West Virginia Mountaineer mascot reprimanded after he kills bear with school-issued musket

This Saturday Sept. 22, 2012 file photo shows West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot Jonathan Kimble is seen during the NCAA college football game between West Virginia University and University of Maryland in Morgantown, W.Va. A video showing Kimble using his mascot rifle to hunt bear has gone viral. / AP Photo/Brian Ach

CHARLESTON, W.Va. The musket toted by West Virginia University's Mountaineer isn't just a prop — it's a bona fide weapon, and mascot Jonathan Kimble demonstrated that when he brought down a black bear with it in the woods.

Now WVU has ordered Kimble to stop using his university-issued weapon on hunting trips after a video of this week's kill was posted online. He says hunting with the gun is a Mountaineer mascot tradition.

The 24-year-old Franklin resident accompanied more than a dozen friends and family on the trip in Pendleton County on Monday. In the video, Kimble is shown firing the musket at the bear in a tree.

"Let's go Mountaineers!" Kimble yells afterward. He also posted a photo of himself with the bear on Twitter.

The WVU mascot wears buckskin and a coonskin cap and fires the musket — loaded with black powder but minus ammunition — at home athletic events and other sponsored activities. Hunting isn't one of them.

"While Jonathan Kimble's actions broke no laws or regulations, the university has discussed this with him, and he agrees that it would be appropriate to forego using the musket in this way in the future," said WVU spokesman John Bolt.

Kimble said Friday that he's been hunting all his life and this was the first black bear he's ever killed. He said all his friends have congratulated him for that.

"Hunting can be a controversial topic," Kimble said. "I apologize to any of those who took offense to the video. It definitely wasn't my intent to offend anybody."

Kimble said he taking the musket on hunting trips has become a tradition with the mascots.

"Other Mountaineers have gone and shot multiple deer with it before. I've taken it with me deer hunting before, also."

Some WVU fans stood behind Kimble on Friday.

"This is a smart young man from West Virginia who did nothing wrong, who was celebrating who he is," said Robert Hickman, who holds two degrees from WVU and lives near Fairmont.

"If you're from West Virginia and you love the outdoors, or if you hunt or don't hunt, or if you fish or don't fish, it is a celebration of this state. As a former WVU graduate, I'm thrilled to death with him. Happy as can be."

The Mountaineer mascot first appeared at athletic events in the 1936-1937 school year. The Mountaineer is selected each year and the mascot's outfit is custom tailored to fit the winner.

Last February, the bearded Kimble was chosen from among 13 applicants.

[JoshT304]

Hunting bear isn't illegal. The hunting of wild game helps to control the population. Hunting is regulated and controlled. By hunting and killing animals according to the laws of the land, it actually helps the environment. Man was made to hunt. The only problem was that he used a school issued gun. There is nothing wrong with killing an animal. Animals are not people. They are here for our food and our sport.

[DontTreadOnMeTx]

Good for him and that rifle.

You libs can go EAD!

[pwgrant]

Headline: "...using gun..."
nice grammar CBS.
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WVU mascot told to stop firing musket at wildlife
West Virginia orders mascot to stop using his school-issued weapon after video showing him using gun to hunt bear goes viral

[rwsmith29456]

I don't think it's a big deal but nowadays I see how people could make a big deal out of it.

[johnkennedytoole]

there is just something wrong with someone who would want to shoot a bear for no good reason except to shoot him - but "this is a smart young man from West Virginia" according to a man "who hold two degrees from WVU" .. hoo boy .. where do you start? ......all I can say is I've done some things and realized how stupid it was later .. there's always hope I guess

[krj9]

Hunting for food is one thing. I'm all for it. Something wrong in shooting a black bear out of a tree. Just seems kind of simple minded. Nothing gained from it but a dead bear that was scared to death. Next time, eat it. You eat what you kill

[margieboy]

i think the main issue here would be the school's liability for giving this guy a gun and having him accidentally shooting someone while out hunting. 'Cause it can happen. Or the gun could blow up in his hands.

I also wonder if it's rifled or not 'cause killing a bear with just a black powder basic musket is not easy.

[elliesamericana]

I am glad to see he has been told never to do this again. People do not seem to want to use the word murder for killing a defenseless animal, but murder it is. I think there may some positive outcomes from the senseless act of this animal assassin taking a life going viral on you tube. In our comfortable lives, we often are insulated from atrocities that take place in our society. Hopefully, this is a step towards ending the senseless killing of innocent animals trying to make a living in their own habitat. West Virginia will be some time getting past this shameful act. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.

[john92021]

maybe a bit too insulated.

[pwgrant]

Routan1: First, it's safe to say, that as Medical Officer, he probably didn't kill anyone. Secondly, he is brought an injured human being, his Hippocratic Oath obligates him to tend to anyone's wounds.

Ellies.: Rest assured, a black bear is NOT defenseless. Finally, I find both of you using your past military service as a signature of such a topic is disrespectful.

[formerlyluvnut]

OMG...talk about blowing things out of proportion. Lighten up people.

[petesis]

What is wrong with this? I am assuming hunting bear was legal when he did it? If he had a tag, what is the difference if he used this rather nice looking blackpowder weapon....... is it a rifle, a rifled musket, or a musket?

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Merciless killing of a defenseless animal in a tree is what is wrong with it. Just because something is legal it does not make it moral. Slavery used to legal. Senseless taking of life is immoral. This is a black eye for WVA. We used to vacation there to enjoy natural habitat & wildlife, not to see its destruction. Had I been there I would have stood between this killer and the poor animal in the tree. Let's see if this coward would have shot me. This poor excuse of a human being is worse than an animal. These "sport" killers should be hunted themselves.

[pwgrant]

Be assured that a black bear is NOT defenseless.

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RETIREDARMY_NURSE replies: Merciless killing of a defenseless animal....

[kurn3]

What an a**hole