Another Bear Spray, Gun and Grizzly National Park Incident

Gun Watch ^ | 26 November, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

I actively look for and monitor defensive uses of firarms.   While some defensive uses of firarms are common, such as driving off intruders from a home, others such as defense against a grizzly bear, are rare.  They tend to stand out when they happen.   I missed this one, even though it did get some coverage in 2013.  The actual defense occurred two years ago in November of 2012.

It is especially interesting because both bear spray and bullets were used.  The only other one that I recall happened this year. The bear was killed by the gunfire, dropping, literally at the shooters' feet.   The shooters showed remarkable restraint, not fireing until the bear was only 10 feet from one shooter, eight feet from the other, moving fast.  From foxnews.com:

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Federal prosecutors have decided not to file charges against two young elk hunters after investigators concluded they acted in self-defense when they shot and killed a grizzly bear in Grand Teton National Park last fall, park officials announced Thursday.

The bear charged the two and their father from 42 yards on Thanksgiving Day. First, the father fired bear spray at the animal. The sons opened fire when the bear was 10 feet away.

The two hunters who shot the bear were brothers, 17 and 20 years old, accompanied by their father, who deployed the bear spray.  They were not identified but their Grandfather speaks of what he heard from investigators:

 "They complimented the boys on how well they did because the bear was within eight feet of one of them," Dwayne Trembly told The Associated Press.

The bear was hit with three bullets.  Two were to the head, and the third was to the back.  I suspect that the head shots occurred first, and and the shot to the back happened as the bear dropped and slid toward the hunters.   It seems unlikely that bear spray would have been sufficient to prevent injury in this incident.   I have not seen any description of make, model, or caliber of the firearms used.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[driftdiver]

Yeah but those are some stand up young men to stand there and take care of business. He did a good job raising them.

[CodeToad]

“Bears love hot sauce. “

Yep, might as well use ketchup.

[PA-RIVER]

A good friend of mine is a hunter. He has extraordinary eye and hand skill. As a child I saw him pick off birds.

He went bear hunting years ago. If I remember correctly, you shoot the neck, blow out the spine.

So he corners the bear in the tree. His buddies are watching. He says he will hit the heart with the second shot. Bang, through the neck. Falling through the air, bang, through the heart.

That 400 pound bear scared the hell out of him.

His buddies couldn’t believe it. He hit the heart before he hit the ground.

[Fightin Whitey]

Those fir arms must be controlled.

You got that right, brother.

Dangerous. Ver-r-r-y dangerous.

[MO Repub mom]

Bear repellant spray. Simply my opinion, but it just SOUNDS stupid. Does it really work? I’m not willing to test it.:)

[jmacusa]

There was a kid here in NJ(West Milford) that was killed by a Black Bear last week.

[jmacusa]

That would have to be one hell of a shot if the bruin were charging at you. From what I understand these suckers can move fast.

[faithhopecharity]

I realize that this is a serious topic but can’t help mentioning my experience with Yellowstone bears. They just love hostess twinkees. Bear turned friendly, actually affectionate. (I didn’t stay close long enough to find out where that may have led us...)

[Brother Cracker]

[PLMerite]

If he gets any better at that, he’s gonna have to join the union.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I used to carry it in bear country, because I figure a false sense of security is better than no security at all.

[dangerdoc]

Alaskans swear by the stuff.

[dangerdoc]

That’s Colorado Springs. My home in about 2 weeks.

[Joe 6-pack]

A bear skull, from front on, is like the sloped armor of a tank. Against a level, perpendicular shot, thickness increases with angle of slope...

[gitmo]

Was it racist to use the word “charging” back in 2012?

[faithhopecharity]

smart bear!

just take the whole thing home.... ha!

[Rodamala]

[meadsjn]

Shooting a bear in the head is tricky business.

I've seen some skull pictures and explanations about this. Shooting directly into the nose area, the nasal cavity will guide the projectiles directly into the brain.

The skull can bounce the bullet. The eye sockets can guide it off to the side of the brain.

Even so, I'd rather start while the fellow is more than just a few yards away.

[MO Repub mom]

Amen to the false sense of security. ;)

[Billthedrill]

Hey, whoa - the Second Amendment sez that young lady has the right to bear arms. And those are some bear arms that she's got there.

What?