Antler-hunter shoots, kills grizzly near Wolf Creek

Wildlife photographer Patricia Lavin captured this image of then-26-year-old Grizzly 399 in September 2022. (Patricia Lavin)

A man shot and killed a 300 lb. female grizzly bear who was accompanied by a cub last week near Wolf Creek. He was not carrying bear spray, and the state is looking to place the cub in a zoo.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said the man was searching for shed antlers on April 25 on private land northwest of Wolf Creek. He was walking along a ridge with his two dogs when he found a fresh grizzly bear track in a snow patch, and shortly after saw the grizzly bear 20 yards away.

FWP said the bear then dropped to all four legs and charged the man, who drew his handgun. The man fired five shots from about 30 feet to 20 feet from the grizzly, with one shot grazing the bear, and another hitting and killing it. The man was not injured.

The grizzly was 12 years old and was in good condition and was with a single cub-of-the-year, meaning the cub was less than a year old. FWP took the cub to the department’s wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena. The department is looking to place the cub at an accredited zoo.

The incident remains under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Bear Aware tips from FWP

Bears can be anywhere. Assume their presence and know what to do if you encounter one.

Plan Ahead

• Be prepared to deal with bear encounters.
• Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
• Both grizzly bears and black bears pose a threat. In an encounter, the bear’s behavior, rather than its species, should determine how you respond.
• In any bear encounter, your behavior matters. Bears respond to your actions.

During an encounter with a bear

• Never run away. You cannot outrun a bear. Running may trigger a bear to chase.
• Never approach the bear

Different situations call for different responses.
If you see a bear at a distance, the bear appears unaware of you and you can move away undetected, do so quietly when the bear is not looking toward you.
If you cannot avoid a bear that sees you, stand your ground and watch its behavior. Move away when it disengages.

Various encounter types and what to do
If a bear is not actively engaged with you (looking away, ignoring you, running away or retreating): Give the bear space by backing away slowly from the bear and going in the opposite direction of the bear.

If a bear shows agitated/defensive behavior (huffing, jaws clacking, head swaying back and forth, bellowing, swatting the ground, and excessively salivating at the mouth): Stand your ground, prepare your bear spray, and speak in a calm manner, until the bear retreats.

If a bear charges or appears ready to charge: Stand your ground.

If it charges, use your bear spray, when the bear comes within 30-60 feet.

If the bear is going to touch you, go face down on the ground, cover your neck and head as much as possible, and deploy your bear spray in the bear’s face. If you do not have bear spray, play dead if it is a grizzly bear, fight back if it is a black bear.

If a bear follows you, or slowly, purposefully or methodically approaches you:

• Stand your ground.
• Get aggressive: wave your arms and shout vigorously.
• Get spray out and ready.
• Fight back if it makes contact.

If a bear enters or reaches into your tent: Use your bear spray. Fight back.

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