BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Hunter should get the hide and skull so he has something other than scars to show for the whole ordeal.
Swan Hills Bear Attack
- Thread starter Demonical
- Start date
Hunter should get the hide and skull so he has something other than scars to show for the whole ordeal.
I was thinking the same thing, especially since the report said he was BOWHUNTING moose!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
For the record, I have no issue whatsoever with the bear being killed in the act, either by the victim or his companion. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Shooting a bear off a mauling victim is no mean feat, kudos to the companion if that's how it happened. That's the second story this year I know of a bear that was shot off his/her victim, there was the older fellow at his cottage east of Winnipeg, now this grizz. Practice, practice, practice.
More info. Once again, I get a different story... all these 'first-hand' accounts have been different. Oh well, I'll report this story, and I believe we're getting closer to the truth.
But there are certain details that I learned today, that I will withhold, until such a time as the official story is released. Whenever that is.
The guy that was attacked is a member of the Swan Hills Volunteer Fire Dept.; I ran into one of the other members today, and this info came from him.
The guy was alone... again, another version...
-The bear attacked the guy from behind. This is consistent with the other stories.
-The bear attacked the guys head at first. That's kinda the normal M.O. for bears.
-He shot the bear and it left.
-The bear then returned to resume it's attack, going at the guys shoulder, and then legs. He shot it again. Bear left again.
-Bear returned again and again, and each time buddy shot it, 5 times in total.
-When the bear finally quit attacking the guy was able to crawl and roll over a log and hide in behind it, until he could place a cell call.
-The 5km hike to make a call was BS story (don't know why they made that up maybe that'll come out when more info is released).
-He has extensive injuries to his head and shoulder area, and one thigh.
-The victim required 7 hours of surgery to repair these wounds, as good as they could, but I'm told, he lost ~30% of the muscle tissue from one of his thighs...
But there are certain details that I learned today, that I will withhold, until such a time as the official story is released. Whenever that is.
The guy that was attacked is a member of the Swan Hills Volunteer Fire Dept.; I ran into one of the other members today, and this info came from him.
The guy was alone... again, another version...
-The bear attacked the guy from behind. This is consistent with the other stories.
-The bear attacked the guys head at first. That's kinda the normal M.O. for bears.
-He shot the bear and it left.
-The bear then returned to resume it's attack, going at the guys shoulder, and then legs. He shot it again. Bear left again.
-Bear returned again and again, and each time buddy shot it, 5 times in total.
-When the bear finally quit attacking the guy was able to crawl and roll over a log and hide in behind it, until he could place a cell call.
-The 5km hike to make a call was BS story (don't know why they made that up maybe that'll come out when more info is released).
-He has extensive injuries to his head and shoulder area, and one thigh.
-The victim required 7 hours of surgery to repair these wounds, as good as they could, but I'm told, he lost ~30% of the muscle tissue from one of his thighs...
now we are starting a real bear defense thread.
can op give more info about the caliber the unfortunate hunter used? I will disqualify any caliber below and under. for those believe shot placement above all, tell us how this guy could have time and composure to find the best body part to shoot at.
can op give more info about the caliber the unfortunate hunter used? I will disqualify any caliber below and under. for those believe shot placement above all, tell us how this guy could have time and composure to find the best body part to shoot at.
Just released with few details but a 65 year old fisherman was mauled when he spooked a grizzly sow and two cubs at the Morice River BC just as he was finishing up for the day. He crawled 300 metres to the nearest road. Lots of injuries but he is in Vancouver and should make it. No real details yet.
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With the bear returning again and again...well, to me it doesn't really sound like a defensive act of protecting a cub.
Unaware of an attack that came from behind...again doesn't sound defensive.
Bears that I've came to close to accidently (including those with cubs)have mostly displayed aggressive behaviour (snorting, grunting, barking..not sure on the proper term, jaw popping).
The two times that I was stocked by bears (both blacks), they came in low, slow, quiet and from behind.
Hoping for a quick recovery for the hunter...dead bear, bonus!
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Actually pretty common from the stories/accounts I've read over the years on grizzly attacks. Instinct tells the sow to eliminate the threat, so they will wait around to make sure they've done so. There are quite a few accounts of victims of a mauling waiting for what seemed like hours before moving, only to be attacked again when they thought the bear was gone.
General rule of thumb is that black bears attack from a predatory standpoint(stalking,ambushing) whereas grizzlies do so from a defensive standpoint. Hence the reason "playing dead" rarely works with a black bear, but can with a grizzly. Attacks from sows with cubs from either species is defensive, obviously.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Zero chance of that, she was wounded. Pure fight response on the sow's part.
I know many will disagree, but I bet bearspray would have helped this guy.
Ardent, she wasn't wounded before the attack started...that is unless I've missed some info. here.
Although it is hard to say for sure, another spin to the story could have been the bear was wounded and then attacked.
anyways its over and done with, the hunter lives the bear is dead.
happy ending.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I agree, bearspray or better marksmanship with the rifle would have helped. Personally, I'd prefer a rifle to spray, but I'd also like to think I could hit her in the head.
sure was one determined bear if shot and kept coming back for more. If she had cubs, the attacks had nothing to do with them at this point. I really think the man did extremly well staying focused chewed up as he was.
Don't think bear spray would have stopped this bear.
Don't think bear spray would have stopped this bear.
I just got back from 4 days in the bush; read through the posts.
hawk-i, I am also skeptical that this was a cub defence attack. To me it seems more like a predatory attack, especially if the info about the massive tissue loss from one thigh. That sounds more like a bear that was trying to eat the guy.
Ardent, I am sort of on the fence with the spray thing. If it was a predatory attack, I'm not sure whether spray would have helped. I just re-read Shelton's second book, Bear attacks the Deadly Truth, in which he talks quite a bit about sprays. In that book he sort of endorses them.
If you've got a grizzly attacking you, and let's say this was actually a predatory attack, then what's going to work better? Both a pepper spray, and a gunshot are going to piss the bear off; the difference being that wounds could eventually incapacitate the bear, which is what happened in this case.
FWIW, I have a can of bear spray on my belt... but I'm reaching for the .338WM first.
hawk-i, I am also skeptical that this was a cub defence attack. To me it seems more like a predatory attack, especially if the info about the massive tissue loss from one thigh. That sounds more like a bear that was trying to eat the guy.
Ardent, I am sort of on the fence with the spray thing. If it was a predatory attack, I'm not sure whether spray would have helped. I just re-read Shelton's second book, Bear attacks the Deadly Truth, in which he talks quite a bit about sprays. In that book he sort of endorses them.
If you've got a grizzly attacking you, and let's say this was actually a predatory attack, then what's going to work better? Both a pepper spray, and a gunshot are going to piss the bear off; the difference being that wounds could eventually incapacitate the bear, which is what happened in this case.
FWIW, I have a can of bear spray on my belt... but I'm reaching for the .338WM first.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Well measured response, spray is extremely effective and easier to discharge in tight quarters. Like you I am concerned by how long and far a bear can go with even the most vital of organs destroyed. That said we can't carry spray at work and I do trust my firearms as well, and respect their ability to truly end an attack. I just feel anything but a brain/spine (CNS) shot could likely still mean you're dead, and hitting a orange sized target when surprised is likely beyond my abilities and I do a lot of shooting & hunting like most of us.
