Wisconsin Bear Attack

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That kid is a champ. I don't know if many 12 year olds would have the composure or skill to pull that off.
 

AZ_Hunter

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Cool story. Would like to read the rest without a paywall…

I’m going to tell my 10 year old about it. He shot a rattlesnake this weekend pdog hunting that was coiled up and pissed off. He was super proud of his actions, and how he “saved us”… he will like the story of the bear.
 
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atmat

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Sorry about the paywall. I opened the link through a different website (Yahoo News) and didn’t get paywalled — though now I am.

TLDR: dad shot 200lb black bear and then tracked it. When he discovered the bear, it attacked him and was on top of him. 12 year old shot the bear while on top of dad, killing the bear. Man taken to hospital where his face was stitched up and thankful his child saved his life.
 

buzzy

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One point that stands out to me is how the dad missed the bear 6 times with his handgun as it was charging. I don’t know the right answer but for anyone saying a handgun is superior to bear spray in a charging bear situation may think twice about that statement. Nobody knows how they will react when the adrenaline hits. Also confusing why the dad didn’t have a rifle while tracking it be just the handgun.
 

elkguide

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One of these should work.
 
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atmat

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One point that stands out to me is how the dad missed the bear 6 times with his handgun as it was charging. I don’t know the right answer but for anyone saying a handgun is superior to bear spray in a charging bear situation may think twice about that statement. Nobody knows how they will react when the adrenaline hits. Also confusing why the dad didn’t have a rifle while tracking it be just the handgun.
Most folks don’t practice remotely enough with their handguns to be reliable in a dangerous situation.

Edit: same is probably true for bear spray, though I imagine the danger space is larger with a higher margin.
 
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WCB

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One point that stands out to me is how the dad missed the bear 6 times with his handgun as it was charging. I don’t know the right answer but for anyone saying a handgun is superior to bear spray in a charging bear situation may think twice about that statement. Nobody knows how they will react when the adrenaline hits. Also confusing why the dad didn’t have a rifle while tracking it be just the handgun.
I'm sure there are plenty of instances of people fumbling with bear spray. Also, my guess is since he was hunting bears that was the thought of carrying a firearm instead of spray. Kid had the rile dad carried a handgun...guessing kid had the license and no need for two rifles. Nothing sounds out of place or wrong in general.

Also, I don't know one person in MN or WI that carries bear spray let alone even own it.
 
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Most folks don’t practice remotely enough with their handguns to be reliable in a dangerous situation.

Edit: same is probably true for bear spray, though I imagine the danger space is larger with a higher margin.
You’re not wrong, but even for an accomplished shooter, things change considerably when you have adrenaline pumping and a bear is coming at you at 30MPH.
 
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atmat

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You’re not wrong, but even for an accomplished shooter, things change considerably when you have adrenaline pumping and a bear is coming at you at 30MPH.
Oh, no doubt. Really I should’ve said people don’t practice enough to be good period — but especially in a dangerous situation
 
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Oh, no doubt. Really I should’ve said people don’t practice enough to be good period — but especially in a dangerous situation
For sure. I could easily see how this guy wound up in this situation too. I’ve tracked a wounded bear in cover in low light and certainly had my pistol in hand rather than a rifle. For a close counters, fast moving situation I’d rather have the pistol than a scoped bolt action rifle.
 

buzzy

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You are referring to the same guy that wounded the bear initially. Grin
I don’t believe so. I understand from the article that his son shot the bear. So I believe the dad was in the lead tracking it with his hand gun out (assuming) when things went south fast.
 
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