DSC’s Campfires with Larry WeishuhnColor-Phase Bears, Big Black Bruisers & a Day at Stealth Vision (with Dr. Mike Arnold)Episode Summary

Pull up a chair—Larry welcomes friend and wildlife biologist Dr. Mike Arnold back to the fire to swap spring bear stories from British Columbia and Alberta, break down color-phase genetics, and nerd out on long-range Stealth Vision optics at company HQ in Crockett, Texas. From barge rides over 600-foot glacial lakes and logging-road stalks to a rain-soaked recovery on a 400-pound boar, this one’s packed with fieldcraft, gear talk, and camp-style laughs.

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  00:00 – Welcome & Sponsors
  
  Larry sets the table and welcomes Dr. Mike back to the mic.

  
  


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  01:28 – Mike’s British Columbia Spot-and-Stalk
  
  • Camp access by barge across a deep, glacial lake; days spent glassing logging roads
  
  • Goal: a color-phase bear (“cinnamon/chocolate”)—and finding one!
  
  • Tracking with wind in the face, slipping off the road into a small burn, and re-locating the bear at ~60 yards
  
  • Shot with a .338 Federal (MG Arms ultralight) on quad sticks; double-lung hit, short dash, quick finish
  
  • Daily bear sightings (including a grizzly boar and sow), plus moose, mule deer—and elk moving back into the area

  
  


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  13:00 – Larry’s Alberta Hunt (Bait, Ground Level, Big Boar)
  
  • A cagey black bear that “checks the blind” finally slips up—Larry hunts from the ground instead
  
  • Raining hard, light is terrible; Stealth Vision SVT 3-18×44 with lit reticle makes the difference
  
  • Mossberg .308 on loan from Brad Fenson, Hornady Precision Hunter ammo; quartering shot, short 35-step recovery
  
  • Estimated ~400-lb spring boar with a “weightlifter’s neck”

  
  


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  18:30 – Why So Many Color-Phase Bears?
  
  • Dr. Mike’s genetics take: small historical populations can “fix” color variants in a region
  
  • Western/interior populations show more blondes, cinnamons, and chocolates; coastal/eastern tend to be black
  
  • Forestry practices and green-up patterns boost bear numbers; grizzlies abundant but not generally huntable there (outside First Nation harvest)

  
  


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  22:30 – Range Day at Stealth Vision HQ (Crockett, TX)
  
  • Inside look at Stealth Vision’s “top-tier or nothing” approach with Dr. John McCall and Joe Cunningham
  
  • The integrated cant indicator (“green bubble”)—no more flipping to a separate level at long range
  
  • Pushing to 1,000+ yards; how smart engineering for the human eye improves clarity, speed, and precision
  
  • Anecdotes on extreme consistency—tiny groups at 500 yards and beyond

  
  


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  33:05 – Looking Ahead
  
  • Saskatchewan plans (good color-phase odds), plus a visit to Choctaw Hunting Lodge on the horizon
  
  • Camp closes with thanks and an open invite to gather again next week

  
  

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  Rifles & Calibers:
  
  • MG Arms Ultralight – .338 Federal (Dr. Mike)
  
  • Mossberg – .308 Win (Larry, loaner from Brad Fenson)

  
  


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  Optics:
  
  • Stealth Vision SVT 3-18×44 (illuminated reticle, integrated cant indicator)

  
  


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  Ammunition:
  
  • Hornady Precision Hunter (ELD-X)

  
  


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  Hunt Styles:
  
  • Spot-and-stalk (BC); Baited (Alberta)

  
  


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  Wildlife Notes:
  
  • Frequent black bear sightings, grizzly pair, moose; elk recolonizing pockets of BC
  
  • Color-phase frequency in parts of BC ~25–30% (per outfitter estimates)

  
  

“It’s easy to shoot too high on bears—know the anatomy. Even then, aim discipline matters.” – Larry & Dr. Mike

If you enjoyed this campfire, follow/subscribe so you don’t miss our next episode—Larry’s lining up more voices from this same camp week. Share the show with a hunting buddy, and let us know your favorite bear-hunting lessons or color-phase encounters.

DSC • Hornady • Taurus • Stealth Vision • Mossberg • Vineyard Max • Red 55 Winery • Choctaw Hunting Lodge

Plus: The Crown Bar (La

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