Loyal dog protects hunter’s body on last outing together

[Becky]

RIP to this hunter, anyone know him or what happened? Died doing what he loved to do most likely but too young.

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — A dog protecting its owner wouldn’t let a manager at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge approach the duck blind where the hunter had fatally collapsed.

The Clark County sheriff’s office says Ridgefield police removed the aggressive dog using a catch pole Tuesday evening and medics confirmed the 54-year-old man was dead, presumably of natural causes.

The Columbian reports the man went hunting at 5 a.m. but didn’t check out at dusk, so the manager went to check on him. A duck he had shot was inside the blind with him.

The dog was held for a family member to retrieve.

http://q13fox.com/2015/01/21/loyal-dog-protects-hunters-body-on-last-outing-together/

[T Pearce]

Thats the way to go I think.
Havent seen a pic of the retriever........ Chessie?

[HntnFsh]

I have a bad feeling its the taxidermist doing my elk. Hasn't been confirmed yet though. Prayers to his family whoever they may be!

[HntnFsh]

Thats the way to go I think.
Havent seen a pic of the retriever........ Chessie?

My guess is yellow lab.

[jasnt]

That's how I'd want to go..... RIP

[jrebel]

I can only think of one way better to go out....but this is a close second.  RIP and condolences to any and all family and friends. 

It is amazing the bond a hunter and his dog has.  The stories of animals and their owners always amazes me. 

[HntnFsh]

As soon as I read this I had a really bad feeling. Everything added up. My heart just sunk. Now I know why. I just read an article confirming who it is.  I haven't known this man for long. But from the first few minutes of the first time talking to him I felt like he was my friend. I don't get that feeling very often. Now I honestly feel like I just lost a lifelong friend. Everything he has been through he has been so upbeat and positive about. Always giving glory to God! He has had some extremely serious health issues. But he told me he was feeling the best he has in years. And was excited to be hunting and doing his taxidermy work again.

I'm not a bit surprised about his dog being there trying to protect him. That is the only lab that I have ever been around that made me nervous. He was obviously an extremely loyal, protective part of the family.

I cant even begin to imagine the amount of pain and anguish that his family is going through. I believe he was just blessed or about to be blessed with a grandchild!

This is very sad. I sure would appreciate it if you would lift this man and his family up in prayers.

HntnFsh

[KFhunter]

Thats the way to go I think.
Havent seen a pic of the retriever........ Chessie?

My first thought too.   RIP


Not a bad way to go albeit too young.  Sounds like he was making the best of things and enjoying all his time he had left.

[HntnFsh]

Heres the article on oregonlive.

Lewis County hunter found dead at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
 
on January 21, 2015 at 10:02 AM, updated January 21, 2015 at 10:18 AM

A Lewis County duck hunter was found dead in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Reserve on Tuesday after he didn't check out of his hunting blind.

A manager at the wildlife refuge found 54-year-old Mark L. Haskins of Onalaska, Washington, facedown in the blind after dusk but couldn't reach him because of Haskin's dog, who was aggressively guarding his body, police said. When Ridgefield police officers arrived and collared the dog, paramedics confirmed Haskins had died.

The cause of Haskins' death hasn't been determined, but he had a medical issue that may have precipitated his death, said Sgt. Fred M. Neiman of the Clark County Sheriff's Office. There was no evidence of foul play or firearm-related injury.

The dog was taken into the custody of Clark County Animal Control until it could be returned with Haskins' family.

[RadSav]

If that is the way I go I hope my friends and family rejoice.  Could there be a better way to go as a hunter?  Our prayers do go out to the family and friends.

[Becky]

As soon as I read this I had a really bad feeling. Everything added up. My heart just sunk. Now I know why. I just read an article confirming who it is.  I haven't known this man for long. But from the first few minutes of the first time talking to him I felt like he was my friend. I don't get that feeling very often. Now I honestly feel like I just lost a lifelong friend. Everything he has been through he has been so upbeat and positive about. Always giving glory to God! He has had some extremely serious health issues. But he told me he was feeling the best he has in years. And was excited to be hunting and doing his taxidermy work again.

I'm not a bit surprised about his dog being there trying to protect him. That is the only lab that I have ever been around that made me nervous. He was obviously an extremely loyal, protective part of the family.

I cant even begin to imagine the amount of pain and anguish that his family is going through. I believe he was just blessed or about to be blessed with a grandchild!

This is very sad. I sure would appreciate it if you would lift this man and his family up in prayers.

HntnFsh

So sorry you lost your friend. This is a nice write up about him, prayers for his family.

[lokidog]

Hntnfsh, when you said taxidermist, my thought immediately went to Mark.

I used to duck hunt and fish with Mark.  The last time I talked to him ( a few years ago) I thought he was getting one of his sons going on most of his taxidermy work because of his health issues.

I've got a few pieces of his taxidermy work around the house.

Condolences to his family.  I'm glad they didn't shoot the dog.

[HntnFsh]

Sounds like his son did some taxi work. But maybe not a lot.

Judging from the work I saw that Mark did I'm. I'm sure you have some beautiful mounts!

[lokidog]

The one's that come to mind are a Pintail, a Cackler, an Eastern Turkey, elk euro, a Barn Owl for my wife's classroom and lots of skins.  He also hiked in with me to help haul out my Margaret bull back in 2001.

We also bought a house and rented it to him in Centralia after he lost his place near Tenino and he was returning home from dinner at our place when he was rear ended by a semi on Old 99.

[ppodpearson]

My wife gets her hair done by his wife. I never met Mark but used to kid my wife about her getting her hair done at the hair salon/taxidermy shop. Everyone I talked to spoke well of him.