In the first reported major human-grizzly conflict this year, a man who was hunting for shed antlers in north-central Montana shot and killed a grizzly which he claimed charged him, according to wildlife officials.
The man was “on a brushy hillside” near Dupuyer, Montana, on Friday when he first spotted the grizzly, described as a 250-pound female thought to be about 13 years old, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP).
He later told investigators that as he was leaving the area, the bear charged him, so he shot and killed it.
The bear had no history of conflict with humans, according to FWP. The agency didn’t report that the female had cubs with her, or what type of firearm the man used.
The man wasn’t injured in the encounter, according to FWP.
Montana’s Prairie Grizzlies
Dupuyer is an unincorporated community of about 90 people, roughly 88 miles northwest of Great Falls, Montana.
In the Great Falls area and the surrounding region, grizzlies have been steadily reclaiming their native prairie habitat.
There’s been verified sightings of grizzlies as far east as Montana’s Missouri Breaks country.
For the most part, grizzlies and people have stayed out of each other’s way on the Montana prairies.
However, in the fall of 2023, there were two reported run-ins between grizzles and hunters in the vicinity of the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area. That’s between the small towns of Choteau and Fairfield, Montana, about 40 miles west of Great Falls.
The humans and bears all walked away from those incidents unscathed, according to FWP reports.
‘Slip A Pack Of Bacon In Their Backpack’
Spring shed antler hunting season can be a peak time for human-bear conflicts. The allure of finding antlers recently shed by bull elk or buck deer draws numerous people outside, just as bears are starting to come out of hibernation.
Two Wyoming shed antler hunters told Cowboy State Daily that grizzlies keep them on their toes.
Noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich of the Pinedale area said shed antler hunting is one of his favorite springtime activities.
“I always like to find a good excuse to get outside. And to me, that’s what shed hunting is. It’s a great excuse to get out and start getting your hiking and hunting legs back,” he said.
But, shed hunting must be done “with a clear understanding that springtime can be very dangerous, particularly if you encounter a sow (female grizzly) with cubs,” Ulrich added.
On the serious side, Ulrich said anybody who ventures out in Grizzly country during the spring should have a defense mechanism ready – either bear spray or a firearm.
On a more mirthful note, he joked that, “It’s a great time to encourage your less-than-healthy friends to join you, in case you need to outrun them.”
Cracking another joke, he added that, “I usually slip a pack of bacon in their backpack.”
You’re Not As Quick As You Think You Are
Avid hunter and deer conservationist Zach Key of La Barge said when he goes shed antler hunting, he doesn’t choose between a handgun or bear spray for grizzly defense – he takes both.
“I pack both. It’s pretty cheap insurance to have both. If your pistol jams, you still have your bear spray. If your bear spray runs out, you have your pistol,” he said.
It’s best to practice diligently with both – and never assume your fast or accurate enough with either, Key said.
He recalled a few years back, in preparation for a mountain goat hunt in the Grand Teton area, he and his hunting partner had to go through mandatory bear spray training the National Park Service.
They were pitted against “a mock grizzly on a track system that can charge you at about 30 miles per hour,” he said.
That’s not unlike the Wyoming Game And Fish Department’s remote-controlled, wheeled Robobear, also used for bear spray training.
Key said the experience was humbling.
“After 35 years of hunting in the backcountry, you think you’re a badass,” but he and his partner had trouble drawing and firing their bear spray quickly enough against the mock grizzly on rails.
Game And Fish Says Look Out
On the eastern side of Wyoming, including many areas that don’t have grizzlies, there’s no set shed hunting season. People can go out as soon as the snow clears.
In parts of western Wyoming – including around the National Elk Refuge near Jackson – shed antler season doesn’t open until May 1.
In those areas, where there are lots of grizzlies, Game and Fish reminds shed hunters to watch out for bears.
“Hike in groups, make noise to prevent surprising bears, and familiarize yourself with signs of bear activity. These signs include tracks, scat, diggings, and flocks of magpies or ravens, which can indicate a nearby food source,” according to Game and Fish’s advice for shed hunters.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
