134 Tyler & Chris Johnson – Alaska Bear Attack

Warden's Watch

134 Tyler & Chris Johnson – Alaska Bear Attack

While hunting in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula in August, Tyler Johnson and his father were suddenly charged by a large brown bear. Despite being seriously injured and accidently shot through the leg, the seasoned outdoorsman calmly filmed a video documenting the attack while waiting for rescue. Tyler and his dad join us to share their harrowing story.

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Here’s what we discuss:

• Tyler’s dad Chris is a previous Warden’s Watch guest
• A father and son trip ahead of a planned move to Texas
• Working through dense brush, the pair emerge into tall grass
• Chris hears a guttural growl
• At the last moment, the bear pivots toward Tyler
• Tyler races to unholster his sidearm
• In seconds, the bear is on him
• At some point, he accidentally shoots his left leg
• “Oh… it has a collar.”
• Both men fire at the animal
• Immediate triage
• Tyler’s boot is filling with blood
• Chris applies a tourniquet to stop the bleeding
• Tyler calmly documents the aftermath
• Fifteen seconds
• Preparing the helicopter landing zone
• Rescue is almost two hours away
• Airlifted to Anchorage
• “Wow, this is beautiful. My leg hurts.”
• A gunshot wound on one leg, a large gash on the other
• Chris’ training had kicked in immediately
• Tyler had saved his father in a previous medical emergency
• “Now we’re even.”
• Remained in Alaska for treatment
• Takeaways: Always bring a trauma kit
• Twenty-four rounds were fired
• A small cub is found at the scene the next day
• The Garmin InReach was integral to rescue
• “Gunshot victim, bear mauling... and then the hospital staff just got me.”

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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