Bear shot by hunter bites back

pomoxis

pomoxis

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A black bear bit and clawed a hunter who had just shot it four times in what game authorities said appeared to be a first for the state.
Samuel H. Beauchamp, 47, said he was approaching the downed 320-pound bear in Rothrock State Forest in central Pennsylvania on Monday, the first day of bear-hunting season, when it came after him.
Beauchamp, of nearby Newville, had just shot the bear with a .444-caliber rifle and was within 15 feet of it. He turned to run, but the bear put a claw around his hip and bit him twice, once in each thigh, before dying.
"The bear wasn't attacking 100 percent. I mean really, it was dead on its feet when it came up. If it would have been 100 percent I wouldn't have been standing there," Beauchamp said Friday.
Other hunters heard a growl and came to Beauchamp's aid.
"It was shock at first. It's like he came alive, like 'boom.' I guess he growled, like the other people heard. That motivated me to turn around and start running away," he said.
Game commission bear biologist Mark Ternent said the attack was the first case known to state officials in which a bear had attacked a hunter who had just shot it and was attempting to recover it.
Beauchamp was released from the hospital after about two hours of treatment. One bite went down to the bone.
"I didn't feel any pain after it happened," he said Friday. "I'm a little sore now."
 
When I have had to shoot a cow to put it down, my best shot is for the cortex.

That is the area where the spine meets the skull.

I don't have the luck with front on brain shots that I have with the "cortex shot".

If I ever approached a downed bear, I would approach from the back side and take the cortex shot!

An added advantage of the cortex shot on wild animals is that as it even tries to get up you have a clear view and the animal has to turn around to see and close on you.

Three 44s
 
Problem with the cortex shot on bear is the same as a brain shot on trophy buck deer.

It sure doesn't seem like this fellow was prepared for bear hunting. He was approaching a potentially dangerous animal, and though he had a good rifle and caliber, he turned to run when the bear "came alive." If he would have approached from behind looking for signs of life and then instead of turning to run, use the rifle in his hands, cause he sure isn't going to outrun the bear from only fifteen feet away. I don't think he had fully thought things through... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
I agree that trying to run was probably the wrong choice. Like Peter Capstick said in his books "its the dead ones that get up and kill you"

Hitting the bear with the .444 at close range would have nocked it down. At least it was not a fatal wound.
 
Running made him a target for sure and one that could not fight back at that.

Barber,

I will blow your hand calls you loaned me real hard for that!

Just Kidding!

How was Turkey Day! Get stuffed?

Regards

Three 44s
 
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Never run from a bear /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif. The guy should have been ready to shoot again. Anyone who thinks he can out run a bruin is in for a big surprize /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. He should have, at the least, stood his ground and give'em the ol'Crockett grin. That would have stopped'em cold. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
unfortunately, folks tend to be victims of their own routines.
this guy was walking up to his PA black bear as if it were a 100# doe he just knocked down with his Marlin lever action.......just like he has done his whole life.

ohio_hunter
 
whoa now everyone. This fella is our boy scout leader and the newspaper mislead it a lot. first off all 4 rds were in the vitals at shots from 100yds to a couple ft. here is the real story from the horses mouth. he was acting as a stander in a drive in huntingdon county pa. the bear in question ran to another fella first with a flintlock. after it did not go off because of malfuction. the bear relized danger and fled. running up the side of the ridge to the top. were beuchamp was standing. he fired a shot as it was quartering away from himbecause it had slowed to a walk. hit it behind the shoulder and did a flip. got up and ran over the top of the ridge. he quickly ran to the top and seen it again quartering away. shot again, bear again hesitates and scrambles around abit before running down into another smaller hollow. walks over to the other ridge puts another one into it form the oppisite side again quartering away shot. bear slumps and appears dead. He walks up prepared and with a fully loaded magizene sees it breathing and puts another right into it again. as soon as he done that the bear turned seen him and began coming towars him. he did not start to even move until the animal got turned around at that time he had the gun up but had no time to put another round in him. the bear swiped him on the side, then bit the inside of his one thigh then the outside of the other one. he had no time to react. anyhow this guy has been hunting for years and has killed many a big game. I guess the only reason that this happened was it had enough adreniline and oxygen in its blood to do some damage. the bite marks were only 1/2" deep and he did not even want to go to the doctors right away. but did to make sure no infection. any other questions fire away. I am just telling you the truth from the man himself.
 
I wasn't there but our rule is a minimum 30 min wait after you find the bear and more if it is in confined area like brush or trees close enough to restrict gun swing.
 
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