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."

[Ronin]

More power to you. You obviously have a happy life doing what you enjoy and are competent at what you do.

I may have not made myself clear in my earlier posts. I have no objection to people who hunt. I don’t, but I do believe that anyone who eats meat is on the same moral level as a butcher or a hunter. Nor would I have any objections to going out to kill an animal to eat.

I would hope that if I were to try something like that I would have the intelligence to meet up with and gain the advice of a person who knows what they are doing before I tried it, though.

But my philosophy about people in the woods who get mauled by wild animals is also germane. They obviously do not know what they are doing, and thus do not deserve much in the way of sympathy if they do it wrong and end up as bear food. And, of course, even the best hunters can have a bad day.

I would like to think, however, that if a good hunter had a bad day and somehow came out the worse for wear in a one-on-one with a wild animal, he wouldn’t be crying for sympathy because of it. You pay your money, you take your chances.

I feel the same way about people who skydive, rodeo-ride, or engage in any of the other “not dangerous if everything is done right” sports. If they are doing it for the thrill, danger and feeling of adventure, they must also take responsibility for their actions if the worst happens.

[oldenuff2no]

I'm headed for Kodiak Island with my bow next year. My wife says she will buy my grave Lott in advance. I'll be shooting a Hoyt 60 compound bow. I shot a Kodiak with a rifle 4 years ago, but I taking my bow this time...

[familyop]

"Try 320gr corbon 45LC+P. They go out at about 1300FPS."

Yeah, those are pretty hot. They probably flip the muzzle pretty good, too. ;-)

[P8riot]

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

It does to the bear.

[LegendHasIt]

Good Luck!

I prefer a longbow, but to be completely honest, I’m not good enough with ANY kind bow to be willing to take on anything but straw bales or self-healing foam..... And even those have little to fear from me.

[fr_freak]

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

Probably look something like this:

Girl fires big gun (you tube)

[Dusty Road]

Now we’re talking, my old Ithaca M&P model with the 18 1/2 inch barrel has made many trip’s with me.

[Dusty Road]

I have no problem with your post. Plain and simple when you enter an area where you are no longer at the top of the food chain there are known risk's,that's why proper precautions need to be taken. Bears can and will eat people when they're hungry.

[aruanan]

My cousin, as a child, got dragged by his head out of his tent by a bear.

[umgud]

Holy cow, is that for real?

Photoshop

[Labyrinthos]

I would also recommend the Marlin 1895m in .450

[Renegade]

H& R “ Handi Rifle “ in 45-70 is pretty neat too !

[Your6]

One more time sports fans, only Government employees can have a handgun to protect themselves. Geez!

[Red in Blue PA]

That ain’t too smart a thing to do.....and that is being kind!

[Gilbo_3]

stay home and buy their meat at the supermarket like the rest of us.

'meat' comes from the supermarket bump...

[Slings and Arrows]

Pity they didn’t show the damage she inflicted on him after the cam was turned off.

[Slings and Arrows]

I prefer a longbow, but to be completely honest, I’m not good enough with ANY kind bow to be willing to take on anything but straw bales or self-healing foam.....

Those straw bales can be nasty when wounded.

[TruthWillWin]

Wonder if they had any food in the tent?

[paulycy]

Those straw bales can be nasty when wounded.

You have to really watch out here in central Virginia.

Those things are everywhere!

[Slings and Arrows]

Travel armed.