Chelsea Pardo, TRCP’s new Alaska senior program manager, recounts her 2024 bear hunt in the Susitna River Valley 

I woke up the morning of June 1 buzzing with excitement for my bear hunt. Although it would be a quick weekend adventure, I set out feeling optimistic at my chances of tagging a bruin. After a quick breakfast, I drove along the Parks Highway to catch the Alaska Railroad flag stop train in Talkeetna, hoping to glimpse Denali along the way. The Hurricane Turn flag stop train—originally named as a flag was used to wave the train down—runs through the Indian River Valley and is the last remaining train in the country that will pick up or drop off passengers anywhere along its backcountry route. The train is a treasured resource for many Alaskans who own remote property in the area. 

As I gathered with the other passengers waiting to board the train, I noticed the typical eclectic nature of the summer crowd. The other travelers included locals with rafting gear eager to be dropped off to float the Susitna River back to Talkeetna, as well as tourists on guided trips, many of whom were experiencing Alaska for the first time. The Susitna River, meaning “sandy river” in the Dena’ina language, runs an impressive 313 miles from the Susitna Glacier in the Alaska Range, along the Talkeetna Mountains (where I would be venturing), and flows into the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. When we boarded the train, I informed the conductor of the milepost where I wanted to be let off.

I sat next to the window enjoying the views of the river as we passed various stops that boasted stories of the valley’s rich gold mining history. After passing over the large Susitna River bridge, we paused to observe a black bear sow with a cub. I decided to take it as a good omen that I might see more bears in the area later that night on my hunt.  

I arrived at my stop and felt relieved to see my mom already waiting for me by the train tracks on a six-wheeler. We loaded up the wheeler with my gear and made the short ride to our cabin. After dinner and some gear reorganizing, we decided to venture out to the bear bait. We arrived in the early evening and approached the bait quietly, never knowing if we might encounter a bear already there. There was no activity yet, and the wind was swirling our scent. We climbed into the tree stand and settled in to wait. 

Hours passed, and I added more layers to stay warm as the temperatures dropped. I glanced at my watch and noted that it was 9:30 p.m., finding it strange that we hadn’t seen any activity. Just then, I spotted a black bear slowly entering from behind the bait station. It was a younger bear, alone and timid, sniffing the air and staring right at us. 

I tried not to move or even breathe. As the bear moved toward the pile, I positioned my gun, ready to take a shot, but the bear was directly facing me, making it difficult to find a clear angle. I watched as it began to walk away. Unfortunately, there was no good opportunity for a clean shot, and I had to let it go as it wandered behind the stand. I reassured myself that there would likely be more bears, but I knew I only had one night to hunt before returning to town the next day. 

A few minutes later, with the wind still blowing, another black bear entered the bait. This one was much more mature than the previous bear, likely around six and a half feet. I found myself shaking with anticipation, trying to remain still as it stared directly at me. I readied my gun and watched through the scope as the bear moved deeper into the bait area. It continued to look straight ahead without turning broadside, and then it began to walk away without feeding. 

As it slowly made its way up the hill to leave, it stopped and turned, giving me just enough of a shot to feel comfortable. I shot and knew I had connected, but the bear ran into the nearby brush and disappeared. We climbed down from the tree stand and searched for the bear. As night fell, we decided to come back in the daylight. 

I barely slept that night, hoping we would recover the bear. Early the next morning, we set out to return to the bait and navigated through the devil’s club surrounding the area where we believed the bear had fallen. Busting through the thorny mess, I finally saw the black hide in a sea of green only a couple hundred yards from where I shot. Relief washed over me as I punched my harvest ticket. I was ecstatic for the harvest of the bear and the meat that we would have for many meals. My mom and I field dressed and packed the bear out that morning and loaded the boat to head home.  

As I observed the river scenery and glimpses of Denali State Park on the boat ride back to Talkeetna, I felt a sense of gratitude for being fortunate to experience such an incredible place in Alaska. The harvest of an animal was simply an addition to the overall experience of being in the backcountry with my family. Something we’ve done so many times before and will hopefully do again. 

Learn more about Chelsea and sign up for Alaska conservation updates HERE. 

Photo credits: Chelsea Pardo

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