Two hunters who shot 530-pound grizzly 24 times share their stunning story of survival

East Idaho news ^ | 9/6/24 | David Pace

[CFW]

ISLAND PARK — Dangling from the jaws of a 530-pound grizzly, 20-year-old Riley Hill’s body flung from side-to-side as his hunting buddy Braxton Meyers fired round after round into the bear’s hulking frame. The grizzly’s ferocious teeth sunk deep into his arm, puncturing the skin to the bone, as he screamed and fought back during the longest 30 seconds of his life.

“It was lifting me off the ground and then slamming me back on the ground,” Hill said. “… It was like playing tug of war with your dog, but he was playing it with my arm and ripping it apart.”

Moments earlier, the bear had charged out of nowhere, dramatically altering a peaceful morning as the two hunters from Rexburg and Menan faced one of the fiercest predators in North America.

The men shared their heroic story of friendship and survival in an exclusive interview with EastIdahoNews.com.

[snip]

The two friends were only about twelve feet apart from each other, and Meyers tripped and fell on the ground.

Hill had time to shoot the bear with three more bullets in the face and shoulder region before its iron jaws clamped down on his arm.

Immediately, the grizzly began to fling Hill around.

Meyers stood up and saw the bear attacking Hill.

He “fumbled around,” pulled out his Taurus 1911 .45 ACP pistol and fired four to five shots at the bear before the gun jammed.

The bear continued to flail Hill from side-to-side as Meyers cleared the feed.

“I was having to pick my shots careful,” Meyers said. “… By then, the bear’s on top of Riley, and Riley’s shoulders are between (its) front feet and his legs are kind of kicked out from its stomach. … I couldn’t see anything Riley was doing. ..."

[marktwain]

Bella Twin was the Cree woman who killed the 1953 world record grizzly bear with a single shot .22.

Read all about it at the link.

[blueunicorn6]

It was my first day working for The US Forest Service and we were all walking to our pickups to go to work.

I noticed a guy with a revolver on his hip.

I asked my work partner if that guy thought he was Jesse James.

My work partner told me to shut up.

He then explained that the guy had been on a four man crew that got between a Grizzly sow and her cubs.

When it was all over, this guy was the only one of the four who could still walk for help.

He said the guy carries that .357 Magnum now.

I said I didn’t know if that was enough revolver to stop a Grizzly.

My work partner said the guy intended to put the revolver in the bear’s mouth and fire.

I just shook my head.

[marktwain]

Bella Twin was the Cree woman who killed the 1953 world record grizzly bear with a single shot .22.

Read all about it at the link.

[riverrunner]

The 357mag is a effective bear defensive caliber.