Wyoming Outfitter Killed by Bear

[HighPlainsHunter]

. People are not better, more respectful or more thoughtful in Wyoming than North Carolina.

In fact, I've never lived in a region of the country (the SE) where people were more thoughtful, more polite or where funerals were a bigger deal.

.

The irony in this post is amazing. You essentially did exactly what you told me not to do. Hilarious.

And yes you completely whiffed in your original post where you said you would also take the first flight out of town if you were in that situation. That is a wrong move IMO, especially if that guide did anything that ultimately saved the hunters life in that situation which is very likely.

 

[graybird]

My condolences to Uptain's family.

I can't for the life of me begin to think of running away with a chance to handle things myself with a firearm in hand and a partner/buddy/guide on the mountain with me. One never knows how you would react in a situation like this, but I'm sure two guys doing everything they could to fend off a bear is better than one left on his own.

Then, to skinny out of town as fast as possible isn't in my heart, or mind. I'd been on that mountain taking the search and rescue team back to the scene. I guess some people are made differently and react to situations much differently then others.

 

[Prerylyon]

We may never know what happened up there.
We teach the boys in scouts a fundamental rule when out and about: 'the buddy rule' - stay in groups on 2 or more when hiking, pursuing adventure; for safety: if you find yourself lost or injured.

This situation violates that rule; but so does hunting solo in the backcountry, which many of us do.

What if the guide gave his client a 'command decision' to go back and get help, if his client's injuries, in his opinion, needed greater attention-and he thought-for whatever reason- that was the right choice?

On the basic info available, I do agree that 2 guys would have been better than one in this situation; but I wasnt there, nor have I any experience being attacked by bears.

Idk. Sad stuff.

Regards,



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[Colorado Cowboy]

Both bears were caught and killed according to latest info. Sow and adult cub. Hunter was also pretty beat up with chest, torso & arm injuries.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

I've read a few scenarios on other sites that seem to make sense.
Here is one.

More than likely the guide owned the gun as it's doubtful the hunter brought one with him from Florida. Also likely that the guide was doing the processing of the animal which may have been gut shot by some reports I've read which is why they had trouble locating the elk. Maybe the guide handed the gun to the hunter with orders to watch for bears while he was working or maybe he kept it nearby as he worked on the elk. Regardless somehow the hunter ends up with the gun during the attack, but miraculously does not shoot, and instead claims to have thrown the gun to the guide and ran for help.

That seems strange that a guy in good enough shape to run for help doesn't use the gun and help the guide first.

Seems strange that the hunter runs out, calls for help, and is flown to the hospital on Friday, and on a flight the next day out of town just after lunch before the guides body was even found, before talking with the family, before attending the funeral of this father of 5 who may have saved the hunters life and lost his own due to what may have been a poorly placed shot.

I want to believe that this guy did the right thing, but dang, some of this sure looks bad and seems odd.

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Just recieved an update on my phone.Hunter had climbed out after being mauled.Guide found dead at scene.Bear spray and Glock found on scene,no knowledge of them being deployed.Investigation ongoing.

 

[JimP]

A lot of questions that most or all of us will never know the answer to.

I can understand how the hunter could get on a flight a day after leaving the hospital and getting stitch up and receiving a lot of antibiotics with instructions to see his personal doctor when he gets home. Now as far as talking to the guides family, perhaps that happened, perhaps it didn't there would only be a few that would know this.

I can also see the senerio of the handgun being handed to a person and telling him to watch for bears. I can also see how in the heat of the moment all he11 breaking loose with all kinds of adrenaline running through the body with the hunter trying to figure out what to do. Perhaps the guide asked for the gun back, a question that quite possibly will never be answered to anyone's satisfaction. Personally if I would of been the guide I would of never handed a handgun to a person when my life might depend on it. I would tell him to keep a real good watch and let me know what is happening. But then that is just me.

Still a whole lot of questions with no answers to them

 

[BuzzH]

Circumstances aside, the view from Iowa looks to me like this:

1. Grizzly bear population recovered
2. increasing Gizzly/human interactions causing loss of life and property
3. Management of the Grizzly population needed because of #1 and #2

I don't remember hearing about so many Grizzly attacks when I was a boy/young man. Yes, the internet speeds the pace of news up; but back then, we read the hunting magazines at the Barbershop and the hunting feature in the sports section of the newspaper growing up, and I don't remember hearing about so many attacks.

I hope progress can be made to allow an ethical, ecologically sound, management hunt that reduces the Grizzly population in WY such that less of these bear attacks occur.

Regards,


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Google it...fatal grizzly bear attacks have stayed pretty much the same for decades.

While many think a hunting season will keep bears in check and/or significantly reduce the population, its fantasyland thinking and not reality at all. In fact, selecting and killing dominant adult boars could actually INCREASE the population, as boars routinely kill younger bears and occupy large home ranges. Lots of science to support this.

Plus, a majority of fatal attacks involve sows with cubs, which would not be allowed to be killed during a legal hunting season, no matter what the over-all population may be. Not to mention that low sow mortalities are allowed from the start. Any hunting is going to have little to no impact to the over-all population.

Its really unfortunate and too bad these things happen, but statistically you're much more likely to be killed by lightning or killed in a vehicle wreck on your way to a trailhead.

It happens and will continue to happen...very sorry for this man and his family.

 

[ivorytip]

i think its the idea of grizzly bears having a fear of humans. fatal attacks have stayed roughly the same but what about encounters and or injuries? ill tell you what i would like to see though is these bears put back into the hills of California.

 

[Prerylyon]

Google it...fatal grizzly bear attacks have stayed pretty much the same for decades.

While many think a hunting season will keep bears in check and/or significantly reduce the population, its fantasyland thinking and not reality at all. In fact, selecting and killing dominant adult boars could actually INCREASE the population, as boars routinely kill younger bears and occupy large home ranges. Lots of science to support this.

Plus, a majority of fatal attacks involve sows with cubs, which would not be allowed to be killed during a legal hunting season, no matter what the over-all population may be. Not to mention that low sow mortalities are allowed from the start. Any hunting is going to have little to no impact to the over-all population.

Its really unfortunate and too bad these things happen, but statistically you're much more likely to be killed by lightning or killed in a vehicle wreck on your way to a trailhead.

It happens and will continue to happen...very sorry for this man and his family.

Buzz-

I looked on Wikipedia-far from perfect research-and did a quick survey of Brown bear fatalities in the wild in the northern Rockies: Montana & Wyoming. I will assume 'brown' = 'grizzly' in their tallied list. You guys can call me out if I mis-counted (I got dishes to do and little kids that I need to get in bed, so it was a quick count); but this is what I came up with, based on that criteria for fatalities:

2010s=7
2000s=1
1990s=2
1980s=7
1970s=2
1960s=2
1950s=2
1940s=1

In the last 40 yrs, the numbers are up. If hunting them is useless, maybe the people trained in the science of managing wildlife can offer some additional ideas on how people and livestock can be safe while in the northen Rockies, in areas occupied by Grizzlys.

Regards,

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[BuzzH]

Buzz-

I looked on Wikipedia-far from perfect research-and did a quick survey of Brown bear fatalities in the wild in the northern Rockies: Montana & Wyoming. I will assume 'brown' = 'grizzly' in their tallied list. You guys can call me out if I mis-counted (I got dishes to do and little kids that I need to get in bed, so it was a quick count); but this is what I came up with, based on that criteria for fatalities:

2010s=7
2000s=1
1990s=2
1980s=7
1970s=2
1960s=2
1950s=2
1940s=1

In the last 40 yrs, the numbers are up. If hunting them is useless, maybe the people trained in the science of managing wildlife can offer some additional ideas on how people and livestock can be safe while in the northen Rockies, in areas occupied by Grizzlys.

Regards,

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Funny how everyone interprets data differently.

I think the 1980's and 2010's may be outliers when looking at data from 1940-present.

Plus, I wonder how many more people recreate in grizzly bear habitat now than in 1940-1980? I bet lots more, considering that Yellowstone has set tourism records just recently.

No question more bears combined with more people outdoors, you'll have more interaction which may lead to more fatalities. The data doesn't suggest that if you throw out the 2 decades where fatalities were highest. Also fair to note that grizzly bear education and more people using better backcountry bear awareness has resulted in keeping fatalities relatively low considering the potential increase in grizzly/human contact.

Bottom line is grizzlies are going to be on the landscape at current or increasing levels, they aren't going away. People that choose to use the backcountry have to assume the risk and once in while, there will be human fatalities.

No different than many other things we do each day like driving, flying, working, etc. etc. lots of stuff can kill you.

I like my odds of hunting/working/recreating around grizzly bears way, way, way more than driving I-80 across Wyoming once every 2 weeks...just sayin'.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

A GoFundMe account has been setup for Mark Uptain's wife and kids. It has already raised $52,000. I just made a contribution. If you'd like to contribute click here:

https://www.gofundme.com/mark-uptain

 

[highplainsdrifter]

The Florida hunter's side of the story:

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/new-smyrna-beach-man-survives-bear-grabbing-him-by-ankles-attacking-him

 

[mallardsx2]

Sad story. His family must be devastated.

If I was hunting in grizzly country no less than one person in the group would have HV 000 3.5" magnum buckshot in my SuperX2....AT ALL TIMES.

Both of us would have them if we were approaching a dead animal. No exceptions.

Bears have been bluffing people off of kills for years. I bet you this isn't the first group of people this bear has ran off of a kill. Its a learned habit.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

More details directly from the hunters mouth
https://buckrail.com/injured-hunting-client-says-guide-saved-his-life-services-for-uptain-wednesday/

Guide saved his life, and he didn't even bother staying around long enough for the body to be recovered. Will be interesting to see if he flys back for the funeral Wednesday.

 

[hanson2087]

Article from Wyoming Game and Fish. Straight from their website.

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/Wyoming-Game-and-Fish-Department-finalizing-invest

 

[Hilltop]

Very sad story. I feel it would be good to keep this thread alive to serve as a reminder to anyone hunting grizzly country- Use you heads while your out there come back safe to tell the stories.

 

[stumpy waters]

Threads like these are exactly what?s wrong with the hunting community these days. A father and husband was killed, the guy that was with him did not handle himself the way all of the Internet bad boys would have, and now a lot of folks want dog the guy.

I have no idea what happened, I am sure the guy was traumatized. He obviously sustained injuries and may not have been able to go out and help look for the guy. He probably would have been in the way and a nervous wreck the whole time if he was out there. He is from Florida and it could have possibly been the first time he has even ever seen a bear. His family was probably begging him to come home.

It is a horrible deal. Who knows why he left. Who knows maybe the guide told him to get out of there. Most likely if he had stayed he would have been killed as well. Two guys and one bear and the two guys are still outnumbered. Two guys and two bears you are absolutely outnumbered.

As far as the bear fatality numbers, the ones in recent decades are probably right. Who knows if they are right from the 40s. There are probably a lot of things that happened to people in the 40s and 50s and no one ever knew about it. Information does not travel the way it does today. How many bears were around in the 40s and 50s?

I fully support hunting the bears. I do not think it will make a dent in the population as someone said, you start taking out boars you are going to have a few more cubs survive. Will it make the population grow? I guess that depends on if they allow enough tags to keep them in check if more bears are surviving young ages because boars are not killing them.

I think animals having a healthy fear of humans is a good thing and can be established, but I do not think even hunting a grizzly bear is going to instill the fear of humans in those things.

It is a bad deal all the way around. One young man will never return to his family. I cannot imagine what they are going through obviously their lives will never be the same. Another man was able to return to his family and honestly, I doubt his life will ever be the same.

 

[wy-tex]

The horses were tied to a tree, the packs with the Glock in it were between the horses and the elk. Both men had hands on the elk when it charged first. Some details are hard to get but I talked with folks in the know, G&F people.
Strangest part is there is literally no cell phone reception there, none. They could not replicate his call out, no one could when they went back in.
Our Grizz guy (G&F) is really torn up over this.
Most are thinking the guide told him to run.
My prayers are with both families right now, Uptains especially.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Did the Florida hunter return for the funeral, does anyone know?