Shed Hunter

Nov 5, 2024 | themeateater.com | Shed Hunter |Jordan Sillars |Travis Hall |Maggie Hudlow

An elk hunter is lucky to be alive today after he was forced to use his own hunting rifle to defend himself from an adult grizzly in a remote portion of eastern Idaho. “Based on the hunter’s statements, the bear came at him and he defended himself with his hunting rifle, which he was holding, by shooting at the charging bear two times,” according to an Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) incident report obtained by MeatEater.

May 7, 2024 | themeateater.com | Shed Hunter |Jordan Sillars |Maggie Hudlow

A shed hunter shot and killed a sow grizzly bear earlier this month as the 300-pound bruin charged him in western Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) reports that the incident occurred on private land northwest of the town of Wolf Creek. The shed hunter, who has not been identified, was walking along a ridge when he saw a grizzly standing near the top of the ridge about 20 yards away.

Sep 11, 2023 | themeateater.com | Shed Hunter |Jordan Sillars |Maggie Hudlow

A Montana man had his lower jaw torn off in a gruesome grizzly attack last week in Custer Gallatin National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service closed the Buck Ridge Yellow Mule area near Big Sky, Montana, because the bear was shot and wounded during the encounter. Officials have so far been unable to locate the bear. The victim, Big Sky resident Rudy Noorlander, survived the encounter but had to be airlifted from the forest and undergo emergency surgery.

Aug 8, 2023 | themeateater.com | Shed Hunter |Eli Fournier |Maggie Hudlow |Sam Lungren

Last week, three women were attacked by an otter on the Jefferson River in southwest Montana. The trio was floating a mellow, “booze-cruise” section of water on inflatable inner tubes when the river otter went in for the kill. A Facebook post by Jen Royce who was life-flighted away from the incident, outlines the Jaws-like scene that unfolded: “Around 8:15 pm the otters attacked us. It lasted maybe 5 minutes? I really cannot remember.

Jul 24, 2023 | themeateater.com | Shed Hunter |Jordan Sillars |Maggie Hudlow |Travis Hall

A woman was found dead after what biologists assume was a grizzly attack on the Buttermilk Trail near the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. The incident marks the first fatal grizzly attack in North America in 2023. An Arizona man was killed by a black bear earlier this year in what biologists believe was an unprovoked attack. This latest tragedy appears to have been instigated by a female grizzly with at least one cub.