Hunter encounters bear near its den — and opens fire when grizzly charges in Montana

Brooke Baitinger
·3 min read
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A hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear that charged at them near the den it was digging in Montana, officials said.

The close encounter happened Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Gravelly Range, about 45 miles northwest of West Yellowstone, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks news release.

The hunter acted in self-defense and was not hurt, officials said. The adult female grizzly did not have a known history of conflict with humans and was in good body condition, officials said.

The bear was likely preparing the den for hibernation. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating.

Other grizzly deaths

Three other grizzlies were killed in similar incidents near Yellowstone National Park in the last two months, McClatchy News previously reported.

Just under a month ago on Sept. 27, a hunter shot and killed a charging grizzly defending its kill near Gardiner, about 50 miles east of Gravelly Range, McClatchy News reported.

In a similar incident on Aug. 30, a pair of fishermen were walking through thick vegetation along a creek in nearby Tom Miner Basin when they stumbled into a male grizzly’s path before the bear charged, McClatchy News reported. One of the anglers shot and killed the bear.

Four days before that, about 250 miles northwest, two hunters surprised a mama grizzly bear and her cub while they were out scouting for the upcoming hunting season in a dense section of the Flathead National Forest, McClatchy News reported. They came within 15 feet of the mom and cub, and shot and killed the mom when she charged.

Bear safety tips

“Montana is bear country,” officials said in the release. “Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.”

Bears are more active in late summer and autumn, as they eat as much as they can to prepare for their winter hibernation — which also overlaps with hunting season and other fall activities, officials said.

To avoid negative bear encounters, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks experts advise people outdoors in bear country to:

  • Carry bear spray, and have it out and ready to use at the first sight of a bear.

  • Travel in groups, and make a lot of noise to alert bears to your presence.

  • Stay far away from animal carcasses that attract bears.

  • Follow food storage orders from local land management agencies.

  • Never approach any bear you encounter, and leave the area when it’s safe.

  • Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other smelly items that attract bears in a secure building where bears can’t access them. Keep garbage locked away until the day it’s collected, or use certified bear-resistant garbage containers.

  • Don’t feed wildlife — ever. It’s illegal to feed bears in Montana. Bears that become conditioned to human food lose their instinctual foraging behavior and become a threat to people’s safety.

Hunters and anglers that hunt and fish in areas with grizzlies — including locations west of Billings — should take these extra precautions:

  • Be extra cautious around creeks and areas with “limited visibility,” such as dense forests and areas with thick vegetation. Be mindful of bear signs.

  • Hunt or fish with a group of people and make “localized” noise to avoid sneaking up on bears.

  • Keep in mind that elk calls and “cover scents” — which cut down on the smell of humans — can attract bears.

  • Bring the right equipment and the proper amount of people you’ll need to be able to field dress successfully hunted game and remove the meat from the area as quickly as possible.

  • Hang any meat you have to leave behind at least 10 feet off the ground and 150 yards from the gut pile. Make sure it’s viewable from at least 200 yards away.

  • When you come back for the remaining meat, examine it for any signs of disturbance using binoculars. If it has been touched or if a bear is in the area, leave and call Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Grizzly bears are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, officials said.

Third grizzly killed in self-defense in one month outside Yellowstone, officials say

Spooked grizzly charges anglers in Montana wilderness. One of the fishermen had a gun

Hunters kill bear after surprising her and cub, officials say. One of them is shot too