gradeAchuck
Active member
Seeking some input/feedback from the community regarding the "color phase" of a bear I shot this past year up in Canada. I shared the backstory on another thread (https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/official-2023-summer-bear-thread.319107/page-2#post-3702627 - posted 12/22/2023) if anyone is interested. Long story short, it was a super special hunt and I lucked out when a large color phase boar came into the bait I was on.
I don't have a lot of black bear hunting experience and in my home area color phase black bears are as rare as hen's teeth so I have zero experience in that regard. To my eyes, and from what I recall the guide saying, the coloration on my bear marks it as a "chocolate" or "brown" color phase. However, I've started getting more feedback, from other hunters and an outfitter or two, that the coloration on my bear marks it out as a "dark red/cinnamon". I've done the Google search thing and while I found some good articles regarding color phase in general, I was only able to find a few mentions that actually explain the difference between the various color phases.
I recognize that this is the equivalent of an opinion piece, and nothing takes away from my appreciation of my bear, but I am curious what the wider community would call this color phase. I've included some pictures of the bear in various lighting conditions, ranging from dusk (immediately after the bear was taken) to early morning sun and shade (10-ish hours later at the outfitter's camp). Appreciate your time and feedback.
I don't have a lot of black bear hunting experience and in my home area color phase black bears are as rare as hen's teeth so I have zero experience in that regard. To my eyes, and from what I recall the guide saying, the coloration on my bear marks it as a "chocolate" or "brown" color phase. However, I've started getting more feedback, from other hunters and an outfitter or two, that the coloration on my bear marks it out as a "dark red/cinnamon". I've done the Google search thing and while I found some good articles regarding color phase in general, I was only able to find a few mentions that actually explain the difference between the various color phases.
I recognize that this is the equivalent of an opinion piece, and nothing takes away from my appreciation of my bear, but I am curious what the wider community would call this color phase. I've included some pictures of the bear in various lighting conditions, ranging from dusk (immediately after the bear was taken) to early morning sun and shade (10-ish hours later at the outfitter's camp). Appreciate your time and feedback.
