700 Pound Bear Killed in its Den; Colo. Hunter Under Fire

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Colorado Hunter Under Fire for Tracking 700-Pound Bear to Its Den before Shooting It

(CBS/KCNC/Craig Daily Press)

CRAIG, Colo. (CBS/KCNC) A hunter from Craig may have killed one of the biggest bears ever in Colorado.

But how the hunter bagged his prize is creating quite a controversy, according to CBS affiliate KCNC.

Richard Kendall told The Craig Daily Press that he tracked the 700 pound bear to its den north of Meeker, then waited five hours for it to come out.

When the bear did not emerge, he went in and killed it.

The Division of Wildlife says it has been getting lots of calls from people outraged about how Kendall killed the bear.

KCNC spoke with Randy Hampton of the Division of Wildlife who says the bear kill was not illegal, but it does go against some of the unspoken rules in the hunting world.

"There are certainly ethical standards within the hunting community: Don't shoot ducks on a pond. Don't shoot turkeys on a roost. Don't shoot bears in a den," Hampton told the station.

The Division of Wildlife says the incident will open up a discussion of the issue, and it will present its findings to the wildlife commission.

It will be up to them to decide if what Kendall did will be illegal in the future.

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by devildogsmom January 7, 2011 2:24 PM EST: What a coward! And that smile on his face just makes me sick. Yeah, thats the kind of man I would be proud to be seen with - NOT!! He ought to be prosecuted for just being stupid, yet alone for what he did. And he calls himself a hunter! That beautiful bear probably lived a long time to get that big, and its a shame that some idiot had to end it's life like that. Come on Richard, go home and do your coloring books and have some milk and cookies - AND YOU CAN COME BACK OUT WHEN YOU'RE A MAN !!!; Reply to this comment


by MHMatthews December 31, 2010 9:18 AM EST: Right, the 'American' way. Illegally. Throw the book at this inhumane piece of filth. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law including a fine and jail time. Why should 'hunters' be excluded from punishment for animal cruelty? They have made a 'sport' of it. ANYONE who abuses, exploits, tortures, or kills animals for 'sport', or 'tradition', or 'heritage' is a DISGRACEFUL PIECE OF GARBAGE.; Reply to this comment


by sikandsme December 22, 2010 12:51 PM EST: what a friggin loser. I am not aginst hunting, but I do not consider this hunting. Its B&E with murder to boot.; Reply to this comment

by jennie2456 December 21, 2010 3:23 PM EST

Come on give me a break with the moral supremacy crap! Obviously
this man used his skills to track this bear. I have no problem with
what he did. Bears also break into our homes. There doesn't need
to be a law . Enough already! He should not be punished for being a
good hunter. Those who don't like or understand hunting won't like the
fact that he killed the bear , period.

Reply to this comment


by lifelonghunter December 21, 2010 5:22 PM EST: Come on give me a break! This wasn't hunting this was murder. He happened upon some tracks, then bought a license and shot a sleeping bear. Has your home ever been broken into by a bear? I doubt it; and if so, that's the chance you take living in a rural/mountain area. He is a coward and far from a skilled hunter!


by jennie2456 December 21, 2010 3:21 PM EST: Come on give me a break with the moral supremacy crap! Obviously
this man used his skills to track this bear. I have no problem with
what he did. Bears also break into our homes. There doesn't need
to be a law . Enough already! He should not be punished for being a
good hunter. Those who don't like or understand hunting won't like the
fact that he killed the bear , period.; Reply to this comment

by studso December 21, 2010 1:50 PM EST

I lived in Grand lake stream maine in the 70s when two new york hunters went to the local dump where all the locals would gather to watch the bears. They shot the biggest bear there in front of half the town!!!! We never hunted bears within town limits ever!!! They had to sell the cottage they had bought for hunting because they couldnt get supplies or gas for the lodge!!!!! This is not hunting!!!!!!

Reply to this comment


by Wildwood1966 December 21, 2010 4:15 PM EST: well that taught them a valuable lesson I am sure you undertstand hunting better then I - I have never been around it - may they never find another "hunting cabin" to rent


by sensiblysane December 21, 2010 1:44 PM EST: Nothing like having a man with a gun walk into your home and kill you while you are sleeping. And what a proud smile on the cowardly murderer's face.; Reply to this comment


by idiotforreading December 21, 2010 1:44 PM EST: Jerk... hope a bear eats you while you are sitting on your couch watching tv.; Reply to this comment


by klewt December 21, 2010 10:58 AM EST: What a disgusting excuse for a human being! He's sooo proud of himself because he managed to kill a SLEEPING bear! His other hobbies are taking candy from babies, and knocking canes out from under old people because it's so much fun to watch them fall.; Reply to this comment