Nightmares comes true as grizzly bear mauls sleeping hunters

Vancouver Sun ^ | 10/18/2009 | Katie Mercer

[Saije]

It's every hunter's worst nightmare.

You've nestled into your tent for the night when you're awakened by the sound of a bear charging. Within seconds it's on you, teeth sinking into flesh as you fight for your life.

"I went into survival mode as she batted me around, biting me," Ken Scown, 36, said Saturday. "I was kind of waiting for the bite to the head and neck and it would all be over."

Scown and his pal Jeff Herbert were three days into an 11-day hunting trip near Canal Flats in the East Kootenays region of B. C. when a grizzly attacked them Wednesday night.

The bear — believed to be a sow — charged the tent as the experienced hunters from Nelson scrambled to sit up.

Within seconds it was on top of Scown as Herbert struggled to get a round into his rifle.

The grizzly was "thrashing wildly" as Herbert tried to shove it off his pal to clear a shot. He pulled the trigger only to hear a click — the shell wasn't properly in the chamber.

"I was screaming so hard and yelling at Jeff to shoot the bear, shoot it," Scown recalled. "I couldn't hear much else other than my heartbeat pounding through my chest."

The bear tore through the tent before Hebert managed to get free and chase it away.***

The men hiked nearly five kilometres back to their trucks, where they could see bear tracks that indicated two animals had been following them that day. "It was totally a predatory attack and not a defensive attack because there was no threat," Herbert said. "Unfortunately we were on the menu that night."

[Saije]

Scary.

[rdl6989]

He pulled the trigger only to hear a click — the shell wasn't properly in the chamber.

Not good.

[LegendHasIt]

Exactly why I sleep with a cocked .454 Casull in my hand.

[umgud]

[fso301]

The bear — believed to be a sow — charged the tent as the experienced hunters from Nelson scrambled to sit up.

Within seconds it was on top of Scown as Herbert struggled to get a round into his rifle.

Ok. What am I missing? Something about Canadian hunting regulations perhaps? I assume they put the campfire out before retiring for the evening. Then the reporter described "experienced hunters" go to sleep in bear country with empty firearms.

[Tennessee Nana]

Why didnt they have loaded guns if they expected a bear attack ???

[george76]

The men hiked nearly five kilometres back to their trucks, where they could see bear tracks that indicated two animals had been following them that day.

“It was totally a predatory attack and not a defensive attack because there was no threat,” Herbert said. “Unfortunately we were on the menu that night.”

[Secret Agent Man]

That thing needs a front handgrip.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

An unloaded gun is just about useless!

[tubebender]

You need to find a hobby before you hurt yourself...

[Ronin]

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you. If you are going to go out hunting animals, you can’t complain when they object to being eaten.

[pissant]

BUMP

[The Cajun]

Each man should have had a loaded .44 or .454 strapped on in a shoulder holster, I don’t give a damn how uncomfortable it may be. Bear country is bear country.

[Electric Graffiti]

“Then the reporter described “experienced hunters” go to sleep in bear country with empty firearms. Ok. What am I missing? “

You’re not missing a thing. Spot on.

[proud_yank]

What am I missing? Something about Canadian hunting regulations perhaps?

No, you can have a loaded rifle overnight while hunting in Canada. Their handgun laws are very restrictive though.

They were simply unprepared, and should have had a firearm & flashlight ready while camping in bear country.

The absolute best thing you can get when camping in bear country is a backpacking electric bear fence. Generally, bears are curious animals and sniff around quite a bit. It shocks them on the nose, and off they go.

I'm not a wildlife biologist, but I spend lots of time outside and have seen all of North America's bear species in the wild. All except for polar bears, I've been plenty close to the others- some I could have spit on (literally). We used an electric fence around our tent on a Kodiak Island hunt last fall and had no problems at all. There were TONS of brownies, and we even heard some run off at night after they touched it. Between the bears and driving rain & snow we didn't sleep much, but it was a great trip.

Bear spray is a waste of both money and space in a pack. If possible, make noise while hiking, even if it means talking to yourself- seriously.

[proud_yank]

Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you. If you are going to go out hunting animals, you can’t complain when they object to being eaten.

Does that mean the life of a human is only of equal value to a wild animal?

[Markos33]

An unloaded gun is just about useless.
It's a stick.

[Markos33]

Dang!!
I've gotta have one of them.

[proud_yank]

Exactly why I sleep with a cocked .454 Casull in my hand.

Do people actually sleep in a tent with you? That is extremely dangerous.

[Hugin]

It’s Canada. Handguns are illegal.

[BIGLOOK]

“It was totally a predatory attack and not a defensive attack because there was no threat,” Herbert said. “Unfortunately we were on the menu that night.”

Sounds like the last time I visited Foggy Bottom.

Aloha George!

Bears will be bears....and lately we've discovered Raccoons are relatives of bears.

[proud_yank]

Electro Bear Guard Fence

Worth having.

[goat granny]

Understandable if gun wasn’t already loaded...night, bear, friend screaming, easy to misload......

[The Cajun]

It’s Canada. Handguns are illegal.

Bears must be happy about that.

[GladesGuru]

What do bears call campers?

Answer: Snack in a sack.

[bobby.223]

dittos to that Lege! (different revolver here though) I use a laynyard also. this kind of event always concerned me and I am surprised we do not hear more about stories like this.

[familyop]

"Each man should have had a loaded .44 or .454 strapped on in a shoulder holster, I don’t give a damn how uncomfortable it may be. Bear country is bear country."

Agreed! But I'll add a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt with special handloads (wide flatnose bullets 280 grains or heavier at about 1100 fps or faster, within safe reloading practices for the Ruger Blackhawk only). ...in a western side holster, though, of course.

Terminal Ballistics

Gun Notes: The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend

Linebaugh Seminar Penetration Tests

Penetration Testing Big Bore Handguns

Heavy Bullets in the .45 Colt

[proud_yank]

It’s Canada. Handguns are illegal.

They're not illegal, just highly regulated. You need a restricted firearms license, and can only shoot them at ranges. Going to/from the range, you have to drive the most direct route. They need to be stored unloaded & locked. Those were the laws when I left there three years ago.

[shibumi]

It was later discovered that the bear belonged to an internet forum composed of wildlife dedicated to the eradication of Pit Hunters.

[familyop]

Hi, george76. Thanks for the ping! If you like revolvers and related ballistics, you might also be interested in the articles linked in comment #27.

[familyop]

You can also be licensed up there for a bear defense weapon and to be restricted to a rural area and routes to that particular area. But it’s still a restriction.

[smokingfrog]

The hunters become the hunted.

[Ronin]

Nope. But to my mind hunters are in the same league with skydivers, bungee jumpers, rodeo riders and those who partake and enjoy other dangerous sports and hobbies.

Very few hunters have to hunt. They do it because they enjoy doing it, and part of the reason they enjoy doing it is for the challenge and the danger.

That being the case, I am not particularly sympathetic when a hunter gets chomped on. If he/she was worried about the bears, he/she could stay home and buy their meat at the supermarket like the rest of us.

The bottom line is if you enjoy doing things that are dangerous, you have to take the consequences of your choice. Don’t come bitching to me if/when the dice comes up snake-eyes.

[Hugin]

Yeah. This would be my choice to carry in lieu of a handgun.

Marlin 1895G in 45-70

[proud_yank]

Thanks for the info, I didn’t know that. I’ve heard up in the territories, they’re pretty relaxed about people carrying for bear defense up there. Never verified it, but wouldn’t doubt it.

[bobby.223]

I use a shoulder rig and revolver with a lanyard at nite but I gotta agree with your pick in lieu of the handgun, if it were some reason unavailable. that is a flat out great looking firearm and with some serious punch also. I think a trip down to my home away from home gun shop tomorrow morning just might be in the cards, I think I’d like to have one of those.

[LegendHasIt]

Holy cow, is that for real?

Not that I’d fire it if it was... The muzzle blast would singe my eyebrows clean off, and I’d never be able to pry the hammer out of my forehead.

[Atchafalaya]

LOL!!!

[proud_yank]

But to my mind hunters are in the same league with skydivers, bungee jumpers, rodeo riders and those who partake and enjoy other dangerous sports and hobbies.

No. I am a very avid hunter, and I've also done 'adrenaline' sports in the past as well and there is no comparison. Some of the best hunts I've had I didn't get a thing, and was in no danger at all. I've watched plenty of beautiful sunrises/sets over a decoy spread and never happier. Have also been deep in bear country before too with no issue.

Should people stop participating in sports like football, basketball, baseball, swimming, martial arts, etc. which are statistically more *dangerous* than hunting? I haven't checked, but would say with fair certainty that most hunting deaths are due to heart attacks from exertion and old age.

Very few hunters have to hunt. They do it because they enjoy doing it, and part of the reason they enjoy doing it is for the challenge and the danger.

I don't *have* to hunt or fish, and you're second part is only partially correct in limited circumstances. When I'm home, that is pretty much all I eat. In the US, most of, if not everything we do, we don't *have* to do. Its called freedom.

That being the case, I am not particularly sympathetic when a hunter gets chomped on. If he/she was worried about the bears, he/she could stay home and buy their meat at the supermarket like the rest of us.

The bottom line is if you enjoy doing things that are dangerous, you have to take the consequences of your choice. Don’t come bitching to me if/when the dice comes up snake-eyes.

I'll keep that in mind if I ever hear about you or a family member being involved in any form of accident or tragedy. God forbid it be on a trip to the grocery store. Remember, they're all preventable and you clearly should have avoided it because you didn't *have* to do what you were doing.

[familyop]

That’s an interesting consideration regarding the territories, and I’ll ask. I was thinking about maybe heading into the northwest in a couple of years, if we get a project here done before then. First and foremost, last I heard from them, the few cops up there want visitors to have good ham radios (very important, among other things).

[LegendHasIt]

Joking FRiend, Just joking. Even *I* am not QUITE that stupid.

(At least until I hear something sniffing around the camp.)

Besides that, when I’m out in the woods, it is to get away from people, not get closer to them.... and my only tent wouldn’t hold me AND a rabbit at the same time, much less another human.

[MarineBrat]

Over the last 25 years I've spent a hundred nights in the wilderness, and always slept safe and snug with my trusty old Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 under my pillow. And of course, we're loaded for bear with Federal Cast Core.

Who in the heck unloads their weapons when they sleep in the woods?!?!?!? That's plain stupid!

[The Cajun]

in a western side holster, though, of course.

The reason I said shoulder holster was because I would have a heavy blade 14" Bowie on my belt.
Agree about the Blackhawk.45 Colt. Generally when I go in the woods/swamp down here (Louisiana) I take my old lever action Winchester 30-30 or .44 Marlin lever action carbine, Redhawk .44 (7 1/2" barrel) and 14" heavy Bowie.

[proud_yank]

If you’re going into Canada, its a good idea to check. I live up north now (AK), never heard of people carrying hams. A friend of mine has an ACR locator beacon we bring on remote trips, and I want to get one of my own. We’ve rented sat phones before too on fly-in trips, which have proven to be VERY helpful (made a call, and found out a front with 85+ mph winds was coming. Got out early!).

I carry a compact ‘laser flare’, which has a range of 5 miles in my pack, and a marine radio on the water.

[proud_yank]

LOL Appologies! Anymore, you just don’t know. I remember one guy telling me about taking a few ‘sound shots’ on a hunting trip. I asked what they were, and he said he heard a noise off in the brush so he put a few rounds there.

[Atchafalaya]

I carry a S&W 29 .44 mag in a shoulder holster every time I go in the woods; 225 gr. Speer jacketed hollow points in front of H110. Bang!

[Slings and Arrows]

There is no amount of money that you could pay me to fire that thing...but I’d love to watch somebody else try.

[The Cajun]

Marlin 1895G in 45-70

Nice, I'm a lever gun "nut" (Winchesters, Marlins and even a Henry), but don't have that one. Probably watched too many cowboy movies when I was a kid ;^)

[BigCinBigD]

Good choice. But if you kill the bear, there are some in the administration who would sue you on behalf of the bears family.

[The Cajun]

I use regular old Remington .44 flat nose 250 gr. or Remington 250 gr. hollow points, nothing exotic. I like things that won't blow up if I use them in my Marlin .44 lever action carbine.