Grizzly fatal attack at glacier and another attack at Yellowstone

[Lush342]

Bear spray first it's the most effective tool in grizzly country by a good margin. Good on you for refreshing it.

Switching to the 10mm is a solid upgrade over 9mm for bear defense. More power and better penetration if you ever have to use it as a backup. Just run good hard-cast or heavy loads like Underwood or Buffalo Bore.

Stay vigilant, make noise, and keep that spray accessible. Enjoy the parks safely.

 

[Sherl0ck]

Heading there in a few months... thinking I better bring the 10mm

 

[7mm-08]

It's not limited to wildlife either. So many of these people don't understand how unforgiving this part of the country is. Last year a young man fell in the canyon on avalanche creek in GNP. It's ice cold water in a narrow rock canyon moving at roaring speed.,..Why get so close to the edge?! The carelessness deaths happen every year and so many are water related. Much of NW MT has little to no cell service.

In Idaho the natives generally shrug and mumble something about "the shallow end of the generally pool." Death has a way of stopping the procreation of the stupid and their wider societal affects.

 

[Turkeytider]

I know of multiple Thorofare guides who have been at it for 30+ years who carry no pistol and no spray who would disagree.

I used to be very worried about bears when I first moved to WY. I dont worry about them at all anymore.

Not to say I am not still diligent and prepared, there just isn't any fear regarding them anymore.

I’m sure they would indeed disagree. My 78 years on the rock has proven to me the veracity of the old adage, “ Familiarity breeds contempt “. I would agree that the vast majority of times nothing unpleasant occurs. Then there’s that one old bear that’s too old to hunt effectively.

 

[grfox92]

I’m sure they would indeed disagree. My 78 years on the rock has proven to me the veracity of the old adage, “ Familiarity breeds contempt “. I would agree that the vast majority of times nothing unpleasant occurs. Then there’s that one old bear that’s too old to hunt effectively.

I agree. I think the fact that they are out there with clients unarmed is dumb.

The point I was trying to make is that G Bears arent nearly as scary as a lot of people make them out to be. I used to be one of those people.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I never understood why people hike solo in bear country. I always made it a point to at least hike with someone I could outrun if we ever came across a bear.

While funny and usually true the bear in Yellowstone got both of them this time!

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

When we were in Yellowstone in 2023 we came across dozens of cars parked on both sides of the road with some blocking traffic. As we got up I asked someone walking what the delay was and they said a sow and cubs were seen crossing the road so everybody piled out of their cars to go get pictures. There were literally people running into the woods to get a picture of them like they were a completely harmless animal.

I got a couple pictures from the sunroof when they popped out on the hillside but I was absolutely not getting out of the car anywhere near a sow with cubs.

Are you sure that they were not trying to pet the bison? Seems like a common theme at Yellowstone. Retardation seems to runs strong with folks on vacations.

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

Yep, I saw a Grizzly on the back side of Jenny Lake back in October of 2025. I hike there often, as I'm only about 1.5hrs away, and there's a bunch of deadfall back there. I always carry concealed no matter where I'm at.

Big fan of using what you train with. I never understood people feeling like they should up-gun to a gun that they rarely shoot just because they're in bear country. I'd rather hit a bear in the face with a 124gr GD two or three times over maybe once with a 10mm hard cast. Not to mention once you get past the 9mm/40 frame guns, they become much lest comfortable to carry 24/7.

With it being August, I figure safety in numbers, but then again, when we were hiking in YNP and the Tetons, it was always early in the AM, so 75% of the time we were alone. That was planned, I hated tourist when I'm on vacations, haha!

On a serious note, I'll be carrying my stone glacier pack hunting pack when hiking. It's a bit over kill, but it's so comfortable and I'll be prepping for fall elk as well. As a ski patroller on the east coast, I tend to carry a bit of extra stuff (first aid, SAM splint, tourniquet, Israel bandage, etc.) as a habit, so a bigger pack is ok. What I'm trying to figure out, is how to carry concealed, but accessible with my pack on.

When I fished Alaska way back when, I had a chest holster for my S&W 29.

 

[TXHunt]

For those carrying when hiking in NP's such as Yellowstone and Glacier, are you open carrying, say on your bino harness or keeping it concealed?

 

[wesfromky]

With it being August, I figure safety in numbers, but then again, when we were hiking in YNP and the Tetons, it was always early in the AM, so 75% of the time we were alone. That was planned, I hated tourist when I'm on vacations, haha!

On a serious note, I'll be carrying my stone glacier pack hunting pack when hiking. It's a bit over kill, but it's so comfortable and I'll be prepping for fall elk as well. As a ski patroller on the east coast, I tend to carry a bit of extra stuff (first aid, SAM splint, tourniquet, Israel bandage, etc.) as a habit, so a bigger pack is ok. What I'm trying to figure out, is how to carry concealed, but accessible with my pack on.

When I fished Alaska way back when, I had a chest holster for my S&W 29.

Hill people gear kit bag is great for discrete carry. Bonus is you can mount your bear spray on it as well.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

After having been to these national parks several times, its honestly amazing tragic events like this aren't more common. People get really really dumb when there's an opportunity for a photo op of an animal. Especially yellowstone, wow you see some absolutely ignorant people on those trails.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I know of multiple Thorofare guides who have been at it for 30+ years who carry no pistol and no spray who would disagree.

I used to be very worried about bears when I first moved to WY. I dont worry about them at all anymore.

Not to say I am not still diligent and prepared, there just isn't any fear regarding them anymore.

When I hunted in the Bob in '21, EVERY guide carried a shortened lever action guide gun in 45-70.

 

[grfox92]

When I hunted in the Bob in '21, EVERY guide carried a shortened lever action guide gun in 45-70.

Yea not sure why, but in the Wyoming Thorofare there is a little culture of thinking its ridiculous to carry around a heavy pistol. Obviously not all of them as I know plenty of guides who carry. But I also know of guys who have lived back there 3 months a year for 20 to 30 years, watering horses at night 100 yards from camp, cooking in camp, and dont bring in a pistol.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

My daughter and I had the displeasure of running into a "bear jam" in YP last May. There were 4 grizzlies, 2 about 50 yards from the road and 2 more about 100 yards out. There were idiots sitting on the side of the road, morons with tripods set up, and vehicles everywhere. We were headed north and the road for us was clear once we got past them. However, the road south was backed up for miles. Here is a link to a video I took.

A couple days later we were super fortunate to catch a sow with cubs crossing the road in East Glacier. We had the place to ourselves, and it was a super cool moment. Here is that video and please pardon my excitement! We watched from a safe distance inside my truck.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Yea not sure why, but in the Wyoming Thorofare there is a little culture of thinking its ridiculous to carry around a heavy pistol. Obviously not all of them as I know plenty of guides who carry. But I also know of guys who have lived back there 3 months a year for 20 to 30 years, watering horses at night 100 yards from camp, cooking in camp, and dont bring in a pistol.

The guides didn't recommend carrying, but didn't tell a guy he couldn't. They were mostly concerned about the extra weight and fatigue as the average hunters aren't usually in the best shape.

 

[nphunter]

My bear spray expired in 2022. You think I should replace it? I just assumed those dates are arbitrary....like the California Cancer warnings.**

Pepper spray doesn't expire; the concern is that the can will lose pressure over time and not function properly. The actual pepper oil in the can doesn't degrade with age. My grandma has aerosol hair spray that still works from the 80's in her bathroom closet. I'm not sure I would risk it with bear spray in grizzly country but I would think since it's a one time use can and not being used at all that it would last a very long time.

 

[Turkeytider]

I agree. I think the fact that they are out there with clients unarmed is dumb.

The point I was trying to make is that G Bears arent nearly as scary as a lot of people make them out to be. I used to be one of those people.

I’ll take your word for it. Color me overly cautious if you will, but I have a tendency to be that way about things that can make me into a hot lunch with very little effort!