A Wyoming man hunting elk in Grand Teton National Park was attacked by a bear Sunday, but managed to call for help after the bear left the area.
Details were sketchy: The 32-year-old Jackson man could not definitively say whether it was a grizzly or black bear that attacked him, and the extent of his injuries were not immediately known, although they were not considered life-threatening.
Grand Teton spokeswoman Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles said the man was hunting along the east side of the Snake River between Blacktail Ponds and Glacier View Overlooks when he was attacked about 11:30 a.m.
The man was carrying bear spray and following the recommended protocols for hunting in bear country, she said. The hunter told rangers that when he spotted the bear he dropped to the ground and covered his head, she added. It was not immediately clear if the bear was acting defensively, or viewed him as prey, said Ms. Anzelo-Sarles.
However, reports that the hunter had fired shots at the bear were in error, the spokeswoman said.
"It took about 45 minutes from the time of his call for the first responder to arrive on scene. He was about three-quarters and a mile off the road, in the river bottom," said Ms. Anzelo-Sarles.
The hunter received initial treatment in the field, and was transported to the road in a litter. An ambulance transported him to a Jackson hospital. Rangers were conducting an investigation Sunday afternoon to see if they could piece together what happened.
Attacks by bears in the park are extremely rare. There have been six reported bear attacks in the history of Grand Teton National Park- none were fatal, according to park records. In 2007 a female grizzly bear with cubs mauled a jogger near Jackson Lake Lodge in a surprise encounter.
Grand Teton's enabling legislation allows for a limited elk hunt in the park. All hunters participating in the elk reduction program are provided with a bear information and safety packet. The following guidelines are suggested for participating hunters:
* Hunt with a partner.
* Carry bear spray (required).
* Avoid “dark” timber during mid-day when bears may be using a day-bed.
* Have a predetermined plan of action for retrieving harvested game from the field.
* Be extra cautious after making a kill and when hunting in areas where animals have recently been harvested.
* Avoid hunting in areas where fresh bear sign is repeatedly observed.
* Avoid gut piles.
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Comments
Sorry to bring facts into the discussion again, but when Interangecy Grizzly Bear Study Team leader Chuck Schwartz reviewed bear-hunter conflicts in the Yellowstone region from 1992-2004, not once in 12 years did a hunter "switch" from gun to bear spray.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_637cc110-5988-53bc-9298-0baabdcdbab2.html
Dropping a loaded firearm is taboo.
One or two headshots either grazed it or bounced off. There were a couple of wounds in the fur, but none penetrated. In any case, it was a very impressive experience. I carry bear spray now, but hope never to use it. However, I did think about it one night recently when I encountered a very stoned individual who was trying to break into a neighbor's home while we were waiting for police to arrive. But after that experience in the old Old Faithful campground, I think I might believe that spray would be good weapon of choice. All that firepower took a while to work. Spray, however, might carry enough startle factor to persuade the critter to go another direction.
I just don't want to be the guy who has to find out.
An ex-marine up in Alaska carrying his 30-06 decided to challenge a griz from 20 yds last month. The bear was hit, but this man ended up severely mauled. The rangers found the blood trail but elected not to pursue it.
Hunting partners had to bail out the initial shooter twice in the last month by firing fatal shots to keep the bear from killing their hunting companion. Both incidences were fortunate that they didn't end up like the one on the ID/MT border where one hunter killed his partner trying to save him from being mauled by a wounded griz. Both guys were lucky they had partners backing them up.
Guns are great, but you better be both good and lucky to save your arz. Get the spray!
In the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Sports Afield, BYU professor Tom Smith, the author of Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska and Efficacy of Firearms For Bear Deterrence in Alaska, says "If I'm actually out hunting and I have a gun in my hands and a bear comes at me--do you think I'm going to lay the gun down and pick up bear spray? Are you out of your mind?"
Smith says comparing stats on bear spray to stats on firearms to prove hunters should use bear spray--the bear spray versus guns argument--is "ridiculous."
Smith says it's "not about bear spray versus guns . . . both guns and bear spray have their place."