What kills me about these articles about hikers who get murdered by bear hunters is that they always give hikers advice on how not to get shot—things like “wear orange†or “don’t put antlers on your hat.†Those might be wise choices, but I have advice for bear hunters: Don’t shoot things that aren’t bears. It’s a fairly simple concept. Also, if there’s any doubt in your mind that you won’t be able to tell a bear from a human when the time comes, then find a new hobby.
ByRocky Thompson
Err…guns don’t kill people…really dumbass hunters kill people.
Arm the bears!
I can see it now, hunters and bears killing each other and the innocent hikers
Hey Rocky,
I’ve started to notice an anti-gun bias to your blogging. It’s really bumming me out man. I find the rest of your witticisms generally amusing enough to stop by on a daily basis. Nowadays, the anti-gun nuts are the ones who are narrow minded white-necks. I’m sure that’s not you though.
-M
As somebody who enjoys both backpacking and hunting I see both sides of this argument. Anybody in the woods during a hunting season that values their life should be wearing orange ESPECIALLY horseback riders and mountain bikers. That said any idiot who fires at the first thing that moves is not a a hunter but just some asshole looking to blow a hole into something. Rule number one in hunting is don’t fire unless you’ve got a clear shot and the target identified. Unfortunately we have idiot backpackers that think they own the woods and shouldn’t have to do anything they don’t want and we also more frighteningly have hunters who they they are John Rambo and must shoot anything that moves in the woods.
For disclosure I now usually carry a firearm with me at all times in the woods. It is protection from idiot and malicious humans not protection from animals.
I say people should start hunting bears with their bare hands! This way no bystanders will get shot, if they do confuse a hiker with a bear, at worst the hiker may get an accidental punch in the face or kick in the nuts.
Also M, maybe you should think about the full scope of the definition of ‘narrow minded’ that’s all I’m sayin…
is that the guy who got shot?…. the one with the Bears shirt on? wow.
How is suggesting that people PAY FUCKING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO SHOOT BEFORE PULLING THE TRIGGER evidence of an anti-gun bias? I think finding an anti-gun bias in that sentiment is evidence that you probably should not own a damn gun. Jesus.
Yup, that’s the guy that got shot. No more “Man vs. Wild”
That chick looks like Gram Parsons.
No Beth. That’s not what I’m saying. Get a hold of yourself.
My comment relates to my perception that sometimes in our haste to make fun of idiots there might be an unwarranted tendency to lump gun owners in that category for no other reason. Believe me, if there is an idiot around who needs some makin’ fun of, I am first in line. I read this blog every day because I can count on Rocky to keep it real. But I have deduced from several entries in this blog that he probably doesn’t pack heat.
The hiker was wearing a bright blue ponco, as was her hiking partner according to the news. Besides that, nobody said she WASN’T wearing anything orange on her person… it just wasn’t published in the media. The only person who knows what happened on that VERY POPULAR HIKING trail is the boy who took the shot. We have heard his story (or at least the media’s version of it) but like most kids that get in trouble, I wonder how much of it is the whole truth. Most kids skew the truth when they do something wrong that isn’t that critical. As a parent, I know that when my kid is not telling the whole truth, I have to investigate to see what really may have happenend.
Since the victim cannot tell her side… I think we are going to have to wait and see what the investigation unfolds. The longer they take to release the police report and file charges, if any are filed, the more investigating they are doing… which screams that there is more to the story, or a least that is how I see it.
I have a hard time seeing this as an accident. He aimed at a living creature and pulled the trigger on his own free will. How is this accidental? But I don’t think the “Oops… my bad… thought it was a bear” defense is considered a mistake either, and usually a mistake is something that you can easily fix. I feel horrible that the choice he made was one he will have to live with for the rest of his life…. but it was still his CHOICE none the less. One he will have to live with, and the victim now can’t.
Davy Crockett had a gun, but would rather wrestle bears just for the fun of it. I saw this on The Wonderful World of Disney in 1958.
I love it when the response to things like this are to “wear orange” as if it was the wrong color of clothing that had this hunter mistaking someone a few hundred pounds smaller than his/her intended target “didn’t you know? Bears hate orange, they always wear blue!” About the only way any of these situations can NOT be 100% the hunter’s fault would be if the hiker/victem was wearing a fur suit the color of the intended animal and was mimicing its behaviour.
As previously stated, rule #1 in gun safety is identifying your target. It’s not asking too much to expect that the shooter knows what they’re shooting. This isn’t a 50/50 resposibility issue either–not unless it would seem reasonable for me to–what was the technical term? “Pack heat?” and when I was shot at I decide to fire back, because even though I can’t see who did it through the brush, I’ll assume it’s the Ruskies finally making the movie “Red Dawn” a reality.
If a hunter is on private land I can see asking why the hell someone is wandering around in your woods, but if the hunter is on public land he/she has the supreme responsibilty to confirm the target. If that’s too much to ask then the hunter should switch to something they can hunt with a bow, or perhaps fishing as we don’t hear about people hooking swimmers, hauling them into the boat and beating them with the fish bat by accident.
As a hunter and backpacker I also can see both sides of legitimate accidents (where appropriate precautions are taken by the hunter and the accident occurs in any case), but this does not seem to be one of them. The real point here: Minors lack the experience and judgment that comes with that experience to handle high power firearms. They should not be permitted to hunt without the direct supervision of a licensed adult. Period.
This scenario is tragic, but it is still safe and smart practice to wear hunter orange during big game season(s). Not a big price to pay for sharing the woods - same deal as wearing bright clothes and reflectors/lights on your bike if you’re on the road. Hunters contribute more to conservation (including license fees to support Dept’s of Fish & Wildlife) than any other group, and 9 times more than taxpayer funds. http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Info/Conservation.htm
Yea,
I once almost shot a guy with a bow and arrow. I was hunting on the edge of an alfalfa field and it was aaaaalmost dark but just light enough to still see. Some deer had just come out from behind me just out of range and headed for the field to feed. If you have ever been in this situation, after waiting for hours, it makes your adrenalin rush. Moments after the deer came I heard another noise walking down the edge of the field towards me. Naturally, I assumed it was another deer. I had my bow drawn and was looking for a target when one of my good friends came into view in my sights. I didn’t ever consider releasing the arrow before being absolutely sure, but it was a scary moment all the same. The point is, no matter what the weapon is, it is 1000 percent the hunter’s responsibility to know the target (and beyond). Having said that, it wouldn’t have even come that close if he had been whistling or something. That’s just how accidents usually happen… in the grey area.
Oh yea, and I was 16.
Is the hunter’s first name start with “Dick”?
Nothing wrong with the gun, it is clearly something wrong with the people who do not know how to use it properly.
Bears know better which one is human or food. They can even smell it 2 miles away.
I Agree, arms the Bears! They will get the right target, idiot hunters.
I like the fact that, according to the article, if you’re wearing orange you’re only going to be shot 5% of the time. I presume that 5% of hunters are colour blind? (Sorry about the humour, I’m British - the safest thing to be dressed in over here during the hunting season is tweed or a Land Rover).
Any hunter who shoots a person should go to prison. There is a huge difference in what a person looks like and what a bear looks like. Before you pull the freaking trigger, you should know what the heck you are pointing your gun at. This post is right on target, and such accidents don’t happen without the hunter being careless, or a murderer, or both.
I think wearing any color but brown and black should help any hunter to see you are not a bear, deer, elk or moose. Just keep the antler hat at home when you go hiking….because then the “Oops… my bad… thought it was a deer” might actually hold up in court.
My favorite is “m’s” lecture to Rocky about not having the same principles as him. “God damn you Rocky for ruining my whole morning!”
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I was wicked excited when I saw the photo attached to the article, I thought Bear Grylls was shot!
I also predict a future article reading “Bear Grylls fan dies because he did what Grylls taught him to do: be retarded”
I wasn’t lecturing anyone. I’m just trying to keep it real from another perspective. Eventually the “reals” may balance out to the enlightenment of all.
Oh yea,
I used to think BG was cool until I heard that his show was fake. Then I watched some of the new season. I’ll give him one thing, he ain’t afraid to eat some NASTY S*%$.
i actually love shooting guns. super fun. i’m not anti-gun. i’m anti accidentally shooting people. that’s an easy stance to take. it’s like being anti murder or anti-rape.
there’s a time and a place. my high school teacher was shot by a hunter while sitting in his car. he almost died, but came out okay in the end. he hated me for all the wrong reasons and was kind of jerk, but that’s beside the point. the guy who shot him was some old guy who never knew what the hell he was doing and had no business being out there going after some deer to make into hot sticks. people in my class clamored for my teacher to sue the guy, but he had nothing. as much as i like the freedoms in this country, i think we could stand to take a driver’s ed style test to wield weapons on public land.
I think I’ve seen people taking that test, they put it on the Vs. Network. It’s the one where the guys with mustaches and yellow shooters glasses walk through the cardboard town putting multiple holes in things with handguns that have 17 round clips, laser sights and counterweights.
America, F#$@ YEAH!!
I was browising the site etc., and I just figured out that Rocky T is the voice of Backcountry. I found this site through a link on Steep and Cheap. I’m contacting that site to find their affiliation with this site. If I’m correct on this you have just lost me as customer, and I’ll be sure to let anyone I know on here what they are supporting.
Don’t follow your point, Tyler. Steep and Cheap site says that it is the Backcountry outlet site. What support here exactly upsets you? Being against hunters killing hikers? If that is the case, frankly, I wouldn’t want your business either.
Rocky T’s post-”sorry about the delay on approving first time commenters. i was at the gun range with my left and right handguns blasting some silhouettes of backpackers.”
After reading this thread and the thread calling all “Non-gun-nuts” to write to the gov. about the concealed weapons in the NP’s I took this site and steap and cheap as supporters of anti-gun laws. Which is fine, but it’s good to know what you are supporting when you purchase. I did speak a bit soon…the deals are very good on the 2 sites…to good to stay away! I actually have a backcounty logo stuck to my desktop in front of me right now. I’m a hypocrite :). If they could delete my 2 posts that would be just fine with me.
There is a drivers ed style course on carrying weapons on public land they are called Hunters Safety Course, and Concealed Carry Course. I carry a .357 with bear load in it here in Idaho! It’s not the animals (maybe the cougars! Scary!) Its the Tweakers and Meth heads that like to hide labs up in the back country.
Rocky - Hunter Safety Courses are required in pretty much every state. They involve classroom lessons and written testing, and occasionally hands on training as well. Also - are you guys aware that http://www.camofire.com has jacked the steep and cheap concept?!?! except exclusively with hunting gear. probably one of your affiliates?
How are hunters supposed to see what they are shooting at when they are usually shitfaced?