Color phase blackies...

[Tanya]

Hi;
This is Tanya's husband John with a question for you mainland hunters. I was just in the interior on a short (unsuccessful) grizzly hunt and saw an unusual color phase black bear. It was a rich chestnut brown color and then had darker brown legs. This particular bear was a sow, as it had a cinnamon colored cub with it, so I couldn't turn it into a rug. My question is how rare is this color variation and also is it only seen in sow's or do boar's come in this color as well? Oh and another question ; Does anyone know a hidden valley where all of the bears are this colour and no one else hunts?

Thanks;
John

[Steeleco]

John, This past Sunday when my son got his first bear, we saw 4 bears. the only one that was black was the first one. The little bear I posted a picture of was Chocolate brown with a deep black chest on him. I know another area where the colours you'll find is anybodies guess.

Both bears we took we're boars one black one brown.

[boxhitch]

Color phase appears more often in sows than boars, but they can be found. % of phase bears varies and I bet has never been documented. Some G/O will state color phase chances on their hunts.
As far as the valley goes , well............

[wlbc]

This picture is from that secret valley...


http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa189/wextcoaster_01/Picturessummerof2006on002-1.jpg

Seriously, in the area I took this picture there are black bears ranging from a kind of sandy blond colour through a number of shades of brown to black.

There is a beautiful cinnamon boar living in the area this picture was taken that has a date with my taxidermist - hopefully this fall.

[3kills]

i have seen quite a few brown color bears and have actaully shot one....and as for the valley ya i know of one that has lots of brown phases but its not my hunny hole to be givin out directions to

here was the one i shot.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/3killslookin4more/rugpics003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/3killslookin4more/rugpics004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/3killslookin4more/rugpics001.jpg

and i past up on one a lil smaller then him last year pretty much the same color though....

[Tanya]

Thanks for the info guys. Nice rug 3Kills. That's very similar to the bear I saw.

John.