Wildlife agencies stress extreme caution (bears)

This year, bears are on the move and hunters need to be aware. That’s the message from wildlife managers at the Wyoming Game and Fish (G&F) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Last week, a Sublette County incident came to light that reinforces the need for caution. According to FWS Special Agent Roy Brown, an adult grizzly bear was shot and killed on Forest Service land in the Horse Creek area west of Merna. The incident took place on Sept. 7, but because a Department of Justice policy prohibits public disclosure of information in pending cases, information about the shooting wasn’t available until after charges were dropped in mid October. Reading from the incident report, Brown said a Wyoming outfitter, his guide and an out-of-state client were hunting moose in a remote Wyoming Range area above Horse Creek when they unknowingly disturbed a grizzly from its “daybed.” Brown said the men first noticed the bear when it growled and charged. The guide – who was leading the group – shot the bear with a .450 Marlin rifle, knocking it down. When the animal attempted to get up, the guide shot again. Brown said a third shot ensured the wounded bear was dead. Brown said there was no evidence the bear was protecting a kill and the report did not mention cubs. The three men rode horses from their camp and were hiking when the bear charged them. The men did not have downed game. This has been a particularly busy year for wildlife managers. In the past two months, grizzly bears have attacked three hunters and several cattle on public grazing allotments north of Pinedale and near Merna...more