Tom Krueger of Alaskan Tracker, Inc. operates in one of these units, specifically Unit 16B in the Lower Susitna, which drains into the Cook Inlet. There is no closed season on black bears in this unit, and the limit is three. The limit on brown bears is two every regulatory year, and hunters are still allowed to take a brown bear in another area limited to one bear per four years. This same unit allows hunters to shoot up to 10 wolves, and get this, tags are not required for these canines.
Krueger's area is over 5,000 square miles and features 168 miles of salmon streams. He has been guiding there for 25 years and operating as an outfitter for the last 12. If you've never heard of him, it may be because he does little to no advertising, booking most of his slots by word of mouth.
This past season Krueger took a total of 40 bears out of his unit: 19 black bears and 21 brownies. He says that skull sizes may not make the Boone & Crockett minimums, but SCI scores are possible. What hunters can expect are big-bodied bruins that make impressive mounts. Seven of the black bears taken this season measured over seven feet. Everyone can expect a blackie of six feet or better. As for brown bears, one hunter took a 10-footer this season. Monsters like this don't hit the ground every year, but bears over nine feet are common. Hunters can expect to see browns from eight........(continued)
