Wyoming Outfitter Killed by Bear

[HighPlainsHunter]

Summary of what happened from G&F.
https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/wyoming-officials-offer-details-of-grizzly-attack-that-killed-hunting/article_7d745c15-40d0-5cbc-92f3-e1f7b3c2e976.html

The more I read about this, the more angry. It sounds like if he could have just figured out how to shoot that gun this might have been much different. Dammit

 

[JimP]

I can understand when it isn't your firearm and you only have seconds to figure out how to shoot it where confusion can set in. Now if it was a wheel gun/revolver where all you have to do is pull the trigger it might of made a difference. But when it is a semi automatic that might or might not have a round in the chamber and the safety might or might not be on it will take time to figure it out. If he had to rack a round into the chamber and if the safety was on that will take a bit to figure out if you are not familiar with semi automatics. With the client being a archery hunter he may of never even held a handgun which would make trying to figure it out even worse.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I can understand when it isn't your firearm and you only have seconds to figure out how to shoot it where confusion can set in. Now if it was a wheel gun/revolver where all you have to do is pull the trigger it might of made a difference. But when it is a semi automatic that might or might not have a round in the chamber and the safety might or might not be on it will take time to figure it out. If he had to rack a round into the chamber and if the safety was on that will take a bit to figure out if you are not familiar with semi automatics. With the client being a archery hunter he may of never even held a handgun which would make trying to figure it out even worse.

That's exactly why all I carry is a wheel gun.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I can understand when it isn't your firearm and you only have seconds to figure out how to shoot it where confusion can set in. Now if it was a wheel gun/revolver where all you have to do is pull the trigger it might of made a difference. But when it is a semi automatic that might or might not have a round in the chamber and the safety might or might not be on it will take time to figure it out. If he had to rack a round into the chamber and if the safety was on that will take a bit to figure out if you are not familiar with semi automatics. With the client being a archery hunter he may of never even held a handgun which would make trying to figure it out even worse.

The gun was a Glock, no safety. I heard the magazine fell out and was lost. Revolver would have been nice. Shotgun with slugs even better.....hindsight.

 

[mallardsx2]

I carry a .44 revolver most of the time. Dont know if it would stop a charging grizzly bear but it makes one serious freaking boom when it does off with those 320 gr. cor-bon bullets...downside is with a 3.5" barrel it is hard to be accurate with it. There is a 3' diameter flash at the end of the muzzle when you touch her off..

I have considered the glock (I own one) but after reading this story I may never carry it.

Having said that I have NEVER hunted in grizzly country. If I did I would have a shotgun in my hand at all times and my bow on a sling.

I'm VERY confident in my shotgun abilities.

Would it have helped in this situation? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[Bonecollector]

I can't disagree with the revolver statements, but I carry a Glock 10mm and am proficient and understand how to use it. To each their own.
The client in this case was obviously not familiar with handling pistols. I'm not sure what you do in this case. Hindsight is 20/20, but giving this guy a revolver may not have been much better.

Hypothetically, perhaps in a similar situation, have a client stand guard with a shotgun that was brought in on the horse when field-dressing the elk. Most hunting folks have used one in their lifetime. Pistols, not so much.

Continued prayers for the families and friends of both men.

 

[brianboh]

I rode by Terrace mountain last Wed and two days ago. It was hard to not get an erie feeling. I also talked to a wrangler and he had been seeing ALOT of sow/cub tracks on the trail all month around Terrace Mountain. Always have a gun on you. We had a grizzly come into camp two nights in a row. I can tell you it makes the hair stand up on your neck. One night we did not know it but tracks were all up and down the trail and the next night the Horses were doing some SERIOUS snorting.

 

[mntnguide]

The outfitter i use to work for saw 9 different bears opening day last week... another friend up south fork past terrace saw 7 and his group had to deploy spray on bears 3 times.. and nothing was on the ground dead. Its getting ridiculous up there and is why i hunt elsewhere anymore unless it's late migration

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[88man]

MNTNGUIDE, when do they typically den up? Do the boars really ever hibernate?

 

[mntnguide]

MNTNGUIDE, when do they typically den up? Do the boars really ever hibernate?

There has been grizzlies seen around here into late December/january some years before denning... but i would say more so November/mid December; all depending on snow and also where the bears are living. Our bears definitely hibernate because we get tons of snow in winter

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[280ackimp]

I was in the area after the attack for the rifle opener. Our party left from Turpin Meadows and we were all aware of the attack but not the details. It was a topic of discussion in our camp. No one pointed the finger at the sport from Florida, however we (I ) cant help but wonder why one man would leave anpther man to die or leave him with a quesionable outcome? Of the hunters we all thought that the last thing we would do is run and leave another to die or be subject to more attack. A few in camp have actually looked down the wrong end of the gun and have been in a life or death situation and come thru, the guides all had bear stories and we kept posative for the hunt. The SOP for recovery during the hunt was 3 men, 2 to pack and one with a pump gun to do overwatch. I took my bull in a meadow of willows - all 4 feet high so every rustle in the bushes brought a bit of adrenaline. No bears got onto any of the 6 kills. We had a few bears in camp at night and I was fortunate enough to have a encounter at 65 yards, but he was easily scared away. Thank the gods.

The people of Jackson have been very generous to the family and the community is coming together for the widow and kids, given what happened you couldnt ask for more.
I will say that in this situation the guide business is proof you never know the character of who your client is until tested. Those of us that hire guides or hunt with buddies have a responibility and should be aware of that responsibility and accept it, or dont go. My 2 cents