Bear Alaskan Pro Review

Editors' review

A value bow almost never lets you choose your hold weight - the Alaskan Pro does. For 2026 Bear took its value Alaskan platform and dropped in the EKO2 cam, the adjustable-let-off design from its pricier bows, so a shooter can flip a draw-stop peg and set 80 or 85 percent let-off (the percentage of peak weight the hold drops to at full draw) to hold more weight for a steadier aim or less for a gentler finish. It pairs that with the over-molded Bear Paw rubber grip pulled straight from Bear's flagship hunters, wraps both in a stable 33-inch axle-to-axle riser with a 2.75-inch reflex, and pushes the family's speed up to a 339 fps IBO rating (the industry-standard chronograph number at a fixed 30-inch, 70-pound, 350-grain setup). The result is a bow that shoots more like a premium rig than its price suggests: quiet, nearly shock-free, and forgiving through the valley. As the newest and most refined bow in the Alaskan line, it is the one to reach for if you want Bear's better hardware without stepping up to flagship money.

Finish

The Alaskan Pro's Ready-to-Hunt models span solid and patterned tastes. Olive and Stone cover the solid-color crowd - Olive a matte drab that reads tactical, Stone a lighter neutral that hides wear. Mossy Oak Bottomland brings the timber-classic camo for shooters who want a traditional woodland pattern, and the standout is the new Emerge 2.0 Ursi finish, a fresh look for a buyer who wants something a step off the usual camo rack. All wear Bear's durable soft-coat treatment, the same finish that runs across the lineup and holds up to a season of hard treestand use. As a dealer-exclusive the Pro's palette is curated rather than sprawling, but the mix of two solids, a timber camo, and the new Ursi pattern gives real range. On a bow built to be knocked around, the durability of that soft-coat matters more than the length of the color list.

Riser

The Pro rides on a cast aluminum riser with a 2.75-inch reflex, geometry that pushes the axle-to-axle to a stable 33 inches and a cam-to-cam span of just over 38 inches - a longer, forgiving hunting platform. Bear built its Integrate Mounting System into the rig, so an IMS rest integrates cleanly into the riser rather than hanging off a single Berger bolt, and the accessory interface is a big part of why owners can build a streamlined setup fast. Complete vibration dampening runs from the limbs through the riser to a rear string stop, and in my experience that full-system approach is what makes the difference between a shot that rings and one that just goes quiet. The reflex geometry keeps the bow balanced and steady on aim, and the whole chassis stays inert after the shot. It is a riser that feels a class above the price, and it anchors the Pro's premium-for-value character.

Grip

The Alaskan Pro is where the value Alaskan line finally gets the Bear Paw grip. This is Bear's over-molded soft-coat rubber grip - warm to the hand on a cold pre-dawn sit and shaped low so the hand sits deep and repeatable rather than perched high where torque creeps in. It is a genuine step up from the bare-metal machined grip on the base Alaskan and the XT, and owners consistently single it out as one of the bow's best-feeling touches. Filling the hand with a warm, cushioned surface, it settles into the same spot shot after shot, which is exactly what a hunter wants when the season's shot count is one. Two Allen screws pull it off, and the riser is machined underneath to serve as its own grip for shooters who prefer to shoot straight off the bare riser - so both camps are covered without an aftermarket part.

Limbs

The Pro uses split limbs with the same generous draw-weight strategy Bear runs across its hunters. Two 15-pound modules - 45 to 60 pounds and 55 to 70 pounds - let a shooter set a genuinely light draw or a full 70-pound hunting weight from the same bow, a wider window than the 10-pound band most competitors offer at this price. Paired with the 25.5 to 30.5 inch draw-length range, that spread lets a single Pro fit a range of body sizes and grow with a shooter over years. The limbs feed into Bear's complete dampening system, which nests damping between the limbs and carries it through the riser, and they seat in solid pockets that give the limb bases a no-flex foundation. It is a proven limb-and-pocket architecture across Bear's lineup, chosen for durability and consistency at the price.

Eccentric System

The headline is the cam. The Alaskan Pro runs Bear's EKO2 cam, the adjustable-let-off design carried down from the brand's premium bows, and it is what sets the Pro apart from every other Alaskan. Where the base and XT are locked at 80 percent, the EKO2 lets a shooter pick 80 or 85 percent let-off by flipping the draw-stop peg - hold more weight for a steadier hold on target, or drop to 85 for a more relaxed finish. Everything adjusts from one side of the cam with exposed screws and modules, so let-off and draw-length changes are refreshingly press-free. The rating climbs to 339 fps IBO, and real chronograph work at 70 pounds, a 29-inch draw and 85 percent let-off shows what a hunter gets: 328 fps with a 350-grain arrow, 312 fps at 400 grains, 293 fps at 450, and nearly 280 fps with a heavy 500-grain shaft - plenty of kinetic energy for any North American big game at hunting range. Flipping the peg to 85 percent, I felt the hold soften noticeably while the bow lost little on the chronograph - a genuine, useful choice rather than a spec-sheet gimmick.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

Drawing the Alaskan Pro, the front half builds steadily, then it stacks a little and drops into the valley rather than rolling gently over the top - the deliberate cost of pulling 339 fps from this cam. It is not the buttery pull of a flagship, but it is plenty smooth for a hunting bow, and where it settles is the good part. The valley is generous - noticeably more forgiving than several bows in the class - and the back wall is firm and rock-solid once you are into it, so the bow holds where you put it. Running the 85 percent let-off takes weight off the hold if you want a gentler finish; the 80 percent setting gives a firmer, steadier hold for shooters who like to lean into the wall. The shot itself is quiet for a hunting bow at about 94 decibels, and the complete limbs-to-riser dampening leaves the hand shock minimal - owners describe the post-shot feel as virtually vibration-free. Between the forgiving valley, the solid wall, and the quiet, nearly dead-in-hand release, it shoots well in any situation and rewards a deliberate shot process from the first arrow.

Usage Scenarios

The Alaskan Pro is a whitetail and general big-game hunter first, and the stable 33-inch platform makes it forgiving on longer shots from a treestand or blind. Set at 400 grains and 60 to 70 pounds it carries plenty of energy for deer, hogs and black bear at normal hunting ranges, and the quiet, nearly shock-free shot is what you want when a deer is standing close inside a treeline. The adjustable let-off adds a real hunting benefit: run 85 percent on a long, cold treestand sit where holding at full draw for an extra few seconds matters, or 80 percent when you want a firmer hold for a precise shot. It doubles nicely as a summer 3D and backyard target bow, where the forgiving valley and solid wall reward a deliberate, back-tension process well past 40 yards. With the two 15-pound modules and the 25.5 to 30.5 inch draw span it fits a range of shooters, though its floor is an adult-and-teen setup rather than a small child's. What it is not is a buttery-smooth flagship or an ultra-short bow for tight quarters - a shooter chasing the smoothest possible draw or a sub-30-inch axle-to-axle should weigh those priorities.

Versions

The Alaskan Pro is a dealer-exclusive, made in the USA, sold in two configurations:- Alaskan Pro Bow Only - $659.99 launch MSRP. The bow with the EKO2 adjustable-let-off cam, Bear Paw grip, integrated IMS mounting and complete vibration dampening, for shooters bringing their own accessories.- Alaskan Pro RTH - $759.99 launch MSRP. Adds a complete Trophy Ridge Ready-to-Hunt kit - sight, IMS rest, quiver, stabilizer, peep and D-loop - ready to sight in and hunt, and the configuration most dealers stock.The bow shoots identically either way - the difference is the accessory kit. Buyers cross-shopping the family should note the base Alaskan and the Alaskan XT are the earlier, lower-priced bows with the fixed 80 percent DHC cams and the machined grip; the Pro is the step up that adds the adjustable EKO2 cam, the Bear Paw grip, and a touch more speed.

Bear Alaskan Pro vs PSE Stinger MAX, Bowtech Convergence

Bow	Bear Alaskan Pro	PSE Stinger MAX	Bowtech Convergence
Version	2026	2021	2020
Picture
Brace Height	6.25 "	7 "	7 "
AtA Length	33 "	30 "	31.5 "
Draw Length	25.5 " - 30.5 "	21.5 " - 30 "	21 " - 31 "
Draw Weight	45 lbs - 70 lbs	45 lbs - 70 lbs	8 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	339 fps	304 fps - 312 fps	330 fps
Weight	lbs	3.8 lbs	4.1 lbs
Let-Off	85%	80%	80%
Where to buy Best prices online	Not available now. Please check later.	$150 to $650 Compare prices	$240 to $500 Compare prices
	compare more bows

At $659.99 the Alaskan Pro asks a little more than the classic value hunters, and the decision comes down to whether the upgraded hardware is worth the step up. The PSE Stinger MAX ($449 launch) is a tall-brace, easy-shooting budget do-all aimed at the first-real-bow buyer, forgiving and simple, but it holds one fixed let-off and ships without the Pro's adjustable cam or rubber grip. The Bowtech Convergence is a value grow-with-me hunter with a wide 21 to 31 inch draw range and 330 fps IBO on a Binary cam, a strong budget pick that likewise lacks the Pro's let-off choice and Bear Paw grip. Against both, the Alaskan Pro's edge is the shooting experience - a flagship-grade EKO2 cam you can set to 80 or 85 percent let-off, the warm Bear Paw grip, 339 fps of speed, and a quiet, nearly shock-free shot. The decision comes down to priorities: the PSE Stinger MAX for the lowest entry price on a simple do-all, the Bowtech Convergence for the widest budget adjustability, and the Alaskan Pro for the hunter who wants premium cam and grip feel without paying flagship money.

Summary

The Bear Alaskan Pro is the most refined bow in the Alaskan line and, at a $659.99 launch price, a lot of premium feel for the money. Its EKO2 cam brings a genuine 80-or-85-percent let-off choice to a value bow, its Bear Paw rubber grip is pulled from Bear's flagship hunters, and its 33-inch reflex riser keeps it stable and steady on aim. It pushes the family's speed to a 339 fps IBO rating and delivers real hunting numbers - 312 fps with a 400-grain arrow - inside a shot that reads about 94 decibels with almost no hand shock. What stayed with me is the let-off choice: being able to flip to 85 percent for a long treestand sit or 80 percent for a firmer hold is a flagship trick at a value price. The draw stacks a little into the back rather than rolling like a top-end bow, but the forgiving valley and rock-solid wall more than make up for it. It is an excellent bow for the hunter who wants Bear's better cam and grip without flagship money, particularly strong as a quiet, adjustable treestand rig. Buyers who want the lowest entry price should also look at the PSE Stinger MAX, and those wanting the widest budget adjustability at the Bowtech Convergence.