Always reload your gun and approach the down animal with caution recognizing the possibility the animal is not dead. Mr. Hensley failed to do this and he was attacked by a bear he shot.
The attack occurred about 9:30 a.m. on Friday on a private tract of land near Harriston, outside of Grottoes, while Hensley and three friends were hunting.
Hensley was attacked after shooting the bear, said Deputy W. Breeden of the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
After shooting the animal, Hensley approached the bear, thinking it was dead.
The bear injured Hensley on several areas of his body, but hospital officials would not release specific details about his injuries.
No other injuries were reported in the incident.
The three friends staved off the bear, according to reports of the incident.
“Since they only have one shot a piece they said they had to beat the bear with their rifles,” said Nathan Combs, of Waynesboro, who was near the scene on Friday.
Luckily for him there were others there to help him and he is now on the road to recovery.
The condition of a Grottoes hunter was upgraded to “good” over the weekend after he was mauled by a 600-pound black bear on Friday.
