A hunter who thought he had killed a bear with an arrow was severely mauled when he approached

A hunter who mistakenly thought he had killed a bear with an arrow was severely mauled when he approached the wounded animal

  • A hunter was mauled by a 300-pound black bear in Southern California on Friday
  • The man and two others were hunting bear in the San Bernardino Mountains
  • Thinking the bear had been killed, the man approached but was mauled severely

A hunter who thought he had shot and killed a 300-pound black bear with a bow and arrow, was mauled by the animal when he approached to take a closer look.   

The man and two others were legally hunting bear in the San Bernardino Mountains of Riverside County in Southern California on Friday when the attack occurred. 

‘When he ran up to the bear, the bear attacked him and it mauled him severely,’ Patrick Foy, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife captain, told ABC7.   

A hunter who thought he had shot and killed a 300-pound black bear with a bow and arrow, was mauled by the animal when he approached to take a closer look (stock image) 

The man and two others were legally hunting bear in the San Bernardino Mountains (pictured) of Riverside County in Southern California on Friday when the attack occurred

The man and two others were legally hunting bear in the San Bernardino Mountains (pictured) of Riverside County in Southern California on Friday when the attack occurred

The man survived the attack, but was hospitalized for serious injuries to his upper torso and face.

His current condition is unknown and the bear later died from its wounds.  

The department is investigating the incident. 

Archery Bow-and-arrow bear hunting is legal in Southern California over the hunting season which runs from late August until early September, or until 1,700 bears are killed.

Hunters who obtain a license and bear tag are only allowed to use a bow and arrow and firearms are prohibited.

‘Approaching an animal that’s injured can be dangerous or can at least put that animal in a position where it’s going to forcibly defend itself thinking it’s under threat,’ Foy said. 

‘Bear attacks are really, really rare.’ 

A father and son illegally gunned down a mother bear in front of her 'shrieking' cubs before shooting the two newborns in an attack last month (stock image)

A father and son illegally gunned down a mother bear in front of her ‘shrieking’ cubs before shooting the two newborns in an attack last month (stock image)

 

 

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