I’m hearing conflicting reports. The first said he had a shotgun with him when he went out to the bird feeder. The second suggests he saw the bear when he went out, went back to the house and returned to his backyard with a shotgun and shot the bear.
If he was surprised by the bear and had a shotgun in his hands, I certainly don’t blame him for shooting. If saw the bear, went inside to get his shotgun and then went back out, that’s hunting out of season without a license or poaching.
Shooting a bear on your property isn’t hunting. It’s self-defense.
If someone can’t shoot a BEAR on his own property, there is something seriously wrong.