Bear mauling.

That is a scary story. You would think if the brother hit the bear with a .300 win mag it would have gone down...

I guess this guy is from Texas also?


http://www.adn.com/article/20150913/troopers-man-suffers-major-injuries-alaska-bear-attack

Yeah I think you are right

Well of course he got attacked because he is from Texas.

As an Alaskan that is originally from Texas, I continue to find this irritating.

When I go back to Texas and people ask me about Alaska, their general reaction is that they think that Alaska sounds really neat and they hope to get to visit some day. I've never once heard a Texan bash Alaska.

But when an Alaskan (who isn't from Texas) hears anything about Texas, their first reaction is to point out that Alaska is bigger than Texas and then go on to talk about how much better Alaska is than Texas. As someone who is licensed to practice land surveying both states, I am well aware that Alaska is bigger than Texas, but I appreciate the reminder.

Given the fact that there are a lot of Texans living in Alaska and especially in Anchorage, I find the whole thing absurd. The next time I see a bear, I'll ask it what its problem is with Texans.

IIRC Alaska is far smaller than Texas; the land owned by citizens is only about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

Now, if Alaskans can ever get some of the land away from Washington, that would change things a bit

I'm just saying out of state hunters...

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Thanks for clarifying, it was not obvious from your original post, which sounded like a slam on Texans.

My takeaway from your comment was that you felt that it was because the hunter is from Texas is the reason that he was mauled. I brought up the other issues because I have seen and continue to see quite a bit of anti-Texas sentiment here, despite the fact that I have never advertised being from Texas. Some have told me that it is left over from the construction of the pipeline. Some of it is good-natured ribbing, but a lot of it isn't.

I apologize for misunderstanding you and inferring meaning that you did not intend.

I knew several people that worked in Alaska for 5 or 6 months at a time. They would work there while living in what they described as nearly prison camp conditions. They would come back to Texas. They didn't work the rest of the year. Made good money it seemed. They lived in nice homes. They said the fishing was outstanding as well.

Texas hatin Bears you say? Wonder what Davy Crockett would think about that.

You've poked the proud Texans Jim and generally I've found them to be better at giving out than receiving. They are a pretentious lot.

Jim said:

I'm just saying out of state hunters[not just Texans, ok?] often get into trouble here because they underestimate just how rugged and wild it is.

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Same is true for where I live. Snowbirds, n' all.

jim in Anchorage said:

This is going places I never met it to go, but I have to respond to this. Oil workers here are not in a "prision camp". Unless last time you where in prision you got prime rib and lobster for dinner. In a remote area sure but are free to leave anytime.
This is why I support Alaska hire. They spend there money here, not in lower 48.
Lock in1-2-3....

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Jim, they also mentioned the preferential treatment in pay and living conditions that natives enjoyed. They also mentioned that venturing out without a properly armed guide got you sent home. They were not complaining. They had great respect for Alaska and the people that spent their entire lives there. Great pay, provided very good food and "entertainment", just don't leave the camp.

Those two Texans that got mauled were probably not prepared for what they were getting into.

Good thing a New Yorker wasn't hunting in Alaska. The bear would have done a lot more than mauling me, I mean the man. It would be interesting as a follow up to see if the man did in fact shoot the bear twice or even once.

Many decades ago I wandered into a rather grubby bar in the Marseilles waterfront. Some guy at the bar saw me and growled, "Sales yanqui!"

I said, "Yankee, hell! I'm from Texas!"

"Ah! Texxass!" with a big grin. "John Wayne!"

I spent the afternoon telling lies about cowboys and Indians and suchlike--and they bought the drinks. Got me drunker'n a rat.

I know a fair number of "Texas jokes" that make me laugh. But too many "jokes" are more like slams brought about by jealousy.

In the OP event, two panic-shot hits from the .300 WinMag might not have been anywhere near into a seriously disabling place--shown by the bear's exit. Doesn't really matter how potent a cartridge is if you make a bad hit.

Consider how many threads and posts we've read about the degradation of shooting skills when the adrenaline is pumped high in a panic situation.

So...a cowboy from Texas, an igloo living Alaskan, and the Pope walk into a bar...

X-Rap said:

You've poked the proud Texans Jim and generally I've found them to be better at giving out than receiving. They are a pretentious lot.

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Nooo, we real Texans are usually tolerant of lesser peoples, such as those of you from other states.

Yeah, it's jealousy.

Personally, I've never been up there, never had the cash on hand being a working man saving for kid's education and my own retirement. I hope to hop one of those inside passage boat trips someday, though. I'll never get to hunt there and probably not fish there, but I do enjoy watching 'em on all those "reality" shows. Of course, I watch "life below zero", but lately, I've gotten into "port protection". THAT is a cool way to live, but being 63 with health issues, I'm kinda glad I'm only 25 miles from a medical center and have a paved highway for the trip. LOL!

One good thing about staying in Texas is I'll never have to face down a grizzly. I worry a lot more about cottonmouths and diamond backs than hogs. Hogs are only a threat if you mess with 'em. I usually mess with 'em in a trap, a lot safer that way. You can growl at 'em, charge 'em, watch 'em bash their noses on the wire trying to get at you before you shoot 'em. Nasty critters, but nothing I worry about in the woods. I'm sorta glad I live nowhere NEAR grizzly country. Even the black bears got killed out around here 100 years ago.

Reading the account, the guy was moose hunting. Since Jim mentioned in another thread that moose hunting costs 15K or better for a hunt, this is a RICH Texan. I suppose he can afford Obamacare. I'm two years away from medicare. Guess I'd better postpone the Alaska trip until I have health insurance.