Hunting Trip Turns Tragic After Animal Crushes Man to Death

A hunting trip in Virginia turned tragic when a falling bear crushed a member of the hunting party to death.

The incident occurred on December 9 in Lunenburg County, between Richmond and Danville. A group of hunters were tracking a bear when the animal climbed a tree to escape. One of the hunters shot the bear, causing it to fall from the tree and land on another member of the party, 58-year-old Lester Harvey.

Harvey was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Friday. He leaves behind a wife, five children, and eight grandchildren.

According to Harvey's obituary, he was a self-employed contractor who loved the outdoors. A funeral is scheduled for Thursday.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is investigating the incident but is not currently seeking charges. However, Harvey and his party violated state hunting laws by shooting at the fleeing bear. It is illegal in Virginia to "cripple, harm, or dislodge a bear from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, chase, or for the purpose of training dogs."

This incident highlights the dangers associated with hunting, particularly when pursuing large and potentially dangerous animals. In 2018, a hunter in Alaska was critically injured after his hunting partner shot a bear that fell and dislodged rocks that struck the man. A year later, another hunter in North Carolina was injured when his partner shot a bear in a tree. The bear fell, but wasn't dead; it defended itself and began attacking the hunter. The man and the bear then tumbled off a cliff together. The hunter was rushed to a nearby hospital, and the bear was later found dead.