Turkey hunter runs into grizzly near hatchery

A turkey hunter ran into a grizzly bear adult and two grizzly yearlings near the Creston National Fish Hatchery on Saturday morning, April 13.

The hunter had spotted a deer carcass and then heard something and looked up to see a grizzly charging him at close range. The hunter fired his shotgun at the grizzly from about 10 yards away but was uncertain whether he hit the bear.

The adult grizzly and what appeared to be two yearlings then ran to the east of the fish hatchery area.

The hunter notified Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and wardens Chuck Bartos and Nathan Reiner and grizzly bear management specialist Tim Manley responded to investigate the incident.

The FWP investigators found no blood at the scene, but they located grizzly bear tracks in skiffs of snow that quickly melted. They then observed the area from a helicopter but found no sign of the bears.

Cameras have been installed near the deer carcass to monitor the area in case the bears return.

Warden Captain Lee Anderson asks the public to notify FWP if any sign of the bears is found by calling Manley at 250-1265.