We always prepare ourselves when hunting season begins every year. Prepared for the inevitability when 2-Tag would never come back home again.
He was named 2-Tag when he was a frightened little cub two years ago, separated from his mommy and caught in a bear trap. When the game warden tagged him, he didn’t realize he was already tagged in the other ear.
He was sent off several times deep into the woods hundreds of miles away. He always made his way back home. Where he belongs.
He stayed here with us in the community as our playful 300 lb “problem child”, terrorizing the dumpsters every morning looking for breakfast.
He was loved, and he wouldn’t hurt a soul.
(Well, last year he did several thousands of dollars worth of damage to a home, ripping off their siding and part of their kitchen wall down to get to water. Hey, nobody’s perfect.)
We thought he would be safe in our private community.
Today, two poachers proved us wrong.
They shot him and his buddy, Goliath. Waiting for them at the dumpsters for an easy kill.
Now before I hear from some asshole drunk biiiiig & tough overly-macho hunter with a big (compensating) rifle who’s going to chime in on “The necessities of hunting”, let me enlighten you on a few facts in this case:
- They were in a private community. That’s against the law. Not to mention a stray bullet could have hit a kid walking to the bus stop, or a passing car on the main road.
- Kill all the fucking deer you want in a few weeks. Personally, I can’t stand them
- Something should be considered a “sport” when both sides realize they’re in the game, and both stand somewhat of a chance of winning
- Just zip it. I don’t want to hear it.
He and Goliath are the bears from “My Cat Puddy“. The pictures above was from when he came by for Samantha’s birthday party in May. He smelled the food and the cake, and came running (even trying his darndest to climb in a window, as I guess we, uhm, forgot to open the door and let him in with the house full of guests from New York… he did get a hat though.).
He was family.
He was loved.
The spineless illegal hunters were blocked by neighbors as they attempted to drag them across the road where it’s legal gamelands. They were held there until security, the game warden and state police could arrive.
Not quite worth it now, was it?
Despite all the fines and possible federal charges they’re facing, it still doesn’t make the kids (and grownups) stop crying…
I just want my fucking bear back.
Eric Brooks
Musician, Programmer, Graphic Designer, Evil Clown - A thorn in the Internet's side since 1997 with no intention of stopping any time soon.
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that seriously sucks!!
I remember you first posting about him…and hope they throw the book at these guys 🙁
Fucking assholes. Pardon my English.
NO WAY! That is one of the worst things I’ve heard in a long time! These people had better be going to jail.
So how did you guys get the illegal hunters to stay at the scene of the crime until the cops came? Did you stick them up with your own weapons? Boy, if that had happened here and people tried to keep the poachers there, a big shootout would probably have ensued…
The asshalf(s) who shot them probably are some small dicked wimps who use the rass guns as phallic symbols…..being inadequately equipped to fire their tiny weiners themselves!
I know how you feel dude.
Thanks everyone.
I wasn’t sure what to expect in the comments. It wasn’t an “anti-hunting” or “pro-PETA” post (lord KNOWS that would make me a hypocrite as I intend to stuff my fat face full of Turkey and Ham on Thurs. I like to think I live in the real world.)
It was merely someone grieving over the senseless death of a friend.
Redeagle and I had this conversation before, and she knew 2-Tag meant the world to me and he was more than “just some bear”. My family and I were looking at his pictures all night and saw a creature with a soul, intelligence, and all he wanted was food and to be left alone.
To answer Mad Bull: No, these were just “recreational dudes” that knew they were in a shitload of trouble. I know the types you’re talking about. Professionals who only value their own lives.
We’re running a petition to get more security in our community. There’s one guard on patrol (who can’t stop crying when this is brought up)… and they can’t possibly cover all of the miles and myriad of ways these hunters can tresspass.
Mostly we’re concerned with the safety of the residents (particularly the children out playing). And I think 2-Tag definitely didn’t die in vain.
Thank you all for your compassion in our time of pain. Every one here got what I was trying to say…
It means more to me than you’ll ever know.
I’m sorry to read this, Eric. its scary to think about how many people in this world think nothing of shooting off a gun in a residential area…no regard for the very terrible and very possible consequences. I hope they get more than just a slap on the wrist.
no way do I think it could be read as ‘anti’ anything…
and after talking with you, he’s probably the only bear I’d ever have wanted to meet
🙁
I’ll miss the posts about him…and sincerely hope with you it was not in vain
very sorry to read this happened…i hope that justice is done here, though i somehow doubt it truly will…while i have no problem with those who hunt for food, i despise those who hunt for sport…there is no sport in involved in shooting an animal with a high powered rifle…too many of these “sportsmen” seem to lack any sense, common or otherwise….so obvious from these geniuses using rifle ina housing community…so thankful no children or for that matter adult residents were shot by accident, by these morons…maybe they will sentanced to a sporting hunt, where they get to hunt a grizzly bear with a knife…that would be fair, just and rather sporting i think.
It übersucks. You should go manhunting.
that just sucks. i’m sorry
want to wish you a happy thanksgiving in spite of!!!!!
Believe me, I thought about it Nicolas…
Deep in the woods, gunfire going off day & night right now… who’s gonna know?
It’s like I shared with Angstman once, I get a real kick out of the “Drunken Redneck shoots his buddy’s nuts off” hunting stories that are all over the papers this time of year.
Thanks Kimberly, you and you family have a great one too!
Unconfirmed rumors have it that the hunter got his vehicles and firearms taken away. Additional charges will come in the autopsy. 2Tag was also under 3 years old… big fines for that.
The only reasonable punishment is a short jail sentence, a stiff fine, and a lengthy community service stint, working at a zoo or other animal-care-related facility.
OFF WITH THEIR FREAKIN’ HEADS, DAMNIT TO HELL.
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid and cruel people can be ~ maybe someone should forget to inform the assholes they are in the “sport” and give them the same treatment they showed towards those adorable bears!!!
I would personally like to be kept informed on the outcome of said poachers. This is really becoming a problem up here, too, and I am gathering, uh, research, … for an op/ed piece, a la Asskickingkana.
Oh -e-, so sorry to read about 2Tag. I remember your posts about him. Cute little thing. While I was reading this present post, I thought of the macho guys polishing their guns and waiting to kill a little bear. Here in lovely NJ, there have been reports of black bears being beheaded and their carcasses left on the road. Real Cute. That’s what they do to Gorillas in Rwanda. In 50 years there will be no more gorillas in that region..
I also have noted that I haven’t seen any raccoons in my yard, and no longer “Ole Man Possum”….I shutter to think what happend to them….
Thanks.
Hopefully, in your case, those guys all went into hibernation at this point. However, I understand there’s a BIG controversy right now over the bear hunting season in New Jersey this year.