5 year old shoots 445 lb bear
Categories: Kids 5-7, In the news, Weird but true
Maybe it runs in the family? A five year old Arkansas boy who is a descendant of Davy Crockett shot and killed a four hundred and forty-five pound bear while hunting with his grandfather.
Grandpa Mike Merrit was in the stand, but said that young Tre got the bear himself.
"I was up in the stand and I seen the bear," Tre said. "It came from the thicket and it was beside the road and I shot it."
His grandfather didn't think Tre had hit the bear with his youth rifle.
"I said, 'Tre, you missed the bear. He said, 'Paw-paw I squeezed the trigger and I didn't close my eyes. I killed him."'
Tre's father said he began teaching his son to shoot when he was just 2 ½ years old, and said Tre killed three deer last year. The Ballad of Davy Crockett has the legendary pioneer killing his first bear when he was three years old, but not even his descendants believe that part of the rhyming Disney show theme song.
Man, I'm still amazed my kindergartener can hit the toilet!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 20)
Jenn 12-11-2007 @ 8:19PM
I'm sorry, but I think 5 is awfully young to be out hunting. And 2 1/2 is entirely too young to be taught how to shoot. I grew up with my dad hunting, and my husband has been hunting since he was a kid -- but that was at 13.
Of course, I also have an issue with killing anything you're not going to eat....but that's another story!
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decker 12-12-2007 @ 8:37PM
People need to think about population control! what happens when deer or bears start coming to your bedroom windows trying to find food? We live on a preservation, that doesn't allow hunting, but population has been very steady and protected. thats why we are given tags... people who tag out and still hunt get jail time..you need to mark your food in house with cert. number etc. wardens can invite themselves over by picking names out of a "tag-hat". you get the idea.. for some people its a way of life, a way of family time. WE are NOT there after the fact, in what is being said, taught ect., so before we judge maybe we should know all the facts..but i guess thats what makes this country the best, we can.
Wayne Harris 12-12-2007 @ 9:29PM
I grew up in the montains as a kid hunting , mostly rabbit and squirrels. Wasn't lucky enough to bag a deer or bear but have eaten both. Between the two I perferr the bear .With the high cost of food hunting and fishing can save a lot on the food bill.
445 lbs of bear meat is a lot of good eating.Three cheers for the kid.
Dr. Dave the huntin\\\' fool 12-12-2007 @ 10:31PM
Jen, relax. My 5 and 7 yr. old love shooting. My 9 yr old grew out of it by 7. It's okay to have fun, even if it involves firearms used safely. It's not a bad thing for a kid to excel at something. For some kids it's all they've got because firearms are hand me downs and ammo's cheap.
hunter 12-12-2007 @ 10:55PM
Have you ever eaten bear?? My brother-in-law got one this year and everyone loved it.
cole 12-12-2007 @ 10:49PM
it may be young to you but some people live were that is what they know...today i'd rather my kid grow up knowing how and when to use a gun(hunting) rather then being sucked into over rated expensive video games... i mean what do they teach about guns...
l0b0chic0 12-13-2007 @ 12:40AM
How do you know they are not going to eat it. If they are hunters and the boy killed three deer last year. They will more than likely eat the bear as well. Bear meat is good eating. Taste like pork. pretty good cooked with taters and the right spices on the BBQ pit.
Heather 12-13-2007 @ 5:19AM
I was out hunting that young. Our folks thought it best to show us what a gun could do, not hide it to find later to think was a toy and kill someone.
Joy 12-11-2007 @ 9:25PM
I have to agree with Jenn on this one. It would be illegal in my state for this boy to hunt. You have to be 12 just to take the training class. I also don’t have a problem in any way with hunting as long as the “food” isn’t wasted. We have a 14 point buck living on our land and if someone killed it for the trophy, we would be heart sick.
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l0b0chic0 12-13-2007 @ 12:42AM
Where do you live I will the the anters on the ground all I want is the meat. You can't eat the damn antlers.
rebecca Biernesser 12-11-2007 @ 9:44PM
hmmm down here in memphis, I know of several young children that have passed the hunter's safety course. My dad teaches it.
http://www.parislanding.com/tn_hunter_safety_101703.htm
Most of the hunters I know shot an animal not only for sport, but for food. And if they themselves do not eat it, they give the meat to butchers or other people.
I personally think it's pretty neat that he shot the animal and is doing that well at such a young age.
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twofirst1 12-12-2007 @ 9:04PM
I think its good and the Safety training should continue and so should the hunting for food. Just take your time and be careful. Please don't pay any attention to that jail bird burgular that wants to settle every difference of opinion with gun battles and his fists you can always tell the type. See how these bully types of idiots always have to resort to violence when the kids just going hunting with his father in peace. Then this bully type of armpit wants to turn his enjoyment into a gunbattle or a fistfight. All I want is a piece of the steak please. Thank you Mister and Misses hunter people for provideing food for the poor.
taylor 12-12-2007 @ 8:11PM
5 years old is way to yong to be shooting or hunting and whats the point of killing animals there not hurting us i dont think a 5 year old should be holding a gun he could hurt someone and his self.
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troy 12-12-2007 @ 8:47PM
At five years old in other countries....they are teching "THEIER" children to shoot YOU AND ME!!! Let the kid hunt!!!
carl 12-13-2007 @ 1:22AM
do you eat... 'chicken, eggs (unborne chickens), bacon,... oh ... wait .. I see your point ! As long as you dont hear about the actual killing .... Its ok to kill animals. " Gotch-ya".
Marilyn Lester 12-12-2007 @ 8:12PM
I personally think this is disgusting to kill a helpless animal.
What will he kill when he grows up?
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troy 12-12-2007 @ 9:11PM
If it were anywhere "outside of your bubble"...possibly you??!!
Dr. Dave the huntin\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 12-12-2007 @ 11:08PM
Marilyn. I hope your a strict vegetarian.
Dj 12-13-2007 @ 12:56AM
More than likely he will kill another animal. And he will probubly eat fish and stay out of gangs and drugs. I know because I was raised in california around gangs and drugs and I became a part of that society. I moved my family to Idaho and raised my boys here where they both fish and hunt. Neither has done drugs and my oldest is a cop and my youngest is going to be a doctor. Hunting and living the outdoors lifestyle is great. You should try it.
carl 12-13-2007 @ 1:23AM
do you eat... 'chicken, eggs (unborne chickens), bacon,... oh ... wait .. I see your point ! As long as you dont hear about the actual killing .... Its ok to kill animals. " Gotch-ya".