A Florida man has been released from the hospital after being severely bitten by a 350-pound black bear while hunting in south Georgia, authorities said.
Mitch Canady was among a group of hunters "actively pursuing the bear with hounds" when the incident occurred Saturday near Suwannoochee Creek in Clinch County, Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Rick Lavender told the AJC.
"One hunter shot the bear twice with buckshot, striking the animal," Lavender said.
"The shooter and victim approached the bear and it was shot again," Lavender said. "As they approached even closer, a hound flushed the bear in the direction of the hunters and the bear knocked the victim to the ground."
Lavender said that the bear then bit Canady, "causing the most serious damage to the wrist area." Canady also sustained puncture wounds to his chest and pelvic area, Lavender said.
"While the victim was on the ground with the bear on top of him, the other hunter pulled and kicked the 350-pound animal off of the victim and was able to shoot the bear a fourth time, killing it," according to Lavender.
Canady was airlifted to Shands Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., for treatment. A hospital spokesman said Friday morning that Canady had been released overnight.
The south Georgia bear hunting season opened on Sept. 29 and runs on weekends through Oct. 15.
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