Posted on 10/18/2009 9:39:53 PM PDT by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at vancouversun.com ...
Agreed! Thank you.
Agree 100%.
I commend your hard work. I hunt in a La. swamp, the Atchafalaya Basin. I’d be a total fish out of water in your higher neck of the woods, literally sucking air just like a fish out of water at any altitude over river level.
I’ve used a Browning BLR in .308 topped with a 2.5x7x32 Weaver (both bought in 1974) since 74...duh. A most excellent firearm; accurate, compact, quick to aim, easy to clean, handles any handload like a bolt rifle, there are no downs (IMO) to this rifle. I continue to carry my model 29 S&W and have taken a number of deer with it; using it in lieu of the BLR inside of 75 yds. It works. I carry an early Ruger .22 heavy barrel pistol in the summertime.
Please let me know how your season shakes out.
Being from and hunted exclusively in La. I would never second guess someone more experienced from another part of the country, especially one at the opposite extreme from my experiences. I hope you have a zero S&R season, and your scouting pays off for you and your clients. I’m not a professional hunter, I don’t carry fancy hardware, but I do always carry a sidearm, I can, I do, I always will. Our low today (11/15) was 60, I pressure washed the house...how cold was your day; I’m sure you were not worried with such mundane domestic chores.
Being from and hunted exclusively in La. I would never second guess someone more experienced from another part of the country, especially one at the opposite extreme from my experiences. I hope you have a zero S&R season, and your scouting pays off for you and your clients. I’m not a professional hunter, I don’t carry fancy hardware, but I do always carry a sidearm, I can, I do, I always will. Our low today (11/15) was 60, I pressure washed the house...how cold was your day; I’m sure you were not worried with such mundane domestic chores.
;)
You're welcome at my fire anytime. You'll do.
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