Hunter Uses Pistol To Shoot Charging Bear

A man used a pistol, in part, to take down a massive bear.

Generally speaking, you need some serious firepower to take down a bear due to its massive size, strength and muscle makeup. You don't want to find yourself in a showdown with a bear and be unarmed or only have a small pistol.

However, in a pinch, you have to work with what you have, and that's what happened to a hunter in Alaska.

Man goes viral after taking down a bear with a pistol in Alaska. (Credit: Getty Images)

Hunter shoots charging bear with a pistol.

Hunter Tyce Erickson shot a massive Kodiak bear charging him using an M&P10MM after initially wounding it with a rifle. Yes, the man used a 10mm pistol to put the wounded bear down after it had been shot a couple other times with rifles - including at least once by the guide upon finding it.

Check out the incredible photo of the bear after it was taken down below, and let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

If you want to listen to Erickson break down how the entire process unfolded for him to take down the bear, you can listen to a podcast here.

The short version is that they were tracking the wounded animal that had Tyce had hit with a rifle first, it essentially jumped them, the guide fired two shots from a rifle - at least one hit - and then Tyce Erickson "unloaded" his 10mm on the bear upon it staying up and moving.

I used to live in Montana where bears are common, and I've spent plenty of time in the Wisconsin wilderness. This is a prime example of why you never go out into nature unarmed.

What sounded like a standard hunting trip turned into the story of a lifetime because a Kodiak bear charged them. Does the bear die from the previous shots if Tyce never fires the 10mm? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know, and that's a good thing. At a minimum, always have some kind of gun on you. A pistol is better than throwing rocks, and for those of you who don't know, a 10mm can pack a punch.

A hunter took down a bear with a pistol in Alaska. (Credit: Getty Images)

Props to Tyce Erickson and the guide for getting the job done and putting in some great pistol and rifle work on a bear that could tear a human limb-to-limb if it wanted to. Let me know what you think of the picture at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.