Do any of you have any more info on the below story.

It's a good thing Davy Crockett didn't grow up in Alberta."

"A hunter who claims he shot a grizzly bear in self-defence has been charged by the Alberta government."

"Joe Lucas ... has been charged with five counts under the Parks Act and the Wildlife Act."

"'The reasoning behind the charges is it has been shown the bear may not have been shot in self-defence,' Alberta Parks spokeswoman Erin Mikaluk said." ...

"[Lucas] is charged with unlawfully hunting wildlife, unlawfully possessing wildlife, unlawful discharge of a firearm, failing to ensure a firearm in a wildland provincial park is unloaded and fully encased and unlawfully destroying a bear. Each charge carries a fine of up to $100,000." ...

Is this the same convicted poacher that was in another thread here??

Here is the link from the Calgary Herald

Grizzly shooter says he had to kill bear to save son
Tanya Foubert, with files from Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald., For The Calgary Herald
Published: Thursday, May 08, 2008
A man charged after he shot a grizzly in Kananaskis Country says he killed the bear only because his 13-year-old son was in danger.

Joe Lucas, a Canadian calf roping champion from near Carstairs, has been charged with five counts under the Parks Act and the Wildlife Act.

But Lucas said he had no choice but to shoot the grizzly as it was approaching his son Kyle.


I had my boy there, and the bear was heading almost directly towards him," Lucas said.

"He was 16 yards away, actually, when I shot him. It's not fun being attacked by a grizzly bear, that's for sure."

Lucas said he has fully co-operated with the investigation. He even rode by horseback three hours to his truck to charge his cellphone and call authorities about the death.

"They're wanting me to become accountable for killing that bear," he said. "I wonder who would be accountable if my son was dead or I was dead?"

Lucas was part of a hunting party in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park when he shot the four- to five-year-old grizzly sow on Oct. 21, 2007.

He will appear in Canmore provincial court this summer. He is charged with unlawfully hunting wildlife, unlawfully possessing wildlife, unlawful discharge of a firearm, failing to ensure a firearm in a wildland provincial park was unloaded and fully encased, and unlawfully destroying a bear. Each charge carries a fine of up to $100,000.

"The reasoning behind the charges is it has been shown the bear may not have been shot in self-defence," said Alberta Parks spokeswoman Erin Mikaluk.

"It is something we take seriously, and there is a lot of education on what to do and what not to do and how to avoid encounters with bears."

Mikaluk said the investigation took more than six months because of the large quantity of evidence to collect and analyze.

"The bear, in this case, was a lot of evidence itself," she said.

Mikaluk said the majority of grizzly bear deaths are the result of human activity, and with only 50 in K-Country, their protection is taken seriously.

The executive director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada applauded the decision to lay charges. Jim Pissot said he is encouraged to see the province doing its due diligence to protect the species.

"It seems . . . this person could have taken a number of alternate actions to protect his safety, and shooting the bear was unnecessary," Pissot said. "We likely have fewer than 320 bears in the province outside of parks. Every single bear is critical at this point."

The provincial government suspended the spring grizzly bear hunt for three years in 2006 when experts warned the animal's numbers might be much lower than the 1,000 previously estimated.

Seems odd that he would go through so much effort if he did this deliberately. I bet the next several guys in his situation shoot and leave. Who could blame them?

Yes depending on how this go's it might end up with anouther case of shoot ,shovel, shut up.

In that area it would be very hard to hide what he did. Someone would have found the carcass and an investigation would ensue.

16 meters is damned close, too close for comfort for sure and I probably would have shot it too. However I really think that people misread bears and many are shot in "self defense" when it wouldn't have been necessary.

On our recent trip into Kannanaskis country we were armed with bows but at night there was a big gun beside the sleeping bag. nobody should have to go into Grizzly country unarmed.

the chef

I see this as a way to make it so damn difficult for you, in the event you shoot a bear in self defense, it's easier and more practical to let him chew on you. Same kind of crap you get if you shoot a person in self defense. Joe Lucas comes from a Caroline ranching family and I, for one, trust his judgement that it was necessary. At that distance, your fate can hinge on the blink of an eye.
Grizz

I know Joe and is for damn sure no stranger to pressure,he most likely had things measured pretty close to how it needed to be handled.
It is a damn crying shame that some Govmnt dinks are wanting to make an example of a man protecting his own son.
I am sure hoping that Joe beats this deal, he is a good man and does not deserve this ration of shit for doing what anyone should do in that situation.

If a griz had my son visual and was walking towards him ... I'd demand a trial by jury.

Also the last I knew Joe had been living in Sundre where he had a western wear store, and it was not that long ago that a man was killed by a bear near there.
He most likely had that in the back of his mind at the time and for good reason.

The man did the right thing. I would like to donate to his defence.

I had a Grizzly 10 yards from me in a willow flat in Alaska. I was prepared to shoot if he took the path toward me, but he veered away. There would have been no question about shooting the bear if my child had been there in danger. I have hunted Worldwide and that experience is one of the most awsome in all my hunting. I hope all works out for Joe.

Hawkeye47

Thw Western wear store is actually near Carstairs. According to our local Paper, for what it's worth , a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 5, but I gather he just plead not guilty. He faces charges of unlawfully hunting Wildlife, unlawfully posessing Wildlife, unlawful discharge of a firearm, failing to ensure a firearm in a Wildland Provvincial park is unloaded and fully encased and unlawfully destroying a bear. Surprised they didn't throw in a littering charge as well.
Grizz

Well to be honest Grizz it has been years since I have been in Sundre, but to the best of my memory when you drove in from what I believe was is the Southwest and just after you crossed the bridge his place was just ahead on the right.
As I said though that was a long time ago, and he might have moved since then, or even had two at the time but I know for a fact that he had one there.
I was teaching a roping clinic at a barn just up the river at the time and Joe's store did some advertising for me.

Regardless I am dang sure sorry to hear he is in this pickle, as I said he is a good man and should be commended for protecting his son instead of prosecuted.

You have him confused with Ed Walker, another local Cowboy type guy. I bought lots of packing equipment off Ed and my Buck knife still sits in a case he made by him. That must pushing 20 years ago. The Joe Lucas store is located just off H 2 and is called Westworld. Understandable though, they all hang out together.
Grizz

Well actually Grizz I just must have the stores confused, I qualified for the National Finals in team roping during the same period Joe was roping calves Professionaly.