Moose Hunter Survives Brown Bear Attack in Alaska

A moose hunter in Alaska experienced a miraculous survival after a brown bear attack, escaping with a shredded jacket, bruised shoulder, and a compelling story. On September 2, Gavin Haakenson was scouting for moose with his friend Ethan Yeager near Alaska’s Killey River when a brown bear charged at him from about 10 feet away.

Haakenson recounted the incident to Outdoor Life, stating, “I heard a noise to my right and there was a brown bear charging me at full speed.” The bear, growling loudly, approached with teeth bared, hitting Haakenson in the shoulder and knocking him down. “The last thing I remember was trying to shoulder my rifle and the bear jumping at me,” he added. “Then I don’t remember what happened.”

Yeager reacted by firing his pistol as Haakenson was pinned under the bear. The animal eventually retreated as Yeager continued shooting. “The whole thing happened in under 10 seconds,” Haakenson shared. “Then we hiked back to the truck as fast as we could, shouting ‘hey bear’ with fear in our voices.”

Remarkably, Haakenson avoided serious injuries. The bear tore through his coat, leaving him bruised and sore, and his rifle sustained damage. He reflected on the event, saying, “I’m glad I blacked out and don’t remember the bear being on top of me.” The thought of the attack’s potential severity keeps him restless.

Wildlife officers searched the area but did not locate the bear. Despite the ordeal, Haakenson has not entirely dismissed the idea of returning to the area. “I’d like to go out and find this brown bear and shoot it,” he admitted, “but how much do I want to make my mother worry? And how angry will this brown bear be when it sees me?”