October 01, 2025

EP 304 Dr. Mike Arnold - Bear Hunting & Stealth Vision Optics

36 minutes

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.

00:00 – Welcome & Sponsors

Larry sets the table and welcomes Dr. Mike back to the mic.

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

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”

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)

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

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

Rifles & Calibers:

• MG Arms Ultralight – .338 Federal (Dr. Mike)

• Mossberg – .308 Win (Larry, loaner from Brad Fenson)

Optics:

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

Ammunition:

• Hornady Precision Hunter (ELD-X)

Hunt Styles:

• Spot-and-stalk (BC); Baited (Alberta)

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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By Larry Weishuhn

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