Fatal Arizona Bear attack

[Brent in Az]

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/deadly-bear-attack-reported-near-prescott

 

[BourbonTrail]

Helluva way to go.

I had one break into camp one time when I was camping with my wife outside of Flagstaff. Luckily, my dog woke us up, and I had a shotgun in the tent. SOB was only a few yards away. We managed to scare it off without incident.

 

[Scott CWO]

Wow, terribly unlucky for that guy. Black bears rarely attack but when they make the decision, they don’t stop easily and it’s usually about consumption whereas most grizzly attacks are about reducing a perceived threat.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'm not going to Arizona! LOL

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Wow, terribly unlucky for that guy. Black bears rarely attack but when they make the decision, they don’t stop easily and it’s usually about consumption whereas most grizzly attacks are about reducing a perceived threat.

I remember reading an article a year or two ago about black bear attacks. IIRC it was just like you say, almost always a predation deal.

 

[Brent in Az]

You just never know what can happen. Its prudent to be armed.

My favorite hunting area here in Arizona has one of the highest Bear densities in the state.
In the 40 + years I have been hunting there, I have only had 1 Bear encounter. A sow and 2 cubs came into camp late one night. They left without incident.

 

[Inline6]

I'm not going to Arizona! LOL

Stay armed my friend.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Stay armed my friend.

ALWAYS!

 

[Inline6]

ALWAYS!

Was black bear hunting in New Mexico several years ago. I was in a blind with my rifle clamped down in a tripod. A good size bear walked about 40 yards in front of me and disappeared as it went down the the bottom of the hill the blind was on. 10 mins later the bear was spooked and was running right at my blind. I pulled my 1911 off my side the fastest I believe I ever have. Safety came off, I thought to myself. I did not expect to kill a black bear this way. It came within 5 yards of my blind. It went away and that was the adrenaline rush of the trip.

I think I want a 10mm in lieu of a 45acp next time I go in bear woods. I'm still not decided, that 1911 as been with me through a lot of ups and downs.

 

[BRICKBURN]

This is a warning to you little old guys lounging about in the woods. Keep your head up. Bloody sad news.

 

[John J]

Was black bear hunting in New Mexico several years ago. I was in a blind with my rifle clamped down in a tripod. A good size bear walked about 40 yards in front of me and disappeared as it went down the the bottom of the hill the blind was on. 10 mins later the bear was spooked and was running right at my blind. I pulled my 1911 off my side the fastest I believe I ever have. Safety came off, I thought to myself. I did not expect to kill a black bear this way. It came within 5 yards of my blind. It went away and that was the adrenaline rush of the trip.

I think I want a 10mm in lieu of a 45acp next time I go in bear woods. I'm still not decided, that 1911 as been with me through a lot of ups and downs.

You don't have to give up the 1911. I love my Comander size 45 ACP, carry it everywhere. I actually shoot the 10mm Govt size better.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Was black bear hunting in New Mexico several years ago. I was in a blind with my rifle clamped down in a tripod. A good size bear walked about 40 yards in front of me and disappeared as it went down the the bottom of the hill the blind was on. 10 mins later the bear was spooked and was running right at my blind. I pulled my 1911 off my side the fastest I believe I ever have. Safety came off, I thought to myself. I did not expect to kill a black bear this way. It came within 5 yards of my blind. It went away and that was the adrenaline rush of the trip.

I think I want a 10mm in lieu of a 45acp next time I go in bear woods. I'm still not decided, that 1911 as been with me through a lot of ups and downs.

Buffalo Bore 255gr. hardcast .45ACP. I carried those in my Glock 21 before I bought a Glock 40 (10mm) and carry 220gr. hardcasts in it.

 

[freefall]

I thought the Glocks didn't care for the lead bullets?

 

[CoElkHunter]

I thought the Glocks didn't care for the lead bullets?

Mine shoot them OK out to 25yds, but much better within 10yds as a defensive load. They’re not a hunting bullet. I bought some Underwood 220gr. hardcasts with their proprietary bullet coating. They seem to function smoother than the Buffalo Bore hardcasts.

 

[Brent in Az]

The man that was killed was from Tucson where I live. He was working on a cabin he was building for retirement. Sadly, he won't be able to enjoy it.

 

[Inline6]

Buffalo Bore 255gr. hardcast .45ACP. I carried those in my Glock 21 before I bought a Glock 40 (10mm) and carry 220gr. hardcasts in it.

I'm using 230gr Winchester Ranger bonded ammo.

You don't have to give up the 1911. I love my Comander size 45 ACP, carry it everywhere. I actually shoot the 10mm Govt size better. View attachment 540573

That was my thoughts, have been looking for the right one. Have thought several times about making the call to Wilson or Nighthawk.

 

[ve7poi]

Something to remember with black bears the shorter the summer fall season the more high energy food they require for longer hibernation periods. Northern bears are known to be more aggressive if foraging for food. Especially young males looking for new home range

 

[sgt_zim]

I remember reading an article a year or two ago about black bear attacks. IIRC it was just like you say, almost always a predation deal.

Black bears don't bluff charge. When they charge, they mean business. Grizzlies are thought to bluff charge about half the time.

Got a healthy schooling on that last Fall when I went up to north central Idaho on a black bear hunt.

 

[Buck0317]

I was up at my place in Flagstaff, AZ this weekend and went by one of the gun shops, you should have heard the phone calls coming in from nervous people looking to buy a "bear gun" for defense. I've been hunting and living in bear country most of my life and this is a rare occurance, especially in such a populated area.

 

[Longwalker]

I like having a dog at my remote camp in Northern British Columbia. . And a rifle. Both were welcome when two bears ( a big sow and her gangly yearling cub) decided to visit our cabin and check out our cooking spot on our deck at noon today. No bears died ( I had no intention of shooting one) but I hope we gave them a good scare when the dog chased and I fired a warning shot. In the afternoon a young male was nosing around by our boat at the lake shore. That one didn’t want to leave even after my dog treed it twice and I put a couple bullets behind its rear foot. I like having bears in camp, but 3-4 meters is a little too close!