Post by Beaus_Dad on Aug 21, 2007 8:37:57 GMT -5
Former N.S. man kills grizzly with knife
By The Canadian Press | 5:34 AM
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GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — A bow hunter who fought off a mother grizzly bear with only a knife was an avid woodsman with years of experience in the bush, his sister says.
Chris McLellan managed to kill the bear southwest of Grande Prairie last week when he apparently surprised it while she was with her three cubs.
Christa McLellan says her brother, who recently married and moved to Alberta from Nova Scotia on Aug. 12, had to have surgery to insert plates to repair his badly broken arm, but is otherwise fine.
"He’s in the hospital and he’s recuperating," she said, adding that her brother knew what he was doing in the bush.
"He’s been out with my father since he was a kid. He’s not a newbie to this."
One outfitter, who lives on land close to where the attack occurred, said he spotted the sow and her three cubs just days before the attack.
Dave Coleman, an outfitter for 44 years, commended McLellan for keeping his wits about him in such a desperate situation, noting the bear would likely have been fierce.
"She’s an awful good mother because she has three cubs so obviously she’s very protective to raise three of them without them getting picked off by a wolf or a mountain lion, and there’s lots of cougars around now," said Coleman.
After chancing upon the bear and three cubs, McLellan, stabbed the animal three times before getting away.
The bear’s body was found 30 metres from where the attack occurred.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife reported Monday that one cub has been captured and is alive. The remaining two cubs are still on the lam.
Ron Dallaire, owner of a hunting and fishing supply store, said rules should be changed to allow bow hunters to be to carry large-calibre handguns as protection.
Current rules allow bow hunters to carry a small shotgun, called a defender, with them.
"If you’re out in the bush you have to be ready and expecting anything," Dallaire said.
Coleman said he was attacked by a grizzly and getting away wasn’t easy.
"I couldn’t outrun him. I had to shoot him running with my gun behind me. I shot him in the throat and it killed him eventually, but I had to keep running," said Coleman.
’He’s in the hospital and he’s recuperating. He’s been out (as a woodsman) with my father since he was a kid. He’s not a newbie to this.’
CHRISTA McLELLAN Sister of man who won grizzly fight
By The Canadian Press | 5:34 AM
ADVERTISEMENT
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — A bow hunter who fought off a mother grizzly bear with only a knife was an avid woodsman with years of experience in the bush, his sister says.
Chris McLellan managed to kill the bear southwest of Grande Prairie last week when he apparently surprised it while she was with her three cubs.
Christa McLellan says her brother, who recently married and moved to Alberta from Nova Scotia on Aug. 12, had to have surgery to insert plates to repair his badly broken arm, but is otherwise fine.
"He’s in the hospital and he’s recuperating," she said, adding that her brother knew what he was doing in the bush.
"He’s been out with my father since he was a kid. He’s not a newbie to this."
One outfitter, who lives on land close to where the attack occurred, said he spotted the sow and her three cubs just days before the attack.
Dave Coleman, an outfitter for 44 years, commended McLellan for keeping his wits about him in such a desperate situation, noting the bear would likely have been fierce.
"She’s an awful good mother because she has three cubs so obviously she’s very protective to raise three of them without them getting picked off by a wolf or a mountain lion, and there’s lots of cougars around now," said Coleman.
After chancing upon the bear and three cubs, McLellan, stabbed the animal three times before getting away.
The bear’s body was found 30 metres from where the attack occurred.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife reported Monday that one cub has been captured and is alive. The remaining two cubs are still on the lam.
Ron Dallaire, owner of a hunting and fishing supply store, said rules should be changed to allow bow hunters to be to carry large-calibre handguns as protection.
Current rules allow bow hunters to carry a small shotgun, called a defender, with them.
"If you’re out in the bush you have to be ready and expecting anything," Dallaire said.
Coleman said he was attacked by a grizzly and getting away wasn’t easy.
"I couldn’t outrun him. I had to shoot him running with my gun behind me. I shot him in the throat and it killed him eventually, but I had to keep running," said Coleman.
’He’s in the hospital and he’s recuperating. He’s been out (as a woodsman) with my father since he was a kid. He’s not a newbie to this.’
CHRISTA McLELLAN Sister of man who won grizzly fight