Montana – Page 5 – Syndication Server

Ominous warning for Montana hunters as fall season begins

Montana’s fall hunting season is about to begin and the state has cautioned those who plan on venturing afield: “Expect to see bears.”

Montana’s fall hunting season is set to begin and the state cautions those planning to venture afield: “Expect to see bears.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained in a news release that the grizzly bear population has grown significantly in the western two-thirds of the state (west of Billings).

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Swimmer attacked by muskie while training for triathlon

“Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season,” FWP stated.

Several big-game archery seasons open Saturday.

Grizzly bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Since hunters often trek deep into the wilderness, chance encounters with grizzly bears, and potentially deadly attacks, are bound to occur.

FWP advises hunters to carry bear spray and “be prepared to use it immediately.”

Hunters are urged to “consider hunting elsewhere” if fresh signs of bear activity are present, and to travel in small groups.

“This can help you make casual noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances survival in the event of a bear attack,” FWP stated.

If a deer, elk, or other large animal is killed, hunters should “process [the] carcass and get it out of the field as quickly as possible.”

FWP is hoping that hunters will exercise extreme caution to avoid surprising grizzly bears at close range. Last September, four hunters were mauled in three separate incidents within a period of only eight days.

Grizzly bears, a federally threatened species that cannot be hunted, are actively feeding in advance of winter.

–Top image is courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[listicle id=1056708]

Rare otter attack injures Montana boy floating on inner tube

A 12-year-old Montana boy was attacked by an otter as he and a friend floated down the Big Hole River on inner tubes.

A 12-year-old Montana boy was attacked by an otter Friday as he and a friend floated down the Big Hole River on inner tubes.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated in a news release issued Monday that the boy did not suffer life-threatening injuries during the rare attack.

The two boys were on a section of river west of Divide, upstream from the Powerhouse Fishing Access Site, when they spotted several otters in front of them.

One otter approached and attacked the boy before two adults who were camping nearby rushed to his rescue.

“Fortunately, the boy was able to receive prompt treatment for injuries that were not life threatening. The other boy was not injured,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Freediver spears world-record halibut in frigid Alaskan waters

Otter attacks on humans are rare, but the animals can be tenacious while defending their young or their territory against potential threats.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks explained that otters typically give birth in April and can stay with their young through the summer.

Low water level caused by drought might also have played a role in shrinking the otters’ territory and preventing the boys from maintaining a safer distance.

Signs have been posted along the river cautioning visitors about the incident.

–River otter image is generic

Jogger runs for help after bear attacks camper

A Montana camper injured during a bear attack Saturday was rescued after receiving help from a jogger.

The incident occurred two hours after dawn at Mystic Lake in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

According to the Gallatin Sheriff’s Office, the unidentified victim was too injured to hike out but flagged down a jogger “who was quickly able to make it to cell service and call 911.”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Astonished birders spot bear in tree nest ‘four stories high’

The victim, after being located by LifeFlight personnel, was treated on site before being airlifted to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

The Associated Press reports that the person’s injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, improperly stored food probably attracted the bear to the camping area southwest of Bozeman. It was not immediately clear whether a black bear or grizzly bear bit the camper.

–Black bear image is generic

Details emerge after hunter’s standoff with snarling cougar

A hunter has revealed details about his stare-down with a snarling cougar last month in the Montana wilderness – an encounter his partner caught on video.

A hunter has revealed details about his standoff with a snarling cougar last month in the Montana wilderness – an encounter his partner caught on video.

Janis Putelis, during a Meat Eaters Podcast episode, revealed that the cougar was a kitten, perhaps a year old, weighing 40 pounds, and that Putelis was concerned enough for his safety that he raised his shotgun to scare off the critter.

“That movement was enough to spook it, and then its sibling spooked, and momma spooked off, too,” Putelis recalled. (See the video below.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsNiX9AHtR/

Putelis and Zach Sandau had ventured into dense brush during opening weekend of Montana’s turkey hunting season.

“Down in the gully off to my right, I hear… in my mind it registers [simply] as air coming out of an animal’s mouth,” Putelis says in the podcast. “[But there] might have been a touch more grrr or growl to it….

“Right after that I can hear footsteps. Soft pads, but a little bit of crunching of pine needles and detritus.”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Is there a serial grizzly bear poacher on the loose in Idaho?

Putelis, who was sitting beneath a tree during a break from calling turkeys, asked Sandau to document the encounter with his phone. He figured a bear was approaching “because that’s what I’m expecting in this landscape.”

But then he saw tan hide and guessed it was a deer. But the long tails were a dead giveaway: The turkey calls had apparently attracted a “three pack” of mountain lions.

Momma kept her distance but the kittens “caught our movements” and approached, softly growling. The cougar shown in the video was bolder, approaching to within 15 yards.

It crouched and snarled, and that’s when Putelis clutched his shotgun.

“At that point I’m like, ‘Alright, that’s enough of that,’ ” he says. “I then took my shotgun from my lap and I pointed it at it, and that movement was enough to spook it.”

Almost immediately the distant turkeys that had been so vociferous went silent, realizing a threat was in their midst.

Said Putelis: “There was no more clucking, no yelping, no gobbling, and we hiked around that mountain for another 30 minutes and they were gone.”

Watch: Black bear chases mountain biker in downhill sprint

Black bears can reach a top speed of 35 mph and if that’s hard to believe check out the accompanying footage showing a bear chasing a mountain biker on a trail in Whitefish, Montana.

Black bears can reach top speeds of 35 mph and if that’s hard to believe check out the accompanying footage showing a bear sprinting after a mountain biker in Whitefish, Montana.

The widely shared footage, captured from a ski lift, shows the bear in a determined pursuit to catch or simply chase the mountain biker from its territory.

The bear even attempts to cut the biker off by charging through brush on the switchback trail. But the mountain biker outlasted the bear and rode to safety.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Orcas greet swimmer face to face; ‘Best day of my life’; video

“He was just fine,” Josh Smith, owner of the Montana Knife Co., told For The Win Outdoors.

Smith said the incident occurred a couple of years ago but his company’s footage was shared for the first time Monday.

“We posted it because we’re launching a new big veterans fundraiser [Wednesday] and wanted some eyes on our Facebook page.”

The introduction contains a pointed message: “A quick reminder that Montana is not Disneyland.”

Watch: Three mountain lions run alongside motorist on highway

Jay Kinsey was driving in central Montana last week when he caught up to three mountain lions running on a highway.

The accompanying footage shows the mountain lions, or cougars, pacing in a line before hopping over a guard rail into the snow and disappearing from view.

Kinsey then exits his car and focuses on the cats as they emerge from the base of a bush and walk farther from the road.

“It was definitely not something a guy comes across every day,” Kinsey, who lives in Lewistown, told MTN News.

He explained that he had previously seen crows and eagles feasting on a road-kill deer carcass and thought the distant objects might be more crows. “Then I noticed they were cats so I picked up my phone to [document the encounter] and show my wife and daughter when I got service.”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Anglers land enormous Warsaw grouper after three-year quest

Kinsey told For The Win Outdoors that hunting friends told him he was watching a female mountain lion and two sub-adult kittens.

“I’d say they were right because she was always in the lead,” Kinsey said. “It was pretty neat to see. I’ve seen a few when out hunting deer and elk but never that close to them.”

The unusual encounter occurred last Thursday just west of Lake Sutherlin.

Startled moose injures elderly hiker on Montana trail

A hiker in Montana has suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being kicked by a bull moose that he and his companion encountered at close quarters.

A Montana hiker suffered non-life-threatening injuries last Wednesday after being kicked by a bull moose as he tried hiding under a fallen tree.

The surprise encounter occurred on U.S. Forest Service Trail 6317 (also called Jack Creek Trail) east of Ennis, according to a news release issued Monday by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Two men, in their 70s, saw the moose standing about 10 yards off the trail. Moments later, the animal charged in their direction. One hiker hid behind a tree trunk, while the other sought refuge in the branches of a fallen tree.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Yellowstone grizzly bear tries napping outside in heartwarming video

The moose kicked at the branches, and the man, until finally fleeing into the woods. The injured hiker was treated at Madison Valley Medical Center.

While moose may appear docile, the large animals are powerful and unpredictable, especially during surprise encounters.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks posted warning signs in the area and reminded hikers to stay in groups when possible, and to make enough noise while hiking to alert large animals to their presence.

“If you encounter a moose, give it lots of space and don’t approach it,” MFWP stated. “If a moose charges or chases you, take cover behind something solid, such as a tree.”

–Generic moose image is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a home; that’s the good news

When grizzly bears and humans surprise one another in the wilderness, it’s quite often the bears that pay the dearest price.

A recent example is a story out of Montana, where three grizzly bear cubs were found huddled in a field on April 12 by a Pondera County rancher.

On Tuesday, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks explained that the cubs belonged to a momma grizzly that was euthanized after she had been shot by a hiker during a late-evening encounter near Dupuyer on April 9.

The sow, accompanied by one visible cub, bit the hiker in the thigh before the hiker shot the bear with a pistol. The hiker walked home and later received medical assistance.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks determined that the bear was defending its cub, or cubs, and not acting in a predatory manner. According to the Great Falls Tribune, the injured sow was located and euthanized the next day.

On Tuesday, FWP announced that after an exhaustive search for a suitable home, the cubs will reside at Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona. They’ll join 39 black bears and numerous other critters in helping to educate visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation.

FWP also explained that the bears were fortunate. Finding an accredited facility willing to house them required a six-week search and vetting process by FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Finding homes for orphaned grizzly bear cubs has become increasingly difficult, FWP stated, and there may be cases when cubs have to be left in the wild or humanely euthanized.

With this in mind, the agency advises outdoor enthusiasts to always carry bear spray and avoid hiking alone or at dusk; to make enough noise to avoid surprise encounters, and to keep watch for bear tracks and other signs of bear activity.

For those who might be interested in learning more about the orphaned cubs, FWP will conduct a Live Facebook Event on Thursday at 11a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

–Top image shows Ali Pons feeding one of the orphaned grizzly bear cubs; all images are courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana sports betting: Is legal sports betting available in Montana?

Is sports betting legal in Montana? We look at the latest information.

Yes, sports betting in Montana is legal.

Sports betting in Montana

Democrat Governor Steve Bullock signed two bills into law May 3, 2019, with one (HB 725) legalizing single-game sports betting. The other bill continued sports pools and pull tabs in bars/taverns, etc. … which were previously legal as an exemption to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Estimated revenues for the first full year of wagering in the state is $800,000, and there is a tax rate of 8.5 percent.

Online sportsbooks in Montana

Wagers can be made through the Montana Lottery app. There is a $1,000 maximum bet via the app, and the minimum age for betting is 18 years old.

Sports Bet Montana

Retail sportsbooks in Montana

While there are no physical sportsbooks located in any of Montana’s larger casinos, 180 kiosks or terminals were installed by the Lottery Commission, mostly in gas station casinos, bars and taverns. There is a $250 maximum bet via the terminals, but you can wager more on the app (see above).

For more sports betting information and betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. And follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and on Facebook.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1373]

Badger moments: Jordan Taylor dominates Montana in 2012

Jordan Taylor thrives

The 2012 Wisconsin Badgers did what the 2011 team also did: They made the Sweet 16. This marked the first time ever that Wisconsin reached the Sweet 16 in consecutive NCAA Tournaments, a definite forward movement for Bo Ryan’s program.

In order for Wisconsin to reach the Sweet 16 in 2012, it first had to get through the opening round against the Montana Grizzlies. This was an East Region game under the (then-) new pod system which had various teams playing in geographically proximate areas on the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Teams would then be funneled to the regionals in their proper geographic locations.

Therefore, even though this was an “East” Region game, it was played in Albuquerque at The Pit. Other teams from the Midwestern United States were higher up on the 1-68 seed list, which meant that Wisconsin had to be relegated to Albuquerque as the No. 4 seed. Vanderbilt was the No. 5 seed, so the Badgers — while not having home-court advantage — did not get placed in a site where the crowd would be heavily against them, either.

The complexity attached to this assignment, though, is that the Badgers played a first-round opponent which was, in fact, closer to the tournament site than UW. Montana had a shorter commute to New Mexico than Wisconsin. Given that Montana had won 14 straight games entering this contest, UW fans had reason to think this game could get tricky.

Jordan Taylor said, “Nope. I got this.”

Taylor was brilliant against Montana. Not only did he score 17 points, grab eight boards, and hand out six assists; as great as all those numbers were, he committed zero turnovers, perhaps his most eye-popping statistic.

Ryan Evans had 18 points and eight rebounds. Josh Gasser chipped in 12 points, and Rob Wilson added 10, but Taylor’s masterful control of the game at both ends of the floor was the main engine behind Wisconsin’s easy win. The Badgers led by 10 at the half and outscored Montana by 14 in the second half to cruise to the finish line.