Grizzly bear fatally mauls hunter in Alaska state park

[Velo Dog]

So, I ASSume that it would be legal to shoot a bear in self-defense.

Hi PARA45,

In Alaska and Russia, where I sometimes work as a Bear Guard for Oil Field Workers, Scientists and / or Wildlife Photographers, yes it is perfectly lawful to shoot any animal in self defense or defense of a third party.
I strongly suspect the same is true in many other places.
Nonetheless, I strongly recommend checking the laws before carrying a firearm in unfamiliar jurisdictions.

In my personal bear encounters (easily 200+ at very close range, grizzly, black and polar), I have found them to be like 200 people.
Most of them don’t bite.
That said, I would never turn my back on a human I was unfamiliar with or a bear either one.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Fred Gunner]

So, I ASSume that it would be legal to shoot a bear in self-defense.

If our hero wounds the bear with his pointy stick during archery-only season, then the offended Bruin gets his shot...fair is fair after all!

 

[WAB]

So, I ASSume that it would be legal to shoot a bear in self-defense.

Absolutely! DLP (defense of life and property). The DLP bears go into the mix when setting harvest numbers for an area. Of course there are also the SSS bears...

 

[JimP]

But don't expect to shoot a bear in self defense and to be able to keep the bear. Also once you report it expect to go through a grilling as if it is all your fault until the investigation is done.

 

[Randy F]

So, I ASSume that it would be legal to shoot a bear in self-defense.

Legal or not, grilled or not, if it came down to no choice I would be inclined to pay the fine and/or do time vs suffering conversion from dip shit to bear shit.

 

[WAB]

But don't expect to shoot a bear in self defense and to be able to keep the bear. Also once you report it expect to go through a grilling as if it is all your fault until the investigation is done.

That was not my observation in Alaska. My buddy shot one off his horse in Fairbanks and called the boys to come get their d$&@ bear. He refused to skin it for them. No issues, I think they were embarrassed to have let it cause so much havoc in our area.

Another buddy shot one on a walk in Kenai. I was there by the time the boys showed up. Again no issue.

Totally different story in the lower 48.

 

[Velo Dog]

All of the Game Wardens I have met in Alaska (a couple of other western states as well) were 100% professional, reasonable people, easy to get along with.
They have a job to do but conversely, none I have met were “badge heavy”.