Shooting out on Sultan Basin RD - A night I'll never forget

[jordanwlee]

Hello,
I am writing this as precaution to those out in Sultan/Monroe for bear hunting. I've been ill from what happened to me 2 nights ago and I finally got well enough to write out my story.

I went out hunting on an afternoon stroll on a logging road. Ive hunted this area for years and know it very well. I hiked in about 3 miles and could hear a group shooting their guns at the gravel pit. No big deal. I sat on some logs and called for bear for about 2 hours. The sun was starting to go down and I was going to give it about 20 more min before I headed back. This was my third hunt in the area this week.

All of a sudden I hear gun fire much closer than the gravel pit. It was coming in my direction. I jumped off the logs and hid behind them. I could hear bullets bouncing off of rocks and whizzing over my head. I would yell when the firing stopped (from a semi-auto). I fired off a few rounds. After this was going on for about 15 min, I decided I cant sit here and risk getting hit by these guys. I assumed they had ear plugs on and couldnt here me yelling for them to stop.

I sprinted up the brush and into some wooded area. I knew where the road led and I could cut it off and get there by nightfall. So I thought. For an hour and a half I worked my way through berry bushes, over logs, fell off a log and landed on my back from about 10 feet up. I got out of the wooded area and called my dad. I let him know what was going on and I didnt think I would make it out before night fall. I tried sending a pin of my location but service was bad. It was getting dark. Real dark. I find myself surrounded by trees and thick berry bushes on all sides. I must up the strength to keep going. Covered in sweat. Running low on water and fighting to beat the daylight. At this point its dark. I push through so much brush. Up and down. falling all over the place. I cant see anything. Im feeling and going in the direction I know the road will be. I use my flashlight to go the last 50 yards.

I feel gravel on my feet. I hit the road. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed my girlfriend to let her know im okay. My phone is dead. I'm stuck in pitch black on a road but I cant see which road it is and where it goes. I walk back and forth about 4 times trying to see tree lines, looking for a fork. I fell into a ditch and walked through a creek. It was hopeless. I wasn't getting out of here.

I decided to try and build a fire. I used my knife and got some sticks. Too dark to see what I was doing. I hunker down up next to some trees and burrow down by the trunk. I start cutting branches and building a makeshift blanket/insulation because i was getting cold from the sweat and water fell into.

I waited. Laid there with my handgun and rifle and knife.

I heard sirens. Odd.

About 15 min goes by and I heard 3 sirens go off. I told myself, if they do 3 more, then they might be looking for me. Sure enough, I heard 3 more. They were far off, so I waited for them to get closer before calling out or firing my weapon.

I laid there quite. Hoping they would come closer. Then, I heard a huge crack. Then more cracking of an animal walking in the woods. It was about 60 yards away. I've heard this cracking before. This was not a deer popping branches. That was a big f--king bear. I wasn't worried or scared until now. I grabbed my rifle and checked it. "*censored*, the bullet is jammed. Probably from falling and going through all that brush" - my 9mm had 5 shots left - wouldn't do anything but piss the bear off.

Three more sirens. Much closer.

I decided that I could save the 9mm bullets for the bear or get the hell out. It was time to get the hell out.

I fired a round off.

I heard an intercom say "Jordan, if you can hear me, call out"

I fired another round. Then waited.

I slowly got up, hoping the animal got spooked by my gun shots. I looked toward the area where I heard the voice. I could see a faint flicker of light on the trees. Thats the road he's on. I quickly got up and started moving quickly in pitch black. Yelling out. "HELLO!" constantly. He would yell back that he could hear me. I kept yelling and making lots of noise. Working my way about 300 yards through brush down an abandoned road. Another deputy was making sirens go off in the distant, but I was closer to this vehicle.

I tripped all over the place. Looking behind me in case that bear would be there. I kep moving forward until I would see the car. I was greeted by the deputy "You hurt?" "No I don't think so" - my hands and body where completely chewed up from the berry bushes. I'm typing this with antibiotic cream as we speak.

My cousin sent a pin drop of where I was. He knew when my dad asked him. It led the officer right to the area I was in.

I asked the officer what time it was - I figured a little after 11pm -
"Just after 2am" he says.

He gave me a bottle of water and drove me back to my car. We chatted for a while. I was so glad to see him and very thankful he came to search for me. He said he was looking for me for about an hour. It was something I'll never forget.

It was one hell of a night. I'm glad I made it out. If you're shooting, please be aware you might be shooting toward a hunter, especially on an old logging road. My dad is a police officer and was able to contact the Sheriffs department. I got lucky. I am incredibly thankful for the men and women who are involved in law enforcement. Im not sure what would have happened to me that night.

I'm sending the deputy a thank you card and offering to buy him dinner.

EDIT: I'd also like to add, this spot has been a honey hole for bears the past 4-5 years. Really disappointed that so many people go out at shoot in it. I guess I need to find another spot. I drove up to Spada Lake - too many hikers and yuppies on those trails.

[bknilvr00]

Good gravy man! Glad you came out relatively ok on that one. I dunno if I could have kept from shooting back. How far away were they when you first came across them? Seems pretty odd that you moved on and suddenly the shooting gets pretty direct.

[jordanwlee]

The guys who were shooting in my direction were a second group of shooters. I imagine they saw the guys at the gravel pit and decided to move down the road to shoot in the spot they were shooting at. I was at the end of the road, about 200 yards down and they were firing in my direction. The only way out was toward them or sit there and risk being hit. Scared the hell out of me. Sounded like 2 or 3 guys. Semi-autos.

[Buckmark]

Sounds like a bad deal...

Now i am going to be that guy: You were hunting at dusk and did not have a flash light, head lamp etc in your pack? Gps or compass?
What were you gonna do if you shot a bear at dusk and had to look for it, gut it, pack it out..

[jordanwlee]

I had a flashlight with me and it had died. I had the rest of my gear, rope, headlamp, handtruck, etc to pack out a bear in my car. Which was off the road I was being shot at.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Dude that's crazy ..a lot of idiots out there ..had some guys popping off shoots from a road above ..a couple weeks ago ..I yelled at them and they did not think they were doing anything wrong but the road had 3 switch backs on it and I was on the middle road ...Guy needs to pay attention ..glad your o.k .

[D-Rock425]

I don't know what to say.

[D-Rock425]

Glad you're okay.

[Alchase]

Glad you made it out OK.

Good example of why you should always be prepared to spend the night in the woods.
You may have to pack a few more pounds, but guaranteed it would be the difference between possibly a dark cold and wet night and a unscheduled overnight campout.

To be constructive, knowing what you know now, what would you do different?

 
 

[_TONY_]

Glad you made it out OK.

Good example of why you should always be prepared to spend the night in the woods.
You may have to pack a few more pounds, but guaranteed it would be the difference between possibly a dark cold and wet night and a unscheduled overnight campout.

To be constructive, knowing what you know now, what would you do different?

 

Good to hear you got out okay

[steeliedrew]

Wow man. I hunt those hills as well and that's some scary stuff. Glad it worked out ok. Good on ya for letting someone know where you were gonna be. I always tell the wife exactly which gate I park at or usually tell a buddy where I'm going as well.  Guess those guys don't know about shooting against some type of back stop. Scary stuff!

[jason stevens]

My stomping grounds glad your ok and made it out safe.for anyone hunting the basin I live close and my buddy lives on the basin.

[jordanwlee]

Glad you made it out OK.

Good example of why you should always be prepared to spend the night in the woods.
You may have to pack a few more pounds, but guaranteed it would be the difference between possibly a dark cold and wet night and a unscheduled overnight campout.

To be constructive, knowing what you know now, what would you do different?

 

Good to hear you got out okay

My survival skills definitely kicked in when it got dark. Conserve my energy, find shelter, make a fire, spare my water and keep a low profile.

I learned a valuable lesson. Even if you're going out to spot you've hunted hundreds of times, you can't predict things out of your control. Battery dying, flash light dead were not good in my situation. I really wish I would have grabbed a lighter or fire starter from my truck before heading out. Even if you're going out for a short hike from your car, you can't be too careful. I've been hunting that area for 4-5 years and never experienced shooters in that spot. It just takes one time to put your life at risk.

Thanks for letting me share my story. I hope it can help someone else out.

[jordanwlee]

Here is what my hands, torso and legs look like. Feeling sick and nauseous the past 2 days.

[grizzlyadams]

What happened to the no shooting law the county passed out there? I see signs out that way that say no shooting. What's wrong with people? Dang shooters have ruined one of my honey holes too. Not only are most of these guys dangerous with their lack of attention to safety and neglect for the law. They trash the areas they shoot in leaving garbage, broken shooting clays, and discharged casings everywhere. I report them whenever I see them and will continue to do so.  Glad you came out with only scratches. I know that sound of bear crashing through the woods. Couldn't imagine only having a 9 mm In the dark with no light or fire. Not so much top of the food chain at night without the proper tools. That would be an aery feeling no doubt!!!

Did the officers say anything about patrolling for illegal shooters more in that area?

[shorthair15]

 man im glad your ok!

[MADMAX]

Glad your Ok
thats insane

Wow

[troyspinetar]

Glad you're ok! Hope you heal up quickly to get out hunting again soon.

[saylean]

Very glad to hear your alright. I hunt out there often, and it could easily have been any of us in your shoes. A good reminder, hypothermia cases often happen in late summer, as people are unprepared for getting wet (I'm not speaking ill of the author by the way). Be careful out there ladies and gents. Those hands look painful.

[CAMPMEAT]

Here's something that is very cheap insurance: Buy a PLB for $250. It's a personal locator beacon. It sends a signal to the emergency crews to come and get you.

[timberghost72]

Ouch, those hands look torn up. No means no  Just kidding. Glad you made it out in one piece. I always have gloves in my pack for the thick stuff.

[splashcaster]

Thank you for sharing your story. I've hunted that area before and could've easily been caught in the same situation. Hopefully we can all learn from your experience, though hopefully none of us will have to experience that situation. Your hands look so painful, I hope you have a speedy recovery and are out hunting again soon.

[Payne]

My biggest fear if this happened to me is that I would loose it mentally and survival skills and rational thinking would not kick in. Sound like you did good... I'm going to go make me a survival backpack now. Thanks for sharing and thanks for living!