Mass. native killed while hiking in Montana,
grizzly bear suspected
Associated Press,
by
Staff
Original Article
Posted By: NorthernDog,
3/26/2022 3:01:28 PM
BILLINGS, Mont. — A Montana man who went missing while hiking earlier this week was killed in a suspected encounter with a grizzly bear north of Yellowstone National Park, authorities said Friday. The victim was identified as Craig Clouatre, 40, of Livingston. No details were provided on where he was found or why a grizzly bear was believed responsible for his death. Search teams on the ground and in helicopters had been looking for Clouatre after he went hiking on Wednesday morning with a friend, possibly to hunt for antlers, and was reported overdue that day, according to the sheriff. The
Reply 1 - Posted by:
bighambone 3/26/2022 3:31:52 PM (No. 1110824)
Obviously he should have been packing a 44 magnum!
11 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Highlander 3/26/2022 4:21:38 PM (No. 1110857)
They don’t know it’s a grizzly that did it? Just look for bear scat with s pair of surprised eyes sticking out.
4 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
red1066 3/26/2022 4:22:19 PM (No. 1110859)
No details on why it was believed to be a Grizzly attack. Maybe it was body parts scattered all over the place. The bear may have had a youngster nearby, and the hiker without knowing got too close. Indeed #1. If I'm hiking in an area like that, you better believe I'm packing.
9 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Hazymac 3/26/2022 4:34:20 PM (No. 1110864)
Mind reader, #1. Dirty Harry Callahan's Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Remington magnum will work against brown bears. Personally, instead of the carrying Smith 6-shot revolver in bear territory, I'd opt for either a Glock 20 with 15+1 rounds of 10mm Auto (hardcast solid bullets, of course, never hollowpoint for dangerous game), or, better still, the Glock 40, which has a longer barrel, and eats up recoil slightly better than the G20. If I had a revolver to defend against a half ton bear, I'd opt for the .454 Casull, which has been used to take Cape Buffalo in Africa. Ka-boom. Impressive kick, though.
There is a website called Alaskan Ballistics, which has an interesting video entitled "Top 10 Bear Defense Firearms." Many good choices. The .44 Magnum is only #10 on this list! I'd go for his second choice, a high capacity, semiautomatic large caliber AR-10 in .308 Winchester or--better still--338 Federal. His #1 choice, the venerable Alaskan guide gun, the .45-70 by Henry or Marlin or Winchester, just kicks too doggone hard for me to shoot with a 405 grain, 2000+ fps bear load. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQzmYGVTrgg (Alaskan Ballistics, Top 10 Bear Defense Firearms)
6 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
chumley 3/26/2022 4:34:41 PM (No. 1110865)
Safe bet he was unarmed because people from Mass. arent allowed to own guns. No idea what might set the bear off. Generally grizzlies will try to avoid people unless they get surprised or their cubs threatened.
Maybe the guy started trying to act tough with that annoying accent. That might do it.
7 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Birddog 3/26/2022 5:05:04 PM (No. 1110883)
Rule number One...Bring enough Gun.
4 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
formerNYer 3/26/2022 5:05:13 PM (No. 1110884)
#5 that's assuming he didn't have a gun because he was law-abiding resident of Mass. Seems like the criminals in NY and Chicago where guns are also illegal own them by 1000s.
5 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Toby Ten Bears 3/26/2022 5:05:47 PM (No. 1110887)
Covid related grizzly mauling.
7 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Birddog 3/26/2022 5:24:37 PM (No. 1110895)
apparently he wasn't "Hiking", he was shed hunting...meaning going into the brush where deer and elk antlers get knocked off when they are ready to drop. May have spotted a set, hurried over only to find them still attached to a carcass that a recently awoken, ravenous, Grizz was scarfing on for his spring snack.
Single antlers are "OK", matched sets are better...but the treasure is Dead Heads with the antlers still attached, large ones bring in the BIIIIG bucks from decorators, Lodge and cabin owners, Resteraunts. Ya gotta get to them early before the squirrels and such do, they chew them up quick. There are quite a few people making very good livings from sheds, I think they are around $1/lb for the dog chew market, $100's for B&C 200+, $thousands for really big/interesting sets.
I have a friend who found a YUUUUGE Moose head, stinking to high heaven, chopped it off packed it around for four days, when sold it paid for his entire week long Hunting trip...including airfare...and the trip he booked for next year..
7 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 3/26/2022 5:47:16 PM (No. 1110915)
Suicide by Grizzly? No one should ever walk without a high-power rifle, high-power pistol, big knife, and Bear Spray. Anything after that is an optional accessory.
4 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Historybuff 3/26/2022 6:30:58 PM (No. 1110944)
Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you.
You are not at the top of the food chain among Grizzly bears or polar baears.
4 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Proud Texan 3/26/2022 8:04:55 PM (No. 1111018)
Seems like I remember grizzlies be hunted out of that are until a bunch of do-gooders in D.C. brought them back. wouldn't this make the do-gooders guilty of murder?
1 person likes this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
DVC 3/26/2022 9:04:00 PM (No. 1111050)
I carry the .44 Mag, my wife carries the bear spray.
Hopefully, between the two of us, we can stay safe. Been hiking in griz country since the early 70s, most recently last Sept. So far, we have seen a number of griz, never been attacked, but was charged once. You can't explain the speed that they can move at, or the absolutely primal fear reaction at being charged from 100 yds, with half that distance closed in about 3 seconds. They are far faster than you think.
Lots of people have no plan.
No idea what this guy planned for, but it didn't work, sadly. We are NOT at top of the food chain out there.
6 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Kumoan 3/26/2022 11:16:34 PM (No. 1111110)
Pretty soon walking in the King's forest will not be allowed for mere pee-ons.
2 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
ussjimmycarter 3/26/2022 11:30:23 PM (No. 1111115)
I would never hike in Griz country without my Marlin .444! Being the top predator is always best!
3 people like this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "NorthernDog"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Comments:
I can't help but wonder if he was following any safety precautions while hiking in grizzly country. He and a fellow hiker had split-up, so he was alone when the attack occurred.