Hunter (Benji)

Evil-doer
Full Name	Unknown
Alias	The Hunter The Poacher The Trapper Rugged Outdoorsman
Origin	Benji the Hunted
Occupation	Hunter
Powers / Skills	Gunmanship Mastery of traps
Goals	Turn Benji over to the authorities (indirectly succeeded).
Crimes	Poaching Animal cruelty
Type of Villain	Treacherous Poacher

“	Hey! Get outta here!	„
	~ The Hunter shooing Benji away from the cougar he shot.

The Hunter is the secondary antagonist of Joe Camp's 1987 drama film Benji the Hunted by Disney. He is a rugged outdoorsman who was responsible for the death of the mother of the cougar cubs Benji fostered.

He was portrayed by Red Steagall.

Biography

When Benji comes across a cougar after getting washed ashore, the hunter comes by and shoots the big cat. Benji comes to the cougar's aid and tries to comfort it, but the hunter arrives and chases Benji away before carrying the dead cat to his cabin. Benji later comes across a litter of four cougar cubs and realizes that they belong to the cougar mother that got shot by the hunter earlier, so Benji decides to become their guardian and shield them from predation.

Benji then finds a cabin where a quail is being cooked over an open fire. When the Hunter takes the roasted bird inside, Benji spies two additional dead quails hanging nearby. Benji grabs one of the birds and drags its body back to the den for the cubs.

Benji returns to the cabin to steal another dead quail for the cubs, but the hunter captures him and ties him up. Reading Benji's collar, the hunter recognizes him and plans to turn him over to the rescue party. When the hunter goes inside, Benji tries to break free until a timber wolf scares him. When the hunter comes outside, the wolf runs away. As Benji paces the area as far as the rope will allow, the wolf comes back and a commotion occurs. The hunter comes outside to investigate and the wolf flees, which makes the hunter shoot his gun in frustration. The hunter briefly unties Benji, trying to unravel his rope. Benji grabs the other dead quail in his mouth and runs away, while the hunter unsuccessfully tries to stop him and watches Benji in amusement.

Quotes

“	Hold it, pal!	„
	~ The hunter capturing Benji.

“	Awesome, you know, they got a new reward out for you. It won't be long now.	„
	~ The hunter recognizing Benji by his name license.

“	Sure don't want to turn you loose in the house.	„
	~ The hunter after his encounter with the timber wolf.

“	You want to show me how you did this?	„
	~ The hunter questioning Benji about the mess Benji made after his encounter with the timber wolf.

“	Now you stay put until I get this mess sorted out.	„
	~ The ordering Benji to stay, while he cleans up the mess.

Gallery

The hunter preparing to shoot the cougar mother.

The hunter chasing Benji away from his kill.

The hunter carrying the dead cougar.

The hunter cooking a dead quail.

The Hunter capturing Benji.

The hunter tying Benji to a tree.

The hunter promising to Benji that he will be turned over to the rescue party.

The hunter ordering Benji to stay.

The hunter rushing out of his cabin to shoot at the timber wolf.

The hunter aiming at the timber wolf.

The hunter frustrated at his failure to kill the timber wolf.

The hunter questioning Benji about how he managed to tangle his rope with the chairs.

The Hunter cleaning up the mess.

The hunter noticing Benji trying to steal one of his quails.

The hunter unsuccessfully trying to catch Benji.

The hunter with Benji.

The hunter on the film's food chain poster.

Trivia

• Although it is established that the man is simply a hunter trying to survive, it is implied that he is a poacher as well, as cougars in Oregon have been protected by state law since 1967.