Posted on 04/24/2005 11:35:30 AM PDT by kingattax
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Scott MacInnes set an Alaskan record this week, although not one contenders would seek to break, by becoming the state's first person to survive two bear attacks, state officials said on Wednesday.
MacInnes, a 51-year-old biologist, was mauled during his early morning jog on Monday when he met up with a brown bear and one or two cubs near his home in the Kenai Peninsula town of Soldotna.
He had been mauled 38 years earlier on a well-used hiking trail in the Chugach National Forest, according to a government biologist.
"That's the only time in the history of the state that I have a record that anybody's been attacked twice," said Tom Smith, a bear biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who keeps records of Alaska bear attacks dating to the late 1800s.
The presence of a dog and a food source, a freshly killed moose found nearby, made the bear more aggressive, said Bruce Bartley, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
"There's just hardly any other factors that could make it worse," Bartley said.
MacInnes was one of eight people in Alaska who had been attacked by bears while jogging, according to Smith's records. Including MacInnes' second attack, Smith's records recount 519 bear maulings in Alaska.
MacInnes' first bear attack in 1967 resulted in wounds on his legs and an injured arm, but he was able to walk a few days later.
Monday's attack, which took place about 60 miles southwest of Anchorage, appeared more serious, inflicting wounds on MacInnes' head, neck and abdomen. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Outside of Alaska, a Canadian man claims to have been attacked on two occasions by polar bears, Smith said
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently issued this bulletin... "Warning: In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently issued this bulletin... "Warning: In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently issued this bulletin... "Warning: In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.
We advise outdoorsmen to wear noisy little bells on their clothing, so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear manure: Black bear manure is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear manure has little bells in it and smells like pepper."
For an Alaskan brown bear?
I'd get something that would crack an elephant's skull.
Good for you. That's a solid revolver which you probably got at a decent price. Doesn't matter what you have as long as you're competent with it. Good luck!
This reminds me of the movie The Edge, where one of the characters was mauled twice - second time, mother nature won.
By the way, The Edge was extra sweet... Phalix Baldweenie (aka Alec Baldwin) had one of the best death scenes.
Trajan88
Caution! Jogging may be hazardous to health.
Good one. Took me a second or so. (I've been hit in the head a lot}.
Awesome shooting BTW.
I saw that gun on Shooting USA the other week.
I thought "A 4".50cal...........I need to take more hiking trips just for an excuse to buy one."
And that thing has got to have one heck of a kick!
would an 8" barrel on one of these be inherently more accurate than the 4" barrel? Seems kind of crazy to put a such a short barrel on such a hand canon ! How about recoil ? Less with a longer barrel (w/ compensator) ? Thanks man
I have convinced myself that I will not be deterred by recoil! I am going to become very competent with this gun.
Thank you again for your help and your encouragement.
Tracy
It's my understanding that the short barrel is for ease of carry as a deep wood or mountain area backup capable of stopping (what else?) bears.
As to the accuracy, my 'threat' was a B-34 standard silhouette target (about 17x23") at 50 feet. :) Both shot pretty well and I had no trouble hitting center of mass.
Not that bad. Like a 44 mag. Compensator is effective... ;)
These pictures are part of a known Internet Hoax...the one about the 1600 Lb Grizzy bear that killed and ate hikers.
There was a kernel of truth, the picture with the hunter next to the grizzly was foreshortened to make it look even bigger. Now, a 1200 lb grizzly is nothing to shake a stick at.
The image of a gnawed femur is unrelated to a bear killing.
So he gives the vendor a $20.
And waits.
And waits.
And waits.
Finally he says, "I want change."
The vendor says, "Change comes from within"...
Forgot the link to the hoax explanation:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-grizzlybear.htm
Yup. He's dead. I'm surprised we can tell it's a he. I'd guess the bear wasn't gay...
Hehe...that's great-I never heard that variant...:)
I'm probably happier not knowing, but how did he lose all that weight?
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