When this was reported earlier some people were very critical of the client for not shooting the bear with the handgun. Now we find the pistol belonged to the guide, he had taken it off to gut the elk, and it had no round in the chamber. So, in all likely hood the client gets to the gun, that he has no training or experience with, tries to fire it (under extreme stress), won't fire. Then, as the magazine was found out of the gun when the scene was investigated, the client tried to do something, possibly thought the mag release was a safety or something and dumped the magazine.

My thoughts, Poor plan to have an emergency handgun with an empty chamber that has to have something besides a safety be manipulated to fire.

Hardly the clients fault. Even if it was a 1911 with a round in chamber and safety on, with no training or familiarity he might have messed it up.

Almost everyone in the world can make a double action revolver go bang even if the hammer is setting on an empty chamber.

Both of them dropping their guard was bad. Guide could have had client stand by with pistol after cluing him in. After a great big game kill your attention is usually on the trophy at least for a while. Normal. Bears are extremely fast. Even if the guide ad had a round in the chamber and was wearing the gun it might have ended up the same away.

Wonder who emptied the bear spray can. Sounds like guide was dead before it was used. Maybe the bear bit it.