Found in the mountains and forests of North America, Asia, and Europe, the brown bear covers the largest area of any bear in the world. Generally solitary animals, brown bears can be found in groups during feasting seasons such as the Alaskan Salmon run.
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 the best times for brown bear hunting, whether you're after a trophy pelt or some delicious bear meat.
Updated November 4, 2025
Why Hunt Brown Bears
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.
The Best Times for Brown Bear Hunting
When planning a brown bear hunt, timing can make a significant difference in both the quality of your experience and your success in tagging out (or not). The two prime hunting seasons are spring (April–May) and fall (September–October), each offering distinct advantages and challenges.
Let's look at spring vs fall brown bear hunting and the best times to hunt.
Spring Hunts (April–May)
A spring bear hunt can be fun and challenging, as bears emerge from hibernation and look for food after a long winter.
When hunting in spring, you'll likely encounter bigger bears than later in the year.After hibernation, mature boars emerge first, often before younger bears and sows. This means spring hunters have a better chance of encountering large, trophy-sized males in the states where spring bear hunting is legal.
Spring can also be the ideal time to see bears due to sparse vegetation and good visibility in the brush before vegetation starts growing again. You'll find it easier to spot and stalk bears from a distance when you can see through bushes and tree limbs.
Bear hides also tend to be in excellent condition in the spring, ideal for hunters looking for beautiful pelts.
However, there are some drawbacks to hunting brown bears in the spring. You'll typically see thinner bears, which means less meat. After a long winter, bears have depleted fat reserves, so meat quantity and quality are typically lower.
Bear pelts may also have patchy fur and show signs of shedding after the colder winter months.
Fall Hunts (September–October)
Fall brown bear hunts can be a nice addition to your annual deer hunts! Just be sure your state offers a fall brown bear hunting season.
While you may see bigger bears in the spring, the fall typically brings more bears overall. They are more active in the fall, feeding heavily on salmon, berries, and other foods to prepare for hibernation. This brings more opportunities for sightings.
You'll also see an improvement in the pelt quality. By early fall, bears have developed thick, luxurious fur, ideal for trophy hides. Plus, the meat quality also improves. Well-fed bears yield more meat, and the flavor is often superior thanks to their pre-hibernation diet. Salmon runs and brown bears are a good combination for planning your hunt timing.
Fall hunts can be more challenging due to thicker cover (dense vegetation and brush) that can make spotting and stalking more difficult. Additionally, you may see more smaller bears than the big trophy bears in the spring. Dominant males may have already fed heavily and gone into denning earlier, leaving smaller bears as the ones you're more likely to see.
What to Consider When Hunting Brown Bear
Success in brown bear hunting depends on more than just timing. Location plays a crucial role, as regional climates and food sources affect bear behavior. Also, your goals as a hunter (whether you’re seeking a trophy hide, prime meat, or simply the experience) will influence the best season to choose.
Hunters must also consider their physical condition when planning a hunt. Bear hunts can be physically demanding, often involving rugged terrain and long hours of tracking.
Choosing between spring and fall comes down to balancing your priorities, like trophy size, hide quality, meat value, and overall hunting conditions, to create the best possible experience in the field.
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 by where the moon sits in the sky. So, as omnivores, 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.
Target brown bear feeding times when planning where to be when you think bears might be looking for food.
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, as with most animals, brown bears are most active during the coolest times of 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 whether 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 during the best month for brown bear hunting 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 it for free for your first week.
We have answers to your questions about the best time for brown bear hunting!
Q: What time of day are brown bears most active?
A: Brown bears are most active during the early morning and late evening hours, especially around dawn and dusk.
Q: What is the best time of day to hunt bears?
A: The best time to hunt bears is typically early morning or late evening when they’re out feeding and moving between feeding areas and cover.
Q: What time are brown bears active?
A: Brown bears are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active during low-light periods (around sunrise and sunset), but they can also move throughout the day depending on food availability and weather.
Q: Is spring or fall bear meat better?
A: Fall bear meat is generally better because bears have been feeding heavily and have more fat and flavor, while spring bears tend to be leaner after hibernation.
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