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The price sounds like a good deal to me. The size of the bears seem a little, well, optimistic. A 12' bear is really unheard of anymore. I don't know any guide that says they can put clients on a bear in the 10-12' class. Not at Kodiak, not at Illiamna, not at Cold Bay. You very well may happen upon one over 10, but the way that was worded made it sound like you would definitely have a good chance at seeing a 10'er. I just don't believe that is the case. I've stomped around Illiamna and Brooks River alot. Done a bunch of time in the Katmai, and there are big bears there for sure, but I'd never boast about putting a client on a bear in the 10-12' class. There are just too few of them. A 9' bear is really big these days, anything approaching 10' is something to shout about anymore. Anything over 10' is a "champagne" bear. I haven't heard of a 12' bear being killed up here in the last 5 years or so.

I didn't mean to blast you, personally, l2s, but want our members here to have reasonable expectations. The bears described in your post would equal a safari outfitter in Tanzania saying "buffalo 50"+". Sure there are a few that have been killed, but are pretty are rare these days and not really representative of what you can expect.

I did want to let the members know also that IF the hunt is on the north side of the lake at Illiamna, it might not be as "wild" country as they imagine due to the exploration and claim staking at the Pebble complex.

I'm not a guide, I'm not an oufitter, the only interest in this thread is our members here and this great state of ours. I've seen enough Alaska bashing on other forums by clients with unreal expectations or guides that have overinflated their hunts, that I want the buyer to understand what they are undertaking.

My apologies for offending you, I didn't mean to do that.

I will make this last statement for all those that wish to come to Alaska to hunt.

If you see a 65" bull moose, take it, there aren't many of those, even though that is what you read about.

If you see a 40" or better Dall Ram, you are in the 1% of sheep hunters that year. There just aren't that many of those.

If you see a 10' bear, it is even more of a trophy today than it was 10 years ago. Take it, you aren't likely to see one bigger.

There are bigger animals than these out there, still roaming the mountains and valleys, but not in numbers that make it an even remotely common occurance.

Edited by DPhillips (27/04/04 11:15 AM)