Hunter in Bear Creek fights off black bears

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http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... ullarticle

[dan]

Chad Fortune says he can't recall all of the details.
But he remembers lots of yelling (his own) and snarling (from the bears) and frantic flailing with fists and feet as he fought off two black bears among a group of four that attacked him as he was perched in a tree-stand bow hunting deer Saturday evening.

Fortune, 21, who spoke Monday evening to the Free Press, said the fight ended in a draw, though he's the only one who went to the hospital. He needed surgery and 40 stitches to repair a gash in his leg.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment officials described the attack, in Emmett County's Bear Creek Township, as one of the weirdest outdoor events in memory.

They said it may have been an instance of a sow bear protecting her young. But Fortune said there was nothing childlike about any of the bears.

Fortune said he was annoyed by reports from the DNRE that suggested the attack might have been caused by the smell of fried food clinging to his clothing from a family picnic earlier in the day.

"I had different clothes on ... hunting clothes. There was no smell of picnic on them," he said. "I don't know what happened."

Man battles bears, disputes agency's take

Chad Fortune of Walloon Lake had an easy answer Monday to the question of how he spent his weekend.

Nothing special.

Just fighting for his life in the wilds of northern Michigan against a pack of ornery black bears.

Fortune, a 21-year-old service adviser for a car dealership, called the Free Press on Monday to dispute a characterization by state officials of his attackers as "a sow and three cubs."

"They may have been related. But those were full-grown bears," said Fortune. He needed surgery to repair a gash in his leg and said he had assorted other cuts and bruises.

Fortune said he also was annoyed by reports from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment that suggested the attack might have been attributed to the smell of fried food clinging to his clothes from a family picnic earlier in the day.

"I had different clothes on ... hunting clothes. There was no smell of picnic on them," he said. "I don't know what happened."

He described his evening this way:

Just before dusk, Fortune said he had been in his tree stand at the edge of an alfalfa field and adjacent to a swamp for a relatively short time when the bears appeared "from out of nowhere." He said he first saw two crossing in front of him from about 20 to 25 feet away. Then another pair, including the largest, appeared.

Fortune said he believes they came out of the swamp but couldn't be sure.

At first, they appeared uninterested in him, but then picked up his scent on the trail he had used to reach his tree stand.

Fortune said when two of the bears began to approach he shouted and yelled, which seemed to have little effect. Then, suddenly, one was clambering up the 8-inch diameter popple to which his stand was attached, just 15 feet off the ground. It was snarling. He was yelling some more.

Fortune said he didn't have time to stand, had dropped his bow and just started flailing at the animal from a seated position, landing six to eight blows until the bear fell to the ground.

He scrambled to his feet as a second animal mounted an assault. Fortune said he was better prepared the second time and got in a good kick that precipitated the bear's descent.

He was not attacked a third time as reported by the DNRE, Fortune said, and he didn't know which of the four attacked.

Fortune said his triumph was tempered by the fact that two of the bears remained within sight as night fell. He kept yelling.

His cell phone was in his truck, but about two hours later both his girlfriend and father, who knew the tree stand's location, arrived. Fortune said he's not sure, but he thinks the bears left when his backup arrived.

Sgt. Jim Gorno, of the Gaylord DNRE office, said conservation officers believe Fortune, who was at a family picnic earlier Saturday, may have had the scent of fried chicken or pork on his boots or clothing, attracting the bruins.

Fortune underwent surgery at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey and was later released.

Bears usually flee when they detect human scent, Gorno said, adding that it was the weirdest case he has seen in 24 years with the department.

He said the bears may have been used to humans or possibly even fed by people and lost some of their natural fear. Fortune said all four had been seen around a neighbor's home earlier.

"Anytime you are dealing with a sow and her cubs, you have a potentially dangerous situation," said DNRE Wildlife Chief Russ Mason.

Hunters may use a weapon to protect themselves against a bear attack, Gorno said, even though bears are not legal to hunt at this time of year. But a bow and arrow is a poor defense against a fast-moving bear.

Fortune said he isn't sure he'll be going back anytime soon, but if he does he plans to be more heavily armed.

Black bears are solitary, although females usually keep their cubs with them for about 18 months.

[dan]

I agree with the DNR ( FOR ONCE ) I believe he was attacked by a sow and 2nd year cubs.

[Schultzy]

Very Interesting stuff here. Sounds to me these bear have been In contact with humans before regarding food.

[Hodag Hunter]

Good thing he made it out with non-lethal injuries. Wonder if he now carries a sidearm?

[Singing Bridge]

I agree with the DNR ( FOR ONCE ) I believe he was attacked by a sow and 2nd year cubs.

The Michigan television media this morning is reporting it was a sow with "nearly full grown" cubs. Conservation officers are taking steps to kill all of the bears involved in the incident.

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Here is a video of him giving his story and showing his wounds.

http://www.petoskeynews.com/videobeta/a ... ear-attack

[AC Rider]

I believe he was attacked by a sow and 2nd year cubs.

Sounds to me these bear have been In contact with humans before

X2

[Carol]

A bit more (video on this page/follow link)

http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Stor ... 1267&cID=1

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment have set a trap and trail cameras in an attempt to catch the bear that attacked a bow hunter in Bear Creek Township, near Petoskey Saturday night.

The hunter was in a tree stand when he says four bear approached him.

The attack left Chad Fortune with three bite wounds, two on his leg and one on his shoulder.

The D.N.R.E. says it was likely a mother bear and three cubs.

They think the mother bear climbed the tree and attacked Fortune, now they just have to prove it.

When they do catch a bear, they will compare hair from that bear with hair found on the tree.

They will also measure bite marks on Fortune to see if they match.

[Carol]

http://interceder.net/list/Chad-Fortune

[Wrinkleneck]

WOW is all I can say!!