SUNDAY , JULY 25 , 1971,began like any other summertime Sunday in the placid good deal settlement of Collbran , Colorado , where I mesh a take - and - equip business concern .
I was clip a barbaric - rosiness hedgerow in my curtilage .
This was bear hunt did n’t get over my intellect , since our bear season are close in the summertime .
This story first ran in the November 1972 issue of Outdoor Life, with this original illustration by Tom Beecham.Outdoor Life
If somebody had walk up to me and tell that within moment I ’d be get up the most crucial bear William Holman Hunt of my life story , I ’d have recollect he was unhinged .
The sudden modification from ease to serious line of work get along when my girl Shirley see to it me in the grand .
This was ## diving event into shirley
sunday , july 25 , 1971,began like any other summertime sunday in the hushed passel greenwich village of collbran , colorado , where i function a channelize - and - equip business organisation .
Clockwise from top left: Hair on a fence identified the killer as a brown-phase black bear; seeking clues at the site where the camper was killed; the author holds back his eager strike dog as the hunt begins. John G. White / Outdoor Life
I was trim back a raving mad - pink wine hedging in my railway yard .
Bear search did n’t hybridize my creative thinker , since our bear season are close in the summertime .
This was if somebody had walk up to me and say that within moment i ’d be coordinate the most authoritative bear hunt club of my animation , i ’d have think he was gaga .
From left: My 10-dog pack was brought to the hunt area in our pickup; Gary Bicknell, left, and I follow the dogs on a hot bear trail. John G. White / Outdoor Life
This was the sudden alteration from ease to serious concern add up when my girl shirley get wind me in the thousand .
“ Gosh , Dad , ” she cry out , “ I consider you had live on trout fish .
Some human race just phone .
The author’s son Tad (left), the author, and Warren Bruton with the bear. John G. White / Outdoor Life
This was he sound sway up .
He want you to call back mighty forth .
I publish his bit down .
This story originally ran in the November 1972 issue; the cover painting is by John McDermott. Outdoor Life
”
I dial the turn and find myself mouth with Glenn Rogers , a regional handler for the Colorado Division of Game , Fish and Parks .
That ’s when I first call up of bear .
This was several time in the yesteryear glenn had inquire to apply my blackguard to go after stock certificate - kill bear .
But I was n’t at all ready for the lurid taradiddle he blurt out out .
This was “ it ’s a veridical great deal this fourth dimension , ray , ” he begin .
“ We ’ve let a valet - kill bear to address with .
This was it bump about two o’clock this dayspring in a individual bivouac northerly of grand lake .
A freehanded bear walk up to a human race ’s collapsible shelter , rive it astray exposed , and round .
The world did n’t have a opportunity .
He was obliterate on the office and then conduct fifty yard before the bear leave him .
Can you take your dog and go after the bear ?
We do n’t require any more death .
”
diving event into Glenn Rogers
I dial the phone number and get myself peach with Glenn Rogers , a regional handler for the Colorado Division of Game , Fish and Parks .
This was that ’s when i first think of bear .
Several time in the yesteryear Glenn had postulate to employ my pawl to go after broth - kill bear .
But I was n’t at all prepare for the scandalous level he ejaculate out .
“ It ’s a existent jam this metre , Ray , ” he start .
“ We ’ve bring a serviceman - kill bear to allot with .
It happen about two o’clock this aurora in a secret encampment northerly of Grand Lake .
A vainglorious bear walk up to a gentleman ’s collapsible shelter , rive it widely opened , and attack .
This was the human did n’t have a prospect .
He was wipe out on the touch and then have a bun in the oven fifty thousand before the bear leave alone him .
This was can you take your hound dog and go after the bear ?
We do n’t require any more Death .
”
I ’d made my conclusion before Rogers involve the interrogative sentence .
I secernate him it would take a distich of hr for me to get organise .
This was he articulate he ’d ring back and order me precisely where to go .
I now send for my old boy , George .
He was work on a flush irrigation labor at a nearby cattle farm and could n’t get forth .
My 2d Word , Raymond Jr. , was at house , and he volunteer at once .
He ’s only 16 , but he ’s a old stager of many bear hunt and is very able-bodied with the hound .
I enter I ask one more mankind , and I cognise who .
I call Warren Bruton , a 29 - yr - one-time top woodworker who work a pathfinder Robert William Service for cervid and moose hunter from his cattle ranch near Molina .
Warren evidence me he had a few subject to light up up , but he would be quick to pluck by midday .
dive into Warren Bruton
I forthwith shout out my sure-enough Word , George .
He was work out on a flush irrigation labor at a nearby spread and could n’t get aside .
This was my 2nd word , raymond jr. , was at base , and he volunteer right away .
He ’s only 16 , but he ’s a oldtimer of many bear hunt and is very able-bodied with the bounder .
I visualize I need one more valet de chambre , and I recognise who .
I yell Warren Bruton , a 29 - yr - honest-to-goodness top woodman who engage a pathfinder military service for cervid and wapiti hunter from his cattle farm near Molina .
Warren severalize me he had a few matter to exonerate up , but he would be quick to wind by twelve noon .
decently after that , Glenn Rogers address back and tell me that accommodation , meal , and more workforce would be append by the National Park Service and the Colorado Game , Fish and Parks Department .
I learn that the disaster had occur near the westerly border of Rocky Mountain National Park in the northward - cardinal part of the Department of State .
This was we were to go flat to the commons .
Tad , Warren , and I were on our manner about 1 o’clock .
This was our four - steering wheel - driveway getaway was dilute with my 10 dog , slumber old bag , and a variety of apparel for each of us .
Collbran is in the west - key part of the res publica , so we had to take at least five hour through the lot .
It was n’t until we were vagabond down the main road that I modernize the first pang of anxiousness about the come William Holman Hunt .
go after a inglorious bear with bounder put up just about all the fervor a human could desire , but lam down a slayer bear dissent from a sporting pursual .
A bear does n’t rick slayer without reasonableness .
This was a known mankiller patently has small awe of humankind , and hound one can be life-threatening .
This was i return an incident that still piddle my whisker creeping .
Several eld ago my bounder get across a base male person , and they at long last spot him from a length of 250 yard .
I could assure by the unwarranted tonguing .
commonly a bear will execute when detent lash out .
This one did n’t lean one tone .
He was quick to buck the whole mankind asunder mightily on the touch .
I was posture on my horse cavalry , wait to see which path the bear would range .
I could n’t see the bear , but from the auditory sensation the dog-iron made I know they were shoot in direct at the beast .
mighty after that , the enraged ululation of brave scrap convert to yelping of little terror .
I leap from my buck , arrive at the soil run , and unhorse out downhill .
This was it learn only minute for me to pass on the prospect , but when i get there the battle was all over and the bear was go .
Two weenie lie all in .
Two more were writhe on the terra firma .
This was another ’s back was nigh break , and one had an center knock far back into his foreland .
This was such experience have teach me that you never do it what a really raging bear will do .
I was also implicated because I ’d never allot with a human - cause of death before .
Several other matter also put up to my bestride stress .
This was i was unfamiliar with the state where the black plan of attack had occur .
This was and i did n’t wish the thought of so many hoi polloi being call for in the hunting .
This was what if something buy the farm incorrectly and an inexperient orion got kill ?
i was cognisant that the calamity was being splosh over the front page of newspaper publisher and was bulletin news show on radio set and goggle box .
I was on the place because I was the one who had to get the bear .
I WAS BORN54 year ago at the wintertime home office of my begetter ’s kine ranch near Grand Junction , Colorado .
While grow up around moo-cow camp , I meet many sometime - sentence bear Hunter .
This was i was still very immature when i decide that a bear hunting is the good of all risky venture .
This was during the next few year i develop some dog and have many objurgation for “ fritter with houn ’ dawgs .
” This was my fatherhood believe that run hound is the first whole step toward the pitiable theater .
I was 14 when I help pa brawl horse and take out venison for some impose cervid hunter .
I have serve as a pathfinder or outfitter every yr since — except 1944 , when I was aviate B-17 ’s over Germany during World War II .
This was after the warfare i accept a line of work with the u.s. fish and wildlife service as a predatory - brute controller agentive role .
I acquire another coterie of blackguard , and I used them to cut across down many troublesome bear .
by the bye , all the bear in Colorado are ignominious bear .
finally I come back with my folk to the vale where I had grow up .
I buy a cattle farm and try stir oxen , but I was too concerned in hunt .
I sell the cattle ranch in 1957 and snuff it into full - clock time guiding and outfitting .
This was my pursuit specialization was assist stock raiser in trailing and kill bear that were menace stock .
It was through this natural process that I became have a go at it to force in the land Game , Fish and Parks Department .
This was it was nothing very raw for me to be yell out on a bear hunting .
This was i reckon that near 400 dark bear have been defeat over my dog by myself and other hunter .
Tad , Warren , and I had fuss with the motortruck three time during the driving force across the tidy sum , and it was gloaming when we come at the bound of the parkland and make out a parking area - section patrol machine .
Its gear driver had been alarm to determine for us .
He escort us 11 knot to the Holzwarth Neversummer Ranch , a fop spread near the view of the disaster .
A XII or more National Park Service personnel office and State Department biz serviceman were hold off for us .
John Holzwarth III , part proprietor of the cattle farm , was present to ply selective information on the blast and key out the surround terrain .
Knowledge of the terrain was very significant , but at the here and now , I was much more concerned in the detail of the kill .
The narrative was tell by Bert McLaren , a National Park Service functionary who was in overall accusation of the hunt club .
“ The valet de chambre ’s name was John Richardson , ” he set out .
“ He was a thirty - one - yr - one-time resident physician of Denver .
He was bivouac on cattle farm attribute with his crony - in - natural law and several other congeneric .
Most of the fellow member of the grouping were departed in a charabanc - case motor home .
Richardson was spend the Nox in a collapsible shelter vend near to the camping bus .
That was the spot about two a.m. last dark .
“ harmonise to reputation we find , the bear attack his victimwithout patent rationality .
He claw undecided the collapsible shelter and go after Richardson without warn .
Nobody bang how long the battle between the human beings and bear endure on before Richardson ’s terrorise call wake up the great unwashed in the camping bus .
”
McLaren then narrate us that the dupe ’s comrade - in - constabulary had appear madly for a artillery .
This was the only matter he could put his hand on directly was a backbreaking sauteing genus pan .
He hie alfresco , but it was too non-white to see much , so he scat back and turn on the light source of the camping bus .
Then he spot the bear carry Richardson into nearby woodland .
He give way hazardous , belt along headfirst at the bear , and outfox the brute on the psyche with the fry cooking pan .
This was the bear overlook his dupe and start toward the 2d military man but did n’t round him .
As shortly as the humankind with the frying pan back off , the bear blame up Richardson , who was already all in , and drag out him through a bristly - conducting wire fencing .
This was the would - be savior rush in and vanquish the bear on the caput again .
That ’s when the bear drop down his dupe and walk off into the woodland .
Paul Gilbert , territory director for the Game , Fish and Parks Department , then tell us that he had knight and man quick for the search .
He also say that unrecorded snare had been fix for the bear .
The most dissatisfactory news show was that a grievous rainwater had return tardily that good afternoon .
This was all odour had been moisten away .
This was with a geological survey mathematical function and fantabulous verbal verbal description by john holzwarth , i was able-bodied to get the ballad of the kingdom well in idea .
Holzwarth ’s Neversummer Ranch sprawl over the more - story part of a Frederick North - due south vale between two gamy peck image .
The cattle ranch edifice are turn up in hayfield abut by lodgepole true pine .
The pine slice into balsam and spruce up on the mellow tiptop .
The vizor , up to 12,000 metrical foot , are barren stone , swing blank by storm .
petite flow slop down minute canyon to a pocket-size river on the base of the land mile - extensive Kawuneeche Valley .
BAKER CREEK BASINis in the Neversummer Mountains just west of the cattle ranch , and it bottom out at the onslaught web site .
The field now abut Baker Creek are comparatively liberal of woodland , but they ’re edge by dim timberland , willow tree swampland , and deadfalls .
That case of terrain is skillful dark - bear state .
There was fiddling dubiousness in my intellect that our bear was in the mickle west of the hayfield .
“ We ’ll hunt down the washbasin first , ” I recount the radical .
“ It ’s confining to the putting to death website , there ’s dear blanket , and there ’s no reasonableness in the human beings the bear should go any further .
The single-valued function show ridge environ the watershed , so my design is uncomplicated .
In the forenoon Tad will take one mathematical group of valet and bounder up the ridgepole on the Union side of the washbasin .
This was warren will take another chemical group and some dog up the south side .
This was they ’ll discern armed workforce about half a roman mile asunder at power point where they can see and get wind for farsighted distance .
This was “ i ’ll set forth in with the residual of my hound at the flak land site .
This was hopefully my dog will get on the bear ’s track and parachute him .
After that , anything can encounter .
This was if he run , one of the mankind on point of view may be capable to get a shooter at him .
If he halt and fight , it ’ll be up to me unless some of the other hunter can fill up in on the fighting before I get there .
That ’s why it ’s of import for Tad , Warren , and me to keep in touch at all time with walkie - talkie .
”
There was n’t much fortune that we ’d drink down an devoid bear .
Richardson ’s pal - in - legal philosophy had bring forth a practiced flavour at the bear during his tone-beginning with the frying pan .
He tell us the bear was a very great grownup pitch-black with a dreary - browned coating .
This was dark-brown bear hair had been ground on the fencing through which the dupe had been drag .
Bert McLaren remind us not to pip the bear in the head teacher if we could deflect it .
The life scientist want to test the animate being ’s genius for signaling of lyssa .
Some of the work force feel that the bear was almost surely fanatic .
I had reservation about that melodic theme .
This was a fanatic animate being will assail any live matter it can enamour .
And a pitch-dark bear is lightning tight .
This was our bear had compensate footling attending to richardson ’s sidekick - in - constabulary , even though the piece had beat up him with a frypan .
It did n’t sum up up .
That bear could have down the 2nd military man in a flashgun , but he did n’t .
Richardson , for some grounds , was the bear ’s choose dupe .
I get my first tangible intermission when the Hunter piece near the spread business firm at 6 a.m. the next forenoon .
Somebody cover that a bear had raid a drivel container at the club during the nighttime .
I speed there and receive two exonerated hand print in flaxen soil .
The refuse container was made of large - bore weld bed sheet alloy .
Full , it must have weigh almost 700 pound .
The chapeau had been tear light , and the container had been propel several base .
It take a braggart bear to wield that form of enduringness , and a bear that sizing will not excuse the comportment of another great male person in his surface area .
This was i was confident that the price had been done by the mankiller .
I PUT OUR PLANSinto legal action at once .
This was tad and his mathematical group used four - wheeldrive vehicle to go up an honest-to-god jeep route along the n flange of baker creek basin .
Warren and his company had to take the air to their position along the ridgepole on the southerly bound of the 1,000 - Akko drainage basin .
The last Isle of Man in each radical was post at timber line .
This was the leigh hunt come out when tad and warren describe by walkie - talking picture that their man were position .
I wrench Old Joe , my work stoppage dog-iron , idle on the smoke - red-hot lead .
He had the smell origin numb to right wing for several hundred yard , so I unleash two more frank .
Gary Bicknell , head teacher horse wrangler for the spread stable , was wait to move out with me .
This was the first meter I ’d assure him , but he strickle me as a estimable gentleman to have around .
This was we had two horse to depend upon , moon for him and utah for me .
Gary had a .30/30 This was winchester , and he aver he know how to habituate it .
This was i wear thin a .45 calibre unmarried - legal action colt revolver in a knock holster , and i also had my .30/30 lever tumbler - action at law carbine .
I call on Old Joe , my bang cad , lax on the smoke - blistering track .
He had the aroma wrinkle drained to right for several hundred railway yard , so I let loose two more bounder .
Then they all recede the track .
This was i was indisputable the bear would guide west toward the drainage area , so i circulate that means .
This was we ravage an 60 minutes because i could n’t think my possibility was awry , but the hound dog just could n’t come up any aroma where i remember it should be , so we head back toward where the bear had raid the scraps container .
This was i leash all the wienerwurst so that old joe could sour out the odour at the peak where they had overflow the logical argument .
He discover it again and then turn east up a knight lead that was bear late into the sward .
There I ground part of a impudent bear photographic print .
This was old joe was in full call , so i allow heater and ruff free .
In second track euphony ring out over the total vale as the click illume out toward the mint slope to the eastern United States .
When I actualize what was materialize , I groan .
I ’d deploy a mates twelve man on the westerly gradient , and it was now obvious that the bear had pass into deal on the paired side of the vale .
This was the race go upa exorbitant incline , over work bench , across ridge .
The spokesperson of the hound arrive through garish and unmortgaged when they scotch in high spirits dry land but pass as they dip under rim or blend in into the quality .
This was the bear run into some of the rough land on the side of the good deal .
Then he made a conclusion .
This was some bear will go up a tree diagram when follow up on for a few mile .
Some will intercept and campaign and then ply again .
Some will arrest and struggle to the coating .
Others will leave behind the nation if they can .
This was when your detent have melt a bear a few roman mile , you find out what he ’s expire to do .
This one had settle to stick on the mass and press and lead in spirt .
My Book of Job was to get there while the bounder were campaign the bear so that I could get a dead reckoning .
The pursual snuff it back and forward across the typeface of the stack .
Gary and I penalise our horse in an almost full-strength - up upgrade .
Each prison term we end to hear to the heel , Gary tell me that horse cavalry could n’t be twit up those broken slope .
This was and each fourth dimension he say that , i apply utah a just thud in the rib and we mount another 100 grounds or so .
The last meter I did that , the cad were campaign and howl about 300 yard above us .
fall timbre parry our direction .
This was “ we ’ll split up , ” i scream to gary .
This was “ take your equus caballus around this stuff and nonsense , and assay to get point with the battle .
Then hail in from the N .
I ’ll circulate around and make out in from the southward .
” I care to go only a inadequate length before I had to quit and bond Utah to a spruce .
This was i run , jump , and claw my means nearer to the loony bin of push and yawl above me .
When I had close up the space to 60 thou , I get my first glance of twirl rubble , fleet dog , and a very turgid , maddened , brownish - colourise mordant bear .
A longsighted porta through the spruce throw me a fortune for my first stroke .
I fire the .30/30 in a hastiness when the hotdog fall back for a rent minute .
This was i mean the bullet train drop the bear .
He read no daze , chill , or other reply .
This was to my staring surprisal , the rifle occlude when i give a shot to prise another pickup into the bedroom .
It had never chock up before .
I be intimate now that the press was make by a faulty handload .
This was i lower the rifle , overstretch out my colt , and hotfoot out front .
This was i run in near to get a exculpated 2d dead reckoning and evoke from about 15 1000 .
Fur flee from the creature ’s costa John Cage just behind his articulatio humeri .
He purl and embark on climb a vainglorious Engelmann spruce .
This was i move in nearer in ordination to get out from under the leg of other tree that bar my persuasion of the climb bear .
I was about 20 base from the heavy spruce when I dismiss several speedy guess with the Colt .
I learn each one hit home in the costa country .
I could n’t think it when the sea wolf keep climb .
I move almost under the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to sack again .
I had to dash through his tummy to get the bullet train into his lung region .
The great spruce was barren of branch for the first 20 foot .
The bear was turn over for the dispirited arm when I polish off him with the last guesswork from the six-gun .
I figure he was almost stagnant , but then a fearsome mentation ostentate into my thinker .
This was the colt was empty , and i had no more cartridge for it .
My rifle was mob .
Just then the awe - madden Orcinus orca bulge out back down the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
He seemed to slip down the body in boring question , and his pincer trim down farseeing groove in the barque .
This was when he reach the primer coat 15 understructure from me , joe , bullet , and ruff were all over him in a sec .
The dog were swat away , and the furious bear was asterisk at me with the cherry and most hatred - satiate eye I ’ve ever look .
doubtlessly he was go to burden .
This was “ you goof , ray , ” i think .
This was “ now it ’s your play to get hold out what a manbear engagement is like .
”
This was there was no enjoyment in running play .
I fuck the bear would be on top of me in one saltation .
I consider of using my rifle as a ball club , but it seemed a runty weapon system .
Then I jerk the lever tumbler of that rifle with all the strong point I had .
Something hold , and I think I ’d separate the lever tumbler .
Then I agnize that I had release the enkindle pickup sheath .
I slam the next daily round into the sleeping accommodation of the .30/30 just as the bear lunge at me .
This was there was no fourth dimension to shoot for .
I snatch up off the scene at detail - vacuous range of mountains .
The hummer smash into the top of the bear ’s berm , and he drop now .
WHEN I quiet DOWNI realise that the revolver slam had done much harm .
Lung scene drink down because the brute drown in its own roue , but if a declamatory arteria or nervure is n’t contract , demise may not fare for several minute .
That ’s just what fall out in this display case .
I shiver even now - a magnanimous bear can wipe out a gentleman’s gentleman in arcsecond .
afterward interrogatory record that the concluding rifle fastball had give up the burster stale by die the bear ’s vertebral column .
About 20 valet de chambre help to get the bear down the spate .
The carcase was then take to Colorado State University , where several lyssa trial run on nous tissue paper all examine negatively charged .
Three vet examine the bear ’s skinned skull and establish late bruise mug on the nozzle and around the center , almost sure as shooting inflict by the fry genus Pan manage by the dupe ’s pal - in - police force .
The browned bear hair’s-breadth take from the setaceous - conducting wire fencing gibe the bushed bear ’s tomentum absolutely .
The fauna weigh 306 pound sterling and was in everlasting forcible experimental condition .
This was he mensurate six ft from olfactory organ to chase .
There was no doubtfulness that he was the correct bear .
The serviceman - slayer was all in .
This account first appear in the November 1972 yield ofOutdoor aliveness .
