While hunting in grizzly country pay attention 

 to fresh bear sign. Look for bear tracks, scat and 

 concentrations of natural foods. Use caution when hunting 

 areas that have evidence of bear activity or areas with 

 scavenging birds such as magpies, ravens or crows. 



MfTn Communicate with other hunters and let them 

 know when grizzly bears have been seen and/or fresh sign 

 has been observed. 



^wW Some bears may have learned to associate 

 gunshots with the availability of a big game carcass or gut 

 pile. 



jff^ When in close proximity to people, most grizzly 

 bears become aware of human presence and leave the area. 

 If you encounter a bear, assess the situation, stay calm 

 and do not run . Decide if the bear is aware of you and 

 threatening or if it is fleeing and unaware. Keep the bear 

 in sight and back away and leave the area. Occasionally 

 bears will quarter toward you when leaving, so continue 

 to be cautious. 



When hunting in grizzly country, it is 

 recommended that every hunter carry bear pepper spray. 

 Keep the bear pepper spray within reach and be familiar 

 with the firing mechanism. In sudden grizzly encounters 

 pepper spray has proven to be a valuable deterrent tool. 

 Grizzly bears sprayed in the face at very close range often 

 stop attacking and are less likely to inflict serious injury. 



Most grizzly attacks are prompted by 

 inadvertently running into a female with young, surprising 

 a bear at close range or being surprised by a bear that is 

 fleeing another hunter. It is recommended that hunters 

 mentally rehearse a worst-case scenario with grizzly bears. 

 "If the mind has never been there before, the body does 

 not know how to respond." 



'* '^ Use a weapon only if bear pepper spray is 

 unavailable. Be aware that bears wounded with an arrow, 

 knife or firearm may intensify the level of attack. If you 

 have to kill a grizzly in self-defense, take careful aim and 

 attempt to knock it down by hitting major bones in the 

 front shoulders. Other shots to the vital area will kill the 

 bear. Leave the scene immediately and report the incident 

 to FWP. 



General Distribution of Bears in Montana 



BEAR HUNTERS! 



Look for a combination of characteristics 



-^tti^ 



As a last resort, if physically attacked, play 

 dead. Lie face down, covering your neck and head 

 with your hands and arms. If you have a backpack leave 

 it on to protect your back. Stay face down, never look 

 at the bear and remain still until the bear is gone. Many 

 people have survived bear attacks using this method. 



Tall 

 pointed 

 Straight "^* No shoulde r hum p 

 Ian .^^^^^^^fl^^ 



protile^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 



daw ^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

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BLACK BEAR 



snort 

 rounded 

 Dislied *<"^ Shoulder hump 

 face 

 proliie. 



anlZZLY BEAR 



Please report all bear encounters and 



direct questions to one of the nearest 



FWP bear management specialist 



listed below: 



Mike Model Chateau, MT 406-466-5100 

 Erik Wenum Kalispell, MT 406-752-5501 

 Tim Maniey Kalispell, MT 406-751-4584 

 Kevin Frey Bozeman, MT 406-994-3553 

 James Jonkel Missoula, MT 406-542-5508 



Color and eize can be misleading 



Black b*ar huntora In Montana will ba raqulrad lo paaa 



a baar Idanllfleallan laat baglnnlng with lleanaa yaar 



aOOS In ordar lo obtain a Montana blaek baar lleanaa. 



Tlia naw Idantlflcallon program Is Inlandad lo provani 



mlatakan Idanllly kllllnsa ol srizzlir baara and halp 



Montana maintain ita black baar liunling saaaon. 



• on-line and become immediately certified, visit FWP's 

 web site: twp.mtml».inl.um, 



• request a maii-ln test from FWP: 1420 E. 6th Ave . 



PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, 406-444-2535, 



• pick up a mail-in test at any FWP office or license agent. 





