Farmer's Shotgun Blast Halts Rabid Bear

by
posted on April 20, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (7)

Some marvel at the terminal energy of the .338 Lapua. Others do the same for the .50 BMG. Personally it's the versatility and power of the 12-gauge shotgun that most intrigues me. Its close-range energy is just devastating—the equivalent of about four simultaneous rounds of .45 ACP.

And a story in the news right now proves a perfect example of its potency. According to The News Virginian, two men were working on a farm outside Rockfish Gap, Va., when a rabid black bear spotted their movement. The bear initially attacked their Gator ATV, biting its tire. The men fled atop the vehicle, but they quickly became the targets of the bear's aggression. Fortunately they had stashed a shotgun loaded with birdshot (that's as specific as the story gets) inside the Gator.

According to The News Virginian, this is what happened next:

The bear ... was climbing into the bed when the man atop the Gator put his shotgun to its head and pulled the trigger. ... The bear was decapitated, and its head sent to a state lab, where it tested positive for rabies.

This certainly isn't the first time a shotgun has halted a bear attack. Did you hear about the duck hunters who were attacked by a grizzly?

Latest

CZ 600+ ST3 American 2
CZ 600+ ST3 American 2

#SundayGunday: CZ 600+ ST3 American

On this week's #SundayGunday, we are taking a look at the new-for-2026 design of the CZ 600+ ST3 American, the ST3 being the long- and magnum-action model. Built by the legendary Czech company for the American market, this is a rifle adapted perfectly to hunting on this continent.

How Can Hunters Travel Out of State With Suppressed Firearms?

Getting federal and state agencies out of the way of the citizens who wish to use suppressors to make their guns more polite to their ears and to their neighbors’ is an ongoing, complex and multifaceted effort. There is, however, progress being made thanks to the Trump administration.

A Shared Memory Between Life’s Chapters

Check out this memorable hunting story from member William Scott Aldridge.

Hardware Review: Browning BAR MK 4 Hunter

First, the Browning Automatic Rifle addressed in this article is not the renowned 1918 BAR of military fame. I’ve actually seen an American Rifleman editor hunt hogs with a reproduction 1918 BAR. While it was a spectacle to behold, it’s probably not the optimal choice for the deer woods, but hey, who am I to judge? The Browning BAR we’re talking about in this article is the iconic hunting rifle.

Choice Ammunition—Montana’s Handloaded Factory Ammunition.

Today, we have many more projectile options than we’ve ever had. However, there are still some combinations that aren’t readily available, and some of our older cartridges have become all but unobtainable. Enter a boutique ammunition shop from Montana, the brainchild of Mr. Jon Wemple: meet Choice Ammunition.

Improving Buckshot Performance

Buckshot’s downrange effectiveness varies greatly, from stellar to lackluster, depending on the shotgun/choke configuration and specifics of the load. Here is what you need to know to extract its greatness.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.