Bear Shot by Deer Hunters in Columbia County

[daLunartik]

Wasn't quite sure where to post this - not quite Catskills, definetly not ADKS, but almost the Taconic Crest.

Summary: Two deer hunters startled a Black Bear on the first day of hunting season, one claimed he was being chased, so the other hunter shot it, and got a $100 fine (no Bear season here in Columbia County). What I found interesting, was the out cry by locals.

Anyways, full article here:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17533608&BRD=248&PAG=461&dept_id=462341&rfi=6

[hawk]

The old "I shot it because it was threatening me" story.

What weighs heavily in this story is that a number of people were familiar with and had encountered the bear in the past and it didn't chase any of them.

So why would a non-aggressive bear suddenly attack two hunters who just happened to be carrying guns is anyones guess.

[Skyclimber]

The old "I shot it because it was threatening me" story.


An example of the "Ignorance of Mankind!" It sounded like the bear was shot out of more fear from the hunters, than the "aggressiveness" of the bear itself.

[AlpineSummit]

Don't blame ALL of mankind - this is one guy who screwed up, that's all. And I'm sure he knows it by now, to that end the fine will help.
It's a bummer and I imagine that the only reason the bear wasn't in his deep winter snooze is that it's so darn warm out?

[Skyclimber]

Don't blame ALL of mankind - this is one guy who screwed up, that's all. And I'm sure he knows it by now, to that end the fine will help.
It's a bummer and I imagine that the only reason the bear wasn't in his deep winter snooze is that it's so darn warm out?

I am a wildlife lover, NOT Anti-Hunting though. I just get upset when innocent wildlife is killed for No Apparent Reason. Fear is not a reason!

[Eric]

As for the possibility that a black bear would attack a person, Mr. Dellavechia said, "There's a better chance a meteor will drop out of the sky and hit you on the head.
Great quote,
unfortunate end to the bear. Hard to imagine that the hunters knowing the fine as they are hunters would delibrately shoot the bear, but then again I don't know.

[hawk]

As for the possibility that a black bear would attack a person, Mr. Dellavechia said, "There's a better chance a meteor will drop out of the sky and hit you on the head.
Great quote,
unfortunate end to the bear. Hard to imagine that the hunters knowing the fine as they are hunters would delibrately shoot the bear, but then again I don't know.

Hopefully they don't get to keep the bear. if they do and skin it, they can get about $500 for the pelt and $100.00 each for the front paws.

lets see, that's $700 -$100 fine = $600.00 profit.

So unless the bear is confiscated and disposed of by the DEC, then a $100 or $200 fine would be considered just a "business expense" by people of low character, or for that matter even greddy people of supposedly high character.

the whole "I shot the bear because it was attacking me" is a ruse that was fairly common out west until some places really clamped down on it.

hopefully that's not what this case was, but the whole thing smells to me, given the knowledge and habits of the particular bear that was shot.

Since it was on the land of the shooter, one would have to assume that he was familiar with the bear and it's habits.

[ken]

I don't find this ALL that far fetched. Sure...it's a rarity that something likes this happens, but that does not make it impossible.

Bears that are habituated typically do "unnatural" things. Didn't a bear swipe a infant from a cradle not too far from there a few years back? Don't bears accustomed to humans do strange things in the high peaks?

I think Eric nailed it...why would these two guys shoot the bear then turn themsleves in to DEC knowing they would be in trouble? I'm curiuos as to why this fellow even recieved a ticket at all? If these guys are telling the truth, then ticketing them send the message to others that it would be better to pull the old three S's and save yourself the grief and tickets.

I don't undertand why the fellow being chased didn't shoot the bear himslef though...that sounds as strange as any other part of the story.

[lumberzac]

Hopefully they don't get to keep the bear.

They won’t. In cases like this, DEC will confiscate the carcass. I had an uncle that found that out several years ago, when he reported himself to DEC for shooting a spike horn that wasn’t quite legal (the horns weren’t long enough). He was fined and DEC took the deer.

[jjmcgo]

in fact, the primary reason to shoot a predatory omnivore in the fall when food supplies are dwindling.
Bears attack much more frequently at this time of year.
What's curious about this story is why they reported shooting the residential nuisance rather than just bury the bear. They must have been seen.
The fine is so small as to make one think that it was levied just to appease the Bambi lovers, but it didn't do that, so much for symbolic gestures.
The story is another example of newspaper bias, failing to mention the small child that was eaten by a bear a few years ago less than a 100 miles from where these gentlemen were threatened.
If the Bill of Rights meant in 2006 what it meant in 1787, the law-enforcement officer would be told, "The bear was on my property, now he's dead. Now, you're on my property, ..." Hunting seasons should be limited to public land. Hunting on private land should be under the control of the owner.
Bear policy is so screwed up in the northeast. The simple formula should be that if they are in neighborhoods, they get shot. There's certainly no shortage of the noble, voracious 300-pound scavengers.

[hawk]

in fact, the primary reason to shoot a predatory omnivore in the fall when food supplies are dwindling.
Bears attack much more frequently at this time of year.
What's curious about this story is why they reported shooting the residential nuisance rather than just bury the bear. They must have been seen.
The fine is so small as to make one think that it was levied just to appease the Bambi lovers, but it didn't do that, so much for symbolic gestures.
The story is another example of newspaper bias, failing to mention the small child that was eaten by a bear a few years ago less than a 100 miles from where these gentlemen were threatened.
If the Bill of Rights meant in 2006 what it meant in 1787, the law-enforcement officer would be told, "The bear was on my property, now he's dead. Now, you're on my property, ..." Hunting seasons should be limited to public land. Hunting on private land should be under the control of the owner.
Bear policy is so screwed up in the northeast. The simple formula should be that if they are in neighborhoods, they get shot. There's certainly no shortage of the noble, voracious 300-pound scavengers.

lousy rationalization.

People who panic have no business having guns. if you're afraid of bears or the dark, then don't go into the woods. It's not the bear that's in there looking to kill something.

Actually you are right, bear policy is screwed up in the Northeast. Out west they keep humans away from bears. When there is a conflict between bears and humans, they prohibit the humans from going in those areas.

They are also telling people that if they don't want to be bothered by bears, then not to move into areas that are habitat by bears and not to hike in bear habitat.

Some people actually believe that is is humans who are the ones capable of modifying their behavior so as not to cause duress or injury to wildlife, rather then vice versa. I know that seems like a radical concept to some.

[pete_hickey]

I've met bears a number of times, and the one thing that really struck me was how fast they are. I can't see "being chased by a bear" lasting more than a second or two. By the time you realize you're being chased, the bear would be on you.

Being chewed by a bear would be a good excuse, but there would also be evidence.

[hawk]

I've been in close proximity to many bears at various times in my life. Browns and grizzlys as well as black. I have never been threatened by a bear, nor have I feared them. I do hve a healthy respect for them. It is really the bear who is more fearful of me, enough to keep their distance.

Unless there is a very easy food source they will not seek to be in proximity with humans. Unless their young are in danger or their territory (in the case of Griz)is being violated, it is unnatural for them to attack humans. In just about all cases where a bear injures a human, there is a reason behind it, most often then not, human aggression or stupidity.

And Pete is right, That bear would have been on top of that hunter in no time especially since from the story, he didn't have time to shoot but the other hunter did.

I am not trying to indict hunters in general here, but this whole story smells and just doesn't add up. And the "threat" justification is the oldest excuse in the book.

And I also stand by the premise that people easily frightened have no business having guns. Their fear usually causes them to make a decision based on emotion (fear) rather then fact.

[Deb]

I live within a mile of where the bear was shot.
The young bear had been hanging out in this area since summer.
People in this area were generally very receptive to having it around.

It returned several times to my friend's house, just south of Olana Historic State Park. Once his lab treed it. The dog was brought in the house and the bear came down and ran away.

This bear was very shy. The person who shot it was a jerk.
I despise people who enjoy killing animals. Flame me all you want. I could care less.

[kmorgan]

Here's a video that show's you how to fight off a bear if you have to.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7_VlVckrUgY

Kevin