‘He Was Just Getting His Dog.’ Virginia Houndsman Dies After a Black Bear Falls on Him in Freak Hunting Accident

On Dec. 9 a black bear fell out of a tree in Lunenburg County and struck a 58-year-old man, who was hospitalized. He died from his injuries four days later, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources confirmed to Outdoor Life.

The hunter, identified as Lester Clayton Harvey, Jr. of Phenix, was hunting with a group who were likely running hounds given the circumstances of the hunt, though that detail has not yet been publicly confirmed. 

While other details from the hunt remain unclear, officials said that the hunters reportedly treed the bear and then stepped away from underneath it. One of Harvey’s companions, VDWR confirms, shot the bear while Harvey was standing roughly 10 feet from the base of the trunk.  Officials say they are not seeking any charges related to the incident at this time. 

A Facebook post from his wife noted that Harvey “wasn’t doing anything wrong he was just getting his dog!”

The exact nature of the accident is unclear, including how large the bear was, what injuries Harvey sustained, or if he lost consciousness on impact. One of his hunting partners immediately began administering first aid, and emergency services were alerted at approximately 9:50 a.m.

After local fire department and EMS personnel arrived on the scene, Harvey was transported by ground to VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, a town in neighboring Mecklenburg County. He was later relocated to Richmond’s VCU Medical Center some 80 miles away. He passed away in the critical care unit Friday.

A self-employed contractor, Harvey was described as an avid outdoorsman and “a friend to all [who] never met a stranger” in his obituary. He is survived by his wife, April, five children, and eight grandchildren. According to Harvey’s Facebook profile, which reflects his love of bear hunting and muscle cars, he was also a houndsman who frequently entered his dogs in competitions with his sons. 

“I went from having the best husband and a man that loved me so much and a man I loved with my heart and soul to being a widow at 48 years old. It’s not fair….” wrote his wife. “…I am trying so hard to keep my faith in God but this has destroyed my life so it’s really kind of hard! You were the best husband! I love you so much and will the rest of my life!”

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Although running hounds can be a contentious issue among locals, Virginia’s bear hunting regulations allow for bear hunting with hounds during the firearms season in limited parts of the state, including Lunenburg County, on every day except for Sunday. Last year, nearly 75 percent of all black bears in Virginia were taken using hounds, according to the VDWR.