It's black bear season at Cowichan Lake so spotting a bruin is not uncommon, especially in the bush. However, on Sept. 24, a young man out camping made a big mistake, according to Lake Cowichan RCMP.

At approximately 5 a.m., two 22 year-old males were camping in a tent near the Nitinat River when one of the males was woken up by what he believed was a black bear trying to gain entry to the tent.

According to Const. Roger Nyberg, "One of the males grabbed a firearm and discharged several rounds out through the tent in the direction he believed the bear to be. As a result of the rounds being fired inside the tent he shot the other 22-year-old male once in the face and once in the arm causing extensive injuries."

The injured man was driven to Youbou where they met up with the BC Ambulance Service who transported him to Cowichan District Hospital and then on to Victoria General Hospital.

Police said the extent of his injuries was unknown Tuesday morning.

The Lake Cowichan RCMP, along with the British Columbia Conservation Service, are continuing to investigate the incident.



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/fearing+bear+attack+shoots+friend+mistake+while+camping+Vancouver+Island/5470679/story.html

He is only 22. After a few decades of firing shots off randomly towards noises in the dark he will have the experience needed to draw his weapon and use it appropriately. This is just part of the practice, practice, practice that is needed to gain experience.

Try not to step on any twigs when backpacking after dark near people who have guns, but are still practicing to get the experience needed to be safe with them.

Edited by redmonk on 09/30/2011 14:11:55 MDT.

Good judgement comes from experience,
Experience comes from poor judgement.

I have only needed ten years to improve "double-tapping my Glock into the night at nothing in particular." I attest this to my being an American.

As for a bear attack, I'd never shoot at one. I'd just toss them a pumpkin.

Is it just me, or do I sense irony just dripping from the page?

I sense an upcoming "Darwin Award".

But the guy who was shot was BARE and had just cut a deal with these eastern euro backpackers in the next camp...

Miguel, I'm totally with you on the irony thing.

I need to remind myself- never go hiking with someone who's packing- or just learn how to hold it when nature comes a calling.

Edited by bestbuilder on 09/30/2011 16:12:43 MDT.

Maybe it was a bear he heard. Maybe it was coming for them. Perhaps if he hadn't issued a warning shot into his friend's face and arm, the bear would've mauled them both to death. Quick thinking on the part of this young man.

as it was relayed to me:

A small group of guys were guys were backpacking. One of the group was sleeping under his tarp, and woke up to the sound of something walking near him. His heart started racing...BEAR.. had to be, it sounded huge. Next he heard it getting closer, he laid absolutely still pretending to be asleep. It came closer and was sniffing him, right in his ear. He was terrified.

He came up with a plan. He was going to throw his arm out and hit the bear in the nose, then get up and run before it could get him. He finally worked up the courage, and did it, and jumped up and ran screaming.

Another member of the group happened to also be awake at that time. He later recounted the story by saying "I never saw a racoon fly that far before"


The moral is that sometimes fear gets out of control and really clouds judgement.

Guess everyone needs pee bottles to avoid a shoot-'em up when the inevitable twig snaps at night. Hope everyone's aim is true..

Likewise, it was just as probable that the kid had a case of a quick trigger finger, adrenaline overload, and darkness obscuring his vision.

Quick thinking? Maybe, but doubtful. I'm more curious to know if he explored his other available options. How about a simple yell, clap of the hands, banging of the pot, toot of a bear whistle? We are talking black bear and not grizzly right?

i believe the golden rule is that you dont shoot what you cant see ... or thats what the people i know who shoot say ...

if you dont know where yr bullet will end up ... it can end up in someone

Good to see the antigun nuts are staying classy.

You guys are an embarrassment. I hope ya'll are real proud of yourselves, mocking a tragedy.

when you start shooting yr gun in the middle of the night without being able to see yr target ... because yr afraid there might be a fuzzy wuzzy ... and you know there are other people around ...

i hope all the gun fans wont say critics of said action are anti-gun ...

and i would hope that no responsible gun owner would support said blind shooting

i have no real problem with guns ... unless they are used in such a fashion ... same as i have no real problem with a car ... unless you run over people with em

Thats the way. Distract by trying to turn it on "gun fans".

Forget that the first reply was one of the usual suspects mocking a tragedy. I'm sure the guy who shot his friend is laughing. The man shot in the face appreciates the irony. Keep it up boys.

I can't believe I am saying this but, Michael what in Eric's last post do you disagree with?

Op was good. We all should be reminded of reasons to be responsible.

Second post by him was spot on.

The LAST. Don't disagree with the main point. But nobody has suggested gun owners - responsible or otherwise - would support the blind firing of a gun.

I don't know why that should be brought up at all. I think every one here agrees mistakes were made. The point is don't try to turn this into gun owners versus anti gun nuts. The anti gun segment is showing their true personality with their snide mockery.

Scared people making mistakes with guns are not a tragedies, it is the reality.

Shooting a gun into the dark at noises and hitting an unintentional target is not a tragedy.

And that huge load of irony is just sitting there...

Just glad he did not kill him.

Unlike that other guy last week.

Edited by kthompson on 10/01/2011 08:56:41 MDT.