Montana hunters fend off grizzly bears while trying to retrieve deer kill

Two Montana hunters emerged unscathed Wednesday after a brief but harrowing encounter with three grizzly bears that ran toward them as they hiked to retrieve a deer kill.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the encounter occurred on the Pyramid Pass Trail east of Seeley Lake.

The hunters were two miles from the trailhead when they spotted the bears charging in their direction from 100 yards away. They told FWP that they yelled and waved their arms, to no avail.

FWP stated in a news release: “One hunter shot at and possibly killed two of the grizzly bears, and the third bear retreated towards the mule deer carcass.”

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After the encounter, the hunters left to report the incident “as self-defense.” (Grizzly bears in Montana are state and federally protected and can only be shot in self-defense.)

It was not clear if any bears had, in fact, been killed, or if any of the bears were cubs. The encounter, however, appears to have involved the deer carcass.

With winter close at hand, grizzly bears in Montana are desperately trying to add calories before the impending hibernation season.