Grizzly, cubs maul deer hunter in Alaska

[308Mike]

Linkarooni (AirForceTimes.com)

Grizzly, cubs maul Malmstrom hunter in Alaska

The Associated Press and Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune Staff
Posted : Thursday Oct 30, 2008 16:15:01 EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A 31-year-old Montana deer hunter was mauled by a sow grizzly bear and two cubs, then spent two days in a remote cabin before he could be airlifted to a hospital.

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Sutton, a facility manager with the 341st Operations Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base, was hunting with a friend Sunday in Viekoda Bay, about 260 miles south of Anchorage, when he was attacked.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Larry Van Daele said Sutton was by himself when he shot a deer and began dragging it to his hunting camp.

More of this story..............

[Netpackrat]

was hunting with a friend Sunday in Viekoda Bay, about 260 miles south of Anchorage, when he was attacked.

Why the hell can't they just say on Kodiak island? Anyway, a Kodiak brown bear is quite a different matter from your garden variety grizzly, they are a distinct population of MUCH larger bears that occur on two islands. (Kodiak and Afognak).

[Netpackrat]

Anyway, a Kodiak brown bear is quite a different matter from your garden variety grizzly, they are a distinct population of MUCH [strike]larger[/strike] larger and meaner bears that occur on two islands. (Kodiak and Afognak).

Fixed it for ya

I dunno, what some of the mainland bears lack in size, they make up for in enthusiasm!

[Denis]

Very sad. He forgot his bear medicine.

[SoupOrMan]

Huh. So he broke from his hunting party to recover it. Even if you're not in bear country, going alone to recover your kill is usually a bad idea.

[Netpackrat]

The problem is that in many areas, and particularly on Kodiak, the bears have learned to associate the sound of a gunshot with a fresh kill, so firing a weapon actually attracts bears. The first thing you do after making a kill up here is chamber another round, and top off the magazine. Bears are always around, and they increasingly are losing their fear of humans.

As for the lever gun, for a while I wanted the take down conversion for mine, but ultimately I have decided that the standard Guide Gun is plenty small enough, and there is less to go wrong with it. Personally, when I get out of a plane or my Jeep, or whatever, the first thing I want to do is load my rifle, not assemble it. Also, I've had my rifle to the shop where that conversion was done, and the service isn't what it should be, and after last time I'd have to say that the quality isn't there anymore (well known shop in Anchorage). I'll still buy parts from them when there is no alternative, but that's about it, and the last time I tried to buy something (one of the parts they manufacture) they were out of stock.

That being said, there are a lot of Marlin mods that I will heartily recommend, most of which can be seen on my rifle (attached). If you are planning to use one for bear defense absolutely get the weapon light, it can save your life, and I wish I had bought mine a lot sooner. Actually, the first time I needed it, they didn't make the mount yet.

marlite2.jpg

[Termite]

NPR,

How would a Remington 7600 pump in 35 Whelen rank for anti-bear duty? No scope, just open sights. Load would be handloaded 250gr Woodleigh RNSPs, at about 2400-2500fps. Or Doubletap's 310gr Woodleigh RNSP loads.

[Netpackrat]

NPR,

How would a Remington 7600 pump in 35 Whelen rank for anti-bear duty? No scope, just open sights. Load would be handloaded 250gr Woodleigh RNSPs, at about 2400-2500fps. Or Doubletap's 310gr Woodleigh RNSP loads.

Please don't do that. I have enough things to spend money on as it is....

I think a BLR in .35 Whelen would be teh shit. They do make it in .358, but it just isn't the same.

[HTRN]

How about a BLR in 458 Winchester Magnum?

It can be done.

[Netpackrat]

No thanks!