While hunting in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula in August, Tyler Johnson and his father were suddenly charged by a large brown bear. Despite being seriously injured and accidently shot through the leg, the seasoned outdoorsman calmly filmed a video documenting the attack while waiting for rescue. Tyler and his dad join us to share their harrowing story.
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Here’s what we discuss:
- Tyler’s dad Chris is a previous Warden’s Watch guest
- A father and son trip ahead of a planned move to Texas
- Working through dense brush, the pair emerge into tall grass
- Chris hears a guttural growl
- At the last moment, the bear pivots toward Tyler
- Tyler races to unholster his sidearm
- In seconds, the bear is on him
- At some point, he accidentally shoots his left leg
- “Oh… it has a collar.”
- Both men fire at the animal
- Immediate triage
- Tyler’s boot is filling with blood
- Chris applies a tourniquet to stop the bleeding
- Tyler calmly documents the aftermath
- Fifteen seconds
- Preparing the helicopter landing zone
- Rescue is almost two hours away
- Airlifted to Anchorage
- “Wow, this is beautiful. My leg hurts.”
- A gunshot wound on one leg, a large gash on the other
- Chris’ training had kicked in immediately
- Tyler had saved his father in a previous medical emergency
- “Now we’re even.”
- Remained in Alaska for treatment
- Takeaways: Always bring a trauma kit
- Twenty-four rounds were fired
- A small cub is found at the scene the next day
- The Garmin InReach was integral to rescue
- “Gunshot victim, bear mauling… and then the hospital staff just got me.”
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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