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WY: Off Duty Warden Shoots, Kills, Charging Grizzly
Ammoland ^ | 9 November, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 11/11/2017 3:29:21 AM PST by marktwain

Grizzly Bear

An off duty Wyoming Game Warden, Chris Queen, was hunting elk in the Little Sunlight Basin north of Cody, Wyoming, not far from the Wyoming border.

He was returning to his horses late in the day, about 6:30 in the evening. The sun had set 15 minutes earlier, but there was still considerable light.  A grizzly sow bluff charged Chris, then charged him full out.

From ktvh.com:

Queen told investigators he slowly backed away believing the sow would return to her cubs and move on.

But, after returning to her cubs, the sow exhibited even more aggressive behavior.

Suddenly, the animal lowered its head and fully charged.

Queen said he fired his rifle at the charging grizzly, killing it just a few feet from where he stood.

Because Chris is an Game and Fish employee, the Game and Fish department asked the sheriff's office and the Division of Criminal Investigation to step in, to prevent even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
From parkcountysheriff.net:

It is not unusual for an agency with concurrent jurisdiction, to be asked to assume investigative responsibility for an incident when a member of a law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction is involved,” said Steward. “This maintains the integrity of the investigation and eliminates even the perception of impropriety,”

The off duty Game Warden, Chris Queen appears to be following the best available advise.  Tom Smith, Professor at BYU, one of the most quoted proponents of bear spray, said as much  in a Sports Afield article in 2012. He said that it would be foolish to drop a rifle to attempt to obtain pepper spray, while being charged.


(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Wyoming
KEYWORDS: banglist; bear; bearattack; grizzly; wildlife; wy
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To: marktwain

A 30-30 in the hand is worth two bear sprays in the pocket. :-)


41 posted on 11/11/2017 7:27:22 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: null and void

Not mine! But I also advocate a wild life.


42 posted on 11/11/2017 7:31:43 AM PST by DainBramage
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To: PLMerite

43 posted on 11/11/2017 7:39:47 AM PST by RandallFlagg (Vote for your guns!)
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To: marktwain

Do you know what the rifle was?


44 posted on 11/11/2017 7:44:29 AM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: riverrunner

The native Indians say bears were created to keep fear in man and keep their egos in check.


45 posted on 11/11/2017 7:46:51 AM PST by RideForever
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To: PLMerite

“They don’t pay you to bring ammo back” ~ Tom Clancy


46 posted on 11/11/2017 7:46:55 AM PST by null and void (The internet gave everyone a mouth. It gave no one a brain.)
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To: RideForever

Ursus arctos horribilis would be a good political mascot. Better than a jackass, or a pachyderm.

As a bonus it would drive California liberal nuts, they’d have to change their flag!


47 posted on 11/11/2017 7:51:15 AM PST by null and void (The internet gave everyone a mouth. It gave no one a brain.)
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To: Travis McGee

Treadwells’ movie...

Grizzlyman.

It should be

Grizzly Poop.


48 posted on 11/11/2017 8:02:50 AM PST by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
Archer Fred Bear, in going after dangerous game with a bow, carried a .44 mag pistol hidden under his jacket. For his films, he had a rifleman standing off screen, just in case.

With all due respect to Fred Bear, my money's on the guy with the rifle to stop any charge.

When something big and angry is charging, there is a lot more accuracy and margin for error with a .458 Win Mag rifle than there is with a .44 mag pistol. Just need a competent rifleman because rifle will do its part in stopping instantly any animal on the plant.

49 posted on 11/11/2017 9:55:00 AM PST by CommerceComet (Hillary: A unique blend of arrogance, incompetence, and corruption.)
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To: Travis McGee

In watching Grizzly Man,
A sane person just wants to scream out

Hey Dude ...

That bear Wants to Eat You!


50 posted on 11/11/2017 10:01:49 AM PST by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: Dr. Sivana

So. what happens to the orphaned. Cubs?
-x-x-x-x-x-
Particularly tender meat......


51 posted on 11/11/2017 10:18:59 AM PST by S.O.S121.500 (Had ENOUGH Yet ? ........................ Enforce the Bill of Rights .........It is the LAW...)
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To: marktwain
Brutality-To-Bears Alert!
52 posted on 11/11/2017 11:08:13 AM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: Dr. Sivana
"what happens to the orphaned. Cubs?"

Both were "A" students just getting their lives straightened out.

53 posted on 11/11/2017 11:11:15 AM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: Dr. Sivana
Depends if they are first or second year cubs.

First year might not make it. They will be come prey for other bears or mountain lions.

If they were two year cubs they will be just fine as they would have been leaving her in the spring anyway.

54 posted on 11/11/2017 11:20:15 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Not a Romantic, not a hero worshiper and stop trying to tug my heartstrings. It tickles! (pink bow))
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To: marktwain
if Timothy Treadwell is not the perfect example of our society today, with its juvenile, shallow,self centered arrogance I don't know what is..

to think there existed people like Winston Churchill and Audie Murphy and our fathers for the most part, to end this country with pansies like Treadwell....insanity displayed...

I hope we learn to grow men again...

55 posted on 11/11/2017 11:25:48 AM PST by cherry
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To: marktwain
I don't know about better. I do carry bear spray, and have practiced using it with my left hand. My right reserved for more potent medicine. A charge like the one described, the spray would have been dropped on the ground. If I was carrying a rifle, a running charge, it would remain in it's pouch on my belt.

Also, while your article correctly addresses selection bias, it's the media's selection, not the bears. Most charges are bluffs and will stop at 20 (too close) to 30 years. If I spray a bear at 30 yards, and he stops, the overwhelming likelihood is that it was a bluff, the bears selection. Though chalked up as a successful spray. In my unprofessional opinion, which a few experienced with bears have agreed, if it's a true charge, the bear is coming through the spray. 30 yards, that's 3 seconds. Or less. If you're not ready to shoot, it's too late.

56 posted on 11/11/2017 11:50:12 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: elcid1970

It has lower oleoresin capsicum content than human spray. I’d guess that’s offset to a large extent by the far greater quantity and greater range. And the fact that you’re firing a bear or man encompassing cloud, not trying to his a forehead. And marking your assailant orange. But the canisters are big, and could be more difficult to deploy in close contact. You’d be in the cloud as well. Don’t know about wasp or oven spray, I can see where that could be a problem. Fortunately when traveling where all these things are illegal, I usually carry my wife’s hair spray for her. Again unprofessionally, intent can be anything. If you are carrying bear spray for defensive use on humans, that could be a problem. I only carry it for bears.


57 posted on 11/11/2017 11:59:18 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: redfreedom
A gun may only be 50% effective. My understanding is their CNS must be completely destroyed to get them to instantly keel over... My opinion is to shoot first, spray later if it keeps on coming.

The CNS advice is correct. Not easy on a charging bear, recall how their head swings right to left. It's a deadly situation to be in at close range.

Anecdotal, and I've no way of knowing if true, but I was told of a fishing guide who was attacked and put 4 rounds of .44 mag in the body with no immediate effect. The attack was halted by another guide who sprayed the bear. Who ran off and died. Would he have stopped if sprayed first, who knows. I prefer to avoid bears.

58 posted on 11/11/2017 12:03:50 PM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: elcid1970

“Real question, though: how effective is bear spray on humans? “

Just use a dog spray. Halt is one brand. It’s what mail carriers are issued.


59 posted on 11/11/2017 12:05:06 PM PST by Pelham
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To: marktwain

“Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.”

When a Grizzly charges me, I belt out “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees.

They stop and I usually get applause when I’m done.


60 posted on 11/11/2017 12:14:55 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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