Bear Attacks Montana Bowhunter, Who Drove Himself Home Despite Significant Injuries
A Montana bowhunter was attacked by a bear on public land south of Augusta while hunting Tuesday morning, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The hunter sustained “significant but fortunately not life-threatening injuries,” according to state officials. The hunter, who is only identified as male, was able to drive himself home after he was mauled and was subsequently driven to Benefis Hospital, likely in nearby Great Falls.
The encounter occurred on Montana state land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte in the west-central part of the state. Details of the encounter — including whether the bear was a grizzly or black bear — remain scarce as officials continue to investigate the area.
Officials did not appear to close the area of the attack to the public, and are instead opting to inform the public as they conduct their investigation.
“FWP’s priority is human safety, and game wardens and bear management specialists are continuing their investigation and posting signs in the area to notify the public of bear activity,” reads the short statement from MFWP. “…No further details are available at this time.”
The attack comes on the heels of another Montana bear attack, in which a sow grizzly mauled a dog walker on a trail system near Columbia Falls on Aug. 31. The bear had at least one young cub with her and a whitetail deer cached roughly 100 yards off the trail. A GoFundMe for the victim, identified as Aubrey Scott, notes that her injuries were life-changing and that she had to be flown to Seattle for treatment.
Related: Animal Advocates Ask Montana to Force Hunters and Trappers to Carry Bear Spray
Scott’s mauling was the third known grizzly bear attack in Montana in 2026. A hiker in Glacier National Park was fatally mauled in early May. Later that month a sow grizzly in the park attacked another hiker, who sustained injuries to his arm. This summer animal advocates petitioned the state to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray.
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