In the spring of 2006, my son-in-law, Sagen Juliussen and I went brown bear hunting on the Alaska Peninsula.  We were in search of a big bear.  As we sat on the spotting hill with the cold wind hitting our faces and chilling us within, I thought to myself, why am I here?  I’m sure, at one time of another, that thought has crossed the minds of many Alaskan professional hunters while brown bear hunting during those long, cold, wet and many times boring days.   And, I’m sure our clients as they sat shivering, were more than likely thinking, and we paid money for this!  I have hunted brown bear in Alaska for 38 years.  I have had some great experiences and some miserable experiences but as we say in the business, “that’s brown bear hunting.” My main thought however is, what is really the most important prerequisite for taking a 10’+ brown bear.  Is it skill, patience or luck?  I have personally guided on eight 10 footers with another 27 being taken by AAA Alaskan Outfitters Inc., in which I was a partner for twenty- one years.