CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The musket toted by West Virginia University’s Mountaineer isn’t just a prop — it’s a bona fide weapon, and current mascot Jonathan Kimble showed just that when he went into the woods to take down a black bear.
Now WVU has ordered Kimble to stop using his university-issued weapon on hunting trips after a video of this week’s kill was posted online.
The 24-year-old Franklin resident accompanied more than a dozen friends and family members on the trip in Pendleton County on Monday. In the video, Kimble is shown firing the musket at the bear in a tree.
“Let’s go Mountaineers!” Kimble yells afterward. He also posted a photo of himself with the bear on Twitter.
The WVU mascot wears buckskin and a coonskin cap and fires the musket — loaded with black powder but minus ammunition — at home athletic events and other sponsored activities. Hunting isn’t one of them.
“While Jonathan Kimble’s actions broke no laws or regulations, the university has discussed this with him and he agrees that it would be appropriate to forego using the musket in this way in the future,” said WVU spokesman John Bolt.
Kimble said after appearing at an elementary school in Harrison County on Friday that he’s been hunting all his life and this was the first black bear he’s ever killed. He said all his friends have congratulated him for that.
“Hunting can be a controversial topic,” Kimble said. “I apologize to any of those who took offense to the video. It definitely wasn’t my intent to offend anybody.”
Kimble said taking the musket on hunting trips has become a tradition with the mascots.
“Other Mountaineers have gone and shot multiple deer with it before. I’ve taken it with me deer hunting before also.”
The Mountaineer mascot first appeared at athletic events in the 1936-1937 school year. The Mountaineer is selected each year and the mascot’s outfit is custom tailored to fit the winner.
Last February, the bearded Kimble was chosen from among 13 applicants.
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Related Photos
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FILE This Saturday Sept. 22, 2012 file photo shows West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot Jonathan Kimble is seen during the NCAA college football game between West Virginia University and University of Maryland in Morgantown, W.Va. A video showing Kimble using his mascot rifle to hunt bear has gone viral. Photo/Brian Ach
WVU mascot told not to use musket for hunting
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