The father and his adult son who live in the Kalispell area, were hunting black bears on the east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir near the Dry Park area when the female grizzly bear charged and attacked the son. The bear grabbed the son’s right arm at his elbow. The father reportedly started shooting at the bear with a .44-caliber pistol while his son’s arm was still in the clench of the grizzly. The bear released and two more shots were reportedly fired, the final shot at very close range as the bear turned toward the father.
According to the FWP investigation, the pair of hunters were pursuing a black bear along steep slopes and thick vegetation when the attack happened at about 9 a.m. They reported seeing the brush moving about 25 to 30 yards away but didn’t see the bear until it was 12 feet away. After the attack, the injured victim and his father drove to the hospital for medical attention. Neither individual was carrying bear spray.
The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Human Attack Response Team investigated the attack site following the incident, and returned to the scene again Monday when they reportedly discovered the dead bear.
"the final shot at close range," was probably the one that did the grizzly in. Always carry in bear country.
Wonder what kind of .44 was used. .44 Special? .44 Mag?
ReplyDelete"Neither individual was carrying bear spray."
ReplyDeletedo they really think bear spray would have stopped her... don't think so!
Bear spray? Really? I'm with Brig. Don't hold your breath for me to carry spray in lieu of the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan (.454 Casull) or the Smith and Wesson 460V (.460 S&W).
ReplyDeleteAnd that also goes for rabid coyotes or any other varmint that acts aggressively - BOOM and they're on their way to varmint heaven. I don't care what the "human attack team" decides. Better the dead bear than me or mine.
I was treed by a 600+ lb boar hog when I was deer hunting back in the late 70's when I was in HS. I had a bolt action single shot 30 carbine and 5 bullets. A 30 Carbine will bring down a deer but all it does to a hog is ricochet of it's head and piss it off. I spent the night in that tree.
ReplyDeleteLessons learned:
1- 30 cal is a great range gun but a .243, .270, or 30-06 are a much better choice when going out in the woods.
2- Carry a full box of ammo.
3- Carry a backup pistol. Preferably my grand-dad's 44Mag with hot ball ammo (it has been mine since he passed).
Ever since when I go out in the woods I have had the 44mag with me. And plenty of ammo.
Read of an event, in Alaska if I remember correctly. It was an old outdoorsman magazine.
ReplyDeleteGuy got treed by a grizzly one evening, and thought he might annoy it into leaving by using his .22 revolver. At the first shot, the bear fell over. Guy said "No Way", and spent the night in the tree. In the morning, the bear was still in the same position on the ground and not moving. After breaking off a few branches, throwing them down on the bear, and not getting a response, decided to climb down. Turns our the slug had entered through an eye and went straight into the brain. I'm guessing the skill let the slug ricochet around inside before it was spent.
So, you never know - not that I would ever count on it.
More moose than you'd think have been taken with a .22 and/or other tiny little rounds. It's all in the shot placement.
Delete