My boys and I were charged

[Brightside]

Last night my boys and I were charged by 2 bears. Extremely scary situation, and it was my fault. We killed a buck the night before 40 yards off a trail, quartered the buck, and made the short hike out to camp. Last night we hiked it again since it had plenty of sign.

Hearing some noise in the bushes, we hung around hoping to see some deer. The wind hit the back of my neck and immediately 2 bears charged out of the brush and straight downhill at us. I had reminded my boy to turn his scope magnification down but, as happens, he forgot. My rifle is out for repairs so he had the only rifle, a 6.5prc, and I had the 10mm Glock. I had time to shoot 5 rounds but the one bear veared to our left after getting inside of 15 feet and passed behind us. The other got inside 10 feet, turned around and ran back towards where he came from, towards the deer carcass. He stopped, stood still and my son put a round in the back of his head. It exited at the left eye. His first bear was a memorable one for sure!

The other bear hung around within earshot below us but out of visual until we left the area. I didnt really want to cut him up near the other bear but I couldnt move him, it was a situation lol. I got his guts out as my boys ran security. It didnt help as much as I had hoped, I could still barel move him. A total answer to prayer in the form of a hunter with his girlfriend came walking up the trail as we were trying to figure out how to move his fat butt. This dude saved my bacon and we drug the bear nearly a 1/2 mile trial to the truck.

I wont be putting my boys in that position again. I wasnt thinking. But I hate to wonder what would have happened if we werent there. What if the hunter, great at dragging bears but kinda clueless, and his unarmed girlfriend passed by there and with no sidearm. These bears meant business and this could have ended much differently.

 

[Greenbelt]

I am not understanding how you put your boys in a position. Maybe I'm not reading it correctly. Glad your ok and had a weapon to protect yourself. Also glad you raised boys who can shoot. lol

 

[Brightside]

I am not understanding how you put your boys in a position. Maybe I'm not reading it correctly. Glad your ok and had a weapon to protect yourself. Also glad you raised boys who can shoot. lol

Knowing there was a carcass there which likely had atleast a single bear on it, and passing by anyways. I didnt even realize I was near the deer kill sight until right at that moment they charged. When I hunt alone, I do that intentionally. I want the bear. But, this was a different situation and my boys werent ready for it. We were looking for deer.

Either I should have planned around that possibility of bears or picked a different area. I didnt even think about it. Now, my 10 year old is freaked out and wont hunt. My 13 year old, like his dad, wants to go get the other one. We all agree that we were a Glock malfunction away from getting mauled.

 

[Greenbelt]

Knowing there was a carcass there which likely had atleast a single bear on it, and passing by anyways. I didnt even realize I was near the deer kill sight until right at that moment they charged. When I hunt alone, I do that intentionally. I want the bear. But, this was a different situation and my boys werent ready for it. We were looking for deer.

Either I should have planned around that possibility of bears or picked a different area. I didnt even think about it. Now, my 10 year old is freaked out and wont hunt. My 13 year old, like his dad, wants to go get the other one. We all agree that we were a Glock malfunction away from getting mauled.

Ahh I definitely didn't read that right. Well we live and we learn. I'm sure that was very scary for your boys but they seem to have handled it well. Id say that the glock is prob best for non malfunctions in that situation and I'm glad you had it. Wouldn't beat yourself up to much about it as long as you evaluate what you did wrong and never do it again. There's about a billion things we do a day that can kill us. At least that one is a cool story. Again glad you and your boy's are ok.

 

[EdP]

Isn't being charged by black bears rare?

 

[RMM]

Isn't being charged by black bears rare?

A real charge with intent on doing harm, yes. My guess is this bear wouldn't have actually mauled them. Probably a bluff to let them know it was his deer now.

Then again, I wasn't there so I can't discount what the OP is claiming. If he thought he was in danger, who am I to argue?

 

[Chris in TN]

So did you shoot both bears or did both of you shoot the one or...???

Glad you're OK either way. Scary stuff.

In 2014(?) I was squirrel hunting in Big South Fork in east TN. Early fall, bears still out, I knew they existed there but they were the furthest thing from my mind. I was sneaking up a little hollow towards where I'd heard a squirrel barking at something. Rifle slung over my shoulder. Suddenly I heard the sound of a horse explode in front of me maybe 30-40 yards off and gallop through the woods. I caught just a glimpse of a black blur for a moment as it ran. My brain was still trying to process why a horse would be in the woods or why it would run off like that when it hit me - uh, that was a bear. It was gone in seconds, over the first ridge then the sound faded. Had it came towards me I would have died with my rifle slung. I was amazed at how fast it moved. I assume the squirrel had been barking at the bear, and the bear had stopped to watch me sneaking(?) up on it. I'll never forget how fast it ran or how utterly defenseless I felt realizing a slung .22 wouldn't even make a good club.

Glad it ended well for you. I have a 9 year old son and an 11 year old daughter and I hope your son gets over the experience. It would impact my younger kids the same way. My oldest is like yours - she'd want a rematch.

 

[EdP]

Then again, I wasn't there so I can't discount what the OP is claiming. If he thought he was in danger, who am I to argue?

Yes, I'm not questioning their actions. The potential to get mauled is sufficient reason to shoot.

 

[Brightside]

So did you shoot both bears or did both of you shoot the one or...???

Glad you're OK either way. Scary stuff.

In 2014(?) I was squirrel hunting in Big South Fork in east TN. Early fall, bears still out, I knew they existed there but they were the furthest thing from my mind. I was sneaking up a little hollow towards where I'd heard a squirrel barking at something. Rifle slung over my shoulder. Suddenly I heard the sound of a horse explode in front of me maybe 30-40 yards off and gallop through the woods. I caught just a glimpse of a black blur for a moment as it ran. My brain was still trying to process why a horse would be in the woods or why it would run off like that when it hit me - uh, that was a bear. It was gone in seconds, over the first ridge then the sound faded. Had it came towards me I would have died with my rifle slung. I was amazed at how fast it moved. I assume the squirrel had been barking at the bear, and the bear had stopped to watch me sneaking(?) up on it. I'll never forget how fast it ran or how utterly defenseless I felt realizing a slung .22 wouldn't even make a good club.

Glad it ended well for you. I have a 9 year old son and an 11 year old daughter and I hope your son gets over the experience. It would impact my younger kids the same way. My oldest is like yours - she'd want a rematch.

No only one of the 2. The other wandered around below our trail waiting for us to leave. And yep, a horse is exactly what they sound like. The two of the were so loud, my boys keep talking about that.

 

[Brightside]

Yes, I'm not questioning their actions. The potential to get mauled is sufficient reason to shoot.

I cant say what the bears would have done in the last 10 or 15 feet if I hadnt been shooting. They showed no signs of stopping until round 4 or so. I believe 100% we would be dead if I wasnt shooting.

Ive been bluffed before and that bear slammed on the brakes, chomped her teeth etc. These guys did none of that. I believe the noise of the 10mm prevented catastrophe. I focused on shooting one of the 2 bears, I only found 2 of the 5 10mm slugs, so I assume the noise did it.