Yikes! Hunter shoots charging grizzly bear in Montana
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — An elk hunter shot a charging grizzly bear Tuesday morning near the Sun River Canyon west of Augusta on the Rocky Mountain Front, Fish Wildlife and Parks wardens said in a press release Wednesday.
The encounter took place midmorning, agency officials said.
The Great Falls-area hunter surprised a grizzly at the head of Home Gulch, about three miles south of the Sun River Canyon Road, wardens said.
The hunter told wardens he fired a warning shot in the air, but the bear charged him anyway.
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The hunter shot at the bear, and thought he hit it three times, he said. The bear turned and ran, and the hunter left the area, then notified FWP.
An FWP bear management specialist flew over the area later Tuesday, but could not see any sign of the bear. FWP game wardens were out Wednesday trying to locate the animal.
The U.S. Forest Service has posted warnings in the area, which is popular among elk hunters. FWP’s Augusta check station also has warnings posted for hunters.
Montana’s general elk and deer season ends Sunday.
Follow Traci Rosenbaum on Twitter: @GFTrib_TRosenba