Armed 11-year-old boy saves fishing party from charging bear

[bat119]

Quick thinking and shooting for an 11 year old

Quick action from a Hoonah boy saved a fishing party from a charging brown bear on June 18, the Empire has learned through Alaska State Troopers and family members.
The bear ran through the first two men, who were pushed to the side of the trail, leaving Elliot Clark in front of his unarmed cousin. The boy raised his pump action shotgun and shot the sow, hitting it with birdshot, which is often used just to scare bears off, Lucas Clark said.
“His first shot was a light load of birdshot. That first shot hit him in the shoulder and did absolutely nothing. The next shot hit him in the nose and traveled down through the neck,” Lucas Clark said.
The third shot went into the bear’s shoulder and his back, dropping it to the ground. The bear was so close when Elliot hit it with his third shot, there were powder burns on the bear’s mouth. Still alive, the bear then slid by Elliot’s feet.

http://juneauempire.com/news/2017-06...-charging-bear

[Selkirk]

That kid's got a lot o' Grit!

Selkirk

[sns2]

That kid should receive a presidential award for bravery. There is tempered steel in that kid's spine.

[Bigwoodsman]

So what gun is the best for bear protection?

I'm thinking this should end a lot of the debate around here!

BW

[bat119]

I'm wondering where Chuck Norris was 12 years ago I think this could be his lost son

[flappy]

Nice to hear a story about parents raising responsible and mature children. We're in the minority these days.

[270person]

Originally Posted by bat119

Quick thinking and shooting for an 11 year old

Must have been a transgender bear. Started off as a sow then became a HIM.

Hoonah is real close to where that staged Brown family documentary for morons is filmed. Too bad it wasn't them and they were unarmed. Mind you the leather jackets and iq's probably would have had the bear laughing himself to death.

[troutbug]

Originally Posted by 270person

Must have been a transgender bear. Started off as a sow then became a HIM.

Hoonah is real close to where that staged Brown family documentary for morons is filmed. Too bad it wasn't them and they were unarmed. Mind you the leather jackets and iq's probably would have had the bear laughing himself to death.

LOL hahaha oh man you are so right

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by 270person

Must have been a transgender bear. Started off as a sow then became a HIM.

Hoonah is real close to where that staged Brown family documentary for morons is filmed. Too bad it wasn't them and they were unarmed. Mind you the leather jackets and iq's probably would have had the bear laughing himself to death.

Lol....Brown town...


That boy was raised right....wow.

First transgendered bear.

Sweet!!

[.257Weatherby]

Originally Posted by 270person

Must have been a transgender bear. Started off as a sow then became a HIM.

Hoonah is real close to where that staged Brown family documentary for morons is filmed. Too bad it wasn't them and they were unarmed. Mind you the leather jackets and iq's probably would have had the bear laughing himself to death.

I was thinking the same thing.
how do these journalists ever get to be where they are today when they cant tell a Sow from a Boar?
Ahh an 870, be still my beating heart.
At least I didnt have to change my underpants today when a Sow and Two cubs ran across the road in frot of a group of bikes doing 90kmh.
She was spotted by lead bike and the rest of us slowed down and watchd as they trooted across the road.
Was a well used trail to she was using.
Hwy 7 near Hope BC...was getting hot even with the 40 knot wind.
Rob

[Gray Wolf]

Give it a rest, Boys! The reporter was quoting the boy's father, when the word 'him' is used.
Why would the father call a sow bear 'him'? Who knows, and does it really matter?!


12Ga Pump -> best all-around bush gun there ever was!
.

[rugatika]

Bird shot. The new bear spray.

Nice shooting kid!

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

Originally Posted by Bigwoodsman

So what gun is the best for bear protection?

I'm thinking this should end a lot of the debate around here!

BW

LOL!!! Good one.

This article was posted on another Outdoors forum on the web and a couple guys (including the OP of that thread) basically said slugs are no good, need .375 H&H or some next medium bore or larger rifle cartridge. Too funny!

Anyhow, the point is that this young man acted in exemplary fashion and did the right thing as best he could. A big time Bravo to Elliot Clark! Thanks be to the smoothbore slug for the assist in this instance.

[58thecat]

00 bird shot is my go to, all I can say is wow kid ya got some calm under pressure going in there!

[Big Grey Wolf]

Brave kid, well done, actually best combination for dealing with a charging bear is 00 buck and slugs in that order, however the bird shot did its job at close range.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Brave kid, well done, actually best combination for dealing with a charging bear is 00 buck and slugs in that order, however the bird shot did its job at close range.

That's a myth.

[bigskinner]

Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

Give it a rest, Boys! The reporter was quoting the boy's father, when the word 'him' is used.
Why would the father call a sow bear 'him'? Who knows, and does it really matter?!


12Ga Pump -> best all-around bush gun there ever was!
.

NO , he called the bear a him

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by rem338win

That's a myth.

Yup. Less penetration and bone smashing power. Slug, slug, slug. You want all the energy into one projectile rather than spread out over multiple projectiles. Otherwise, bird shot would be king.

[bat119]

Originally Posted by bigskinner

NO , he called the bear a him

who cares if that's all you got out of this article its time to go fishing.


My berry picking shotgun is loaded with 000 buck then 2 slugs never had to use it I'm sure it would have lasting effect on a bear.

[Mulehahn]

Kid can't enter a bar for another 9 years and already never has to by a drink. Nerves of steel! Incredible

As for bear deterrent, I usually put a round of bird shot first but that is because in most of my experiences I would have time to fire a warning shot, and two hunting season coincides with the best fishing season and a grouse is tasty. As this story shows, if the gun is at the ready it makes no difference and if the gun is still slung on your shoulder it don't matter.

[muzzy]

Keep in mind at 3 feet the shot hasnt spread its still a solid mass of lead. Wonder why bear ran past first two on trail without ripping them apart

[silverdoctor]

Jeebus, quite the story.


i'm willing to bet there'll be slug loads from now on.

[hunterdan44]

I use a 12 gauge pump action Smith n Wesson loaded with 00 buck n a couple of slugs . Have it handy in the bush never needed it yet. Hope I never do!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[270person]

What has 9 balls and screws bears? 00 buck

[guywiththemule]

His parents should be proud. They are raising a man.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Just for record the guy that trains park wardens how to deal with bears always recommended buckshot and slugs, never recommended bear spray.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by muzzy

Keep in mind at 3 feet the shot hasnt spread its still a solid mass of lead. Wonder why bear ran past first two on trail without ripping them apart

False. Bird shot does not in any way ever resemble a solid mass of lead. This myth comes from poorly designed "shooting through drywall" penetration tests

It was likely going for the smaller target (kids), much like it would attack a calf moose or elk. In this case, things turned out the way they should. Good shooting by the young man. Whoever taught that kid did one heck of a good job.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Just for record the guy that trains park wardens how to deal with bears always recommended buckshot and slugs, never recommended bear spray.

Like hell he did. Your record is broken and full of myths.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by 3blade

False. Bird shot does not in any way ever resemble a solid mass of lead. This myth comes from poorly designed "shooting through drywall" penetration tests

It was likely going for the smaller target (kids), much like it would attack a calf moose or elk. In this case, things turned out the way they should. Good shooting by the young man. Whoever taught that kid did one heck of a good job.

It's also the idea of "cut slugs" practiced in times and places of poverty where folks cut around the front of a shell to hold the cup closed and fired bird shot expecting it to hold together like a slug in order to shoot big game.

Some of my ancient old outdoors magazines talk about it (mostly discouraging the practice).

Bird shot is for the birds.

Brenneke slugs are for the bears.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Yup. Less penetration and bone smashing power. Slug, slug, slug. You want all the energy into one projectile rather than spread out over multiple projectiles. Otherwise, bird shot would be king.

There is nothing shabby about bird shot if used at close range. I use 12 gauge 7 1/2 target loads through a full choke to prune poplar limbs rather than try to control a saw from a ladder. 3 and 4 inch diameter limbs 20+ feet from ground get a 12+ bore hole right through. Often one shot is enough to break the limb and it falls with that one shot. Hundred of tiny projectiles concentrated on a one inch area make one mean looking hole.