Alaska Sporting Journal – September 2026

Summary

Brian Watkins, a longtime proponent of bait stations for Alaskan brown and black bears, is the cover subject of the September 2026 issue of Alaska Sporting Journal (Vol. 16, Issue 3) under the theme "DOUBLE DOWN! — Smart Techniques to Bring In Bears". The issue is a practical guide for hunters and anglers operating in Alaska's remote terrain.

Juneau Kings covers the rising hatchery salmon fishery, while Cold Bay's Hot Bird Hunting — Part I of II — focuses on bagging brant and ptarmigan in the Aleutians. The "90-Day Native Challenge" profiles Mary Goddard (page 26), the Tlingit gatherer and filmmaker who accepted the challenge of eating only traditional Alaska wild foods for 3 months.

The advocacy piece "Save the Roadless Rule!" calls on readers to help protect Tongass and Chugach fish and wildlife habitat from resource extraction. The magazine is published monthly by a team focused on Alaska-specific outdoor content.

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Content Guide

▸ Bear Hunting / Bird Hunting / Native Foods / Advocacy / Fishing

p.32 · Buddies, Baits and Bears — Brian Watkins
Watkins, a veteran bear hunter, explains his bait-station techniques for brown and black bears. The article covers bait selection, station placement, barrel types and the legal requirements for baiting in Alaska. Watkins uses a 55-gallon drum with a locked lid, chained to a tree, baited with dog food, beaver carcasses and bacon grease. His rule: place the stand 20-25 yards downwind of the bait, not the 50 yards most hunters think they need.

p.26 · 90-Day Native Challenge — Mary Goddard
Tlingit gatherer and filmmaker Mary Goddard takes on the challenge of eating only traditional Alaska wild foods for 90 days. Written by SalmonState's Mary Catharine Martin, the piece covers the diet composition, the physical and mental effects, and the cultural significance of returning to pre-colonial food systems. Goddard carries a 45-litre pack of dried salmon, berries and seal oil — enough for 3 weeks in the field without resupply.

p.14 · Juneau Kings — Rising Hatchery Salmon Fishery
Juneau's hatchery salmon fishery is producing record returns, with angler harvest data and techniques for targeting king salmon in the inside passage. The article covers trolling depths, lure selection and the best tide stages. The 2026 hatchery return is projected at 180,000 kings — the highest since the programme began — with July and August producing the best catches.

p.22 · Cold Bay's Hot Bird Hunting — Part I
Bagging brant and ptarmigan in the Aleutians, covering logistics, shotgun selection and the terrain challenges. The author recommends a 12-gauge with 3-inch magnum shells for brant and a 20-gauge for ptarmigan. The best hunting windows are the first 2 hours of daylight, when both species feed actively on the tundra.

p.36 · Save the Roadless Rule!
An advocacy piece calling on Alaska Sporting Journal readers to protect the Tongass and Chugach national forests from road-building and resource extraction. The article provides specific contacts for public comment and the deadline for submissions. The public comment period closes on November 15, 2026. A pre-written template is available at alaskawild.org/roadless.

p.42 · Alaska Gear — Bear-Proof Food Storage Test
A field test of bear-proof food canisters and electric fences for backcountry camps. The article tests five canisters and two fence systems, rating them on weight, capacity and actual bear deterrence. The test winner is the BearVault BV500 at 2lb 9oz, holding 7 days of food for one person. The electric fence tests showed that a 0.5-joule unit stopped 8 of 10 test bear approaches.

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Editor's Take

A focused, no-nonsense Alaska outdoor magazine that serves its niche without apology or dilution. The Watkins bear-baiting piece is the most detailed technical guide on the subject published in any magazine this year. Goddard's 90-day native challenge offers a cultural counterpoint to the hunting content. Weak area: the gear test section is too brief to be authoritative — five canisters tested is not enough for a "buyer's guide." Best for: Alaska-based and Alaska-bound hunters, particularly those targeting brown bear or planning DIY fly-in adventures.

Strengths
• Watkins bear-baiting guide with specific equipment, bait and stand-placement data
• 90-Day Native Challenge with cultural and dietary depth
• Juneau king salmon fishery with hatchery return numbers and peak timing

Weaknesses
• Bear-proof container test only covers 5 models — insufficient for a definitive guide
• Cold Bay bird hunting piece is Part I and feels incomplete as a standalone

Verdict: Recommended — A solid, specialised issue for Alaska hunters; the Watkins baiting guide is worth the price for anyone setting up a bear station for the first time.