Bull Violently Busts Up Poker Game

At least 2, and usually not more than 4 very brave souls will sit in the arena comfortably at a small table while a bull is released.The comfort factor won’t last long as that bull is to try and scare away the contestants whose hands must remain on the table or they'll be disqualified." www.webbring.org;

Sounds a bit creepy but it didn't seem like a dangerous game to Austin and his friends because they decided to spice things up by setting up a new challenge named “Grab a joker attached on the bull’s horn and win the cash.” That's exactly what young Austin Bottcher did; he went for a joker and got seriously hurt. When the rodeo clowns tried to help, the bull slammed into Bottcher again, inflicting serious injuries. He was transferred to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital in Portland and ended up needing surgery to reconnect the femur to his hip. Bottcher will spend two days in the hospital and will not be able to work for at least 6 months.

When asked from his hospital bed how he felt about the Bull Poker game, Bottcher claimed that he has no regrets.

I probably won’t do it again, I don’t regret doing it, but, yeah, I probably won’t be out there playing Bull Poker to tell you the truth."

At home, Austin has girlfriend Kaycee Read and her 3-year old daughter Rylee. The injury put a huge financial burden on Bottcher and his young family. Unfortunately, Austin didn't win enough cash in the poker game to pay his hospital bills so the family is asking for donations and financial help.

Bull Poker is a very dangerous tradition and many rodeos removed it completely due to the high risk of injury.