Hunt Ends in Ambush: Hunter Uses 10mm Pistol to Stop Bear Attack

AmmoLand ^ | July 31, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In the last week of May 2024, Bowhunter Tyce Erickson used his 10mm S&W 2.0 handgun to defend against a large Kodiak brown bear. The 10mm handgun was loaded with Underwood ammunition utilizing 220-grain hardcast bullets. The hunt was on Kodiak Island in Alaska.

Tyce had wounded a large Kodiak bear in the last two days of the hunt in a shot at a moving bear from 200 yards with a borrowed rifle. The bear was tracked for two miles when it decided to ambush the hunters. The guide was about 10 feet in front of Tyce with a .375 magnum rifle. Tyce followed with his 10mm handgun. His hunting companion was out of sight, about 50 feet away in the dense alder thicket.

The following occurred in a few seconds:

The bear charged the guide from the front, appearing 20 feet away. The guide managed to get off one shot, which hit the bear in the chest/shoulder area, slowing the bear. The guide fired another shot as he backed away, tripping on the brush. The second shot missed as the guide fell backward, trapped in place by the tangled vegetation. The guide yelled for help. Tyce crawled forward to get a shot at the bear without shooting the guide. Alongside the guide, Tyce used the 10mm to fire three rapid shots at the bear, which was whirling around 12 feet away. The bear dropped, rolled downhill, and lay still.

In one account, the guide yelled, “Stop. Don’t shoot the skull!”  The initial wound was to the bear’s hind leg, leaving the bear mobile. The guide’s first shot might have proved fatal, eventually. Two of Tyce’s three shots from the 10mm hit the bear in the neck and back, incapacitating it.

[marktwain]

Another case where the 10mm pistol was a bear stopper. The bear was hit with a rifle round, but the guide fell down and the pistol was needed to stop it for certain.

[Savage Beast]

Isn’t that the sort of thing you’d expect if you went to Kodiak Island?

[marktwain]

It is always a possibility when a hunter hunts dangerous game. If scenarios such as this never happened, the game would not be considered dangerous.

[uranium penguin]

10mm is a GREAT round.

if they did not dumb it down and come up with a the 40 Short&Weak. it would be a lot more common and popular.

[Resolute Conservative]

So, what does bowhunting have to do with it? The bear was shot at 200 yards with a rifle.

[EVO X]

I know a coastie that was stationed there. He had either a 44 or 45 when he left town or the base.

[PGR88]

A human going to Kodiak Island is like a hobbit going to Mordor. the chance of meeting an unfriendly is very high.

[laplata]

Lol That’s right.

[BipolarBob]

My ol’ buddy Timothy Treadwell said if you treat them right, they’ll treat you right. I haven’t heard from him in a long time though.

[Jumper]

That’s the original Kodiak Moment. Can’t wait to see the film developed;)

[Navy Patriot]

Excellent article! Contains the detail and discussion necessary for education on Outdoor Sportsmen’s Safety and 2A value combined with good storytelling.

[Who is John Galt?]

Tyce had wounded a large Kodiak bear... in a shot at a moving bear from 200 yards with a borrowed rifle...

Golly gee whiz! Who'd a thunk it?

[Bigg Red]

Why would the guide say not to shoot the skull?

[43north]

“Stop! Don’t shoot the skull!”

Sorry, if I had a shot at the head I would fire. When a bear is as amped up as this one even a brain shot is no guarantee of a stop. Having crawled through Kodiak alders on all fours many years ago I would not want to be in that situation.

[sasquatch]

Visited Kodiak years ago while on tour with a cousin’s husband. Crossing a barbwire fence showed fur that did not come from a bison. And we were headed for a creek full of salmon. Dumbest thing I ever did. Worst, caught no fish.

[43north]

The skull of a big brownie is considered a trophy. IMHO that is a stupid reason not to shoot in a life or death situation.

[marktwain]

Thank you for the kind comment, and for reading the article.

[marktwain]

So, what does bowhunting have to do with it? The bear was shot at 200 yards with a rifle.

Bowhunting is the reason he was carrying a pistol instead of a rifle.

[rdcbn1]

Kodiak is definitely a trip.

Weather can be scarier than the bears.

[Daveinyork]

Hunter? I am biting my toungue so bard it hurts😂