Overview
- A hunter was attacked while archery hunting on state land south of Augusta, suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries, drove himself home and was taken to Benefis Hospital for treatment.
- The incident occurred near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte on state-owned ground and is being investigated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
- Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the 20-year-old victim went into a fetal position during the attack and the bear reportedly struck him before leaving the scene.
- Montana FWP said the species has not been determined and urged hunters to prioritize safety by quickly retrieving meat, properly hanging carcasses, avoiding cutting meat at dusk or night, and reporting lost game rather than trying to haze bears.
- Officials noted the attack adds to a pattern of serious bear encounters this year, including a May grizzly mauling and rising bear calls in the Lake Tahoe area, and could prompt heightened warnings and changes in backcountry hunting practices.