Hunter shoots and kills grizzly ‘charging him at close distance,’ Montana officials say
A hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear “charging him at close distance,” Montana wildlife officials said.
The hunter encountered the adult male bear south of Placid Lake in the Seeley-Swan Valley on Nov. 2, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a Nov. 7 news release. The hunter was not hurt.
Officials didn’t provide information about what might have led to the incident.
The department handed the incident off to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to investigate.
Placid Lake State Park is about a 100-mile drive northwest from Helena.
“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.”
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.
Travel in groups, and make a lot of noise to alert bears to your presence.
Stay far away from animal carcasses that attract bears.
Mind 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.
People who hunt and fish in areas with grizzlies should take extra precautions, such as:
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 & Parks.
Grizzly bears are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, officials said.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Hunter shoots and kills grizzly ‘charging him at close distance,’ Montana officials say."
