UPDATED at post 34 6/16/2018: Bear with me while I bring up another griz in the news

[keith44spl]

Any report that comes out of a news outlet in the blue dog county of Teton,
I would suspect it to have a slant to it.


The majority of grizzly kills in the back country go un-reported.


This happened sometime in the last century, in Teton county....

The outfitter sent a young man out to pack in a hunter's elk that had been killed the evening before.


The packer came back to camp in the mid-afternoon kinda skint up a bit.

Outfitter ask, "What the hell happened, did yur horse drag you?"

"No, there was an old bear sittin on that kill, and he jumped me!" sed the packer.

Outfitter, "Well, how'd it come out?"

The packer, "I'm back with yur elk."

Hard country calls for hard men.


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[Watchdog]

Any report that comes out of a news outlet in the blue dog county of Teton, I would suspect it to have a slant to it.

Suspecting a slant, real or imagined, and showing the reality of it are two different things.

Where's the slant or negativity in this poorly written report? Is it because the writer used the words "mother bear" and "orphaned cubs"? Those are facts. What's the big deal? And what is the report supposedly negative about?

I don't see why people keep trying to drag politics or ideology into this.

 

[Skeet 028]

Sorry you can't see the slant. It is in the headline. Showing no regard for "orphaned baby bears" on the part of those mean ol hikers. Get a fair sized grizzly making even a false charge at you creates pucker factor. Were they wrong to shoot? Possibly. The fact is neither you or I were there. If these guys are bragging to their buds...they are kinda stupid. Every bear attack and shooting is seriously investigated whether you believe it or not. If they are proved to be wrong to shoot.. it will not go well for them. It is typical for G&F to keep mum on the details until an investigation is complete. If these hikers were seeking notoriety for their exploits there would be much more news coverage. Heck in one bear attack...the investigators all but accused the elk hunter of using his son for bear bait. The son was calling elk for his father. Also...as far as bear kills in this area I would say 99% are reported. Most people that use the back country are every day law abiding people. And even in the back country...even if you don't see 'em, there always seems to be someone watching.

BTW you are correct that the town of Jackson has always been Jackson...but it was referred to as Jackson Hole(or Jackson's Hole) for an awful long time..,.,.Just like the area I came from in Md..most people on the left side of the Chesapeake Bay consider the Eastern Shore to be Ocean City...or down to the beach.

 

[keith44spl]

I still don't get it...…..It was a bear the hiker killed in self defense.

It was an animal, not another hiker.

I've been in that same area many times and I don't have trouble with bears.

It's like a lot of other things, ya gotta read em.

If a bear don't start nothing, there won't be nothing.

I personally, have only been in close encounters (rock throwing distances) with big bears a dozen or so times.
I always give the bear the right of way....If it will take it.
I have only killed one that wouldn't take his leave.


*
Officials: Wyoming grizzly killed in encounter with hikers - KIFI


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[Skeet 028]

I still don't get it...…..It was a bear the hiker killed in self defense.

It was an animal, not another hiker.
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Exactly...some of the liberal media portray it as right up there with killing a person though.... Kinda sorta. Been in the area quite a bit in the past. Sister lived near Pinedale. Almost bought a place near Jackson in 1968-9. Before the influx of left coasters etc. I too avoid encounters with bears if at all possible. It is amazing though how you can get so close to one without seeing it. Or they can get up on you like the lady and her guide that were attacked near Cody last elk season.. They had horses and even they didn't know the grizz was there. Till the snarling, growling and yelling started. All of the close encounters I had with grizzlies were many years ago in Alaska. I want it to stay that way.

Also I am not sure but think if you kill a grizz in defense you do not get to keep the hide claws or anything. Wouldn't matter to me anyway as I am not a trophy hunter.

 

[rwsmith]

It is a shame....

I don't suppose that anyone would take a shot at the bear if they didn't have to, but I hope that it was a necessary kill.

 

[keith44spl]

As much as I like bears, like seeing bears. I respect bears even more.

Bears are not to be trifled with. Bears are fast and fleet of foot.

When in bear country, I travel knowing that I'm the trespasser in their territory.

One has to be on the watch, listening and smelling the wind. I keep a clean camp,
no food scraps, no bacon grease and no food stores at all in camp.

All groceries and horse feed is stored out of camp a hundred yards or so and 20 feet in the air.

I try my best to not startle a bear and I appreciate it when bears don't startle me....

And like I've said before, I always give a bear a way out
of any meeting and truly want the bear to take it.

Sometimes, when in country of known bear activity, and I'm a horseback and or leading a pack string.
I'll more than likely have my 45-70 out of the scabbard and in my lap across the saddle swells.
Better safe than sorry.


I'm not a hunter of bears, only been involved in two bear kills, both legal and during an open season.

I've never ventured into the wilderness with the expressed purpose of killing a bear, just not my thing.
I'm a packer and sometimes elk hunter.

With that said, I place far more value on human life, than that of a bear or any other animal.


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[vigil617]

Guys, guys....I didn't mean to start a media or ideology dust-up. I see both sides of what y'all are talking about, and I leave it up to everyone who reads the thread to draw their own conclusions. I just thought it was an interesting story about a fascinating part of the world and two species of critters -- bears and humans -- whose encounters make for some really interesting reading. And thanks to those of you with experience, I've learned a heckuva lot about this subject already -- and hope to continue to.

Carry on, then. And thanks for throwing in on this in the ways that you see fit.

 

[rwsmith]

I get it.....

.....I'm just really concerned about animals like bears and humans being in closer contact all the time. The same goes for every other animal, dangerous or not.

Do ya'll know what we sorely lack in this country? If property was required to have hedgerows, animals would be able to traverse and stay out of sight. I don't know if that would help big animal attacks like this, but wildlife wouldn't have to show itself as much.

 

[Alk8944]

"Note the negative slant to the story,............"


"I haven't read the story yet,..........."


How typical! If you haven't read the story why do you (anyone) feel qualified to comment on it??????????????


The article is simply a brief reporting of (minimal) facts. The only "negative slant" is the un-informed/biased remarks posted by some readers!

 

[Watchdog]

I don't suppose that anyone would take a shot at the bear if they didn't have to...

Don't bet on it.

 

[rwsmith]

True....

Don't bet on it.

Yeah, you're right about that. It does say it was defensive but no detail. To me though, it sounds like a good way to get a bear mad at you. Having seen videos of charging bears and they come on like race horses, so there isn't much time to show discretion of fire a warning shot. I wonder if the bear didn't have cubs would it have been so aggressive? Yeah, again, bears don't need an excuse to get vicious.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Back in the 90's I hiked a LOT of trails in the mountains East of
Seattle for all kinds of trout, even the high elevation "Golden Trout."
Lots of times I went with a partner for safety reasons but some
hikes were by myself, into the heavy forest.
I just took my time and made a lot of noise while traveling and banging
a walking stick now and then on a tree as I went by it.
On only one trip did I run into a steaming pile of Bear poop in the middle of a trail.
The second one was in the South Lake Tahoe area West of 88/89 high up and early.

Guess I have been just lucky and I don't have a dog, like some hikers.
Sorry to hear the Sow was killed .......... the cubs will find a home, I hope.

 

[vigil617]

UPDATE: First-hand account of what happened by the young man who shot the grizzly with his S&W 460 at close range.

After griz shooting, doubts and guilt | Environmental | jhnewsandguide.com

Since I started the thread, I feel I need to add this story to the discussion. I applaud the young man who tells it.

 

[keith44spl]

Kolis said it all,

“You can say all you want about what you’d do in a hypothetical situation,
but until you’re in that situation you don’t know what you’re going to do,”

 

[JayFramer]

Sounds like I might need a new BEAR GUN.

Anyone care to tell me which the best one is?