Backpacker shoots and kills grizzly bear in Denali National Park
When a pair of hikers were confronted by a charging grizzly bear in Denali National Park, one of them shot the bear with a .45 handgun. If firearms were still outlawed in national parks, both of these hikers would probably be dead.
A backpacker shot and killed a grizzly bear in Denali National Park and Preserve on Friday after the animal charged toward his hiking companion. This is the first shooting incident since a change in federal law that allows firearms to be carried in many national parks and wildlife refuges went into effect in February.
This is also the first known shooting of a grizzly bear in the wilderness portion of the park by a visitor.
According to park spokeswoman Kris Fister, the backpackers were hiking in an area about 35 miles from park headquarters when they heard noise in nearby brush. The male hiker drew a .45-caliber pistol he was carrying, and when the bear emerged and charged toward his female hiking companion, he fired about nine rounds toward the grizzly.
Our ancestors would hang their heads in shame at the fact that we even have to discuss this sort of thing. They assumed that everyone had a right to self-defense. And the notion that animal rights even existed, let alone that they might supercede those of humans, would have made our forbears (pun not intended but enjoyed nonetheless)laugh themselves sick.
Better to have a gun (in this case a .45) and not need it than need a gun and not have it.
While I am glad that this person was able to stop the bear before it did serious harm to them, but one should also consider that there are those who might shoot such an animal just for fun or thrill’s and say it was endangering them. I am a gun owner and a Hunter so I am not sticking up for animal rights, just considering both sides of this senerio.
The hikers would certainly have been ripped to pieces by an attacking grizzly if they had not been armed. I am curious to know what “type” of .45 was used. .45 ACP auto pistol, .45 LC revolver …? What was the weight and configuration of the bullets? Semi-wadcutters, hollow points, full metal jacket …? I carry a Springfield Armory .45 ACP M1911A1 with 230 grain FMJs. Any suggestions of better rounds in a .45?
Sorry, need to slightly edit the above:
The best solution to our problems is to put up a 14′ high fence with the concertina wire on top facing inwards around all the large metro areas. Then stock the areas with hungry wolves, mountain lion, bear, coyotes, wolverines and whatever other North American carnivores the “Liberal”(communist) freaks love to whine about.
Those smart enough to carry weapons, openly disobeying any laws the “Liberal” garbage have written and voted for, will survive. They can even help out the carnivores by wounding a few “Liberal” freaks so the poor animals won’t have to run as fast to catch them.
They could also open doors to “Liberal”(communist) establishments, like this commie rag(the LA times) to allow the hungry carnivores to access their food.
After all the “Liberal” citiots are dead, we can return this nation to Liberty as it should be, and the animals to the wild areas, where they should be. All can then live happily ever after in a place where animals have a healthy fear of humans and humans respect each others’ most basic right, the right to fight back, especially against the evil garbage that would enslave them further.
Don’t understand? Start here:
http://www.willowtown.com/promo/quotes.htm
How odd! A buddy and I were talking just yesterday about how effective a .45 would be against a grizzly…now this! I carry a Kimber .45 and have always wanted to go to Alaska. All I can say is, these hikers are verrrrry lucky! Thank God the male hiker had the forethought to carry a gun with them.
I am no expert but I would think hollow point plus P rounds would be the best.
This story stinks to high heaven. Maybe I just don’t have enough background information on the shooter. Bear rushes out, bear goes for the female, the male calmly aims, fires and hits his intended target (the bear) nine times. That is mighty good shooting.?
1 up for ccw. I read an article on this online, and folks were actually asking about the “rights” of the bear. This is just a joke, to wonder about the “rights” of a bear over a human life? What is this country thinking? I have my ccw, and this just goes 2 show that you never know when or where it may happen, but be armed and prepared always and everywhere…….
…hikers would probably be dead. Hardly. No one has ever been killed by a bear in Denali, so the probability is very remote. Bear charges most always break. Was there hiking when this happened, and most rangers I talked to gave the impression that they did not trust the story this guy gave. The area the hikers were in was dense willow and in an area that should have and could have been avoided, not the smartest path finding. The hikers made several bad decisions, and discharging a firearm in the park is still illegal. This park isn’t like other wilderness areas, and not following the rules is what gets people and animals in trouble. Never heard of bear spray? Anyway, waypasthadenough, your an idiot…B
First of all, some of you need to learn how to read! The article said the backpacker shot nine rounds “toward” the grizzly. It never said each bullet found it’s mark!
Second, talk to people who were charged by a grizzly and the grizzly did not break off the charge. If you are dumb enough to stand there to see if the grizzly is going to break off the charge, go ahead it is your life.
This is the first guy in history to shoot a bear at Denali National Park. And coming less than a month after after allowing guns. (Yeah, I know it says February but no one visited until May). What a shame! You honestly believe bears just got dangerous in May after all these years? No, shooter just got jumpy.
You people are idiots if you think the hikers would be dead if they weren’t armed. The bears in Denali are notorious for bluff charges, not attacks. A simple can of bear spray could have avoided everything all together. If a bear is charging, you don’t have time to get nine shots off and hit the bear with six of them. This is an obvious case of someone missusing a firearm and the shooter should be prosecuted.
idiots with the acception of Brad. He knows whats up
Many hiking stores recommend that hikers put bells on their waking sticks to let the bears know a person is on the trail. Carrying pepper spray is good, carrying a loaded firearm also good. However, if you hear a bear comming, and if you can hear lots of bells jingling inside the bear… Start shooting, and don’t quit until the bear stops moving towards you. LOL.
I ran into a big mountain lion or other huge cat near Stehekin WA on July 18th. God must love me because it seems like a miracle that He allowed (or enabled) me to see the creature, as well concealed and stealth as the cat was. Instantaneously, I drew down with my .40 cal S&W and in my best command voice I admonished the cat not to move. We stood there for maybe 15 or 20 seconds eyeballing each other with my front sight post drilled into his forehead. He never did move, so I sort of talked myself out of a fight and eventually walked away with both of us sort of standing our ground. Truthfully, I have had to perform euthanasia on a variety of animals over the years with 9mm and .40 cal and based upon what I have seen, the results are questionable. Will these handguns kill animals? Of course but when dealing with violent animals, I think I would like to have a shotgun.