Jim, the bears that actually come from Kodiak Island are still referred to as Kodiak Bears. They used to be the largest bears in the world. There is even a standing Kodiak bear engraved on the badges of Kodiak police officers. Large grizzlies in Alaska that do not come from Kodiak Island are usually called Alaskan Brown Bears. Genetic tests have proven that the Kodiak/Alaskan Brown is the same species just bigger.

Since the NRA and the Boone & Crockett crowd are always looking for the biggest and most impressive, we get them up here from all over the world. Its a very big industry. Thousands of dollars for a special hunting permit, thousands more for a licensed guide and outfitter, thousands more for preparation and taxidermy of the carcass.

The rich get to kill one of the earth's mightiest creatures and there's not a whole lot the rest of us can do about it. When you have seen these great bears in the wild from 10-12 feet away as I have, it is very hard to understand how our elected officials continue to allow this slaughter to happen.

Mike