This is such a bitter sweet story. I'm so glad that he was okay, but at the same time the story behind the bear is sad.

jeez, he must react quick. I dont know how I would react in such a crazy situation like that.

Does he get to keep the hide, and or, mount?

bear mace would have been just as effective, too bad they had to blast such a beautiful animal. although i probably would have done the same thing.

Does anyone have a good bear jerky recipe?

looked like the lower lip was a pretty clean cuti think if he took that bad of a fall there would be more blood if it was cut after death it wouldnt blled as much or maybe not at all depending on how long it was dead scary thinking about that happening to someone who carriea a smaller caliber or doesnt carry at all i dont think my three inch pocket knife would put him down thats for sure

No carcasses in the area, ears pinned back and the bear had grass in his molars really makes me wonder? An old bear but I wonder about intestinal parasites and possibly cataracts or other loss of eye sight caused by trauma or disease? Something isn’t right about this one.
Was the shooting justified?
YES, by all counts!

good shooting Mr.Bush. I doubt i could do much better in the same situation. What about the dogs he was walking?

Great Shooting....yes and no....the bear was hungry and the bear chose the closest thing available ...I am an avid hunter but still you have to look at the enviroment that this happened in...neighborhoods where people take for granted that animals will stay away from the commotion and daily rigors of life...and have the smells of trash and food....either way ...when living in a isolated and remote area with such dangers ...you have to accept responsibility for everyones actions ...and so should everybody else ...but it doesnt happen that way...Does It?

Trying to duplicate the shooting and fire the same number of shots in as short a time would be difficult if for no other reason that you wouldn't have the same adrenaline rush to push you to the limit. A jammed revolver, I don't know unless one of the empties backed out of the chamber and wouldn't let the cylinder revolve. I would suspect more of a "Holy sh**t!! I'm out of ammo!" to have occured. I feel sorry for the bear since it was almost definitely on it's last leg but it was his time and am glad Greg Brush came out of the experience alive but, I'm sure, changed to some degree.

I expect the revolver jam was caused by the bullet in the last chamber moving forward in the case due the heavy recoil of the .454 (he had just fired five very heavy recoiling shots). When the bullet moves forward in the case it eventually jams the cylinder and does not allow it to move...therefore jammed revolver. It has happened to me, that's why I put an extremely heavy "factory crimp" on all of my very heavy .44 Magnum loads.

He definitely had enough gun, as Robert Ruark, the African big game hunter, would have advised. Good show!

Mr Brush, I'm glad to see you survived your experience to help educate others to the hazards of living in bear country. The condition of the animal explains a great deal as to the reason for the attack. Even the most powerfull and dangerous animals decline with age and illness and survive by taking advantage of easier to aquire meals. This was obviously not the wisest decision ever made by this bear. I commend you on your shooting skills with such a heavy weapon (I myself am more comfortable with my .44 mag). Your concerns are well placed as to the outcome of a confrontation between such an animal and another member of your family. It could have had a very different and tragic outcome. Years ago I remember an artical in F/S where the merits of different weapons where tested in the event of a simular situation and it was determined that MOST people would not have the presence of mind to steady and fire a large handgun or rifle effectively and that the best weapon to carry was a short barreled pump-action shotgun loaded with hi quality slugs for maximum stopping power, speed, and deployability. (This was before the advent of PEPPER/BEAR SPRAY) I guess what I'm trying to say is you prepair and train your family for the area you live in and the situations that could happen weather you live in the wilds of ALASKA or a BIG CITY. No-one lives in a vacume and just because your paranoid doesn't mean something or someone isn't out to get you. BE PREPAIRED.

Had this same incident occurred in Canada where we don't have the right to carry, the man would've been killed and eaten. Great job, Mr. Brush!

If I was going into bear country, I would carry at least a 454 Casull revolver......

That is a big freaking bear

That is a true blessing you are able to tell your story!

Bear mace? On a bear that is silently attacking, bent on eating you? Unfortunately I don't think that would have worked. Think maybe a quick death is better than starving to death eating grass? Too bad though, bet he was a beautiful animal in his prime!

Thank the Lord for your hearing. And remember - you will always be able to draw and fire faster in an emergency that you can ever do in practice. Adrenalin is a powerful chemical. As someone else posted, Carry, carry, carry. it is what saved the day.

always carry a sidearm when going into bear country

From the look of the lower lip in the picture it might have been injured and unable to feed well. It was starving and did what it thought it needed to do. Do not feel bad about killing it. Northwest of you a young man was killed on a seismic crew several years ago. It was winter and the crew walked past the bear's den. It let the first one pass and attacked and killed the second one with a bite to the skull. Twenty or so years ago a local outdoor writer, Craig Medred (ADN) had a bear charge him on the other side of the river from you and he was able to stop the charge with his Freedom Arms .454 Casul and one of the bullets backed out and jammed the cylinder. It takes a strong crimp to hold the bullets in the cases so they won't back out under recoil. It seems worse if you have a light grip on the pistol as it free recoils more violently. People will say you are lucky, but remember "chance favors the prepared mind". Sometimes the hide will be tanned and auctioned off by ADF&G if it is salvageable. How long did it take for the adrenalin to wear off?