Montana Man Shoots and Kills Grizzly in Self Defense

keci.com ^ | 9 November, 2009 | Cyndy Koures

[marktwain]

A Troy man shot and killed a grizzly in the Cabinet Mountains and state wildlife officials say he did it in self defense.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports the man was hunting mule deer on Dad Peak on last Friday. He told officials he spooted two grizzlies about 50 yards ahead of him. The man said he yelled at them and waved his gun. But he says the bears started to move toward him.

That's when the man realized there were three bears. He said he yelled again and hoped the animals would run off. But the larger bear reportedly charged and the hunter shot the bear about 25 yards out.

The man hiked out and reported the shooting to wildlife officials. After an investigation, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials ruled the shooting of the adult female grizzly was justifiable.

[marktwain]

Bears need to know that we are at the top of the food chain. Perhaps the younger bears will remember.

[driftdiver]

Gee I bet he was glad he had a gun in a state park.

[cripplecreek]

He killed an unarmed grizzly and they’re calling it self defense?

(yeah its sarcasm)

[caver]

Your tag line is great!

[roamer_1]

It's always best to spoot yer bears as far away as possible.

Bear spooting should be an Olympic sport, that's what I say...

[SLB]

Bear spooting should be an Olympic sport, that's what I say...

I would rather they had "bare" spooting at the Olympics. Much more interesting.

[pappyone]

Just how DO you spoot a bear?

[Paladin2]

"He told officials he spooted two grizzlies"

He may have been originally from Canada, Ehh? Or, he could just still be in an agitated state from escaping 3 griz..

[SnuffaBolshevik]

"Just how DO you spoot a bear?"

Very, very carefully.

(Unless its asleep).

[1776 Reborn]

“The man hiked out and reported the shooting to wildlife officials. After an investigation, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials ruled the shooting of the adult female grizzly was justifiable.”

Yeah, what kind of investigation does this take, interviewing the other bears, owls, deer?

[Zeppo]

He told officials he spooted two grizzlies about 50 yards ahead of him.

That's his problem right there - never spoot a grizzly bear unless it's at least 100 yds. away...

[PLMerite]

“Just how DO you spoot a bear?”

Very, very carefully.

(Unless its asleep).

---

I can attest to the fact that women to not like to wake up and find they’re being spooted; I would imagine bears like it even less.

[PLMerite]

“The man said he yelled at them and waved his gun.”

Which to a bear means, “Hey! You want some of this, bring it, beyotch!”

[Sender]

How you spoot a bear is up to you, but I can tell you this; grizzlies hate to be spooted. Spoot them if you must, then drop the picnic basket and run. Run faster than your friends.

[roamer_1]

He may have been originally from Canada, Ehh?

LOL! You've been here (or close by), I see...

[roamer_1]

Just how DO you spoot a bear?

Well... It involves 1/2 a gallon of butter flavored Crisco and a hockey stick... But the hockey stick ain't what you think it's for...

The hockey stick is for whackin' your buddy on the shins as you are running away :D

[Mouton]

Wonder what caliber he had?

[submarinerswife]

Well... It involves 1/2 a gallon of butter flavored Crisco

And the butter flavored Crisco is for buttering your buddies butt so the bear thinks he's a biscuit?

Have you done this before?

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

What’s the best shot to stop a charging bear, a shot to the head or between the shoulders?

[Lucas McCain]

This thread is becoming hugh. But not particularly series.

[Sarajevo]

Get with the program, Ghost. We’re talking about “spooting” here ;)

[reagan_fanatic]

He told officials he spooted two grizzlies...

ROTFL - thanks for the morning laugh!

[WKUHilltopper]

“He told officials he spooted two grizzlies....”

Things are different in Montana, I guess. I usually spoot in the bathroom. I’ve heard the expression of “monkeys flying out of one’s butt”, but never grizzlies. They must have an incredible menu up there.

[WKUHilltopper]

“What’s the best shot to stop a charging bear...?”

Take away his credit cards?

[Born to Conserve]

“What’s the best shot to stop a charging bear, a shot to the head or between the shoulders?”

Depends on the gun. If I had a .22, I’d aim for the nose. If I had .30 magnum, I’d aim for the bear.

[mom4melody]

Really? I thought it meant “Lunch!”...

[Paladin2]

I’ve lived within 50 mi of the border (like many Canadians) in a few different places off and on for over 45 years. I’ve probably spent a year in Canada days and weeks at a time. Libby, MT is not that far away from Canada given the distances between towns there.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Remember the rules of hunting:

JIMBO:I want you to understand a few basic rules of hunting since this is your first time.

First of all, don't ever walk with your gun unless the safety's on. Second, don't shoot anything that looks human, and third never spill your beer in the bullet chamber.

And then there's the 4th rule:

JIMBO: Boys! Lookie There! That there's a Rocky Mountain Black Bear. One of the few remaining of its kind. Isn't it beautiful?

My God it's coming right for us!!! [whips out his huge rifle and shoots the bear dead]

STAN: Hey! It wasn't coming right for us! It was just sitting there!

JIMBO: SHHH! Not so loud!! Now that there's just a technicality. You see boys, the Democrats have passed a lot of laws trying to stop us from hunting. They say we can't shoot certain animals anymore unless they're posing an immediate threat. Therefore, before we shoot something, we have to say; "It's coming right for us!"

CARTMAN: "Democrats piss me off".

[abb]

FWIW.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spoot

[Republic of Texas]

I know the spooting thing is funny but can we be series for a sec? The man had to explain why he defended himself from a Grizzly bear?

[Gilbo_3]

has the FBI ruled out terrorism ???

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Bu-dump-bump!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Another rimshot answer would be:

You have the PPT pump about $2 billion into CIT and BAC as they are dropping off the cliff.

Suddenly, the bear becomes a bull!!

[Eagles6]

According to professional hunting guides the handgun they use most often as bear defense in grizzly country is a .22 LR which they use to shoot the nearest tourist in the knee as they run like hell.

[roamer_1]

And the butter flavored Crisco is for buttering your buddies butt so the bear thinks he's a biscuit? Have you done this before?

What, "buttered my buddy's butt"? No... *rolls eyes* In fact, that seems like rather odd behavior to me...

*Sheesh! City folks are sure strange!*

[roamer_1]

Depends on the gun. If I had a .22, I’d aim for the nose.

Nose, eyes, then top of the mouth as he is coming in... Better keep shooting, then start throwing poo...

If I had .30 magnum, I’d aim for the bear.

You'd probably lose, either way...

44-45 cal... like 45/70 (my preference) lever action are the most popular brush guns up here, .44mag or .45 cal revolver the most popular sidearm for backwoods.

45/70 in a mountain sling is best... If you are pulling your sidearm, it is probably too late.

[jboot]

Aim for the muzzle. Ideally, the bullet should strike immediately below it. If it has enough energy, it will penetrate the thorax close to the heart. But like someone else said, bullet caliber is everything when it comes to stopping charging dangerous game. Plan to carry a rifle with at least ".35" in its name and that has a stout kick. If you must carry a pistol, .44 Magnum is the bare minumum (I know, I know, somebody's second cousin twice removed took a grizzly with a .22 Short-but this is your life we are talking about). Choose your pistol bullets carefully-JHP bullets meant for deer and 2-legged varmints will disintegrate in tough bear meat and not penetrate deeply enough to kill. Choose a heavy 260+ grain soft point or a solid.

[jboot]

The only gun I’d stake my life on in the back country is the Marlin 1895 in 45-70. It’s handy and it hits HARD.

[Sender]

I agree. I have a Marlin 1895 guide gun with Garrett 540-grain +P hammerheads, and I don’t even have any bears around here. But if the dinosaurs come back to life, or the zombie war starts, I’m ready. It’s just a cool as hell rifle, and there are so many 45-70 loads available, from mild cowboy loads to the dinosaur loads.

[jazusamo]

Don’t ever spoot around an angry beaver or all you’ll see is their tail as they disappear.

[jboot]

Yup, the Garret stuff is good for those trips to Jurassic Park. It’s too $$$$ for my blood, though. I’ve rolled up some handloads with a 450 gr. hard lead Keith bullet that would rock most any North American critter’s world. It sure puts my shoulder in a sling.

[roamer_1]

I agree. I have a Marlin 1895 guide gun

Me too, only with an extended tube and mercury balanced (top of the tube and in the stock), with light gathering sight and a peep on the back. Kicks less than a 30/30 with a standard load in it.

It's got range about like a 30/30 too, but whoppin' power. Shoot somethin' in the face and it's poopin out teeth... Low velocity though, so no deflection in the brush, and no bloody meat...

Just picked me up a 300 win mag on a Remington 700 frame with a Shepherd 3x10 scope... Think I'm gonna screw on a .458 barrel and see if that fat ol hunk of lead can reach out and touch someone...

[Snurple]

Just the thing for pesky critters....

[TChris]

Depends on the gun. If I had a .22, I’d aim for the nose. If I had .30 magnum, I’d aim for the bear.

LOLOLOL!

Thanks for a good laugh. :-)

[surfer]

nice :)

[roamer_1]

Just the thing for pesky critters....

Heh... Prolly says Sharps on it somewheres, and is a .50 if true to form... If you miss him with the shot, you can always beat him silly... :D

[roamer_1]

(that is, after you go find your shoulder) :D

[Snurple]

Sharps... .50/90

[Snurple]

Actually my 30.06 kicks way harder than the sharps .50

[roamer_1]

Actually my 30.06 kicks way harder than the sharps .50

Yeah, I know... Low velocity... All that barrel out the front helps alot... Just pokin' fun... Don't have one myself, but have shot a few. I go to rendezvous whenever I can...

But sad to say, I'm a high-tech hillbilly, what with my lever action rifles and revolvers and all... I still have a teepee... does that count? :D