https://www.wtvr.com/news/loca...-accident-dec-9-2024



Virginia man hit by bear falling from tree during hunting accident dies

Richmond news and weather update for Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024
By: WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff
Posted 4:18 PM, Dec 09, 2024 and last updated 5:17 PM, Dec 15, 2024

LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. — A Virginia father of five has died after being struck by a bear falling from a tree Monday morning in Lunenburg County, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR).

An investigation by VDWR, which was notified of the incident around 9:50 a.m., suggests that a group of hunters chased a bear into a tree.

Then as the group retreated from the bottom of the tree, one of the hunters shot the bear, according to officials.

As the animal fell, it hit 58-year-old Lester C. Harvey Jr., of Phenix, Virginia, who was standing about 10 feet from the bottom of the tree.

One of the hunters provided first aid until local fire and EMS arrived.

Officials said Harvey, who had been in serious but stable condition after being transported from VCU South Hill to VCU Medical Center in Richmond, died of his injuries on Friday, Dec. 13.


Harvey was a self-employed contractor and avid outdoorsman who "was a friend to all and never met a stranger," according to his obituary.

He is survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Harvey's funeral will take place on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church on Mt. Carmel Road in Brookneal.

"The Department is not currently seeking any charges related to this incident," VDWR officials said.

I could see it happening.

I have had to jump out of the way several times.

After the bear has been shot.

They can take some strange bounces.

My wife has the opposite problem. All her bears have gotten hung up in the tree.

Here's the AP version with a couple of earlier bear-hunter mishaps tagged on.

https://apnews.com/article/hun...8456c15c1113cdfd69e8

He was 10’ from the tree when hit by the bear. Why didn’t the others ridicule the idiot for being there? Who was in charge of this cluster?

I have been to several trees for bear (more than 75 but less than 100) and the procedure is the same.

1. ID the bear shoot, no shoot. If shoot:

2. Leash the dogs 20 yards +/- from the tree or likely drop area, to protect them from getting hit by a dead bear or from fighting a wounded bear or tearing up a dead bear. Keep them controlled. (Uphill from the tree here in ID).
3. Make sure the shooter and spectators if any are the same distance at least, and that the shooter has a clear shot based on his/her equipment, bow, rifle, pistol etc.

4. Set up videographer if have one.

5. No hound nor person is 10 feet from the base of the tree.

Shoot

I have never seen a bear fall out of a tree without giving a person near endless time to walk out from under it if you were dumb enough to stand under it.

Sad result but it’s hard to believe the report is accurate because it’s so dumb of a story as told.
Never trust a journalist might apply here.

quote:

He was 10’ from the tree when hit by the bear. Why didn’t the others ridicule the idiot for being there? Who was in charge of this cluster?

Could be because of ground cover other trees in the area.

That the only clear shot he had was almost directly underneath.

You mention up hill.

Not a lot of that in the area we hunt. Mostly flat.

But we are on the look out for falling bears.

Cannot believe he stood 10 feet from the trunk because that was the only shot. If he did then he stayed right there looking up until the bear landed on him? Darwin Award or suicide I guess.

Wasn't the shooter that was killed.

Sounds like he was trying to get the dogs tied up. The shooter shot to soon

https://www.outdoorlife.com/hu...ear-falls-on-hunter/

A Facebook post from his wife noted that Harvey “wasn’t doing anything wrong he was just getting his dog!”

That makes more sense.