Spokane7
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December 21, 2011 in Region
DNA: Bullet went through grizzly, killed hunter
LIBBY, Mont. — Officials in northwestern Montana say a shot fired at a grizzly bear as it attacked a Nevada hunter passed through the bear before striking and killing the hunter.
The Western News reports tests requested by the Department of the Interior found grizzly bear DNA on the .30.06 bullet that killed 39-year-old Steve Stevenson of Winnemucca, Nev., on Sept. 16.
Stevenson and 20-year-old Ty Bell were hunting near the Montana-Idaho border when Bell shot what he thought was a black bear.
The men tracked the bear into heavy cover, where the 400-pound animal attacked Stevenson. Bell fired several shots trying to kill the bear.
Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe called the shooting a “horribly tragic accident.” He says he doesn’t expect charges will be filed, but that decision is up to the county attorney.
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Three dead, three wounded in Seattle shootings 
greenlibertarian on December 21 at 6:02 p.m.
Senseless tragedy.
Carry bear spray, and be ready to use it immediately in bear country.
Leo_Z on December 21 at 8:22 p.m.
Ummm. …. yeah, greenie, they were hunting bears.
Spokane_Citizen on December 21 at 8:28 p.m.
This is already enough of a tragedy without the specter of charges being filed. If these circumstances don’t precisely fit the description of an accident occurring without malice or reasonably obvious fault, then I don’t know what meets such criteria. Let these people go on with their lives.
Spokane_Citizen on December 21 at 8:36 p.m.
Greenlibertarian…while I agree that bear spray is generally an admirable wilderness accoutrement for many ‘bear situations’, a mortally wounded grizzly (or black bear…which is what these hunters thought they were approaching) is highly unlikely to be much affected by ‘bear spray’. In this particular circumstance, all of the critters involved (including the human participants) were fighting for their lives, and the addition of bear spray would have likely been a negligible bear attack deterrent.
ChiefsFan21 on December 21 at 8:45 p.m.
And because people aren’t held responsible for their mistakes like this unfortunately things like this will continue.If you aren’t smart enough to determine a grizzly from a black bear you don’t shoot.In fact,you’re not much of a hunter at all.This man lost his life because young ty didn’t know his head from his rear out there.
Spokane_Citizen on December 21 at 8:56 p.m.
ChiefsFan21…I agree that the misidentification and taking of a illicit animal should be prosecuted….but criminal charges for manslaughter will serve no deterrent purpose.
richie on December 21 at 10:16 p.m.
I would think what this kid went through is punishment enough, and should be a deterrent to even the least smart among us. I say let him be.
Spokane_Citizen on December 21 at 11:07 p.m.
Richie, in reality, a prosecutor will likely agree with your opinion. There’s no benefit in beating a dead horse.
MrBloggy on December 22 at 11:27 a.m.
this kind of bear hunting is dangerous, if all you’ve got are high powered rifles, you’re gonna lose. trick is, take some bear dogs that will chase the bear up into a tree where it can be readily and safely dispatched from below. Grizzlies can’t climb trees and they catch bear dogs and rip their guts out and throw them back at hunters so there’s no way to confuse em. Not that hard, people!