Bear Attack on Afognak Island, AK (WARNING: GRAPHIC PICTURES!)

[JJEH]

I got this info from North American Rescue, if you don't follow them on social media you should. They make great products (I edc their tourniquet on my duty belt and have several more as well as other of their products in my first aid kits) and they share great content on social media which applies to all of us (first responder, outdoor lifestyle and just freak accidents. They tell you how to stabilize patients and treat wounds until they get to the hospital, etc).

So I looked further and found Mr. O'Brien (bennyob301 on Instagram) who appeared to be the original poster of this content. I asked him and he gave me permission to share the info and pictures.

I don't know much more since they shared the incident on their podcast "The Hunting Collective Podcast" and I don't even know where to look for it.

But here are the pictures. Perhaps someone here knows more? I'll definitely keep looking to see what happened and how they got him safely to a hospital.

 

[ColbyBruce]

That is going to leave a mark. Psychologically speaking, that poor guy might be too afraid to check his mailbox or do much of anything outdoors. He is fortunate to have survived.

 

[JayFramer]

Well, he sure got his wish, undoubtedly this had to have been the most difficult elk hunt he’ll probably every go one.

Sending knee mail for a quick and painless recovery!

 

[Walkingwolf]

Hard to imagine the terror he must have felt. Hope he recovers physically soon, he may never recover mentally.

 

[Texas Star]

Actually, he looks pretty good,considering. I've seen much worse cases of animal maulings and snake bites.

 

[sar4937]

So was he with his Elk rifle? Was he taking a potty break without his rifle? Yeah, bears are bad, but people I know from Alaska are pretty careful.

 

[dmar]

Minimum caliber needed; .22mag. (sarcasm... ).

Thank God he’s going to live to tell the tale...

 

[JayFramer]

A good Remington 870 Marine Magnum or Mossberg 590A1 Mariner loaded with 3” Brenneke Black Magic anti-bear slugs would have been a good defense. Add a two point sling, flashlight sidesaddle, and shorter LOP stock for best results. Ultimate bearing piece.

 

[steelslaver]

Bear don't look like it faired very well either. 5 yards don't give you much lead time. Everyone has hear of the 20 foot rule. Thats for people and a bear is faster stronger and very well armed. I imagine a big old brown bear could leave some marks even after being shot hard from a fair sized rifle. Lot more to this story. Saying what gun he should have had or done is kinda pointless without the whole story. Important part is he lived.

 

[pawngal]

The podcast is linked here:

EP. 42: A Bear Attack On Afognak Island The Hunting Collective podcast

 

[Walkingwolf]

He must not have had bear spray, otherwise that bear would have run in terror. (Sarcasm)

 

[susieqz]

i'm sorry for the guy, but he;s not hurt all that bad, from the pics.
shouldn't loose more than a week of work,

 

[peyton]

My daughter and son in law lives in Anchorage and he hikes all over the state without a gun

I am going to send this to him. Hopefully he will get the message.

 

[Watchdog]

You just never know what those bears are gonna do.

 

[Golddollar]

i'm sorry for the guy, but he;s not hurt all that bad, from the pics.
shouldn't loose more than a week of work,

I'm not a doctor but I have heard a major danger from getting mauled by a bear is infection from the claws.