Archery Hunter Killed By Wounded Elk

[alsaqr]

Archery hunter wounded bull elk the evening before. Hunter and land owner found the elk the next day.

"The hunter couldn't find the injured animal before nightfall and decided to look for it the next day, according to Oregon State Police.

He set out with the property owner to find the elk and at around 9.15am on Sunday morning they found the animal alive.

David attempted to kill the elk with his bow but the enraged animal charged at the hunter and gored him in the neck with his antlers."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...h-by-an-enraged-elk/ar-BB18xA5N?ocid=msedgdhp

 

[FL-NC]

Be careful out there.

 

[Patocazador]

I'd rather go that way than by cancer or Covid 19.

 

[alsaqr]

I'd rather go that way than by cancer or Covid 19.

Same here. Getting sliced up by a stinking boar hog at age 95 would be OK.

 

[WisBorn]

Never underestimate the power of an animal. Sorry to read that this happened to another hunter.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Mistakes were made.

 

[buck460XVR]

Had a close friend that was run up a tree by a buck he wounded with his bow. Made the mistake of thinking he made a better shot on the animal and left his bow at the house when he went to bloodtrail it. Ended up in the tree for several hours till the deer weakened enough he was able to come down and put it down with his knife. Wasn't til he got home he discovered the buck had ripped the back of his hunting coat open with it's horns as he ran to the tree.

Always thought deer hunting would be much more exciting if the deer shot back. In this case.....it did.

 

[Weflyfast]

Firearms are much more effective than sticks and strings......

 

[jmorris]

Reminds me of the time I was in a blind with a fellow before dawn just going to get a couple for meat. I got mine that ran a 20 yard circle to drop where it had been shot and he got his, that dropped in place, not a single step. We had to wait on our ride, as it wasn’t coming back for a couple hours.

I kept watching and about 45 min after he dropped his, I said, “Hey, she just lifted her head.” He confirmed my initial thought before speaking, saying I was crazy, as we both had seen it drop like a sack of potatoes.

Another 30 minutes later and I knew for sure she lifted her head again. Once again I told him, “She’s not dead, her head popped up again.

He kind of blew me off until we heard our ride heading our way and we got out to retrieve. I told him to be ready, but he was shocked to see here struggle to lift. Spine shot had paralyzed her somewhat but was not lethal for more than an hour.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Game laws lose relevance if I am getting ATTACKED by my target animal. Here is CO, sidearms are permitted to be carried, regardless of season. I have carried one since I started elk hunting at 14. Self-defense is different than hunting. Approaching a wounded or down animal is very dangerous if not assessed properly.

 

[Kevinq6]

Same here. Getting sliced up by a stinking boar hog at age 95 would be OK.

Yeah, that's a 'good death' though I'm not hoping to get a good one anytime soon. If I have to go I hope i'm eaten by a giant crocodile or something and that someone can at least record it for liveleak. I do feel bad for him and his family though, never want it to be that time. At least he died doing what he loved.

And yeah I always carry a pistol ... never know what you will walk up on. I also want to be able to draw if a hog charges me after being shot with an arrow.

 

[Patocazador]

Same here. Getting sliced up by a stinking boar hog at age 95 would be OK.

I've already been sliced up by a hog. I'll take the elk instead.

 

[Flintknapper]

I've already been sliced up by a hog. I'll take the elk instead.

Yeah, might as well try something 'new'.

 

[22250Rem]

Tragic accident but it can happen. If it was the next day and he wasn't technically hunting, but searching for a downed animal, I assume he could have had a handgun. Some states don't allow bowhunters to carry handguns; some do. Don't know what Oregon allows but as stated, he wasn't actually hunting. It's a fact of life that downed animals can be unpredictable and dangerous if not dead yet. Approaching one must be done carefully and only if well equipped in case things go wrong.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Tragic accident but it can happen. If it was the next day and he wasn't technically hunting, but searching for a downed animal, I assume he could have had a handgun. Some states don't allow bowhunters to carry handguns; some do. Don't know what Oregon allows but as stated, he wasn't actually hunting. It's a fact of life that downed animals can be unpredictable and dangerous if not dead yet. Approaching one must be done carefully and only if well equipped in case things go wrong.

The timing legality issue is moot. Carrying a sidearm is allowed during archery season in Oregon where the event happened.
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/regulations/docs/firearm.pdf
Can I possess or carry a firearm during a
general or controlled bow season?
Yes. You may carry or have in your possession a
firearm during a general or controlled archery
(bow) season. You must use legal archery equip-
ment to hunt animals for which you have an
archery tag.

 

[Hookeye]

In my state you can carry a sidearm in deer bow season.
But you don't get to play clean up with the boomer.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

In my state you can carry a sidearm in deer bow season.
But you don't get to play clean up with the boomer.

But you would get to play self defense with it.

 

[buck460XVR]

In my state you can carry a sidearm in deer bow season.
But you don't get to play clean up with the boomer.

....and by law, that is true in most every state I know of. Weapon appropriate for the season is generally the term. Just something many folks aren't aware of or tend to ignore. Kinda like putting an animal down after legal shooting hours. Using your weapon for a coup de grâce after legal shooting hours is considered the same as shooting after hours, even if the animal was legally wounded to start with. Using a flashlight to do it adds the charge of "shooting with the aid of a light". Exception would be if one had permission from the appropriate authorities.

...as for the case in the OP, with a witness present, I would assume the use of a firearm to defend yourself against a wounded animal during a archery season would probably not lead to a citation or arrest.....but it might lead to the confiscation of the animal. At least that how it works in my state.

I like to watch shows like "Lone Star Law" and "North Woods Law", as I have nuttin' but the highest respect for those dedicated individuals that protect our resources. Funny how many folks they give citations or warnings to, that are just plain ignorant, or at least claim to be ignorant, of the most simplest of state or local game regulations. "Jeez....I didn't know I had to validate my tag!" or, "heck, I didn't know my license had expired!". How about......"well, it's perfectly legal in my state!".

 

[Hookeye]

Yup, legal and ethical aint always together.

 

[Hookeye]

Even a perfectly aimed and executed shot can land off the mark (animals move).
There can be a hefty penalty for poor placement.
Might have been earned, might not.

He got taken out by a cervid and not the covid.

Might have been a better exit.

 

[illinoisburt]

I wasn't there so cannot say what transpired other than what was written. But I will say I get the impression they weren't initially expecting to need to shoot the elk again and likely were close when the situation unfolded with a very much alive animal charging him.

I've never understood the aversion to finishing shots on big game. You stalk and blood trail quietly looking for a hopefully downed animal with your hunting weapon in hand ready for a snap shot if you bump it from a bed. Don't wait for a poor shot at a running animal. Unless you are absolutely certain its dead like dropping in sight, there is always the possibility of a bad hit. So put another arrow or bullet in it. If already dead it hurts nothing except an extra pair of holes in the hide and maybe some lost meat. If it's still alive, much better odds of a killing shot than waiting for it to stand and run. That plus if you shot an animal once and its still alive and in range, shoot it again. Admiring your shot when an animal is still standing is a poor practice. I know a lot of other hunters strongly disagree but I lost a nice buck many years ago and learned my lesson.