A 20-year-old archery hunter from Montana faces surgery after being attacked by a bear on state-owned land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte southwest of Augusta.
The unidentified man from Vaughn, apparently hunting alone, called in the attack himself at 1:25 p.m. Monday, then managed to walk three miles back to his car and drive 25 miles to Simms where he met his father, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton told MTN News.
They then drove to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. Dutton said the victim will need surgery. It is unclear what kind of injuries the victim suffered, but the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks stated they were “significant but fortunately not life-threatening.”
The hunter, likely hunting elk or deer, was wading across Elk
Creek when he surprised the bear, Dutton told MTN News, adding that the bear was likely bedded down in the area.
The victim fell into a fetal position and was smacked around by the bear. Then the bear left.
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The Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Office contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which sent game wardens and bear management specialists to the Elk Park area to investigate and post warning signs.
The species of bear is unknown, though many suspect it was a grizzly bear. The incident remains under investigation.
The FWP offered several tips to help keep hunters safe in bear country:
- Pack meat out as soon as possible.
- Avoid cutting up carcass at dusk or night. If you kill an animal at dusk, be prepared to cut up the carcass in the dark by carrying strong headlamps. Be extra vigilant and watch for bears.
- Properly hang meat until you can retrieve your downed game.
- If you must leave your animal, return to the site carefully. Leave it in an area that is easily observable from a distance.
- Drag gut piles into open areas, if possible, and at least 100 yards from your carcass as soon as possible.
- If a bear has claimed your animal, do not attempt to haze or frighten the bear away. Report any lost game to FWP.
- Bird hunters should be extra careful while walking in and along areas of brush, especially along waterways. Grizzly bears use thick cover for day beds. Walk with the wind, carry bear spray, and keep a close eye on hunting dogs. If there is abundant fresh sign of grizzly bears in the area, consider bird hunting somewhere else.
The FWP also offers a How to Hunt Safely in Grizzly Bear Country PDF for downloading.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Montana archery hunter faces surgery after surviving bear attack
