This is a great example of how the way someone handles an animal encounter can mean the difference between life and death. After discovering a moose in the middle of the trail, a snowmobiler attempts to scare the massive animal off quickly.
After discovering a moose in the middle of the trail, a snowmobiler attempts to scare the massive animal off quickly. That doesn’t necessarily work out, especially since moose can be pretty stubborn when it comes to getting in a hurry when they don’t feel like it.
Inching forward and yelling, the snowmobiler continues attempts to try and make the massive animal back down, despite the fact that the moose appears extremely agitated. It finally charges the snowmobiler, but quickly stops and backs off. It then charges a second time and makes contact with the snowmobile before retreating. It’s at this point the guy pulls out his Glock and shoots the moose as soon as it appears to be coming back for round three.
The moose goes down hard and we’re assuming it dies, although most likely not immediately since the snowmobiler drives past it and doesn’t make sure he finishes it off.
Out of all of the ways this guy could’ve handled the situation, he probably chose one of the worst. A little patience would’ve paid off here and put him in a much safer situation. If either of those initial charges had involved the moose jumping over the snowmobile, things would’ve ended much worse for the hunter.
We’re not saying he wasn’t within his rights to put the moose down, it’s just that this encounter could’ve likely been avoided entirely with a slightly different approach.
Was he justified in shooting the moose or should he have handled it differently? Tell us what you think.
