Posted on 09/17/2011 6:30:21 AM PDT by marktwain
A grizzly bear killed a hunter before being fatally shot Friday near the Boundary County, Idaho, limits, the latest in a series of deadly grizzly bear attacks in the Northwest.
Three men from Nevada were hunting bears in a remote area of Buckhorn Mountain near the Montana border when the grizzly attacked one of them and was shot and killed by a group member, authorities say.
The fatal grizzly attack comes as Idaho’s congressional delegation has proposed to amend the Endangered Species Act to reiterate that it’s OK to shoot a grizzly bear in self-defense or in defense of another person after a North Idaho man who shot and killed a grizzly cub on his property paid was charged. It’s also one of at least three fatal encounters in three months between people and grizzly bears in the region.
Officials initially thought Friday’s attack occurred in Idaho but used a GPS device to place the attack in Montana. Boundary County spokesman Mike Weland said a dispute between Idaho authorities and Lincoln County, Mont., sheriff’s officials had to be resolved Friday evening before the victim’s body was removed. Search and rescue crews from Idaho and Montana are at the scene, as well as a helicopter and officials from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Weland said.
The three hunters have family in Boundary County and have been taking an annual trip to the area for years, Weland said. They had tags from Montana to hunt bears and were armed with rifles, Weland said.
“The bear season just opened yesterday over there,” Weland said Friday.
Authorities say they are waiting for family to be notified of the man’s death before they release his name.
Weland said the circumstances of the fatal attack and subsequent shooting are still being investigated, but that the bear was shot while it was attacking.
Legislation proposed by U.S. senators and representatives from Idaho last week to reiterate the lawfulness of self defense against grizzlies is in response to a North Idaho man who shot and killed a grizzly cub in May after it and two others wandered onto his property and were seen near his children’s 4-H pig pen.
Jeremy Hill, 33, of Porthill, was charged with a federal crime, but it was dropped last week and he paid a $1,000 fine for a noncriminal infraction.
Experts say the number of grizzlies, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, appears to be increasing in the area as the number of encounters between the bears and humans, though rare, increases. Montana recorded six encounters in May alone, including four that ended with the grizzlies shot and killed. No humans were killed in those attacks, but two hikers were killed on separate occasions in Yellowstone National Park in July and August.
In July 2010, a camper was mauled to death by a grizzly bear at a campground just outside of Cooke City, Mont., near Yellowstone.
Twelve people were killed by bears in Montana and Wyoming in the 30 years prior to last summer, according to The Billings Gazette.
To be forced to pass a law that defending human life over an animal attack is ok speaks volumes about how twisted society has become. It’s almost too much too steeped in lunacy to grasp.
These bears are getting smarter. It is common for them to stalk hunters who leave gut piles and other leftovers from field dressing game they have shot. Sometimes, however, the hunters become the prey.
Here in So Cal, near the foothills, we hear about how the last grizzly was killed in 1909 here in town. Nobody EVER mourns; this is when it was safe for humans. Grizzlies do not share, they are not co-equal among us here on earth. They are predators and we are tasty snacks.
bookmark
Jail the enviro terrorists, who enabled this bear to become a protected killer. Then, the family of the victim should sue every fish and game person and the enviro whackos who set up this attack.
Then, Idaho should have Grizzly hunts to raise money. Grizzly tags on EBay with a beginning bid of $50,000 could raise a lot of money.
A young friend will be Elk Hunting in Idaho soon with his bow, and he bought a wolf tag/stamp.
The non native and non endangered wolves in Idaho were slaughtering the baby/young elk through out Idaho and of course any farm animals they found. Fortunately, now, they can be hunted and disposed of now.
WOLVES...smoke em if ya got em, smoke a pack a day!
Bears are pretty good hunters themselves!
And they’re FAST!
It will be interesting to learn size and sex of the Griz.
Prayers up for the hunter and family!
Then use the 3 S’s.
Some days you eat the bear...
I read that the fellow that killed the bear, shot and wounded it earlier before the attack. if that is that is true, he is in a heap of trouble.
‘We are the biggest predator?” We are also tasty snacks to many predators, who are faster and deadlier by far than we — especially if the humans don’t have the right hunting tags.
The Environmentalists, all, should be sued to smitherines.
Pretty much agree. I’m always a little irritated with people who start frothing at the mouth when a wild critter is killed and yelp “we’re invading their habitat!” The fact is since humans have trod the earth and spread over the globe, we’ve invaded habitats previously occupied by non-humans. It’s not “their” habitat, it’s whoever is the strongest. That’s the facts of survival. As humans, we come first.
“Jail the enviro terrorists, who enabled this bear to become a protected killer. Then, the family of the victim should sue every fish and game person and the enviro whackos who set up this attack.”
Ok I guess I don’t get it. What am I mising here? What is the back story that isn’t in the article?
Freegards
*fmj varmint bullet*
No such round. But a military BALL round will do what you want. M2 Ball (30-06) would be my choice.
These guys were HUNTING bears. What’s the grizzly supposed to do, roll over and die?
When you hunt you take a chance of being hunted, its not a one way street, a grizzly is a top preditor with no fear, your on his menu and need to realize the fact or stay home. It is a sad story and I feel for the family. No one ever said life was fair or will meet you half way....
The only thing I can think of about some of the reactions on this thread is that there is something not explained in the article. If the article is true as written, it’s a bear hunter killed by a bear while hunting bears. If that’s true, I don’t get it.
Freegards
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