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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 10:54:00 AM

Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 10:54:00 AM
From Central Alaska:
(Damn this guy looks like our own RWY!)

This bear was killed on Hitchenbrook Island.  This bear's hide measured 12' 6" and it weighed around 1600 lbs.  The hunter was walking to his deer hunting area and the bear stood up only 35 yards away.  The bear immediately charged and he shot the bear until his gun was empty and the bear finally fell just 10 yards in front of him.


 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1722739&a=13481405&p=56929718)

 (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1722739&a=13481405&p=56929717)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Gunthr on November 30, 2001, 11:05:00 AM
Good Lord! Thats incredible... just look at that paw   :eek: Do you think this might be a fake picture?
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 11:18:00 AM
Having been to AK and seen some grizzlies up close, I doubt its been doctored.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Gunthr on November 30, 2001, 11:25:00 AM
That thing is a monster!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 11:32:00 AM
We were camped on an island up near the border of Minn and Canada when I was about 12 yrs old. About 4 am, I see my dad knelt at the tent doorway with ought-6 in hand...I asked what was going on, he said 'Go back to sleep'...yeah right!  2 seconds later BOOM!  Dad fires a warning shot into the ground in front of a huge black bear rummaging thru out food which we *thought* was hung up high enough, unfortunately the bullet hit a stone and richocheted into the bears paw...bears become very angry when wounded...he charged us, and one smart round right in the bread basket brought the beast down with a final thump about 10 feet in front of our tent door.  I didn't stop pee'ing in my pants until someone pointed out that there was a dripping sound coming from my crouched position next to my dad inside the tent door.

I cannot IMAGINE how this fellow felt after putting  magazine into this bear before he dropped.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Kratzer on November 30, 2001, 11:33:00 AM
Wow... a lot of people would've stood there and toejam their pants when charged by something like that...

I have to wonder if he saw this enormous bear, and shot it, then made up the story to excuse the killing...  I would suppose there are laws that keep people from claiming the carcass (e.g to mount the thing) to avoid just such a killing... but then again, I wonder how many people would know of such a law.

If it is you or the bear, you don't have much choice, but it is still sad to see such a magnificent animal destroyed.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 11:33:00 AM
Note: The guy is looking just a tad "white" in the picture.  ;)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Kratzer on November 30, 2001, 11:35:00 AM
And to think about it some more... a bear that size could cover 25 yards pretty whoopee quickly... what sort of rifle was he using?  Most deer hunters would have a bolt action, which would be next-to-impossible to empty in that time.

Sorry... rambling... just got me wondering if it really went down as he reported it.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 11:39:00 AM
Not sure what kind, but I'm assuming that since he was Deer hunting, most likely an Ought-6, 7.62mm or similiar deer caliber rifle, probably why it took a few rounds to drop the beast.

[ 11-30-2001: Message edited by: Ripsnort ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on November 30, 2001, 11:45:00 AM
Incidently, my dad felt terrible about killing the bear, not only was he not a bear hunter (though he hunts deer to this day at age 75) but to do so out of his own stupidity of not hanging the food high enough, we contacted the local authorities and talked to a game warden, he gave my dad a a verbal dress down, but he said he deserved it.  He was only looking out for his family when he meant to scare the bear off with that warning shot.

[ 11-30-2001: Message edited by: Ripsnort ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Gunthr on November 30, 2001, 12:09:00 PM
Thats something you never forget - sounds like a good memory to me ... and your dad taught you how to take responsibility for your actions. <S> to your Dad. If that happened to me there would have been something a little more substantial than dripping sounds coming from my crouched position heh heh
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Creamo on November 30, 2001, 12:50:00 PM
"The Wobblesnort?"
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: SageFIN on November 30, 2001, 12:51:00 PM
"Now, the Democrats have passed a lot of laws, and we can only kill something if it poses a direct threat. So before we shoot anything, we have to shout 'IT'S COMING STRAIGHT FOR US!'"  :D
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Beefcake on November 30, 2001, 01:26:00 PM
HOLY CRAP NED! Look at those deer up on that hill.  

NED get the Rocket Lanucher!

IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Furious on November 30, 2001, 01:30:00 PM
Pretty amazing how that this  bear charged this guy, he killed it and then he dragged it back into the bushes for a picture.


F.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: mrfish on November 30, 2001, 01:30:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Beefcake:
HOLY CRAP NED! Look at those deer up on that hill.  

NED get the Rocket Lanucher!

IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!

heh my thoughts exactly
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Chaos68 on November 30, 2001, 02:17:00 PM
he probably jumped the gate at the local zoo and sneaked into the bear area and shot him while he was asleep.
Then had his friend take a snapshot.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: eskimo2 on November 30, 2001, 02:55:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Furious:
Pretty amazing how that this  bear charged this guy, he killed it and then he dragged it back into the bushes for a picture.


F.

Having been born and raised in Alaska, I can assure you that the majority of the land is nothing but bushes.

eskimo
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Maverick on November 30, 2001, 03:01:00 PM
You guys did notice that his pants seem to be a somewhat darker color of camoflage than his shirt / parka........

 (http://www.13thtas.com/mav13sig.jpg)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Kratzer on November 30, 2001, 03:28:00 PM
Yeah, they are soaked in blood.

Speaking of, anyone notice that your troopers pants get wet when you cross a stream in Ghost Recon?  A nice touch.  And completely off subject... sorry!  :)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Soda on November 30, 2001, 04:14:00 PM
Bear enounters suck... I've had many and every time I have one it gives me shaky knees.  I've come across Griz (browns) and Blacks several times in the Canadian Rockies and on the west coast of Canada.  Most times at a distance but you just never know when you might end up bumping into one at close range.  All the bear-bells and preventive measures in the world can't always help.

I bumped into a mother black with 2 young cubs on the west coast trail 2 years ago.  We stumbled into them on a corner of the trail, only 25ft away.  Cubs went up the tree and mom black stayed right at the base of the tree guarding it.  We managed to pull back without a problem but you can just never tell.  All I had in defense was a can of bearspray (industrial mace) and a knife better suited to filleting fish.  No guns allows in the parks so that's about the best you can do.  Honestly though, most bear encounters, non-provoked or not involving food, are not that dangerous.  Worse was a Cougar that I had stalk me for 2 days on a hike..... seriously.

I always figured I'd spray half the can of bearspray at the bear and if that didn't work, spray the rest of the can on myself and hope the bear doesn't like spicy food.

-Soda
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Kratzer on November 30, 2001, 05:07:00 PM
In a lifetime in the Wyoming/Colorado Rockies, I've only come face to face with a bear once, in the summer of 2000 on my honeymoon in Grand Teton Nat'l Park.  Walking through some really thick brush on the south face of a ridge, down by a lakeshore. We were commenting on how it would be the perfect place to see a bear, and we came around a clump of brush, finding ourselves about 10 yards from a black bear - it took off into the brush in a helluva hurry.  It ran off about 30 yards - not far at all, and put its head up, sniffing for us.  We just stood there and watched as it slowly made its way up the ridge... a real treat!

My folks, on the other hand, have had them near their campsites up in the Parks before, and in... i'm gonna say, 1995 or 96 maybe... picked up a guy in Yellowstone who had been mauled by a grizzly while riding a trail up there. The guy had been charged, knocked down, and chewed on, while leading a horse on foot, I believe. His buddy had driven the bear off of him by charging it with a mule (tough mule!), then propped him back on his horse and rode for a highway, where they flagged down my folks as they were passing by.  From what they told me, he was in pretty rough shape, with his head being pretty badly torn up.  They ran him to a hospital, and many, many stitches later, I believe he made a full recovery.  There was an article about it in some magazine, but I couldn't find info online  :(
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Eagler on November 30, 2001, 06:10:00 PM
poor bear

who was exactly in who's neighborhood?

I too have doubts about circumstances, a bear doesn't get that large allowing humans with guns to wander within charging distance..

what a waste..
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Maverick on November 30, 2001, 06:32:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Eagler:
poor bear

who was exactly in who's neighborhood?

I too have doubts about circumstances, a bear doesn't get that large allowing humans with guns to wander within charging distance..

what a waste..

Eagler,  you don't exactly go hunting in the mall you know. Funny when ya hunt you have to go where the critters are. sheesh.

 (http://www.13thtas.com/mav13sig.jpg)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Hangtime on November 30, 2001, 08:18:00 PM
Sounds like a tree-hugger TV crime drama script already.

(at the fish & game service lab)

FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST: "as you can clearly see here, the first shot was in the back... then 4 more shots in the chest and head, here; here; here...."

BUTCH BUT BUSTY FIELD INVESTIGATOR: "ah ha!"
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: -ammo- on November 30, 2001, 08:34:00 PM
Oh m y goodnes, that is on impressive animal.

I got a hunting experience that involves a  Black bear  but is not nearly as dramatic as that guys story.

Bow hunting for whitetail in September '99 in the Pungo river gameland in eastern NC. This is an archery only area and has an abundance of whitetails and black bear. I had recieved the warnings from other hunters about the bears there but I had seen quite a few with no aggresion from them. Generally a black bear doesn't want any part of  a human. When I had seen them to this point,  they were making tracks the other way. This day I was in my climber stand about 20' high in a tree and had just let a doe pass within my shot oppertunity zone. I knew there was another deer close because I heard it and caught a glimpse of it in the brush. I just thought it was a whitetail. darkness came and I had to pack up,  and start my one mile walk to my truck. I pack my stand, my bow, my gear, and shoulder it on my back. I make my way to the dirt road 100 yds from the tree that I was in. As I come out of the woods and walk westward toward my truck, out of the woods in front of me walks a blackie. He/she was less than 30' from me. It sees me and immediately stands on its hind legs with its nose high in the air. I stand there helpless wondering what I will do if it charges. All I see is this 8' animal standing onimous in front of me. Suddenly the bear runs in to the woods and I hear it crashing through the timber and brush for 100's of yards. I go and clean my underwear out and go home  :) After speaking with some guys, it turns out that the bear stood on its hind legs not to intimidate me, or a precurser to an attack..but rather it just didnt see me well because of the darkness and it was trying to wind me.

Needless to say, it was quite the experience for me. I have seen several bears since then on my weekly deer hunting trips there, but none like that incident.

[ 11-30-2001: Message edited by: -ammo- ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Bluedog on December 01, 2001, 08:41:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Soda:
 Worse was a Cougar that I had stalk me for 2 days on a hike..... seriously.


-Soda

C'mon Soda...tell us more!
I live in Australia, and apart from the snakes and spiders etc, and the crocs up north, about the most fearsome animal here is a wild boar. To have a cougar actually stalking you, and being aware it was happening, would scare the crap outta me!

BTW, if it went down like old mate's story says it did, and I was in his shoes, I too woulda emptied everything I had into that bear, but it is a true shame to see so mighty an animal killed by a weedy little bloke with a gun. If he hadda done it bare handed, I would be impressed :)

<S> Blue
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: 1776 on December 01, 2001, 08:50:00 AM
I tried dear hunting once on the Country Club Plaza in KC.  I never got one tied to the fender of the car :(  I waited to near closing time as the dear look better and tried my pepermint schnaps shot.  Always missed :(

I looked great in my red outfit though :)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: rosco- on December 01, 2001, 09:09:00 AM
That fellow was lucky! To drop a bear that size that quickly from head on is a miracle. They are tough and increadably fast exp when you concider thier size. 1600lbs!! what a monster! My bear was under 300 lbs and ran away from me when I shot and it scared the crap out of me.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: t on December 01, 2001, 03:07:00 PM
one time at band camp...oops wrong story

one time 34 flying bears with guns attacked me and with a large stick i killed them all!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: ra on December 01, 2001, 04:13:00 PM
Jeeez I almost crap my pants just looking at the picture.  If I had seen something like that coming at me I would have turned inside out.

Furious, if that thing weighs 1600 pounds it would take about 15 people to 'drag' it anywhere.

Those of you who regret that such a magnificent animal was killed by a mere human, look at it this way:  it lived a long life, probably sired many offspring, and now its carcass can be put on display to wow nature lovers everywhere.  It wasn't really a waste of a natural resource, it's much worse when cubs or young female animals are killed.

ra
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: capt. apathy on December 01, 2001, 04:47:00 PM
Quote
. All the bear-bells and preventive measures in the world can't always help.
...... All I had in defense was a can of bearspray (industrial mace)
 

ya, they tell you to wear the bells and carry the mace, but your best deffence is to know the type of bears in your area.

blacks can usually be scared away if you yell act big and make alot of noise.

with big browns it's time to run.

the best way to tell which type of bear is in the area with you before you see them is the dung laying around.
 black bear dung stinks real bad and has seads and the like in it. while griz dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: capt. apathy ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: ra on December 01, 2001, 07:29:00 PM
ROFL.

Bell peppers, mmmmmmmm.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Eagler on December 01, 2001, 11:13:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by rosco-:
My bear was under 300 lbs and ran away from me when I shot and it scared the crap out of me.

I can see shootng to scare, can't see shootin to kill.

I do believe the one with the 7.65mm has the slight advantage..

oh, what skill..
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: capt. apathy on December 01, 2001, 11:47:00 PM
eagler, if you can't see shooting a bear to kill, my guess is you've never seen a bear in the wild, while on foot.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Leslie on December 02, 2001, 02:31:00 AM
Wow, what a bear!!!  Now THAT'S a lot of bear meat.  The hunter made his decision, without hesitation in this case.  All I can say is, if I was deer hunting and was attacked by a large BROWN bear, I'd shoot it too, and pray I didn't run out of ammo...or time...or TP.<G>  The dude who shot that monster musta had a cannon of a rifle.  Probably a Win. 300 magnum, 7mm magnum, Marlin .444 lever action or BLR in a heavy calibre, or something similar.

............................. ..............

Where I hunt, there are an estimated 30 black bears in a very concentrated area...4 square miles.  My hunting partners saw 16 yesterday, and I saw 5 today while deer hunting from a climber.  It was way cool, very relaxing.  Hehe, I'm starting to think that's why I see no deer on the green fields.  The bears come out in late afternoon and graze on the wheat and oats in the powerline fields, which are continuous for about a mile.

Ammo, where you were hunting almost describes where I hunt to a "T."  Or I should say it describes my normal routine on a hunt, sans close encounter.  The bears seem very shy at the sight of humans, and always run off when they are encountered on the ground.  I'm glad you told your story mate, it makes me feel a little better about where I'm hunting.  This is about 20 miles north of Mobile, AL.  I believe most of the bear population in Alabama is in this area.  
They are protected and are not hunted here.  

Salute!

Les
SCLeslie
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Creamo on December 02, 2001, 03:21:00 AM
Ever had a hamburger Eagler?

 Or you just a tofu, salad, green wool socks and sandals kinda guy?

Just wondering.

--

[ 12-02-2001: Message edited by: Creamo ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Gunthr on December 02, 2001, 06:22:00 AM
We'd be seeing a different picture if the guy had been bow hunting...

Hey Creamo, don't tease my buddy Eagler   ;)

But its true... in the words of Michigan's home-grown Ted Nugent - "There's a gut pile for every hamburger you eat."

I think Eagler knows that. He just hates to see such a magnificent specimen go down...

[ 12-02-2001: Message edited by: Gunthr ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Eagler on December 02, 2001, 10:08:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Creamo:

 Or you just a tofu, salad, green wool socks and sandals kinda guy?

the socks are pink but don't wear them with me sandals  :)

yep, I love steaks - if I had to shoot & clean the cow, it'd probably be a different story unless I was a mountain man like some of you must be.  :)

what gunthr said.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: capt. apathy on December 02, 2001, 10:58:00 AM
I don't mean it as a slam but a lot of people with their 'oh what a waist of a magnificent animal' line have just been living far enough from the food chain that they never have to do the math. they can comfortably eat meat ( or wear leather, or use other product made from animals) and still say how terrible it is to kill animals, all from the comfort of home without ever having to get their own hands bloody.
 apparently the only reason it's ok for cattle and hogs to die is you can pay somebody to kill it for you, while when somebody kills a bear, deer, elk, antelope, or cougar they had to do it themselves, and people can put their burger down and point and say "KILLER, you destroyed that magnificent animal"
personally I think everyone should have to kill, gut, skin  and prepare at least one meal in their life.  they might appreciate the situation a little better.

Ps.
IF we’re not supposed to eat animals, why do they make them outta meat?
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Duckwing6 on December 02, 2001, 11:17:00 AM
Bah hunting for fun sucks... that's why we grow cows on farms so that no gun tothing folks wander around the woods shooting things up..

poor bear

as eagler said who was in who's neighborhood?

DW6
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: capt. apathy on December 02, 2001, 11:55:00 AM
duckwing,
i have to agree that killing purely for fun does suck.  i'd rather listen to 100 anti-hunting loonies than feel the way i feel when i find an animal that somebody shot just to kill it, or chops off a 'trophy' and leaves the meat. or the lazy bastard who shoots an elk on it's way down a hill in heavy brush and decides it's to much trouble to track the blood trail and hual the meat back up the hill.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Sandman on December 02, 2001, 12:23:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Gunthr:
We'd be seeing a different picture if the guy had been bow hunting...
[ 12-02-2001: Message edited by: Gunthr ]

Wish I had a scanner handy. On the inside cover of the Bowhunter's Digest, 3rd Edition, is a picture of the author, Chuck Adams next to an Alaskan brown bear. At the time, the bear was the largest brown bear ever taken with a bow. The estimated weight of the bear 1400 pounds. Chest girth was 97 inches. He shot it from 12 yards away.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Sandman on December 02, 2001, 12:30:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime:
Sounds like a tree-hugger TV crime drama script already.

 
Quote
Originally posted by Duckwing6:
Bah hunting for fun sucks... that's why we grow cows on farms so that no gun tothing folks wander around the woods shooting things up..


I think you'll find that many hunters are what you'd call "tree-huggers".

Hunting plays an important role in wildlife management.

[ 12-02-2001: Message edited by: Sandman_SBM ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Creamo on December 02, 2001, 01:47:00 PM
Cool. Ya got to kill em for ya grill em as 'Ol Uncle Ted says. Just making sure.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Gunthr on December 02, 2001, 01:51:00 PM
Yep, whack em and stack em  :)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: t on December 02, 2001, 03:39:00 PM
tag 'em and bag 'em?
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Hangtime on December 02, 2001, 09:20:00 PM
Quote
Bah hunting for fun sucks... that's why we grow cows on farms so that no gun tothing folks wander around the woods shooting things up..
poor bear

as eagler said who was in who's neighborhood?

DW6

Who's neighborhood? Aw, c'mon; yer kiddin, right? Hey, guess what.. we're top of the foodchain, and the woods are OUR woods when we walk in 'em..  

Look, hunting unarmed critters when I got enuf cash for a steak at the local BBQ pit is not my gig. But neither is hunting un-fun and there's lots of hikers, campers and fishermen crawlin around the great outdoors that want to enjoy our wildlands in the 1st person... not on National Geographic.

Now, I know there's some critters in western europe.. wild pigs and some boar, but certainly nothin that gets to 1600lbs and considers homo sap a quick snack. Walking around natures preserves in North America tends to be just about as dangerous as strolling the streets of south central LA.

Even if I wasn't 'hunting' I'd still go armed. Whatever tried to jump me would likely get shot, and I'd worry about counting legs afterwards.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: SageFIN on December 03, 2001, 11:17:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime:

Now, I know there's some critters in western europe.. wild pigs and some boar, but certainly nothin that gets to 1600lbs and considers homo sap a quick snack. Walking around natures preserves in North America tends to be just about as dangerous as strolling the streets of south central LA

The brown bear found in Europe eats mostly plants, berries and such. AFAIK it only resorts to meat just after and before hibernation, when it needs to build it's fat layer and after when it needs to regain lost body weight. To my knowledge, no badly ended bear encounters in Finland have actually involved the bear eating the unfortunate guy. IIRC in most cases that a bear has attacked someone, it's because it has been surprised, wounded, sick or protecting it's cubs.

Now grizzly bears are to my knowledge bigger but I have no idea whatsoever if they might also be mostly carnivore and more agressive. Some of you folks over there probably know better.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Maverick on December 03, 2001, 12:08:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by SageFIN:


The brown bear found in Europe eats mostly plants, berries and such. AFAIK it only resorts to meat just after and before hibernation, when it needs to build it's fat layer and after when it needs to regain lost body weight. To my knowledge, no badly ended bear encounters in Finland have actually involved the bear eating the unfortunate guy. IIRC in most cases that a bear has attacked someone, it's because it has been surprised, wounded, sick or protecting it's cubs.

Now grizzly bears are to my knowledge bigger but I have no idea whatsoever if they might also be mostly carnivore and more agressive. Some of you folks over there probably know better.

HJey there,

The Alaskan brown bear is rather aggressive and will imbibe on people silly enough (aka tourists) or unlucky enough to get in reach. They are known to actively hunt people and are not the shy type on a chance encounter. They WILL attack and eat you.

Think of it like this, they are the top of their food chain and they know it. Like the polar bear they are NOT people friendly.

 (http://www.13thtas.com/mav13sig.jpg)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 03, 2001, 12:55:00 PM
Christ, guys, need a Day care sitter in these threads, I post a hunting story of someone going out to shoot a deer to EAT and encounters a bear...LOL.  Now go to your rooms without dinner!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Creamo on December 03, 2001, 01:43:00 PM
Oh go vacuum your driveway tardboy.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Merro on December 05, 2001, 05:14:00 AM
Had a Koala Bear attack me once...
 :eek:
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Curval on December 05, 2001, 01:46:00 PM
Poor bear....probably got spooked and was protecting itself.

Killing it undoubtedly adversley affected the gene pool in that area..

Sorry...hunting is NOT my thing at all...unless of course you are flying against me.

  :(
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 05, 2001, 02:13:00 PM
So, just for arguements sake Curval, lets say the story was about a Green Peace guy that was out checking out the bear population in the area for sort of a head count...but YOU are the guy doing it.  Your given a rifle to "protect" yourself. This monster charges you...its him or you...would you set your rifle down and run?  ;)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Hangtime on December 05, 2001, 02:44:00 PM
My gues... he'd shriek like a woman, and faint.

About the most dangerous critter on Bermuda is a goat slated for a rib dinner.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 05, 2001, 02:57:00 PM
ROTFLOL Hang, sometimes you say things that get me SWOMming. (Spew Water On Monitor)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Curval on December 05, 2001, 03:02:00 PM
A Greenpeace Guy!  Where's MY rifle!  Please don't lump me in with that bunch of tree huggers!

I'm just an animal lover man...you are right, this guy every right to protect himself.......but he wouldn't have been atacked if he wasn't out to shoot other animals...ie deer!

He looks well fed and healthy...so I don't think he was out there to bring home food for the family...he was out to shoot animals for sport...I think it's wrong!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Curval on December 05, 2001, 03:05:00 PM
We have a few dangerous animals here...like sharks!!!!  I'll take you for a dip about five miles out and then watch you wet yourself as a Hammerhead licks his chops!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Furious on December 05, 2001, 04:12:00 PM
Quote
the bear stood up only 35 yards away. The bear immediately charged and he shot the bear until his gun was empty and the bear finally fell just 10 yards in front of him.

 
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Furious, if that thing weighs 1600 pounds it would take about 15 people to 'drag' it anywhere.


That was my whole point ra.  Look at the picture.  Look which way the bear is facing.  Look at the surrounding bush.

I think the guy was hunting deer or whatever, saw a big bellybutton bear and killed it.  Then made up a lame-ass story.


F.

[ 12-05-2001: Message edited by: Furious ]
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Soda on December 05, 2001, 05:09:00 PM
Notice he emptied the gun into the bear.... anyone who as seen a Griz that's pissed off knows how fast 1,200 pounds can move, it's amazing.  No idea how many rounds this guy squeezed off, or how fast he can cycle his bolt/aim/fire but he had some time to do it.  Brush that thick (looking at the picture) is prime for close encounters since it's too thick to see far if you are being quiet.  Still, it's a questionable story brush like that is also perfect for hiding in.

I have a uncle (actually a second uncle) who is a provincial game warden and he says that 90% of the calls for bear encounters he gets are either stupidity (open food) or accidentally on purpose (maybe even to the point of baiting).  The problem is it's basically impossible to tell.

"Yeah, there were 8 of us all sitting around the fire and maybe we had 2 open coolers of peanut butter and a dead deer hanging in the campsite... good thing we all had 12 gauge shotguns with us loaded with slugs when the bear wandered into the campsite and attacked."

Funny side-note: had a black bear in my inlaws apple tree last fall.  Bad summer so no berries to eat, the bear climbed right up into the apple tree.  Appletrees aren't really designed to take that much weight.  After letting it leave (you don't try and scare off a bear that's eating) we inspected the tree... where there were limbs left the bark was pulled off in sheets from the bears claws trying to get traction.  Nothing like seeing a black bear fall 10ft when the limb it's trying to stand on lets go.  You could feel the thump on the ground from the house.  Wish I'd filmed it.

-Soda
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: eskimo2 on December 05, 2001, 09:32:00 PM
Curval,
I don't hunt, been there, done that, don't really like killing things.
But I'm certainly not one too pretend that some critter didn't get butchered so that I could have peperoni on my pizza tonight.
Kill em yourself, or pay someone to do it, either way something died because you wanted meat on the table.

I grew up in Alaska.
In fact, the hospital that I was born in (Cordova) is the closest one to where this bear was shot. Hunting is a way of life in Alaska.  I know and have met many folks who have no jobs and live off the land.
I grew up around hunters, hikers and all sorts of outdoorsy folks.
I grew up with bear-tales, many bear tales.
I have one distinct opinion about bears, they are unpredictable.
I have seen slides of relatives feeding wild bears by hand.  
I have heard of many folks getting mauled and killed by bears.

eskimo
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Oosik on December 05, 2001, 10:20:00 PM
For the record:

The gentleman that shot the bear is a soldier station at Fort Wainwright Alaska (just outside of Fairbanks) and was interviewed by a local (Anchorage) radio station this morning.

He stated that the bear was between 10 and 11 feet, and wieghed between 1100 and 1200 pounds.  He was on a "deer" hunt but also bear was on his list and he was prepared for the bear.  It did not "charge" him, but was heading his direction.   Note that the near by streams were still full of salmon, so the bear never really caught scent of the hunters.  YES he did shot every round - he started shooting and did not stop till it stoped moving, even the hairs.  After his heart stopped trying to pound through his chest he and his partner creeped up on it from behind - ready to empty their guns if needed.  He said it was not a record for this type/location somewhere around 150th.

As reported on KBFX (100.5) the Fox, Anchorage Alaska.

Yes it is a big hugger.

0osik
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Curval on December 06, 2001, 08:04:00 AM
eskimo2 - I was waiting for someone to mention that fact...and you are absolutely right...I'm not a vegetarian, I do eat meat.  I just don't do the killing myself....

I have thought about this fact and tried to come up with an argument justifying that position....and I can't.  Hypocritical?  I guess so....but just like you I don't like killing animals and seeing such a beautiful animal as this particular bear being shown off as some form of trophy turns my stomach.  

I have hunted also - ONCE.  I begged my father to take me when I was about 10 years old.  The first (and only) thing I killed was a rabbit - from about 100m away...it was a great shot...knocked the poor thing about five feet from his hole.  Then my Dad insisted that I go and collect the rabbit...and skin it myself.  Suffice to say that that ended our hunting trip - I had no desire to kill a deer or even a mouse after that....I vowed i would never kill any animal needlessly again - because that it what it was  - needless.  Something died because a ten year old kid wanted to try hunting...that was the only reason.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 06, 2001, 08:10:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Oosik:
For the record:

The gentleman that shot the bear is a soldier station at Fort Wainwright Alaska (just outside of Fairbanks) and was interviewed by a local (Anchorage) radio station this morning.

He stated that the bear was between 10 and 11 feet, and wieghed between 1100 and 1200 pounds.  He was on a "deer" hunt but also bear was on his list and he was prepared for the bear.  It did not "charge" him, but was heading his direction.   Note that the near by streams were still full of salmon, so the bear never really caught scent of the hunters.  YES he did shot every round - he started shooting and did not stop till it stoped moving, even the hairs.  After his heart stopped trying to pound through his chest he and his partner creeped up on it from behind - ready to empty their guns if needed.  He said it was not a record for this type/location somewhere around 150th.

As reported on KBFX (100.5) the Fox, Anchorage Alaska.

Yes it is a big hugger.

0osik

Thanks for the update Oosik!  Can you supply me with some sort of link for that story?

Thanks!
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Suave1 on December 06, 2001, 08:23:00 AM
Growing up in NW Montana I had too many encounters with bears, climbing on our house, getting in our trash . The most memorable encounter was when I was about 12 years old, the fish and game dept had set a culvert type trap in our back yard to catch a black bear that kept emtying the contents of our dumpster all over the place. Anyway the trap had been sitting there for a few weeks empty . I came home from spending the weekend at a friends and walked right in front of the cage door on the trap, having grown accustomed to its presence. At this time an adult sow black bear lunged at me from inside of the trap slaming into the cage door about 2feet from me . Surprisingly I didn't soil myself, my father found it quite amusing none the less.

 Never had problems with grizzly bears though, as the really seem to hate being around humans .
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Eagler on December 06, 2001, 08:35:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval:
eskimo2 - I was waiting for someone to mention that fact...and you are absolutely right...I'm not a vegetarian, I do eat meat.  I just don't do the killing myself....

I have thought about this fact and tried to come up with an argument justifying that position....and I can't.  Hypocritical?  I guess so....but just like you I don't like killing animals and seeing such a beautiful animal as this particular bear being shown off as some form of trophy turns my stomach.  

I have hunted also - ONCE.  I begged my father to take me when I was about 10 years old.  The first (and only) thing I killed was a rabbit - from about 100m away...it was a great shot...knocked the poor thing about five feet from his hole.  Then my Dad insisted that I go and collect the rabbit...and skin it myself.  Suffice to say that that ended our hunting trip - I had no desire to kill a deer or even a mouse after that....I vowed i would never kill any animal needlessly again - because that it what it was  - needless.  Something died because a ten year old kid wanted to try hunting...that was the only reason.

had a similar experience in my backyard woods about 13 years old with a pellet gun and a redheaded wooddonut. Took many hits to put it out of its misery while it dangled 40ft above me stuck upside down in the moss. Last time I shot anything living (cept my little brother with the BB gun  :)).

I justify my cow eating by thinking of them as being "processed" anyway, whether I eat/buy them or not. They are still plastic wrapped in the meat dept. Where as if I don't pull the trigger, that deer/bear would live.. Beside the fact that anytime I've eaten wild deer, pig, duck (sorry no bear  :))it has had a gamey taste which I found less appealing than store bought.

To each his own. I'd rather do my hunting with a camera than a rifle.

Now fishing is a whole nother story ...
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 06, 2001, 08:39:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Suave1:
Growing up in NW Montana I had too many encounters with bears, climbing on our house, getting in our trash . The most memorable encounter was when I was about 12 years old, the fish and game dept had set a culvert type trap in our back yard to catch a black bear that kept emtying the contents of our dumpster all over the place. Anyway the trap had been sitting there for a few weeks empty . I came home from spending the weekend at a friends and walked right in front of the cage door on the trap, having grown accustomed to its presence. At this time an adult sow black bear lunged at me from inside of the trap slaming into the cage door about 2feet from me . Surprisingly I didn't soil myself, my father found it quite amusing none the less.

 Never had problems with grizzly bears though, as the really seem to hate being around humans .

Suave, where'd you grow up?  I have a 30 acre ranch in Ennis, MT on the Gravelly Mt range, I belong to a property owners association that gives up hunting and fishing rights to 10,000 acres.  I plan to retire there one day (13 years and counting!).  Then I can invite my AH buds out for hunting season!  :)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Suave1 on December 06, 2001, 08:55:00 AM
A tiny old berg named Libby .

Here is another story, when I was in the army stationed at Ft Lewis. I had just got back to the battalion from living in a hole out in the woods for four days, walked into the Headhunters' orderly room where the XO informed me that the battalion was being deployed to fight some fluff'n forest fires . I swore and asked him where . "Libby Montana", was his answer . I thought he was messing with me so I kept bothering him about it for ten minutes untill top walked in.

 How do you like them apples, join the army on active duty and get deployed to you're own tiny bellybutton home town .
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 06, 2001, 09:05:00 AM
OMG, lol Suave! Maybe they knew, nothing better than to have a local boy that knows the area....
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: indian on December 06, 2001, 10:25:00 AM
Hey Rip!! the indian like to hunt with a BOW so hrry up and retire will ya!!!  :D

Curval some of us that hunt like to get in the woods and just sit I dont always find the need to kill some thing sometimes just watch it walk by. I like animals and I am not blind to the fact that we are meat eaters. I dont believe in trophy hunting but wont pass up a trophy either as long as the meat is eaten. Hunting here in the U.S. is also a way of population control, thin the herds and the helthier the rest will live. Tags are sold on a population type bases the more dear the more you can get the less vice versa. But if I saw a bear and had a gun I would shoot it first with out any thought, my life before his.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Ripsnort on December 06, 2001, 10:41:00 AM
Ironic you mention that Indian, my father, who now is 70, sits in his deer stand every fall, armed with bow and arrow. He then calls me and tells me about the 6 point buck that stood 10 feet away from him downwind, but Dad just likes the hunt nowadays, not necessarily the kill.  He's had many chances in the last few years, but opts for the hunt, not the kill.


I gave up big game hunting a few years back.  I was a meat hunter, not a trophy hunter.  It was all consumed too, and deer starve off naturally every 5 years due to cold winters and food source deparvation as well as over-population, so I never had a problem with 'thinning the herd'...however, now when I go back to Montana for hunting with my inlaws that live back there, they give me so much meat from their hunts that I can't justify taking anymore.  Still love to bird hunt though!  I can cook a Canadian goose that'll make ya quit eating chicken and start eating goose!  Love to hunt and cook birds.

Indian, seriously, if you want to do a hunt back in Montana some fall, gimme a shout. Not sure what out of state licenses are these days, but if you're interested in bird hunting, its very cheap!  You can fly out to Seattle, then we'll drive back there (10 hours)  Brother will put us up in his place, and the ice fishing is incredible. Two years ago we caught 16 rainbow avg. size 18" in alittle over 45 min of ice fishing, earlier that morning we each limited on Canadian Geese.  :)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Oosik on December 16, 2001, 07:38:00 PM
Rip - Sorry for taking so long - butthere was only the radio interview.  But in todays (Sunday Dec. 16, 2001) Anchorage Daily News, Outdoor section there is an article about the bear and Theodore Winen (the hunter)

Anchorage Daily News Article (http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/739717p-787512c.html)

0osik
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Maverick on December 16, 2001, 11:04:00 PM
Oosik,

Good article, thanks!

 (http://www.13thtas.com/mav13sig.jpg)
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: StSanta on December 17, 2001, 05:30:00 AM
Hm, as far as hunting goes: it is necessary.

I'll use Sweden as an example. Most large predators have been hunted quite much are their numbers are small. The elk population, being little threat to humans in general, haven't been hunted because of an irrational fear that seems to be innate in the human animal.

The elk population thrives. Actually, it sort of explodes when it's not hunted. It grows to such a large population that it's not sustainable long term - effectively, it's doing the human thing of overdoing something and therefore killing off future use of an item or food source. Combine with a timber industry that under law msut replace the trees they cut down and you have a problem. The elks love these ypung saplings, and if there's too many elks around, they'll soon die in huge numbers due to limited food. And the saplings won't become trees because they'd be consumed by now dead elks.

So, you have the hunters. A group of old guys with guns. Some cannot shoot worth toejame. Most aren't out strictly to kill elks. It's a social thing - you're out in the woods with your freinds, in touch with nature. You're in touch with the caveman inside of you (and, we DO have this trait still in us - might be less prioritized than other instincts, but it is there).

It's not a fair match at all. There's nothign particularly manly about sitting for hours on end waiting for an elk to come by, and then line up at 80 meters and shoot it with a hi power rifle with a scope. But, it is for the hunter a thrilling and rewarding experience.

Hunters eat what they kill. Elk meat is delicious. Compare a pig or cow that has lived its entire life on a few square meters, with a monotonous life only interrupted by getting a big bolt to the head, to that of an elk that has lived in freedom.

For that reason, I prefer eating meat from animals that have been hunted, instead of meat from the meat factories.

Regarding the grizzly: if it was self defense, the guy did the only thing he could have done.

I deplore the practise of hunting carnivores - their meat isn't good to eat. To hunt them for their hide is just Golly-geened ugly. Predator illustrates it nicely. That's just an ugly macho thing where some men and women think they're all macho and hard for sneaking up on another animal and blasting it with a rifle. Nothing macho about it: doing it with a knife would be, but not with a rifle. Bow hutning seems to be the best to me in terms of nature experience, but that's against the law here I think, because there's too little killing power in a bow (or rather, it requres too much skill for the average hunter).

Hunting is necessary, and it's bloody much better than raising cattle and slaughtering 'em.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Seeker on December 17, 2001, 05:51:00 AM
Santa lies.

The only reason the Elks thrive is that the Swedes keep shooting all the wolves.

We true nature lovers in Denmark know this to be true. The Norwegians told us.
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: Leslie on December 17, 2001, 06:31:00 AM
I agree with you 100% St. Santa.  Hunting IS all about character development.  Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you have to.  S!

Les
SCLeslie
Title: Snuggle up to this teddy bear
Post by: rosco- on December 17, 2001, 10:22:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by StSanta:


I deplore the practise of hunting carnivores - their meat isn't good to eat. To hunt them for their hide is just Golly-geened ugly.

 Thats a matter of opinion. I dont like bear meat either, but i have many uncles and cousins who find bear meat quite tasty.
 None of them have died of eating it yet and a few of them have beed doing so for 40+ years, if thats what you meant.