Another hunter mistakes grizzly for black bear in Idaho

[Rotnguns]

Black bear hunter shoots female grizzly near Priest Lake in Northern Idaho, turns himself in. More evidence that the population of grizzlies in Idaho is underestimated and/or understated.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article306336921.html?tbref=hp

 

[Eliteman26]

Oh no!

 

[survivalistd]

Wow..

 

[TaperPin]

Apparently the new bear identification test needs some tweaking?

Bear Identification and Test Requirement

Anyone hunting black bears in Idaho must show proof that they have passed a bear identification test to help them differentiate between black bears and grizzly bears.

idfg.idaho.gov

 

[Rotnguns]

Apparently the new bear identification test needs some tweaking?

Bear Identification and Test Requirement

Anyone hunting black bears in Idaho must show proof that they have passed a bear identification test to help them differentiate between black bears and grizzly bears.

idfg.idaho.gov

Yeah, was wondering the same thing. After reading the article I went online and took and passed the exam. The review material is quite informative and more thorough and detailed than I expected.

 

[displacedtexan]

Black bear hunter shoots female grizzly near Priest Lake in Northern Idaho, turns himself in. More evidence that the population of grizzlies in Idaho is underestimated and/or understated.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/northwest/idaho/article306336921.html?tbref=hp

I don't really see how it's evidence of anything but a failure to identify what he was shooting at.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Buck fever

 

[derrick454@]

Lefties are going to freak


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[Shooter45]

More common than thought of I think. So many grizzlies in the Rocky Mountain Regions can be a lot smaller than expected. Young or smaller ones are easily mistaken for a chocolate black bear. Unless the hunter/shooter is able to see their front claws extended they look very similar to one another. Has happened in Wyoming numerous times by hunters and others.

 

[High Climber]

… must have had a collar

 

[Customweld]

Lefties are going to freak


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That’s going to be the biggest takeaway from this incident. Last year’s shooting was a black eye, this is going to send the flag up the pole.

 

[LostArra]

More common than thought of I think. So many grizzlies in the Rocky Mountain Regions can be a lot smaller than expected. Young or smaller ones are easily mistaken for a chocolate black bear. Unless the hunter/shooter is able to see their front claws extended they look very similar to one another. Has happened in Wyoming numerous times by hunters and others.

I'm not a bear hunter and have only seen a handful of black bears while hunting elk in Wyo and Colo. If extended claws are a key identifying feature I'm not surprised this mistake happens.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I'm not a bear hunter and have only seen a handful of black bears while hunting elk in Wyo and Colo. If extended claws are a key identifying feature I'm not surprised this mistake happens.

They are easy enough to tell apart, it’s people taking quick shots or not watching the bear long enough. Neither of which should be done even in areas without grizzlies because they should be looking for cubs. Bears just aren’t something that should be jump/rush shot. It’s a bad look for hunters and just feeds the fire for antis.

 

[grfox92]

Buddy of mine went spring bear hunting here in NW Wyoming last week. Saw 11 different grizzly in one day from one glassing knob. Zero black bears.

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[TaperPin]

It can be funny how someone reacts to seeing a bear for the first time, and not all brains deal with it in a logical manner. When a bear walked across 200 yards in front of us one of my friends with a bear tag in his pocket yelled out loud like an alien just walked out of a UFO, “Holy Schitt there’s a bear!” Had it even been an aardvark he might have put that bear tag on it. lol

 

[MTtrout]

Buddy of mine went spring bear hunting here in NW Wyoming last week. Saw 11 different grizzly in one day from one glassing knob. Zero black bears.

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11 individuals in one day is impressive. Sounds like your buddy chose the wrong spot. Black bear populations aren’t very fruitful in well established grizzly habitat.

 

[MuleyFever]

People mix up deer, elk and moose. Not surprising people would shoot a grizz thinking its a black bear.

 

[Ucsdryder]

People mix up deer, elk and moose. Not surprising people would shoot a grizz thinking its a black bear.

Good point! Still blows my mind that we need “moose in area” signs at every trailhead in Colorado. How the hell can you mistake a moose for an elk?

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I mean even people get shot every year here and there too, just a lot of blithering idiots running around out there in the woods unfortunately.

 

[Dave Thomas]

I've only seen a couple of bears in my life. I would not know the difference between a grizzly and a black bear. But I'm not bear hunting either.