Boy, 11, shoots charging bear to save fishing party in Alaska

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/02/boy-11-shoots-charging-bear-to-save-fishing-party-in-alaska
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Quick action from an 11-year-old boy saved a fishing party from a charging brown bear, Alaska state troopers said.

Elliot Clark was walking through the woods near Game Creek with three family members and three dogs when the bear came out and charged them, the Juneau Empire reported.

The bear ran through two of the men, pushing them to the side of the trail, leaving Elliot and his cousin left in its path, Elliot’s father, Lucas, said.

Elliot’s father said not getting around to putting a sling on his son’s gun might have saved their lives, as he was able to quickly ready himself.

“He was carrying it in his hands rather than on his shoulder,” he said. “That was the problem with the other ones, when the bear came at his uncle, he had his rifle on his shoulder and the bear was very close, so he couldn’t get it off in time.”
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