Trad Gang

Trad Gang Highlights => HIGHLIGHTS 2012 => Topic started by: Ibow on December 15, 2012, 04:45:00 PM

Title: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 15, 2012, 04:45:00 PM
It's some time since I've been "active" on the TG site but I still recognize a few of the names and handles so i thought I'd post a pict from my spring bear hunt in Alberta.

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 in Alberta where 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 on stand without having at least one bear in front of me and most of the time it was multiple bears. The hunt was everything I’d dreamt it would be and more.

At night we stayed at John and Jenn’s house in Swan Hills and we’d drive up to bear camp about an hour north of their house each day.

We had every kind of weather imaginable – sun, rain, sleet, hail. Cold, warm. Typical Alberta.

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.

Pict shows myself, friend Russ Thornberry and outfitter John Rivet.

Black Widow MAIII, 46@28, Zwickey Delta 2 blade, 2016 shaft.

Best wishes and congrats to all who have been successful this year no matter where or what you were hunting.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/Ibow1/MeRussJohn.jpg)
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Sheepshooter on December 15, 2012, 05:53:00 PM
Awesome bear! Congratulations! I'm glad you posted this. Before you went on the hunt you had posted some questions o the Alberta forum. I was wondering how you had done. I thought maybe you had such a bad hunt you didn't wanna talk about it. Lol.Looks like it worked out well for you!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: maineac on December 15, 2012, 05:54:00 PM
Beautiful bear, congrats!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 15, 2012, 06:06:00 PM
Randy - quite the opposite.    :)   It was the best hunt I've ever been on. Hope you've had a great season as well.
Maineac - thanks.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: ti-guy on December 15, 2012, 07:38:00 PM
Congrats!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: on December 15, 2012, 09:12:00 PM
Congrats on a very neat looking bear!

Bisch
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: ron w on December 15, 2012, 09:23:00 PM
Nice one.....   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: varmint101 on December 15, 2012, 10:10:00 PM
Pretty bear congrats!!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: joe ashton on December 15, 2012, 11:01:00 PM
that is a beautiful bear.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: centaur on December 16, 2012, 08:40:00 AM
That is a great bear. Congrats!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: T-Bowhunter on December 16, 2012, 09:51:00 AM
That is a great looking bear.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Shedrock on December 16, 2012, 10:33:00 AM
Great bear, congrats!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 16, 2012, 10:44:00 AM
Thanks for the nice comments. My taxidermist said she should have a really nice Christmas gift ready this coming week... I'll post a pict of the rug when I get it. Thanks again.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: bowhawk archer on December 16, 2012, 06:03:00 PM
Congrats on a sweet looking bear.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Anointed Archer on December 16, 2012, 06:46:00 PM
Great bear and couldn't of happened to a nicer guy. You total deserved that entire experience Chuck, may God continue to bless you through out ALL the days of your life!   :campfire:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: stujay on December 16, 2012, 10:07:00 PM
What a beautiful bear. Congrats!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: CDR on December 16, 2012, 10:33:00 PM
What a beauty Chuck!!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 16, 2012, 10:41:00 PM
Thanks again for the nice comments.

Jeff, I couldn't even begin to count the ways I've been blessed in life. Thanks so much.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: bansheewins on December 17, 2012, 12:14:00 PM
Congrats that's a gorgeous bear.  I love the color.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 17, 2012, 03:08:00 PM
Thanks. When I decided to go to Alberta and give the color phase thing one more try, I sure wasn't fussy about which color but if I had to choose, the blond was what I would have preferred.
Indeed, I've been blessed.
Thanks again for the nice comments.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Big Ed on December 17, 2012, 03:48:00 PM
Awesome!!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: djohnson on December 17, 2012, 04:33:00 PM
Beautiful bear.Congratulations!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: rastaman on December 17, 2012, 08:48:00 PM
Beautiful animal! Congratulations sir!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: pitbull on December 19, 2012, 08:37:00 PM
Awesome bear, congrats!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 19, 2012, 09:09:00 PM
I don't know what else to say other than thanks so much. Compared to so many other TG members, a hunt like this was small potatoes. Yet, like I said on the Pow Wow, it's been seven months and I still cannot believe it actually happened. Here's a link to the story on the Pow Wow ... a few pics and a video are posted there.  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=123853  
Thanks so much for all the kind words. Really appreciated. I hope that I can return the favor for each of you down the road.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on December 19, 2012, 09:47:00 PM
What a Beaut!

Congrats!!!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Tater on December 20, 2012, 07:58:00 AM
That is a beautiful Blonde Bear, . Congrats..!
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Jerry Bellmyer on December 23, 2012, 09:49:00 PM
Gorgeous bear.......stand or ground hunt?
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Ibow on December 23, 2012, 10:29:00 PM
Jerry - I was in a ladder stand, 9 feet up, 11 yards from the barrel. I asked my outfitter if he'd allow hunting from the ground as I did it in Manitoba in 08' but he wasn't wild about the idea.
 
In retrospect, it may have been a good idea. I was literally surrounded by bears, all night, every night. Had bears constantly climbing up my stand, more out of curiosity than anything else. Never felt at all threatened by it but you had to keep stay on your toes because there was always one or more checking you out at the bottom of the stand.

Just seconds before I shot my bear, I was "shoo-ing" a really big black one off my ladder as he was rattling the stand around. I was also a little bit afraid he'd run off my bear. Somehow managed to get it done.  :p  Russ Thornberry was sitting with me and he got it all on tape. I've only watched it 2,393 times since I've been home.   :)  

It was truly the bear hunt of a lifetime. Just an amazing place to bear hunt for sure!

Thanks again to all for the kind words.
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: Richie on December 25, 2012, 01:18:00 PM
Awesome    :clapper:
Title: Re: Alberta 2012
Post by: FerretWYO on December 27, 2012, 10:23:00 AM
Awesome.