John is a great source of information, although his area of bear knowledge is rather isolated. Different areas of the state do seem to have different colorations that are more or less common than other areas. I'm not saying a old bear can't be a dark bear, I'm just saying that an old bear isn't always a dark bear and that I'm not convinced that bears change color over the years. I'm unsure what s "huge" sample size means and I guess you've never really said how old you think a bear has
To be before it turns dark. I've seen a couple bears dead and alive but I try to leave the aging of bears to guys that went to school for it. Im always up for being wrong and learning something new.
