Spring Baited Black Bear & Grizzly Hunts in Remote Alaska

We’re excited to now offer spring baited black bear hunts alongside our established baited grizzly bear hunting option.

Our southern hunting area in Alaska boasts one of the highest-density black bear populations in the state. Thanks to a rich and varied diet of berries, grasses, moose calves, and salmon, these black bears grow to exceptional sizes. The remote fly-in locations we hunt experience little to no hunting pressure, making for a truly wild and rewarding bear hunting experience.

Unlike traditional setups, a baited black or grizzly bear hunt with Double Shovel Outfitters is better described as a “bait-and-stalk” hunt. We don’t use tree stands or sit directly over bait. Instead, we position camps along scenic lake shores where bait sites can be monitored from over half a mile away, often across the lake from camp. This low-impact strategy helps avoid spooking the bears and eliminates scent contamination, which is especially important for grizzly success.

Thanks to Alaska’s 24-hour daylight during spring, we can observe bait sites nearly around the clock. When a large boar is identified, we use an inflatable canoe to approach quietly from downwind, using the shoreline’s natural contours to remain undetected. Most shots are close-range, typically 30–40 yards, and taken from the canoe, offering an adrenaline-filled and unforgettable hunt.

We begin setting up bait sites in late winter, more than a month before hunters arrive. This allows time for bears to find and work the sites before the season begins. Due to the incredibly high bear density, our spring baited black bear hunts are often action-packed. It’s common to see up to a dozen different bears in a single day, with exciting interactions playing out at the bait site.

We target mature boars that square at least 6.5 feet, with many hunters harvesting bears over 7 feet. Grizzlies taken during these hunts typically range from the upper 7-foot to lower 8-foot class.

Most of our Alaska baited black bear hunts are guided 2:1. Hunters may purchase a grizzly tag to add grizzly as a secondary species—trophy fees for grizzly are only charged if one is successfully taken. For those wishing to focus specifically on grizzly, we also offer dedicated baited grizzly bear hunts in northern Alaska.

As with all of our guided hunts, these experiences are fully remote and operated from comfortable tent camps in true Alaskan wilderness.

Travel and Logistics

All of our guided trips originate in Fairbanks Alaska. We suggest booking a flight with an arrival date at least one day before the start date of your trip. There are several options of hotels near the airport that provide shuttle services. On day one of your trip we will pick you up at your hotel. If you have not already purchased your hunting license and tags, we will stop by Fish and Game before leaving town. From Fairbanks, we drive four hours north to Circle City. In this small rural community, your pilot will meet you with the float plane on the Yukon River. Most of our camps are accessed via float equipped Cessna 180. As we have to follow the strict laws of gravity, we ask that you keep your gear under 60lbs. Most flights to camp are an hour to an hour and a half. Due to the unpredictability of Alaska’s weather it is best to leave some flexibility in your travel plans. At times, delays of several days may occur due to severe weather keeping our airplanes grounded.

Fishing

There are opportunities to fish in most of our hunting camps. Some of the smaller rivers provide some of the best grayling fishing the state has to offer. Many of our lake camps are inhabited by both pike and graying. Light tackle, spinners and spoons are our choice for catching both species.