Elk Hunters on the "I Shouldn't Be Alive" Series

[bilmac]

A couple of things struck me. Most of the stories on this series are about some nincompoop doing something really stupid and then doing other stupid things to try to extract themselves from the situation. This boy got mauled by a bear through no fault of his own, other than maybe he should have shot the bear when it was charging , but then who can Monday morning quarter back about something like that. Then it was interesting how well the hunters in the area worked to help a stranger, especially the doctor who left his warm dry tent to go out into a horrible storm, just because he heard three shots. Hunters are just a better class of people folks.

Then I have a question? Maybe a Montanan might remember the story as it was reported. Were the boys in the hunting party actually carrying extended magazine shotguns to hunt elk? Or do we have another example of literary license.

[Dee]

I saw that show last night bimac, and at first thought the same thing about the shotgun BUT! A friend of mine in Colorado this year killed a really nice elk with a Traditions 50 caliber muzzle loader, at less than 50 yards. I personally had just as soon have the slug gun. In his party, I didn't notice any shotguns but his, and if it killed that bear with one shot, it should be more than enough for an elk, inside a hundred yards, maybe a little farther.
I also took note that they men searchin were afraid their muzzle loaders wouldn't fire wet. Makes ya think don't it?
I've hiked and hunted in bear country, and the chamber was always loaded, and the safety on. In that show the doctor himself was hunting and camping alone, so I don't fault the 19 year old. It was just something that happened.
He was lucky he ran across such good folks.

[bilmac]

Not that the shotgun doesn't have the punch if you're close enough, it did the job on the bar. Back when I hunted them I suppose only a 1/3 or 1/4 of the shots could have been done with a smoothbore, but why pass on longer shots. I'm just wondering if they really were packing shotguns, or if this is just another case of hollywood ignorance.

[Dee]

No way of knowin I guess.

[rvtrav]

    Over the years I have watched several crime/medical/survival"re-enactment" type programs, on stations that should have taken a little time to be throughly researched on the subject and the content. sometime the actors will be carrying different weapons in different scenes, rifles and shotguns are often interchangeable, revolvers turn into semi auto pistols and back again with the camera angles, even when a crime re-encatment story hinges on what type of weapon was used. I guess to the average public viewer, one gun looks the same as another, even a black colored stick will do just as fine for filming in a pinch.

  Makes you wonder how accurate all the other information they are stating as straight fact is too.

 how accurate they were as to the types of actual weapons is just like Dee said, Know way of knowing, unless someone personally involved in the event could clarify.

  Rvtrav   





Like Dee said, theres no way of knowing, unless someone personally involved can

[bilmac]

I've seen the same thing too, one scene the guy has a 6 shooter, next scene it's an auto. I was hoping that someone from the area had seen newspaper accounts. Not that they are all that good, but out in this part of the world sometimes the reporting about guns is a little better. It just seemed weird to me that the teen agers were carrying shotguns to hunt elk, but then boys will be boys.

[gypsyman]

98% of the entertainment and news industry are pretty ignorant of hunting and firearm issue's. Couldn't tell you how many times on the local news, they have a leading story of a murder, show a picture of a handgun, and then as they report the story, it was a stabbing or beating.
The one time I watched that show, a girl marathon runner in Utah, was out running in the canyons, slipped and fell down into a cravase. Broke her leg and pelvis, and just lucky, after a couple days, her dog managed to get out and people looking for her found the dog and her. I think the dog had more brains than she did. Never told anyone were she was running or location. And out in the wild like that, I do believe that Utah has a mountain lion and bear population. Wonder if she thinks she can outrun one of those? gypsyman

[Couger]

Not that the shotgun doesn't have the punch if you're close enough, it did the job on the bar. Back when I hunted them I suppose only a 1/3 or 1/4 of the shots could have been done with a smoothbore, but why pass on longer shots. I'm just wondering if they really were packing shotguns, or if this is just another case of hollywood ignorance.

No way of knowin I guess.

But who wants to wager the odds that some literary license was indeed taken?  I'd bet its more than 50% that "license" was indeed taken!

When I saw that episode and how the "vic" alledgedly acted as that 500# sow grizz ran at him,  I wondered and still wonder if the young hunter just out of high school had ever considered the possibility of meeting Ms Claws in the elk woods.  And then what he would do?

I agree the young hunter was VERY LUCKY to have such competent searchers looking for him as well as a doctor!  But also that he didn't loose the gangrenous leg, was able to walk and ride again with little apparant indication he was ever injured and close to death.  And if the helo that evac-ed him landed just as dawn was showing itself, its apparant [to me] the authorities treated the whole incident 100+ percent professional!

My dad flew helicopters in the Navy, and helo drivers are particular how they fly and do things oftimes.

[Couger]

98% of the entertainment and news industry are pretty ignorant of hunting and firearm issue's. Couldn't tell you how many times on the local news, they have a leading story of a murder, show a picture of a handgun, and then as they report the story, it was a stabbing or beating.
The one time I watched that show, a girl marathon runner in Utah, was out running in the canyons, slipped and fell down into a cravase. Broke her leg and pelvis, and just lucky, after a couple days, her dog managed to get out and people looking for her found the dog and her. I think the dog had more brains than she did. Never told anyone were she was running or location. And out in the wild like that, I do believe that Utah has a mountain lion and bear population. Wonder if she thinks she can outrun one of those? gypsyman

Utah has far more "lions" than black bears, altho Utah has has a couple freak bear attacks!  One attack actually involved the bear going into and through a camper window, then grabbing the 6 or 8yo victim and hauling the boy out!  Don't recall if the boy dies.

Another incident involved several college students on a field trip if I remember the details correctly.  sleeping in the open a black bear grabbed an 18-22yo man in his sleeping bag and hauled him from camp.  Man died in the attack.  I have no idea why both bears were so brazen, but both animals were found and killed.

BTW, I lived in UT for nineteen years before moving to the North Wett.  That yound lady was lucky she had the dog stay near her.  Probably what saved her from all kinds of bad things; insects possibly and snakes, as well as coyotes, bobcats, badgers, etc., etc., etc.  Didn't see the episode about the woman runner (just the trailer), but I'd suppose the dog was awful hungry and thirsty afterward too.  Damn good and loyal dog!!