6-2007

Trophy Book Outfitters - Alberta Black Bears

Vicki with her monster 21+ inch black bear.

Ralph with his monster bruin.

This is not a new show "Grumpy Old Men 3" - it's Dan and his crew, who do a GREAT job!

Vicki and her blond bear... and yes, Ralph still has no blond bear and Vicki has TWO!

Big chocolate checking out Vicki's blond bear.

Ralph & Dan Hungle with Ralph's big chocolate bear. - Did we ever say a color that Vicki doesn't have yet?


As many of you know we have always loved hunting Alberta and boy did we find a great outfitter up there for us to continue to BEAR DOWN. Dan Hungle, of Trophy Book Outfitters, is one of those places to make your bear hunting dreams come true.

The first day in stand we were surprised when all of a sudden we caught movement to our left. It was Vicki’s turn first, and low and behold, in walks, or should I say waddles, a monster bruin. Jet black and huge, he came in slowly, while making his way, we knew he was the master of the area and his demeanor showed it. Vicki made sure I knew it was one of her no-brainer-bears as she smiled and drew back her Hoyt. As he turned broadside she let her HellRazor speak for itself, and to both our surprise, he ran 5 steps and went down right below our stand. He was huge to say the least, and I knew she just shot another 21+ inch bear.....THANKS Dan!

The next night it was my turn — we sat in a stand that he (Dan Hungle) had hunters on the week before, and they had shot a 20+ black bear. We were covered up with bears, when all of a sudden a small blond walked in. I wanted to shoot so badly, but decided to hold off, trying to get a bigger bear and am I glad I did. It wasn’t an hour and half later, a big black bruin walked in chasing off all the other bears and when he gave me my shot, I took it and in 20 yards or so he was down. 20+ incher, with scars all over to prove he was just like me.........all beat up and tired!

The next few days we would sit and watch bear after bear coming into different bait sites, and we set up our Stealth cameras to see if we could find some color bears and we did! Spotted a medium blond bear on camera, it was Vicki’s turn again, so we headed off to the blond bait. It wasn’t long and here he came—Vicki wanted me to take him for she knew I always wanted a blond (bear that is), but it was her turn to hunt and she nailed him. After we recovered her bear, we drug it back to the two-track and climbed back into the stand, to wait until dark to get picked up. We had bears all over us and right before dark a huge chocolate bear came in and I could see Vicki wished she’d held off, for that was her favorite color, and she had always wanted to get a chocolate, but she was done and now it was my turn to hunt again. So we let him feed and even check out Vicki’s bear in hopes he would return when I had my Hoyt in hand.

The next day we were set-up in the same stand, and about 3 hours into the hunt, here came the big chocolate and I was ready. I settled my pin on him and let the Beman tipped with the Hellrazor do its job and it sure did! The giant color bear was down in 30 yards and what a bear, 20+ and well into 6’ + range.

What can you say when you go to a new outfitter and get results like that your first time in the camp, and then you see the pictures of all the other big bears they take and you quickly know you found a new place to hang your hat and call home.