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SUFI Student Ends Bear Encounter By Fighting Back

New Mexico Game and Fish

TORREON, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Patrick Almy of Switzerland came to New Mexico to study Sufi in the Manzano Mountains near here.

Tuesday morning he awoke to a small cinnamon-colored black bear sitting on top of his tent.

The bear scratched Almy during his efforts to get out of the tent and out from under the animal, said Department of Game and Fish Officer John Martsh, who interviewed the Sufi student later in the day.

In a written statement, Almy said he tried to run away from the bear, but then remembered what he had learned on a “cougar poster” he read while visiting a campground in the Cibola National Forest.

“I picked up a branch and some stones and threw them at the bear” Almy said. “The bear ran away, but stayed at some distance. I went back to my tent, but the bear was still close so I threw another rock.”

The camper told Martsh the Sufi students were storing food in a cement or block building with no door on it.

“It sounds like there’s quite a bit of trash there, also, and other things that would be interesting to bears,” Martsh said.

Conservation officer Darrel Cole said Game and Fish receives bear calls every year from the Sufi Foundation, an organization whose Web site says Sufi “develops higher intelligence and awareness.”

Earlier this year, the Department joined forces with Animal Protection of New Mexico, the U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe County Open Space, and New Mexico State Parks Division to distribute “Cougar Smart” posters at trailheads from the Manzanos to the Carson National Forest.

The bear was described as playful and curious rather than aggressive, and a live trap was set at the Sufi Foundation.

Hikers and campers encountering bears and cougars should stand their ground and not run, keep pets leashed and children close, and fight back if attacked. This is the second incident this year when fighting back terminated a bear attack.

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West Virginia Division of Natural Resources New 2010-2011 Hunting Season Changes Explained

West Virginia DNR

South Charleston, WV -(Ammoland.com)- Several important changes in the state’s fall hunting seasons for wild turkey and black bear, as well as the youth hunting seasons, are included in the new 2010-2011 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary brochure, according to Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro.

The publication is now available at all West Virginia hunting and fishing license agents, DNR District Offices, Elkins Operation Center and South Charleston Headquarters.
Hunters and trappers are encouraged to carefully review these regulations due to the numerous changes in hunting seasons, especially turkey, bear and deer hunting, which will be in place this fall.

The 2010-2011 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary is also available online at www.wvdnr.gov.

Major Changes for 2010-2011:

• Black bear hunting seasons have been expanded this year with 10 counties open Sept. 27-29; nine counties open Sept.27 – Oct. 2; 10 counties open Nov. 22 – Dec. 4 during the Buck Firearms Season, and all 55 counties open Dec. 6-31. The daily bag is one bear and the season limit is two bears, provided at least one bear comes from Boone, Fayette, Kanawha or Raleigh counties.
• Fall wild turkey hunting season has been expanded this year with 13 counties open Oct. 23-30; 12 counties open Oct. 23 – Nov. 6; and 14 counties open Oct. 23 – Nov. 22.
•  A statewide Youth Small Game Season will be held on Oct. 2, 2010, open to all youth age 17 or younger for all small game species.
• The participation age for the Youth Hunting Seasons (small game, antlerless deer and spring turkey) has been increased from less than 15 to less than 18 years of age. All licensing requirements remain in effect for ages 15-17.

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