Why They Carry Guns in Alaska (from an email)

[Gloria Admin]

This guy lives just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. Having lived in Brown Bear country, I can tell you, this man was LUCKY! If this bear had been carrying the usual foot of fat they get, he would not have brought it down with a pistol.

Friends,

Have I got a story for you guys! King season is over, and since I had a day off before silvers start, I thought I would go for a walk! This occurred at 11:16 am this morning (Sunday), just 2/10 of a mile from my house, ON OUR ROAD while walking my dogs (trying to get in shape for hunting season, ironically!) for the record, this is in a residential area-not back in the woods, no bow hunting, no stealth occurring...

I heard a twig snap, and looked back...full on charge-a huge brownie, ears back, head low and motorin' full speed! Came with zero warning; no eoof, no popping of the teeth, no standing up, nothing like what you think or see on TV! It charged from less than 20 yards and was on me in about one-second! Totally surreal-I just started shooting in the general direction, and praise God that my second shot (or was it my third?) rolled him at 5 feet and he skidded to a stop 10 feet BEYOND where I was shooting from-I actually sidestepped him and fell over backwards on the last shot, and his momentum carried him to a stop past where I fired my first shot!

It was a prehistoric old boar-no teeth, no fat-weighed between 900-1000 lbs and took five men to DRAG it onto a tilt-bed trailer! Big bear-its paw measured out at about a 9 1/2 footer!

Never-ever-thought "it" would happen to me! It’s always some other smuck, Right?
Well, no bull-I am still high on adrenaline, with my gut in a knot. Feels like I did 10000 crunches without stopping! Almost puked for an hour after, had the burps and couldn't even stand up as the troopers conducted their investigation! Totally wiped me out-can't even put that feeling into words, by far the most emotion I have ever felt at once!

No doubt that God was with me, as I brought my Ruger .454 Casull (and some "hot" 350 grain solids) just for the heck of it, and managed to draw and snap shoot (pointed, never even aimed!) from the hip! Total Luck shot!

All I can say is Praise God for my safety and for choosing to leave the wife and kids at home on this walk! Got a charter tomorrow, so gonna TRY to get some sleep now!

Talk to ya soon, -Greg & Sherri
Soldotna, AK 99669

http://www.jouster.com/forums/wmv/brownie1.jpg

http://www.jouster.com/forums/wmv/brownie2.jpg

http://www.jouster.com/forums/wmv/brownie3.jpg

http://www.jouster.com/forums/wmv/brownie4.jpg

http://www.jouster.com/forums/wmv/brownie5.jpg

[hawkins]

Hope you had your brown pants on! WoW

[John Sukey]

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::
That bear may have been old, but those CLAWS would have done a number on him

Anyway he now has the material for a nice rug in front of the fireplace:D

Maybe the material for one of those bear claw necklaces?

[us019255]

Should be required reading by those who say you shouldn't depend on a firearm for defense in Bear country!

I'll bet he is glad it was not the PC bear spray!

[John Sukey]

Remember th joke about identifying bear scat.
It has little bells in it and smells like pepper;)

[chuckindenver]

awesome, simply awesome.
i carry a .44 mag every time, i go in the woods here in Co, against black bears, and well tree huggers lol.
last summer, i was hiking into a favorite fishing spot, and a hot lil granola chick, asked why i was packing heat.
i said, well, i fish, and so do bears, and no bear is taking my fish by force.
she said, and i quaote.
i thought the state removed the bears from these woods.........
i said , suuuuuure they did, just like the unicorn.
and walked away, never saw her on the trail, and had a great day of fishing.
im very happy, iv never had to use my side arm to kill a bear.
i do love seeing them in the wild, and will give them space, and avoid them.
however.
bear or me???bear will loose...i hope.

[Duane]

That 's quite an experience, I can understand his emotional trauma.
I ask the following question out of my own ignorance. Can you shoot what looks like a 4 inch 454 Casull from the hip? I would think that the muzzle would be right under your chin after the first shot. When he says from the hip, I suppose that if he got both hands on it and then factor in adrenaline, he may have managed multiple shots. Seems rather incredible though.

[dryheat]

At the gunshow a couple of years ago the guys behind us were from AK. They has some glossy pictures of what was left of a guy that got surprised by a big brown bear. Lots of shiney bones. Somebody got the bear with a 7MM Mag. When they held up the paws they looked to be the size of a trash can lid!
I remember reading a book about bear attacks in Alaska. I got through about four of the stories and put the book down. Too much gore for me.

[JB White]

Duane,

Hip shooting isn't always exactly from the hip. The gun comes up about belly or chest high and instinct does the aiming. I'll bet a 454 feels like a pop gun when your life is on the line and the adrenalin is pumping full blast. Muzzle blast most likely never entered the equation.
Sort of like the way a 12 gauge feels like a 22 when the birds flush.

[n64atlas]

Remember th joke about identifying bear scat.
It has little bells in it and smells like pepper;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/n64atlas/various%20pics/bearsign.jpg

[Sako]

That is really a funny sign, to bad this wildlife ranger didn't read it before trying to release a upset bar.]
http://www.funny-potato.com/release-bear.html

[Brad in Idaho]

Can you provide the link for this story? Have some friends who just bought property near Soldotna and I'd like to forward this to them. Thanks.

[Gloria Admin]

I am not sure whether this is the same incident or not, but reads like it could be. What I got with the pictures came by email. http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/aug/14/alaska-mans-quick-shot-kills-charging-bear/