Montana’s news has been unusually full of stories about hunters encountering grizzly bears. "There has been a lot of bear activity this fall, with everything from a grizzly being shot in the Bitterroot Mountains, the first known grizzly in those parts since 1946, to a number of recent bear and hunter encounters where the hunter was injured," said Ron Aasheim, Montana Fish, Wildlfie & Parks Communications and Education Division administrator. The extremely dry summer and numerous wildfires have left bears scrambling for food before they hibernate. Bears may be found foraging along waterways in the brush as well as in mountainous settings at this time of year. "With the general deer and elk season about to begin, rifle hunters need to be alert for signs of grizzly bears and prepare by carrying bear pepper spray," Aasehim said. FWP urges hunters to avoid potential conflicts with bears by taking appropriate precautions. · Avoid hunting alone and make noise when hunting through dense timber. · Learn to recognize signs of bear activity. · After killing a deer or elk, immediately separate the carcass from the gut pile. · If you have to leave the carcass, hang it out of reach of a bear or locate it where there is an observation point 200 yards away, if possible. · When returning to a carcass, observe the area from a distance for bear activity such as a moved or partially buried carcass. . If a bear has claimed the carcass, leave it alone and contact FWP immediately. For more on hunting in bear country, check the Montana big game hunting regulations available online at fwp.mt.gov , or at FWP offices and license providers.
Recent News
