When Grizzlies Attack...

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When Grizzlies Attack...

Author: Jeff

Nov 6, 2009
(3 comments)

When Sitka customers are attacked by Grizzlies, they worry most about their gear...

By the man himself, Jeff Hebert -

...to catch you up to speed, my Name is Jeff Hebert and I live in the southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada. On October 12th 2009, my hunting parter and I backpacked in for an open season Bighorn Sheep/Mule Deer hunt. We hunted for 3 days and spent two nights on the mountain, our trip was suppose to be much longer. On the evening of Oct 14th, the third night in camp, while my partner was asleep and I used my headlamp to finish reading a chapter in a Louis L'Amour novel we were attacked by a Sow Grizzly bear.

grizzly attack 1

We had very little warning that an attack was imminent. She charged immediatly upon coming across our tent, the beating of her feet in the snow and the ominous huffing snapped me to attention. As we fought for our lives we both sustained bites to our forearms, my partner sustained a bite to the leg and his jacket reveiled a close call, a slash on his jacket just short of is throat. I believe the tent, although making it very difficult to fight back, also made it difficult for the bear to know exactly were to aim its slashing claws and snapping teeth. The tent has holes all over it from her fleury. We weathered the storm and she left. The attack could have definitly turned out worse, but we are alive and thankful for it. Canadian Law doesn't allow us to carry handguns to defend ourselves and operating a rifle safely in a small backpacking tent during a suprise attack is easier said than done.

grizzly attack 2

For the hunt, I was wearing my brand new Sitka Traverse Baselayers, complete with the Traverse Beanie. I have been searching a long time for baselayers that perform the way I want them to. I purchased top quality merino wool baselayers to test last year and they left me with a nasty chill after the day was done and take too long to dry. The Traverse Baselayers are completely the opposite. If I sweat in them, I don't get a chill when I cool down, and they will dry as you wear them, even in cold temperatures. During the day I would just wear the Traverse Shirt under a vest and it was perfect. That was until the bear tried to remove it from me.

P9210104

Author, attack victim, and loyal Sitka charger, Jeff Hebert with one of his many trophies.

Categories: Miscellaneous

COMMENTS

Holy Shite! LOL.
Jeff is a nut...but then I suppose I'd be ticked too if a Grizz ripped my Sitka :)

Luke Johnson Posted At 11/10/2009 05:39 PM

Glad to hear you made it through without serious injury! Best of luck and keep sporting that Sitka!

Jeff S Posted At 11/08/2009 11:24 AM

Heck of a story, glad to see you made it out alright!

Mark - Wired To Hunt Posted At 11/06/2009 09:53 AM

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