Some time ago I began visiting your site if nothing more than to just familiarize myself with Alberta and it’s hunting opportunity and culture. Some of you may remember I mentioned it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to take a color phase bear. I’ve been blessed enough to take several blacks but the color phase has eluded me for many years - until this year when I hunted with John and Jenn Rivet from Swan Hills.

It was truly a DREAM bear hunt where I don’t think I ever spent more than 15 minutes without having at least one bear in front of me and most of the time multiple bears. The hunt was everything I’d dreamt it would be and more.
 
The highlight of the week of course was taking the blonde bear but having Russ Thornberry in camp with me was an absolute joy. Russ and I were sitting together when I shot my bear and that is a memory I will cherish forever.  This pict is of myself, Russ and outfitter John Rivet.

Thanks for all the kind words and encouraging PM’s from the past and best wishes and congrats to all who have been successful this spring no matter where you were hunting. Alberta is an incredible place and I hope to go back again in the near future.

Thanks for the kind words. Congrats on your success Justin. I'd love to see you picts!

As far as what's next on the Alberta list, really, this bear was kind of "it" for me. I've been very fortunate in my hunting career and my dream situation now would be to go back up next spring for a couple weeks and just help out around camp (not for any type of pay), helping to make meals, bait stands, help with the hunters and so on. I really have no desire anymore to shoot another bear but I just LOVE bear hunting and I'd love to be in camp for a couple weeks. We'll see ...

Tuc - I've been blessed for sure. Still can hardly believe it actually happened. 

Great looking bear. Congrats for sure. Saw a pic of it when Russ updated his FB status the night you harvested your bear. Didnt realize at that time it was you but good to see you had a good hunt! If your ever out this way Russ and I only live 6 or 7 miles apart as the crow flys and could have a coffee and a BS.

Thanks again for the kind comments. I just could not say enough positive about Russ. Here's a guy who's books I've read and videos I've watched for years is not only in camp with us, he ends up sitting with me the night I shot my bear. The whole thing was indeed a dream come true.

When you see him next, ask about Black Trout fishing ... We had a lot of laughs. 

Thanks again and someday down the road I hope I get to meet a few of you. I've been to Manitoba and Ontario several times but the whole Alberta experience was far and away the best not just because of the hunting but because of the people.

Nice bear and story....