In the past three weeks, sportsmen in Montana and Idaho have killed three protected grizzly bears in apparent cases of self-defense.
The latest incident occurred Sept. 1, when two elk hunters in Idaho killed a grizzly bear after a surprise encounter in dense brush west of Island Park Reservoir.
The hunters were targeting elk with archery equipment but used sidearms to dispatch the bear.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game stated in a news release that after “a thorough investigation” the hunters’ actions were deemed to have been in self-defense.
(Grizzly bears are protected by state and federal law.)
On Sept. 2 in Montana, an angler shot and killed a grizzly bear after a surprise encounter on private land along Tim Miner Creek, north of Yellowstone National Park.
On August 26, two Montana hunters shot and killed a female grizzly bear while scouting in the Whitefish Range in advance of fall hunting seasons for legal game.
Both hunters opened fire when the bear charged; one was accidentally shot in the shoulder and required hospitalization.
The bear’s cub ran off and it’s unclear if it has since been located.
Each incident involved a bear being surprised in close quarters and charging in a defensive behavior.
With fall hunting seasons getting underway, the IDFG advised hunters to be on the constant lookout for signs of bear activity and heed this advice:
“When not hunting, make noise, especially around creeks and thick vegetation. Most attacks occur by inadvertently surprising a bear at close range.”
–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game