Insane. Unprovoked attack by a lone male black bear. Almost unheard of. It must've been sick/starving to kill a man for no reason.

RIP to the deceased and my condolences to the family.

 

More attacks by black bears are predatory than any other animals in the forest.

 

that's a fact, but its still rare for a black bear to successfully kill and predate on a person. Hasn't happened in Arizona since 2011, before this. Always maintain awareness, and fight back. Preferably with something that goes boom.

 

Getting between a mature black bear and food or anything they want is never a good idea. RIP Mr. Jackson.

 

This was a straight up predatory attack. It's a shame the neighbors didn't start shooting earlier.

 

There is a great book by Stephen Herrero who researched bear attacks in N. America. From what I remember predatory attacks are committed by black bears more than other bears.

 

Yep. If I remember right black bears attack an order of magnitude more than brown bears. But I also think more people are cognizant and "bear aware" in grizzly country as opposed to black bear country.

 

While I do have sympathy for the deceased and the family, we have to remember we are in their backyard, not the other way around. As folks fortunate enough to be able to build houses and cabins in the sticks, it’s a reality that will happen sooner or later.
I have a picture from my Yellowstone trip I will post in my thread showing the reality of man encroaching on nature. No one got hurt but people will get way too close for that insta-famous pic, not realizing the danger they put themselves in but it’s also a bigger danger to the animal.
I’m not suggesting this man did any wrongdoing, but again it’s not our space it’s theirs.

 

Problem with black bears are they are very curious. Ive had many Blackies climb my ladder stands to see what that big shaking blob is at the top of it, Only to be dissuaded from climbing into ones lap by when their nose hits your boot toe as you kick him from coming up any further. Then it will go back down and or wander off or sit at the bottom of your stand, as if waiting for dinner to fall out, or get bored and wander off, only to leave a guy trying to decide if he is gone or waiting in the Thick bushes for another opportunity to check you out personally.

Most cases these climbing bears are young ones, being very curious, BEAR SPRAY is the answer to keep them away, Why kill a small bear because he is Nosey !!

 

Now with Brown bears, if they climb your tree ladder, he wants dinner, and is not shy about it. You really dont want to be that close to a Brown Bear unless your hunting it and have a large caliber handgun waiting to use it and not archery Gear like I was using. Blacks are curious, Browns are hungry. Thats the truth. !! 😁 👍

 

I just read the article about this and it seems so far that the victim was minding his own business when attacked. They say the bear appeared healthy so perhaps not hungry but then he did start to consume the victim when finally dispatched by a neighbor. Several neighbors tried to scare the bear off during the attack with no luck. Strange situation.

There have been several attacks in recent years but like mentioned no death from an attack since 2011. A bit strange to have that type of unprovoked incident.

 

I just read the article about this and it seems so far that the victim was minding his own business when attacked. They say the bear appeared healthy so perhaps not hungry but then he did start to consume the victim when finally dispatched by a neighbor. Several neighbors tried to scare the bear off during the attack with no luck. Strange situation.

There have been several attacks in recent years but like mentioned no death from an attack since 2011. A bit strange to have that type of unprovoked incident.

Sorry to hear about this. But when we are out in the woods on their turf. Always be ready and prepared for the unexpected.

 

Well now we know for sure.... bears do indeed eat in the woods

 

Ycso and azgfd assumes it was a predatory attack. Highly unusual. No food or water sources. Just though the guy was a snack

 

Wow sorry to hear this. Crazy

 

It's a reminder that we are not always at the top of the food chain. There's a reason we carry large bore handguns.

 

Saw this from a post online

 

If anyone finds out I am curious to know about the riffle/caliber used to put down the bear.

 

No idea, but I do know it was too late.

I've never been one to worry about carrying while afield, but for some reason this particular incident has me considering carrying bear spray on my belt. I assume it works on cats too?

 

There's a law enforcement officer where I live who was rifle deer hunting one year and he had hiked a considerable distance from his truck in pursuit of finding one. During his hunt, the call of mother nature arrived and he rested his rifle against a nearby tree to do the dirty deed. It was in that moment, in full squat with his pants around his ankles that he was attacked from behind by a mountain lion. He instinctively screamed, kicked, slapped and fought the attack, with the lion finally retreating. He literally crawled all the way back to his truck. critically injured, and drove himself to the ER, and almost bleeding to death before arriving. It took a couple hundred stitches to close up the wounds to his back and shoulders. He told his brother he was convinced that lion had probably been stalking him (unnoticed) for quite a while before seizing the opportunity to strike. True story here, and it's stories like these that have me always carrying a sidearm while in the wilderness, especially if I'm alone. You just never know.

 

Wow! Glad he made it back. My father was with a guy in deer camp once who'd been warned to stay inside at night. He didn't listen. Went out for a leak, turned around, and saw the guide (pistol in hand), silently shushing him and pointing to the bear lumbering nearby. They got back inside. It's stories like that one and this one about your friend that have me carry a sidearm while out in the animals' home. I'm glad that I get to visit it, but I also want to be able to go home myself. I figure that carrying an extra 2 lbs that might give me that chance should an animal decide that I'm not welcome is worth the hassle.

 

Quick story.....

I went for a Father's Day hike on Sunday. My first two miles were downhill. Significantly. Well of course, the next two were back uphill, with temps nearing 90. About a fourth of the way back I recognized I was approaching the early stages of heat exhaustion. I hit the shade and did a water check, seemed to have plenty to get back. I stopped probably close to every 100 yds to catch my breath and slow my breathing, there were a number of times there was no shade. A handfull of buzzards were circling, keeping a close eye on me. Needless to say, I was REALLY glad to see the truck, not sure how much farther I would've been able to go.

So after I got done hurling, while I sat in the truck with the A/C blasting and drinking water and gatorade, I realized I had just been extremely vulnerable on two fronts.

First from the heat. Heat illness is no joke. I'm fully aware of this due to a carreer in construction in the Valley of the Sun. It came upon me from nowhere.

Secondly, and this is where this story relates to the thread topic, I felt extremely vulnerable to predators. I don't usually carry a weapon other than my walking stick (unless I'm hunting), but I felt like I wouldn't have been able to defend myself adequately in that condition. I've decided that I am going to carry at least bear spray going forward, and may consider carrying a handgun if I'm not hunting with another weapon.

Stay safe out there!

 

Quick story.....

I went for a Father's Day hike on Sunday. My first two miles were downhill. Significantly. Well of course, the next two were back uphill, with temps nearing 90. About a fourth of the way back I recognized I was approaching the early stages of heat exhaustion. I hit the shade and did a water check, seemed to have plenty to get back. I stopped probably close to every 100 yds to catch my breath and slow my breathing, there were a number of times there was no shade. A handfull of buzzards were circling, keeping a close eye on me. Needless to say, I was REALLY glad to see the truck, not sure how much farther I would've been able to go.

So after I got done hurling, while I sat in the truck with the A/C blasting and drinking water and gatorade, I realized I had just been extremely vulnerable on two fronts.

First from the heat. Heat illness is no joke. I'm fully aware of this due to a carreer in construction in the Valley of the Sun. It came upon me from nowhere.

Secondly, and this is where this story relates to the thread topic, I felt extremely vulnerable to predators. I don't usually carry a weapon other than my walking stick (unless I'm hunting), but I felt like I wouldn't have been able to defend myself adequately in that condition. I've decided that I am going to carry at least bear spray going forward, and may consider carrying a handgun if I'm not hunting with another weapon.

Stay safe out there!

My dad recently gifted me an emergency beacon, I've thought about those days with heat exhaustion too, and I'm often an average of 2-5 miles from my vehicle. I thought it was silly but... really thinking about it, why not? If someday I start cramping and fading, crawl to some shade, press the emergency button, and hope they come pick me up soon. The monthly subscription is $15. That's not a lot of money for a life saving service. You never know... I've known folks who've fell in the hills, a buddy stabbed himself bad while skinning a kill and wouldn't stop bleeding. He had his beacon out in case the blood didn't stop... Just things folks never expect. Right?

 

I know my iPhone has a SOS feature. Does that work the same way an emergency beacon works?

 

No, it needs cell signal, and oftentimes in the middle of nowhere there is no cellphone tower. GPS will work to tell you your location, but barring an emergency beacon, there is no way your phone can submit those GPS coordinates to anybody to let them know where you're at and what you need.

Phone's SOS features are to access emergency services without unlocking the phone, that way anybody can use your phone to dial 911. It is still limited to operation while within the cell tower network. No network, no service.

 

Sos features piggy back on other networks IF you happen to have a phone on the same band and frequency. Emergency sat phone with 5g is coming but people like att are trying to stop it. Always carry a sidearm. Bear spray is only good for 3 quick squirts and it could come back. That doesn't mean shoot a bear if you get scared!!!

 

Look into those SPOT, or whatever Garmin offers. They use sat and can do predefined sms along with carrying helicopter insurance. Pay as you need it monthly. Pause anytime.

 

Right not they're updating one of Garmin's product lines, and that's causing the prior version to lower its cost by bout $100, you can snag a locator for around 200.

 

I used bear spray recently. It is not easy or intuitive. It does not last. You really want to deescalate or never have an actual bear encounter. The recoil of the bear spray is surprising too.

 

My wife carries the bear spray when we hike or are fishing and I carry the gun. We will see if I have to use the gun or her bear spray works. BTW I have 60 rounds in two mags so I doubt that the bear will make it past that.

 

I sometimes carry bear spray, but if its going to be windy I don't bother, but the 40 comes along always. I don't want to "season" myself for a bear if the wind is blowing the wrong way.

 

I appreciate the info on the SOS phone feature.

I've spent the last 38 years bouncing around the Arizona wilderness and never really felt threatened, vulnerable, or the need to carry. Until last weekend.

I guess I'll consider changing up my thinking.

 

I've spent the last 38 years bouncing around the Arizona wilderness and never really felt threatened, vulnerable, or the need to carry. Until last weekend.

I guess I'll consider changing up my thinking.

Ranger, I'm glad things turned out OK for you, things could have turned bad quickly had you not recognized the threat like you did. It sucks to admit it, but neither of us are getting any younger. Changing up our thought process is as simple as the Boy Scout Motto... Always be prepared.

Since selling my Glock Model 30 - 45ACP recently, I now keep a 357 Mag shot shell loaded in the 1st cylinder position of my InterArms/Rossi revolver, followed by 5 rounds of 125 gr JHP Personal Defense rounds. I figure shooting the shotshell to the face first (to blind and disorient the predator) and the remaining 5 rounds to the vitals to finish it off. That should take care of most all predator encounters, depending on bullet placement, of course. If I'm hunting, my bow or rifle is my backup. Be safe buddy!