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?

[Semper Mark]

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

[Semper Mark]

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.