11-Year-Old Stops Charging Brown Bear

by
posted on July 6, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
11_year_old_bear.jpg

Photo Courtesy Facebook Page of Senator Shelley Hughes

Quick thinking and good instincts helped an 11-year-old boy save himself and his family from a charging brown bear on June 18, according to a report from the Juneau Empire.

According to reports, Elliot Clark of Hoonah, Alaska, was walking through the woods several miles south of town with his uncle and two other family members, en route to a nearby fishing hole, when a brown bear emerged from the forest and charged the group.

The bear collided with the first two members of the party—including Clark’s uncle, Craig Stoltzfus, who was also armed—and knocked them aside. Clark reacted quickly, raising his pump-action shotgun and peppering the bear with birdshot.

In an interview with the Juneau Empire, Clark’s father, Lucas, said that the first shot did little to slow the bear. The second and third shots, though, were slugs, and struck the sow in the face—which proved enough to bring the bruin to the ground just a few feet from where Elliot stood. A fourth shot from Clark’s shotgun—followed by a final blow from the rifle carried by Stoltzfus, who had recovered—brought the attack to an end. No serious injuries were sustained by the fishing party.

Alaska Senator Shelley Hughes caught wind of the story, and complimented Elliot Clark's quick thinking in a Facebook post.

Alaskan State Troopers investigated the incident, and determined it to be the first Defense of Life or Property (DLP) killing in the Hoonah area this year.

Latest

Trail Cam Lede
Trail Cam Lede

How To Use Trail Cameras to Find More Bucks and Bulls

Get some tips from Scott Haugen on how to optimize your trail cam grid this season.

New for 2025: Davidson's Exclusive Bergara B-14 FSP Hunter Stainless

Davidson’s has collaborated with Bergara to produce the first complete Bergara rifle with a stainless-steel barreled action available in the USA.

New for 2025: Leica USA Rangemaster CRF Max

Leica Sport Optics USA has unveiled the Leica Rangemaster CRF Max. Designed for hunters and long-range shooters who demand precision and reliability, the CRF Max combines Leica’s optical performance with cutting-edge digital integration and a new heads-up display.

Boone and Crockett Club Poaching Data Published

Did you know that the majority of wildlife violations never result in citations? Sure, with so much ground to cover, it may be easy to guess that most violations committed deep in the backcountry will never see the light of day, but the scale is still quite surprising. 

First Look: Horizon Firearms Exclusive

Custom & Collectable Firearms proudly unveils the Horizon Firearms Exclusive, a 1-of-50 limited series built for hunters and anyone who values accuracy, value and dependability.

Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young Now Accepting Javelina Entries

The Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) and Pope and Young Club (P&Y) announced in August that they have completed scoring procedures and are now accepting entries for javelina (collared peccary, Pecari tajacu) in their record books.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.