BUTTE — A father and son who were bow hunting for elk in the Big Hole Valley ended up surrendering their kill to a hungry grizzly bear.
The Montana Standard reports the hunters called 911 shortly after noon on Sunday and told a Beaverhead County sheriff’s deputy and a state game warden that they shot a cow elk and were following the blood trail to the animal when a grizzly bear began to parallel them. They said the bear was huffing and growling so they backed off.
Sheriff Frank Kluesner said they were wise to retreat and leave the elk behind for the bear.
A Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman says warden Regan Dean gave them permission to abandon the elk they shot.