Big Kill -- Pictured above, left to right, are Clarence Hughes,
Roe Hughes, and J. T. Dempsey, with a 215-pound bear which they killed Monday on the farm
of Clarence Hughes, located 12 and one-half miles west of Russellville approximately ¾
mile off Highway 24.
“Have you seen the bear?” was a question being asked
most people here Monday. And it wasn’t a joke.
A 215 - pound black bear was shot by Roe Hughes and J. T. Dempsey some 12 ½ miles west of
Russellville and approximately three - fourths of a mile south of Dempsey’s store on
the Red Bay Highway Monday morning.
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Questions concerning the legality of
the kill were unanswered at press time. Present State laws make no provision for
“open season” on bear; however, they do provide for protection of property from
harmful animals. The bear reportedly was seen
crossing Spruce Pine Mountain Road last Saturday.
Clarence Hughes had been disturbed by a commotion among his hogs Sunday night and he and
Roe Hughes investigated, according to Dempsey. “They saw something that night but
could not identify it,” he said.
Monday morning, the two men and Dempsey found the black bear near Hughes’ barn and
put dogs on its trail, running the bear approximately a half to three fourths of a mile
into a thicket along a creek run, according to Dempsey. “The dogs, at first, would
not go in,” he said, “But when they did, the bear came charging out.”
Report of the killing is as follows: “Roe fired three times emptying his twelve-gauge
of rifled slugs, but the bear kept coming, charging on his hind feet. Dempsey then fired
one round from his 30 - 30 rifle and the bear dropped dead.”
The bear measured seven feet in length. It was killed about 6 a.m. Monday.
Marley Bolton, Franklin County Conservation Officer, said the bear might be one of several
released in Bankhead National Forest some three or four years ago.
He said that the bear probably will be given to some school or hospital organization. |