Man, 36, dies after shooting self with bow
Friday, September 12, 2003
By JAN H. KENNEDY Repository staff writer

LAKE TWP. — Jim Bender was looking for the big elk buck of his dreams when he accidentally shot himself with his bow. The arrow cut a large artery in his leg, and he bled to death.

His body was found Sunday by scent-trained dogs, said Melody Skinner, sheriff’s dispatcher in San Juan County, Colo.

Bender, 36, of Lake Township went to San Juan County with his Akron friends Forest Simmons and Gene Foster. The bowhunters were looking for trophy elk, a longtime dream of Bender’s.

His friends reported Bender missing Sept. 4, but said he was prepared to camp overnight if he was on the trail of a large bull elk. By afternoon of the next day, rescuers, including many volunteers and a helicopter, began searching for Bender, but had no success, Skinner said.

“On Monday, the temperatures rose, a little wind came up and the humidity was high, which is favorable for carrying scent,” she said. “They decided to bring in the air-scent dogs, and one of the dogs went to him during a wind shift when they were walking the area.”

Bender had shot himself in his right leg, Skinner said. The arrow pierced his femoral artery. He pulled the arrow out, further cutting the artery, Skinner said. She believes he died within minutes.

Cindi Bender said her husband loved the outdoors and his family.

“It’s a tragic accident,” she said. “As horrible as it is, he died doing something that he loved.”

Jim and Cindi Bender had four children, Brock, Cole, Whitney and Taylor. Bender also is survived by his parents, James and Charlotte Bender of North Canton; sisters and brothers-in-law Karen and Ken Walters of Massillon and Dee and Tom Feller of North Canton; brothers and sisters-in-law Kevin and Tara Bender and Terry and Kim Bender, all of North Canton, and Nick and Mel Nichols of Dennison; and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

The funeral service is Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Jackson Friends Church.
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This guy only lives minutes from where I used to live. I don' t know him but feel bad for his family.