BEAR COUNTRY
Charging Grizzly Sow With Three Cubs By Tom Fieber
Every year , as a certified Hunter Education Instructor for the state of Montana , I try to provide hunting trips to hunter education students from our classes that might not otherwise have the opportunity . The perfect time is the youth hunt that runs on the Thursday and Friday prior to general rifle season . Youth 10 through 15 can take either sex deer on those days in Montana . Most landowners are more than willing to allow these kids to hunt on their land if asked .
If their schedules allow , we will camp out for the weekend . The excitement the kids have building up to the trip is something to see . The camping trip alone is a highlight . Most are just
Best to be on the opposite side of the lake from excited about putting together their hunting packs and clothing . Many of them have a sleepless this boar . night the day before the first hunt . Over the years , only one kid was homesick the first night . By the end of the next day after harvesting his deer ; he was ready to spend the next three days just being with the other kids trying to harvest theirs .
This year was no exception . A 13-year-old student Victor Perez , from last year ’ s class , went on the four-day trip , along with my 18-year-old granddaughter Hannah Potter who joined us the last two days of hunting . Victor ’ s excitement and enthusiasm started back in August . I am not sure where his interest in hunting came from as his family did not hunt . I was impressed with Victor ’ s projects at the 4H Fair last summer . I did not personally judge his projects but observed his presentation and scope of his wildlife interest .
As in the past , we arrived at our hunting destination in the afternoon on Wednesday to set up camp . After parking the motor home in the usual spot ; we prepared the campsite and then spent the evening driving around looking for firewood and possibly a grouse for dinner . We saw one doe that evening just to prove they were there , but no grouse .
Next morning at legal shooting time , we started out from the camp on foot . We only hiked maybe a half mile through the heavy timber , to reach some recent logging . As we started across the open area , we passed an open meadow with a small pond in the center . I noticed through the trees what first looked like a buffalo grazing in the meadow . Knowing that there were no buffalo in this valley I looked through the binoculars . Four hundred yards away was a very large male grizzly bear . I motioned to Victor to come over if he wanted to see a grizzly . We watched the boar eating grass next to the pond . I said that we should try to get closer to get some photos but Victor was hesitant to do so . I reassured him that since he could probably outrun me , he was going to be safe . We snuck to the edge of the meadow with the pond between us and the feeding bear . At around 100 yards we were able to take lots of photos of him feeding . He was never aware of us so we snuck back out away from him .
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After seeing him we decided that we would leave the area for safety and hunt in another direction . We covered several more miles and passed on a dozen does because Victor wanted to take a buck . Just before stopping for lunch , we were passing through a dense area of new trees in an old clearcut . Just as we came into an open logged area I looked back over my shoulder . 50 yards away uphill , was a Grizzly standing on her hind legs staring at us . I noticed there were three cubs right behind her . It was not a good place to be . I turned to warn Victor but he was already running away . He did remember me saying that he could out run me . As I turned back , the bear had dropped to all fours and was on a full charge towards me . I turned and ran just enough to get my bear spray out of the holster on my belt . In those three to four seconds she had covered most of the ground between us . Knowing that there was no way to outrun her I turned back to her with bear spray ready . She stopped at 20 yards and again stood on her hind legs . That was what I hoped would happen . We both stood facing each other for what seemed like a long time . She finally dropped down and turned back to her cubs who were bawling behind her . When she reached the cubs , they retreated into the heavy timber .
After it was over , Victor asked if I was scared . At the time I did not feel scared . When these things happen you don ’ t have time to think about it . You just react and hope it works out . Running was not the best option and probably increased the chance that she charged . As it turned out all of us were fine . My most vivid memory was how fast she came and , how her body was flapping as she ran . Her whole body shook like Jell-O . She must have built up her fat reserves for the winter . I was very happy that Victor did not try to spray the bear from behind me . That would have been very bad for me . Victor said that he was not sure how to use the spray , so I went through a very thorough lesson . ( To review how to use bear spray ; see page 6 .)
I am not sure if Victor was scared , impressed , or ready for more but I know that he was excited . After we traveled to the other side of the lake we stopped to build a fire and eat lunch . I kept an eye on the other side of the lake where the bears had headed . Our fire was warm and welcoming in the rain that fell . Continued on page 3 .