YOUR preferred time for Alaskan bears?

Mods: if this has to be moved to the wildlife forum, that's fine. I put it here as this board gets way more action than the wildlife one.

I know the answer is "There really is no bad time". While a fine answer, really not very helpful.

I had a trip planned this year with Dave, but unfortunately, had to cancel it due to personal reasons. So, I'm in the process of planning one for next year. Since I am very open on times next year, I'm really taking the time to do some research, learn about seasonal behaviors and then make my decisionbased on what I would want to see. Herein lies the problem - I really just want to see the bears, don't really care what they are doing.

That said, since everyone goes during the salmon runs, I think I may try and not go then as I would prefer something a little more intimate and a little less, shall we say, "commercial". My first thought was go late May to early June when the cubs are first out and getting used to things.

However, I found a trip last night that will be going late September when the fall colors have arrived and the bears are fatter with their fluffy winter coats. It is more interior Alaska as opposed to coastal. Also, my research shows that the sun will hang much lower in the sky, making for some really nice and soft lighting. Really caught my attention.

So, I ask you guys who have been: when did you go, is it what you expected and would you go back during the same time of year or would you prefer something a little different from when you went? Don't need to know who you went with, but if you want to give them some props, go right ahead.

Really depends on where you might be planning on going to see the bears. Each area is unique, for instance if you go to Brooks and the salmon aren't there the bears won't be either. It's not that you won't see bears at Brooks but they will be just passing through. As a general rule May to mid June is good for sows with cubs, mid June to July better for the boars since it is breeding season and the salmon are in. August and September are normally wetter and later september can be cooler and wet but the coats are nicer. I have been to Brooks twice early and late July, I would go late July if doing again. Lake Clark twice mid July and early August and going back next week for my third time so I will see what later August is like. Going for fishing and bear photography, and my next trip I am planning on would be mid June targeting sows with cubs back in the Lake Clark area. The reason for me going next time outside the "salmon season" is I have quite a few images of wet bears and the bigger boars, and I would like to get some more opportunities to get sows with cubs and drier bears. Also I am starting to plan on going to see the big white ones (polar) and that would be later September to first of Oct. If you have not been to see the bears yet you can't really go wrong on when you go, it would depend more on what type of bear photographs you would like to have a chance at getting.