Yet another grizzly attack in Montana

[Rotnguns]

This just happened in the Gallatin Range in Montana. Hunter said he saw a grizzly with cubs and climbed a tree. But the mom grizzly charged anyway and he had to shoot her:

Grizzly Bear Killed After Encounter With Hunter In Gallatin Range | Montana FWP

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff responded to a reported encounter between a hunter and a grizzly bear on Saturday.

fwp.mt.gov

 

[elkbowhuntr]

The article states MFWP is still investigating. Since he actually shot the bear while he was in the tree, I have a feeling they may very well fine him for the shooting?

 

[finner]

The article states MFWP is still investigating. Since he actually shot the bear while he was in the tree, I have a feeling they may very well fine him for the shooting?

FWP won't. USFWS may feel differently

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Article did not say if the bear was attempting to climb the tree, which they can easily do. If so, then he was well within his right to shoot the bear. If the bear made no attempt to climb the tree, that's a different story. I'm not sure the MFWP or USFWS will be able to prove it one way or the other without an eye witness. Following.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Article did not say if the bear was attempting to climb the tree, which they can easily do. If so, then he was well within his right to shoot the bear. If the bear made no attempt to climb the tree, that's a different story. I'm not sure the MFWP or USFWS will be able to prove it one way or the other without an eye witness. Following.

The cubs will come forward and ask why the mother was shot while not doing anything. . .

 

[jhm2023]

Adult grizz cannot climb trees.

 

[elkguide]

Article did not say if the bear was attempting to climb the tree, which they can easily do. If so, then he was well within his right to shoot the bear. If the bear made no attempt to climb the tree, that's a different story. I'm not sure the MFWP or USFWS will be able to prove it one way or the other without an eye witness. Following.

Mature grizz can't climb a tree. He's in trouble.

 

[Dos Perros]

People say antelope can't hop a fence too.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Adult grizz cannot climb trees.

You willing to bet on that?! I sure wouldn't

 

[finner]

In order for someone to be convicted of knowingly taking an endangered species the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that: (1) the defendant knowingly killed the animal; (2) the animal was endangered; (3) the defendant had no permit to kill the animal; and (4) the defendant did not act in self-defense or defense of others.

9th Circuit has held that the last element is a subjective standard, not an objectively reasonably standard. Did he fear for his life when there was a pissed off sow underneath his tree? Probably. Did he have ultimate faith that "adult grizz cannot climb trees"? Probably not. USFWS will drag him over the coals but my guess is he'll be fine.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Yeah... a quick search of the interwebs and there's plenty of documented adult griz up trees.

 

[Scrappy]

Why would he clib a tree?? Why not just back out of he area?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Why would he clib a tree?? Why not just back out of he area?

He probably read a post somewhere saying that grizz can't climb trees...

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Yeah... a quick search of the interwebs and there's plenty of documented adult griz up trees.

Thanks, now I don't have to show the results of my search, which stated yes grizzlies can most certainly climb trees. I look it up because, I did not know one way or the other.

 

[CMF]

If one puts me up a tree and it ain't running off, I'd be shooting too. Seems like pretty reasonable self defense if he's already up a tree.

 

[TaperPin]

Even guys in Wyoming give me crap for changing how I hunt in griz territory - going around areas with poor visibility, and doing what I can to avoid bumping into bears at close range. It’s impossible to avoid all potentially dangerous situations.

It made me grin imagining some dude climing a pine tree with rifle slung on his shoulder! Lol. Climbing a tree has never been on my radar - clumsy at best, and most of our trees don’t have limbs very conducive to climbing. If it happened in Wyo I’d wonder if it was a bs story told to make his actions seem more believable.

If he had time to climb up out of bear range he was a distance away from the bear, or she would have simply grabbed him by the underwear and pulled him off the tree. Too bad all around.

 

[cjdewese]

Call me a wuss, but I have no desire to hunt anywhere there are Grizzlies.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Call me a wuss, but I have no desire to hunt anywhere there are Grizzlies.

Wuss.

 

[TaperPin]

I just remembered a story out of Yellowstone years ago - a couple of teenage bears ran a guy up a tree. He stayed there quite a while and the bears left. When he came down the bears ran into the guy again further down the trail. My memory can’t recall what happened next.

As we speak, there’s a Rokslider practicing climbing a tree and shooting at the target near the base of the tree one handed. Lol