450-pound bear bites NC hunter's leg in Maine

[September 30, 2011]  MACHIAS, Maine (AP) -- A North Carolina bear hunter says a 450-pound bruin pinned him to a tree and bit his leg after being shot in Maine.

Paul "Pudge" Lyndon McFalls was on an annual hunting trip with relatives and their dogs when they spotted the bear Thursday morning. The 39-year-old from Tuckasegee tells the Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/pOGB0m) that he shot the bear when it got within 20 feet of him.

McFalls says the bear fell down but soon stood up. McFalls shot the bear twice more, and it lunged at him. He says the animal shook his leg "like a dog with a bone."

He reloaded his gun and shot the bear a fourth time, killing it.

McFalls suffered gashes and puncture wounds. He says the bear is going on his wall.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangordailynews.com/

[Associated Press]

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