Ed Wiseman video interview, last CO grizz

[David Petersen]

#4503

Since there’s such a high interest in bears here this summer, I thought I’d share this interview with Ed Wiseman, the bowhunter who killed what may have been the last CO grizzly–with a hand-held arrow, 1979. To answer the most common question I get from folks who have heard about the incident but not read the book, no, Wiseman didn’t shoot the bear first. It all happened just as he said. Also, toward the end is a few seconds of Ernie Wilkinson, who killed a grizzly here in 1951, two star players in the GG book. It’s a 12 minute vid so grab a cup of coffee or a beer, depending on time of day. If the same side links come up for you as do for me, check out the news report of the massive wildfires burning very near where the Wiseman incident took place. Anyone considering an elk hunt anywhere near Pagosa Springs had better reconsider as it’s all going up in smoke.

http://denver.cbslocal.com/video/7319466-ed-wiseman-grizzly-bear/

[tailfeather]

#31307

With regards to the wildfire, that is some incredible fire behavior. We are (were?) heading to Pagosa in mid-July to camp/fish along the Piedra, and then west to the Durango area, Mesa Verde, etc. Thanks for the link, I’ll be following along for the latest now. Hope those folks in South Fork and others stay safe and can save their town.

[David Petersen]

#31385

Yeah, we were planning a camping trip between Creede and Lake City but now the three fires have grown to more than 42,000 acres and one of them is within 5 miles of Creede, which is on voluntary evacuation notice. The main highway over Wolf Creek Pass is closed in both directions, South Fork has been evacuated and Pagosa Springs is saying to stay away due to intense smoke. From here, maybe 50 straight miles, the plume looks like a nuclear cloud. Damn I wish every time this happens it wasn’t in June when elk calves and muley fawns are being born. After the big fire here in 2002 the mountain behind us was just ash littered with animal skeletons. We have the Smoky Bear tradition to thank for this … that is, us.

[James Harvey]

#31435

Thanks for sharing that Dave. Ghost Grizzlies was an excellent book. I remember well reading about Wiseman lying, mauled, on the edge of a meadow waiting for help to come, directed by an out of state visitor who had no real idea where anything was. I can’t even imagine the internal dialogue that would be going on in circumstances like that.

Do you know what happened to the skin? Did Mr Wiseman keep it or did it go somewhere else? I’m not one for trophy’s but that would be worth keeping I imagine.

Jim

[tailfeather]

#31506

David Petersen wrote: We have the Smoky Bear tradition to thank for this … that is, us.

Yep

[Etter1]

#32783

Coffee and beer have nothing to do with the time of the day.:D

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