Sullivan East Student Goes Deer Hunting, But Encounters Bear
Published: December 3, 2008
Updated: December 4, 2008
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Logan Morrell had waited months for the chance to go deer hunting with his cousin.
The fall weather was inviting, the anticipation intense.
After finding their usual private spot in Sullivan County, Logan began his vigil in the tree stand while Brian Morrell ventured into the woods.
Just before darkness fell, the sense of calm was interrupted by something wild.
Logan, 15, spotted something moving twenty yards away. It wasn’t a deer. Far from it.
“Yeah, it was different,” Morrell said. “My cousin said there were bear around in that area, but I had never seen one in my whole life.”
As the curious object moved within 15 yards of his tree stand, Logan was jolted by the unusual sight.
It was a 150-pound, four-foot-long black bear.
There was no time for contemplation. It was time for Logan to rely on his instincts.
“The bear walked right up behind me in the tree stand,” Morrell said. “He didn’t even know I was there.
“I just turned around and got ready.”
On the first attempt from his crossbow, the 5-foot-7, 120-pound Sullivan East sophomore connected with a clean shot just behind the shoulder.
The arrow came from an elevation of approximately 15 feet.
Startled by the thud-like noise from the crossbow, 30-year-old Brian Morrell hustled out of the woods to check on his cousin.
Logan had just passed a rite of manhood, albeit in unique fashion.
“I didn’t have time to get nervous,” Morrell said. “Everything happened in a few seconds.”
Needless to say, Logan felt a sense of exhilaration.
“I couldn’t wait to get off the stand and look at the bear,” Morrell said. “We couldn’t find the bear that night since it was so dark, so we went back back the next day to look for it.”
The bear is now awaiting floor mounting at Critter’s Taxidermy in Bristol, Va.
Since that adventure-filled Saturday afternoon on Oct. 4, Logan has shared the tale in his low-key fashion.
“My friends think it’s pretty cool,” Morrell said.
As for his parents, the emotions range from pride to relief.
“I wasn’t really worried about Logan,” Morrell’s father, Terry, said. “He’s a pretty good shot, and he was up in the tree. Logan can outdo me in the woods.
“I’ve actually never seen a bear in the woods, and I’ve been hunting for 20 years. My nephew [Brian Morrell] was wanting to get a bear, but this was Logan’s chance.”
Logan has accompanied his father on hunts since he was seven years old. Over time, Logan has come to relish the 5 a.m. wakeup calls, bone-crunching cold and lengthy waits.
The continuation of a family tradition is what really makes Terry proud. Terry Morrell has even purchased a Lifetime Sportsman’s License for his son.
“I started hunting with Brian when he was Logan’s age, and now Brian is taking Logan on hunts,” Terry Morrell said. “It’s good to see that cycle continue.”
Sherry Morrell has confidence in her son’s savvy and accuracy in the woods.
“Logan is a very dedicated outdoors boy, but he did make me a little nervous and scared when he called about the bear,” she said. “I thought he was just joking at first. Logan knew what he was doing, though.
“I did tell him that he wasn’t going back the next day.”
Logan is already plotting and planning his next adventure. Morrell harvested his first deer two years ago during bow season.
“My father got me interested in archery two years ago, and I’ve just gradually improved,” said Morrell, who also participates in muzzleloader hunting season. “My father and I are going hunting again in about two weeks, and I can’t wait.”
Logan said he’s eager to discover what lurks in the woods.
“I had never even thought about shooting a bear before this,” Morrell said. “Things just turned out that way.”
(276) 645-2544
Who: Logan Morrell
Age: 15
What: Bear hunting
Where: Sullivan County, Tenn.
Notes: The Morrell’s are members of Kettlefoot Rod and Gun Club in rural Bristol, Va. Logan also hones his archery skills at the Miller’s Outdoors archery range in Piney Flats, Tenn.
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Reader Reactions
kcsbald, so you believe in God.
I doubt that God approves of that kid killing that bear for the sport of it.
Case closed if you really do believe in God.
ouch! did i hit a nerve or what! ok - lets see - where do i start! first - yes - people do steal - not sure that has anything to do with the topic! i am a law abiding, license carrying man who follows the letter of the law! yes, humans did take the animals land! you must live in a concrete jungle! if i remember - WE took the land from the indians - and the lived OFF THIS SAME LAND, hunting buffalo, deer, bear, etc .... just to survive!
now - lets see, why do i have to go all the way to africa? there is a disease that the deer are getting! its called “chronic waste disease” ........ it comes from OVER POPULATION of deer in an area! they waste away for lack of food, getting too old, etc .....
secondly - this is a world that is in trouble! but mostly - its a country that is slowly but surely destroying itself from with in! we are too concerned about taking God out of everything and the wondering why we have so much crime and law breaking going on HERE -
ok - now lets try this - - - theres more people killed by cars then guns, lets take away the cars! more people killed by drunk drivers - lets take away the alcohol! more people killed by drugs and drug related activity - get rid of the drugs! more abortions done yearly - get rid of the aborters! more people die from doctors mistakes - get rid of the doctors, .........
ive had, and will continue to have guns! not one of them shot a single bullet WITHOUT me pulling the trigger! guns dont kill people - PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!
by the way - i asked you IF you ate hamburger/steaks??? have you ever witnessed a cow or pig ever being “put down” for the meat! talking of inhumane!!!! fense em in, put them in a “rack” where they cant move, then take a gun like device that has a plunger attatched to it, and they shoot/ram the rod in their head! now aint that lovely!
by the way - im a professional working man with college education and degrees, who also am a God loving, people loving, non-judgemental christian!!! the only life I AM INTERESTED in taking is also eaten by me for food! i love deer meat, have ate bear, love elk! i also do love a good steak more often than not!! im pro-life, NOT pro-choice, i am for the death penalty and am also am for punishing the law breaker instead of the law abider! looking forward to your comments! again - LOGAN - I AM PROUD OF YOU AND WOULD PROUDLY SHAKE YOUR HAND WHILE SAYING “GOOD HARVEST MY BROTHER!!!“
Fantastic post hpd, everyone wants us to get a life, strange coming from people who are only interested in taking lives.
kcsbald, the bears didn’t build the roads, and build homes where they live, we intruded on their habitat.
That bear was not bothering anyone in their home either, and may never have. That bear may never have come anywhere close to a road.
People get hit by cars every day more often than bears, or deer. Maybe we should hunt them too, so they don’t cause accidents.
People break into homes every day and steal, and risk the safety of others too. Let’s hunt humans too, and make our roads and homes safer!
It’s your logic, not mine.
Hey kcsbald, I am honored that you would take the time to write to me. I am sure it must quite a challenge for you.
I think I have a much better idea for you and your type. I am looking to put together a boat load of people who get off on killing anything that walks. The world is in trouble and there is a population explosion that could really use their help.
There is disease and famine that is crippling millions of creatures and they are devastating millions of acres and contaminating the soil and rendering it useless.
We are loading up a tanker full of pick-up trucks and shotguns and will be selling license so that the kills can be used to rehabilitate the land that has been destroyed.
The trip will have to go all the way to Africa, and the quarry will be aids infected, so even though most hunters enjoy the spray of blood, I would advise against it. But blood will be no less red, and the pain and fear will be no less or more either, so the “Big Excitement” of playing God will be just as real. But the scream of pain and the thrill of death will be there in multitudes.
And instead of killing animals here that are just barely making a grasp of an existence, or one that is just a baby, they will actually be doing the world some good. The only requirement is you have to be able to say “Yee Haw”
Here we go again!!! This is actually for Eddie107 ...... GET A LIFE!!!!! Why in the world would you make such a comment! What is sad is that there IS NOT ENOUGH hunter to kill bears, deers, etc ..... so instyead - we must use our cars! Loiok on the side of roads - those beautiful lovely deer -KILLED BY A CAR! Bears - same thing! The saddest part of this story is that this child didnt get a pat on the back for “harvesting” a bear this year - instead of said bear intruding our homes and destroying our property - or worse, killing our pets or worse yet - our children because their hungry! Get over yourself, and realize that this is needed for the food chain! Next time you cut into your steak, or bite into your hamburger - remember those beautiful cows DIDNT run wild - they were raised to eat, supply milk, etc ........ Also - I would take a bet that you probalbly believe in abortion, but are against the death penalty! I’ll stop here on that!
To the hunter - CONGRADULATIONS SON - JOB WELL DONE!GOOD LUCK IN FUTURE HUNTS!!! OVER LOOK THE IGNORANCE OF A FEW - AND ID LOVE TO SEE YOUR NEW “MOUNT”!!!!!
This is the saddest story I have read in years. It is so sickening that a creature, even one so small, has to be butchered for no reason at all. I hope this boy realizes what he has done and it haunts him till the day he dies.
Well, it’s a good thing he killed that dang bear! I her they sneak into homes, steal infants, and eat them.
We sure don’t want any of that in Sullivan county.
Kill all of them dang bears before they eat all of our infants, I say!
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