A bear got him on a moose hunt in Alaska. Young guy from Ohio. Very sad.

https://craigmedred.news/2020/09/24/second-bear-victim/

Tough story ! At least he was doing something he loved !

Yeah gotta feel sorry for his buddy too. Lifetime of what-ifs.....

That would be one of the reasons I could never live in Alaska, too many bears. Although, I read once where it was said more people are killed by moose than bears there.

Sad deal.

I was thinking about what it must have felt like for the kid's buddy. Takes the load of meat back and starts back again wondering why he hasn't met his friend coming with the next load. Gets near the site of the kill, probably already thinking something is wrong and then get charged by a bear which you manage to scare off only to make it the last few yards to find your buddy mauled to death on the ground. If that was me it would be hard at that point not to start to panic. Bet he kept a real tight grip on that rifle on the way back to camp.

The article I read said the friend was a she and that he didn't have bear protection on or near him... I hate to think she had it and the split up but thats reading into it. Prayers.

Really sad to hear...belleville is my childhood stomping grounds. Its not far from here. Future hunter and trapper snuffed out. Sad!

That's interesting. This article said the friend was a he, and that the victim did have a rifle but it wasn't in reach.

I didn’t know the guy personally, but I know the guys he was hunting with. Very sad story, only 22 years old about to turn 23.

A ticked off moose is something to be afraid of, or at least respect greatly ! ! The good thing is they are not quiet like a bear

https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituary/austin-pfeiffer/
Bellville is a small rural town.

When I look back on my solo hunt north of Aniak, I could have had a similar event, but didn't. Often while butchering my moose at the edge of a lake I had my canoe and my rifle close to me but at times 10 or 15 feet away. If the grits had hit the pan in a surprise I might have been unable to get to it at the right moment. My only chance would have been to swim into the lake. In camp I never went anywhere without the rifle but next to the kill it wasn't so easy.

God rest his soul.

Unfortunately, hunting and trapping leads us all into situations that are dangerous and unpredictable.


Pete

After relating bucksnbears bowhunt story in the coffee shop the other day. They told me about a guy we went to school with, moved his family to Alaska for a few years.
He thought it seemed like a good idea at the time, to try hunting bear with a pistol. Deep in the thick bush he got so close he could smell the bear, but couldn't see or hear anything.
With his hair standing on end and goosebumps all over his body, he figured the bear could hear his heartbeats.. He slowly backed out with his head swiveling and both hands on the pistol.
Took the bear hunting right out of him!

A rifle or shotgun is the best bear medicine by far, but my 44 revolver is always on me. In my experience you can't carry a long gun and log, skin and quarter a moose, or do other tasks that require both hands.

I carry my 45-70 Marlin most of the year it's always in the boat, but I feel naked without my 44 Super Redhawk strapped to me. Call me insecure, but I've rolled around on the ground with gators and hogs, nothing beats a reliable pistol when you are on the ground wrestling with a wild animal that can kill you. In my experience their is no "typical" animal attack scenario. You may or may not have time to react before you have physical contact. I can agree with the moose being dangerous, been chased around on two different occasions by moose.

Armed buddy system is probably the best but not fail safe. Gotta stay together. Having said that I break that advice all the time.

Yes !! One person can work on the critter while the other watches and drinks coffee. Then switch !

Funny story: Hunting with a friend years ago. We had killed about a 60 inch moose and were just starting to work on it. Here comes another one and he is bigger and in a really bad mood. Fire in his eyes and hackles up.That crazy stiff-legged sway going on. He just kept coming. Grunting with every step.

There was a ravine close behind us and we jumped down in it.Very narrow. The moose was standing directly above snorting and grunting. I looked up. He was magnificent !! About 82 feet tall at that point.

I looked at John and saw that he had his head down on his arms. I said "look at him John. He's huge". But John just shook his head and said........"I don't want to" I have laughed about that many times over the years.

Beautiful but scary too.

Love that macho swag bull moose do....the Swag Dance....

It is common on hunts in certain areas here, to have a guard while the hunters concentrate on processing elk , moose, deer, etc. Over time, as in AK, grizzlies have learned the benefit to them in hearing shots , plus the chance of stumbling across a moose in a bad mood. I have been asked to be lookout and I enjoy that. Find a good higher spot not far away to observe 360 views , never relaxing lookout until everyone is packed and back to portage entry .

I have long been prepared to stand my ground and shoot to protect the group and myself if needed. No freezing . It's all mindset.

What concerns me much more than stationary guard , is the possible surprise out of the bush at very close range as the group is on the move in thick brush trails.

I was on a solo hunt for moose and grizzly in the Talkeetnas one time. Two grizzly traveling together, killed the one I wanted, managed to chase the other one off after a tense moment or twelve where I thought I was going to have to kill it also, never skinned a bear that fast before or since!

Prayers for the friends and family.