121553

I just saw an aquaintaince that I know that I haven't seen in a few weeks and found out that he had just recently surprised a griz while deer hunting last month. The story goes like this, Chris was hunting between Eureka Mt. and the B.C. border and as he was stalking quietly through the bush, when what he thought for a moment was a moose on its hind legs, in which was a Griz, then quickly dropping to all fours and makeing a charge towards Chris with teeth a chattering and ears laid back it came in faster than you can imagine he told me. Chris took several steps back and fell on his a$$ as the 400lb beast was on top of him, Chris takes the 7mm, in which is loaded with 150 grain deer load and points at the chest and fires as the bear is directly on top, then it runs off and the shot location was unknown to the extent of injury at point blank and Chris is badly shaken. He and a partner immmediately drive to the Eureka police dept and let aurthorities know what had just happened. The local warden got directions from Chris as the location. The bear was found 100 yrs from where Chris shot it. Investation was immediately takeing place as they verified that it was a justifiable shooting by the powder burns on the bear. I talked to Chris yesterday and he is still badly shaken and haveing a difficult time in handleing the situation. Grizzly hunting here in Montana is not legal and shooting one is taken very serious as all kinds of Feds are brought in to investagate it. They had figured that the female bear had a cub near by as an additional set of tracks were found in the area.
I had seen a fear in Chris as he was telling me the story that I have never seen in anyone, and he was telling me all these precautions to take now. He has lost something and I'm not sure if he will ever be the hunter he once was because of being spooked. AS I told him, you encountered my worst fear out their, and he told me, Bobby I live it and dream it every minute now. The guy is not the same hunter as he was. Sometimes it makes you wonder if it worth the chances we take, and maybe sometimes we take them for granite, later folks, just thought I'd share it with you, Bobby

ArcticBowMan

That sounds pretty intense. It just happened, so it will take him some time to calm down I'm sure. I've been up close and personal with grizzlies, and my heart has skipped a few beats more than once. Quite honostly though, I think that is part of hunting. There are risks associated with everything, and we are out in the wild, and wild things do happen. It's easy for me to say because something like that hasn't happened to me, but I doubt it would keep me from getting back out there.

Glad he is okay though, it could of been a ton worse! Did he get any battle scars?
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's

Mt^Boy

Wow, that's an intense situation and story! I'm hope it he gets through it alright. I agree with ABM, that there is a risk that you must accept, hunting in BIG predator country. It gives you a healthy respect for nature...(Personally, I think it's only fair that there's something out there to keep us in check - don't p!ss off HUNTING GODS!!)<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

My neighbour, was out grouse hunting on the nearby summit and was pushing some thick alders...well, he pushed right through a BIG grizzly boar's bedroom and when he realized it the bear was about 8 feet away, roaring with gaping jaws...the boar took a bite hold on his hip and shook him until the screaming stopped...then went on his way. This guy is a 30 year veteran bushman, and he couldn't get a shot off... he's still recovering 1 1/2 years later...

There was a young boar grizzer hanging out just up the mountain from my yard this summer...makes for some exciting hikes up in the dark!! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> It is illegal to shoot them here, but a few hiker 'snacks' should change that...

I'd rather be out there&gt;&gt;&gt;http://community.webshots.com/user/mtboys
Mt^Boy

rather_be_huntin

Hope you friend is OK, I think anybody would be shaken up. He probably just needs a little time to put it into perspective. That is an amazing story and one you're always glad to hear turns out ok.

I think that risk is part of hunting and life. Hell if we stopped doing everything that has a risk of someone dying no one would ever leave the house. My brother was in a motorcycle accident that should have killed him. He was going 65 on the freeway when a car pushed him into a guardrail. He flipped 3 times while holding on the bike and hit the rail and finally landing on his head. He had some major road rash and was knocked unconcious but that was it. His helmet saved him. At first he was pretty shaken and swore he'd never ride again, last week he bought a new bike and the fear is gone.

Robb92

Good to hear your friend wasn't injured just shook up, hope everything turns out alright

&quot;ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP, CAPTAIN!&quot;

121553

ABM, I myself have never had an encounter with a Griz, but have seen a few while liveing in B.C. and also here in Montana,I have had a few encounters with Blackies and luckily they run the other direction. It pays to be ugly I guess. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> The bears are so quiet and before you know it, its right their beside you and you both see each other at the same time. Not toooo good. I don't even want to think of a Griz encounter, even though the thought does go through my head as I'm walking to my stand an hour before sunrise dureing the bow season.
Mt boy and Rather be, maybe thats why we like the sport eh? There is just enough risk involved that keeps our intrest level up, You gotta love it, we each have to play our own music.
Robb, Chris is a local home boy and has been here all his life, I'm sure he will in time recover, he has a whole year, if he doesn't,... maybe more game for me <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
What happens a lot of times out here is non-residents often mistakes a Griz for a Blackie and due to this being a repeated problem in the past, the state implemented a test this past year to be taken by everyone prior to obtaining a Black bear permit.
Sometimes we drop our guard and get relaxed sometimes, sometimes we need this to keep us in cheque. Later guys, Bobby
<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

elknut1

I wanted to drop a line and say your buddy Chris acted with excellent instincts that only come from an experienced hunter. Not to mention fear. Any humanbeing would be shaken after such an experience, he's a rare breed I'm sure he will be fine. Good luck to Cris, thanks for the story. elknut

DreaminBoutElk

Tell your buddy that this is like getting struck by lightning...the odds are on his side now!!!