-1,300 lbs. and can be anywhere from 2.4 to 5 ft when measured from the shoulder. Hunting these bears can be particularly dangerous as they can be very aggressive, especially if you find yourself between a mother and her cubs.

What should you know to plan where and when to hunt? Keep reading for our insights into brown bear hunting, whether you're after the best photos or a trophy.

Why Hunt Brown Bear

In areas where brown bear hunting is legal (like Alaska), it is an important aspect of the economy and steeped in deep tradition. These animals have been in demand for their fur and meat for decades.

Regulations for hunts help maintain the population while allowing hunters the opportunity to enjoy an adventure, help control the population, and potentially bring home a trophy and plenty of stories about the hunt.

What to Consider When Hunting Brown Bear

What do hunters need to know for a successful bear hunt? Keep the following factors in mind when planning your hunt.

The Location

Brown bears can be found in various habitats. While they prefer mountain woodlands in Europe, North American brown bears can be found mainly in alpine meadows and coastlines.  

In Alaska, you're likely to see these big bears in rivers and streams, catching fish for dinner.

The Solunar Calendar

Do the phases of the moon impact bear movement?

According to a 1926 theory by John Alden Knight, animal movement can be affected by the fullness and position of the moon. However, most hunters don't believe that the moon's phases significantly impact bears or their movements.

Brown bears are driven more by opportunity rather than where the moon sits in the sky. So, as omnnivores, they're more likely to move based on when they're hungry and the availability of food sources, like berries, fruit, and fish.

The Time of Year

Is a bear's hibernation a legitimate concern when planning your hunt? It can be.

Like the black bear, brown bears can be hunted in most areas during the spring and fall seasons. While both seasons provide increased brown bear activity, many hunters prefer the fall months, when the bears are actively searching for food before the winter. 

The Time of Day

During spring and fall, brown bears can be found throughout the day in search of food. However, the best times to increase your chances of a brown bear sighting tend to be in the early morning and early evening. 

The Temperature

Brown bears are the most active during the cooler months before and after winter. This is the prime time when they search for food to prepare for winter or look to bulk back up after hibernation.

Barometric Pressure

Brown bears do not seem to be affected much by changes in barometric pressure. However, bears, as with most animals, brown bears can be the most active during the coolest times of the day. 

General Weather Conditions

Like other bear species, brown bear activity is not dramatically affected by general weather conditions. However, brown bears have an extremely acute sense of smell, so weather involving strong winds is not ideal for hunting. 

The Wind

As mentioned above, wind is one of the most important factors to consider when hunting brown bears. Because of their keen sense of smell, it is important to position yourself downwind from bears and plan your hunt for days of calm wind.

Use HuntWise to Find the Best Times for Brown Bear Hunting

Heading out for a brown bear hunt requires a lot of planning, timing, and resources. One of the best ways to make sure the days you plan to be in the field are promising (and avoid a wasted effort for one of these hunts) is to use HuntWise to scout and provide weather and wind forecasting.

Even if the weather doesn't dramatically influence these animals, it can impact if you're able to hunt, depending on when and where you hunt. For a bucket list trip to Alaska for brown bear hunting, you don't want to risk being forced to pause your trip because the weather isn't ideal for you to be in the field in safe conditions.

The app's HuntCast and WindCast features are the best tools for insights into the weather – up to 15 days in advance – so you can get out in the field on the days you'll most likely find a bear in your sights during your trip.

We want you to have the best success when hunting bear or any wild game this season! If you don't have the app, download it and explore every feature – free – for your first week.

Content reviewed and updated July 18, 2024.