Shed Hunter Kills Charging Grizzly with a Handgun in Montana

[ShaneTyTrey]

Shoot every one you see.

You realize that posting stuff like this on a public forum, if you are ever in a situation that you have shoot one, someone will use this against you.  Probably better to think it and not post it, just saying.

[2MANY]

I guess one would have to shoot one before the worry would start.?
I have zero intention of being in a situation.


While we are at it will someone define "one".

[pickardjw]

I guess one would have to shoot one before the worry would start.?
I have zero intention of being in a situation.


While we are at it will someone define "one".

More than zero, less than two?

[GoPlayOutside]

Guide in Alaska once told me:  "Make sure you file down that front site on your .44".   Me = "why".  Guide = "So it doesn't hurt as much when that grizzly shoves it up your ass."

[JWBINX]

Shoot every one you see.

You realize that posting stuff like this on a public forum, if you are ever in a situation that you have shoot one, someone will use this against you.  Probably better to think it and not post it, just saying.

 

[2MANY]

Sounds like you guys need a better lawyer.

[jackelope]

It does seem odd that a 12 year old female would only weigh 300 lbs even if she did just come out of hibernation. If that is a normal weight for a bear that old, that's amazing because she'll probably weigh 5 to 7 hundred lbs by fall. Bear gotta eat to put on that kind of weight in one summer and fall. Especially taking care of a cub!
 I also would like to know what caliber hand gun he was carrying? Based on what the article says, one shot grazed and only one of the other four shots struck and killed the bear. Considering the situation, two hits, one lethal is probably as good as one could expect at a charging bear. To ask one round from a hand gun to put a Grizzly out of commission is expecting a lot.
 Honestly, after a up close and personal face to face with a wolf and the knowledge that there were at least three or four near by, I've taken to, when I'm in the hills not hunting, especially with my dogs, carrying my 45LC and a 30-40 Krag loaded with 220 gr. Hornady RNs. I just can't understand the idea of hoping and wishing everything will be just fine instead of being as prepared as one needs to be for the worst case scenario! I'd also like to know if there was an uproar over the guy having his dogs and if they'll (feds and antis) question whether the dogs were leashed or not. It's great that situations like that are being reported about.
 Be safe out there!

Lower 48 female grizzly bears don’t weigh 700 pounds. Kodiak bears maybe do.

[chukardogs]

 I've found throughout my life that many things I think seem completely fine when thought. When spoken out loud and/or written, and thus heard or read by myself and others, many times I've had to ask, where'd that come from? Who said that? Did that really come out of my mouth?
 I highly doubt that making a statement on HuntWa will hold much water in the future if an individual actually gets into a life or death situation where they have no choice but to kill an animal considered endangered. If the evidence backs up a self defense claim and the animal was shot at a range where anyone listening to the evidence would think, I'd have pulled the trigger also, you'll most likely walk away to hunt another day, even with a so-so lawyer.
 I'm surprised there wasn't much backlash over the fact the individual didn't have bear spray on him. In Alaska hunting Caribou a couple years ago, they wouldn't even take you out and drop you off if you didn't have it on your person.
 As far as how much a Grizzly weighs, the only one I've ever dealt with up close and personal like was in Alaska and that damn thing seemed enormous when it stood up at 20 yards and looked at us over a bush. I've always heard that the average Grizzly weighs 4 to 5 hundred pounds and that bear seemed every bit of that and then some. Stay safe out there!

[TeacherMan]

My experiences being around a ton of bears alive and dead in AK. Interior griz were 300-600 lbs and 5.5-7.5’ and the absolute meanest thing on the planet. They actually have to hunt for their food. Hands down the only ones I ever had an issue with or worried about. Then you have your coastal griz, those bears would average 7.5-9’ and weight 500-900 lbs pretty commonly. Fat happy and salmon feed. And then Kodiak is it’s own animal with critters peaking over 10’ and 1,200 plus pounds. Absolute ideal climates to grow everything big. Even the fox out there are the size of coyotes. The Jurassic Park of AK.

All the bears I’ve seen in the lower 48, count on one hand definitely fall under the size of the interior griz. They also seem to have the same attitude.

I only ever had to kill one bear in self defense in AK and my .500 S&W seemed dam small, and the 5 round capacity seemed way to small after putting 3 rounds into it. In the lower 48 I carry a g20 or my .44. In AK I prefer my shotgun now but still carry a pistol as well since I can never set it down and walk away from it.

My question is, how much is this going to cost the guy even if it was self defense in the lower 48? In AK I just slapped a tag on it. Just the attorney fees you’d never see again add up quickly I’m sure.

[2MANY]

Not managing predator's in the lower 48 is pathetic.

Judge yourself accordingly.

[blackveltbowhunter]

My experiences being around a ton of bears alive and dead in AK. Interior griz were 300-600 lbs and 5.5-7.5’ and the absolute meanest thing on the planet. They actually have to hunt for their food. Hands down the only ones I ever had an issue with or worried about. Then you have your coastal griz, those bears would average 7.5-9’ and weight 500-900 lbs pretty commonly. Fat happy and salmon feed. And then Kodiak is it’s own animal with critters peaking over 10’ and 1,200 plus pounds. Absolute ideal climates to grow everything big. Even the fox out there are the size of coyotes. The Jurassic Park of AK.

All the bears I’ve seen in the lower 48, count on one hand definitely fall under the size of the interior griz. They also seem to have the same attitude.

I only ever had to kill one bear in self defense in AK and my .500 S&W seemed dam small, and the 5 round capacity seemed way to small after putting 3 rounds into it. In the lower 48 I carry a g20 or my .44. In AK I prefer my shotgun now but still carry a pistol as well since I can never set it down and walk away from it.

My question is, how much is this going to cost the guy even if it was self defense in the lower 48? In AK I just slapped a tag on it. Just the attorney fees you’d never see again add up quickly I’m sure.

If it was self defense it shouldn't cost anything.

[chukardogs]

You're right, it shouldn't but it will. If you have to prove your case in court, you're going to pay legal fees, time off work and so on and so on. If it's clear that someone had no choice, they'll probably think what's the use but it better be clear and obvious. The Alaska game wardens told us before we went north to Deadhorse, shooting a Grizzly up in the Arctic is gonna cost you just to prove your case so carry your bear spray at all times. 

[Martinhunter]

Wow, I use to have trail cameras up in that same area a couple years ago. Glad he was quick on the trigger.

[spurfoot]

He was carrying a Glock 20 frame with a .460 ported barrel shooting 255 grains.  Guy that works for me is his buddy and the printed versions of the story never match because they all are pushing an agenda.

I would like to hear the whole story. Got any links to more info?

Also where do you guys get 255grain 10mm loads or bullets, I would like to know some load data, if anyone has on a 255 grain?

The largest cast bullets, atleast in commercial stuf, are usually 220 or rarely 230 grain loads.
Maybe it was 185grain load?