We typically think of bear attacks in backcountry locations when we hear news about a hunter being mauled in the wild. However, a Georgia hunter recently discovered that a vicious attack can happen anywhere and at anytime. And it’s not always the bears and big cats on the attack. In this case, it was a pack of dogs doing the damage.
The 61-year-old Georgia hunter requested to be known simply as, “Scott B.” He was attempting to relocate a treestand when the attack by 3 dogs occurred.
The man was removing straps from his ladder stand when he saw the dogs approaching.
“One of them came in and attacked me. When it did, the other two joined in. They were attacking me from three sides. It was kind of like wolf-mentality.”
Realizing his phone was left back on his ATV, Scott knew he was in trouble. He attempted to scream for help, but was too far away for anyone to hear him. His next move was to grab a stick to defend himself from the attacking dogs. His efforts kept the dogs backed off enough to allow him to run to another nearby ladder stand for refuge.
“As I was going up the ladder stand, I told myself that I really needed to hold on tight to the rungs because the dogs are going to be jumping on my backside and trying to pull me down,” says Scott. “And if they did, I’d probably never get away.”
Thirty minutes passed, and the dogs finally left the scene, only to return when they heard Scott climb down from the stand. He quickly climbed back into the stand and waited another 30 minutes. This time, the dogs seemed to be gone for good. Scott quietly climbed down from the stand and escaped to a nearby highway where he was able to flag down a vehicle and seek help in getting to the hospital.
Scott said the attack lasted nearly 15 minutes and left him with 298 puncture wounds and a severed ligament in his hand. As for the dogs, they weren’t so lucky. All 3 dogs (2 pit bulls and a German shepherd) were euthanized. The owner of the dogs was also ticketed for possession of dangerous animals.
The hunter says the attack won’t keep him out of the woods, but he’ll be better prepared in the future with a side arm, pepper spray, or friend at his side.
