In less than two weeks, four hunters have been attacked by grizzly bears in Montana. All four hunters were attacked in the same small stretch of wilderness in the Gravelly Mountains of the Rocky Mountain state.
It’s possible that a single bear is responsible for all of the attacks, although wildlife officials aren’t sure at this point. All of the hunters survived the attacks with moderate to severe injuries and were treated locally.
The fourth bear attack victim was an out-of-state hunter from Ohio. Previously, three Montana hunters were hurt in two separate bear attacks earlier this month on the same day, September 16.
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“Wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Madison County Sherriff’s deputies interviewed the injured hunter, who said he was walking through blow-down timber when he was attacked by a bear from a very close range,” said the department. “During the incident, the man reportedly fired multiple shots at the bear until it left. The man was able to meet up with other members of his hunting party and get medical attention.”
“The Gravelly is an area that they’ve kind of grown into, so [the bears’] geographic distribution is growing and their density within that area is also growing,” said the department’s Morgan Jacobsen to the local news.
The Fish, Wildlife and Parks department is asking outdoors enthusiasts to avoid the Gravelly range as well as the Coral Creek and Twin Springs areas while they conduct an investigation on the local grizzly population.
The bears are considered endangered and are largely protected under the Endangered Species Act.
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“As the geographic range of grizzly bears expands in Montana, density within that range is also increasing,” warned the FWP. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which works closely with FWP. As grizzly populations become more dense and widespread, conflicts with humans will likely increase.”
Bears typically become more active in the months leading up to their hibernation periods while seeking out protein-rich foods. Everyone, not just hunters, should maintain caution during these seasons, and consider traveling with bear deterrents.
The department encourages people to carry bear spray and travel in groups whenever possible, avoid animal carcasses and scavenging birds and follow good food storage regulations.
Just make sure that the front sight of your large caliber hand gun is filed down smoothly, so when the Grizz grabs it and shoves it into your where sun don’t shine, won’t hurt as much…
From the comments above It is plain that some of commentors have never been in a close encounter with a griz, or are even outdoors people…I hunted this area years ago for elk, I quit going there because the griz population was expanding, I also heard from some (locals) other hunters at that time that yelowstone was dumping problem bears into that area???…you can be as (situational) aware possible, have spray, long guns, short guns, etc….If that bear wants you it will get you.
I’m willing to bet that the main reason for these attacks was a lack of situational awareness on the part of the hunters. Be aware that Grizzlies are PREDATORS and are as willing to hunt a man as men are willing to hunt them.
Democrat wants to tax your firearms! Tell Elizabeth Warren to shut up and run into the woods and protect Our Second Amendment Rights or get mauled like this poor man. The Left doesn’t care with you and I live or die as long as they inject their crap into our society!
Most “good” hunters have a preserve the wildlife mentality. Threrfore if you’re not hunting bears then you want to preserve them . Not just because they are “endangered”. The endangered mentality can and does fogs a peosons thinking when in the outdoors. Especially if you are conserned about the huffy fines attached to the violation of the “laws”. A better and “safer” mentality to have is “Top of the food chain” mentality. Just one more note…had these hunters been fully prepared, the evidence of which bear was the attacker would have been laying there for all the world to see.
Don’t most hunters in grizzly areas carry a large caliber handgun, in addition to their rifle? I can see where it would be hard to shoot a long gun in dense brush, where a bear can attack quickly from a short distance.