A man hunting elk in Grand Teton National Park was attacked by a grizzly bear Sunday Oct. 30th. The hunter, Timothy Hix, of Jackson, escaped the attack suffering minor injuries.
The incident took place just after 11:30 a.m. on the eastern side of the Snake River between the Blacktail Ponds and the Glacier View Overlooks. Rangers have closed a quarter-mile radius around the area.
When hunting elk along the Snake River, Hix described to rangers that he was surprised when he saw a single grizzly between 5 and 10 yards away. Hix reported he unsuccessfully tried to grab his bear spray from the holster on his hip when the bear began charging at him. Hix then proceed with recommended bear safety protocol when he dropped to the ground, covering his head and remained still. The bear made contact with him immediately while biting him twice before running away from the scene.
Hix was then transported by park ambulance to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson where he was listed in “good condition” and was expected to be released Monday afternoon.
Grand Teton National Park is one of the few national parks where hunting is permitted. The 32 year-old Hix was carrying an Elk hunting permit as part of the park’s Elk Reduction Program for Wyoming area 75.The program was put into place in 1950 when it was passed by congress in an effort to regulate large elk numbers within the park.
There have already been two grizzly maulings in the past six months in the neighboring Yellowstone National Park, the first two within the park in 25 years.
Despite the rarity of bear and wildlife encounters, visitors of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks should practice awareness and safety, especially while in the backcountry.
I’m glad to hear there is hunting in the park still. And Elk reduction….I thought the wolves had done that already. Glad the permit is still available! Good Luck Mr. Hix and GOD Bless.
Yes, a lot of hunters have the misconception that the wolves are significantly reducing the number of game animals, when in reality that is not the case. Otherwise, when there were thousands of wolves
, they would have killed all the elk, and you wouldn’t have anything to hunt.
I was mountain biking on the outskirts of W. Yellowstone last month and saw a still bloody elk or deer leg less than a mile from town. Obviously, either wolves or a bear just had lunch.
The Hunter is hunted.. Oh well. Turn about is far play!
Are you kidding me!
Nice…. What a narrow minded and ignorant comment.
Here in America it is… a’s right to be stupid.
Apparently God wants that young man to do greater things than he has already. Why didn’t he shoot the bear? From what I’ve read here it should have been justified. Even if judged wrongly, he’d stand a better chance at being alive.
Actually, Richard, the pepper spray for bears is a greater deterrent than guns (picture a small fire extinguisher, and not the “purse” pepper spray you see on TV). There was a study done by BYU, and pepper spray deters 92% of the time…guns, 67%. Imagine a 1000 lb. bear charging you…how straight can you shoot, and can you hit it 4 times before it’s on you at 35 mph? 4 times is the average number of shots it takes to put one down.
This man did the right thing and lived to tell about it. Only issue I have (I hunt/own a house in Montana) is why he did’t shoot from the holster, since all of the pepper spray I have seen is designed to do that. As for the moron how said “the hunter is hunted,” I am looking for live bait for the upcoming NJ Bear hunt. Call if interested.
At a 5-10 yard charge sounds like he did the right thing. No time to shoot and would just aggravate the bear more. He’s only suffered some minor bites. Who knows what the bear would have done if wounded…Basic protocol, if being charged, play dead and cover your head(neck).
I travel a lot in my RV. For protection from varmints (4 legged, 2 legged, and slithering) I have opted for wasp spray over bear spray, pepper spray, or a gun. Reasoning is wasp spray shoots a stream about 25 feet, where other sprays produce a fog that is easily dispersed by wind and is effective at a much shorter distance. I am still interested in other’s opinions and experiences. Thanks.
interesting to see how perturbed all these so-called armed-to-the-teeth “sportsmen” get when reminded that nature can turn the tables on them and even the odds a bit.
I fail to see where any “sportsman” got perturbed; the only two perturbed comments came from you and a; and it seems you two were disappointed that the bear didn’t kill the hunter.
Good thing the hunter knew what to do and was also lucky.
Those 2 “maulings” in YNP this year would be more accurately described as killings. Also, other sources show far more attacks and deaths due to bears in YNP that this blog indicates. Fact check time.
Wasp spray may be effective but it could cause irreparable damage to the animal, especially blindnes, where the affects of pepper spray will dissipate in time with no lasting affects. Also pepper spray can be purchased that sprays a fog but most does spray a stream. Bee spray is not a good substitute.
Typo, Most do spray a stream.
Let’s give this young man some credit! Unlike many hunters, he took time to learn and know the necessary protocol for situations such as these…it saved his life. Imagine how difficult it would be in the midst of a bear attack to: a) Think clearly – not freezing up, running, or worse, attempting to shoot the thing, and b) To have the balls to [do what is recommended] just lay down and cover you head as this beast is mauling (and biting) at you!! I applaud this young man for his courage, smarts and appreciation for protocols of outdoor activities. As for why he didn’t shoot the bear spray out of the holster, as I understand it, he was wearing gloves (naturally) which made it difficult, if not impossible, to successfully use it in such a close encounter. Mr. Hix is lucky to be alive, but it wasn’t just luck that saved him…he is a wise and conscientious outdoorsman!