Even though the weather is cooling, bears are still active around the state and with so many hunters in the field, encounters can be more common.

This time of year, both black and grizzly bears are spending more of their time looking for food in preparation for winter. Also, with hunting season underway, bears in an active hunting area may be finding carcasses left by successful hunters. When bear activity and human activity increases, so does the likelihood of bear encounters.

Recently in southwest Montana, in separate incidents, two hunters encountered grizzly bears while in the field. In both instances, the bears charged the hunters, and they shot at the bears to deter the attack. Fortunately, in both instances the hunters were uninjured.

In late October, a hunter on Landon Ridge in the south end of the Gravelly Mountains was hunting in thick cover. A bear charged him from close range, and he fired one shot from his hunting rifle, and the bear ran off. The hunter didn’t know if he hit the bear.

On Nov. 1, a hunter in the north fork of Wolf Creek in the Madison Valley was charged by a bear from close range. He fired his rifle to deter the attack, and the bear ran off. He wasn’t sure if he hit the bear.

Both circumstances happened in remote locations with high densities of grizzly bears. FWP staff interviewed the hunters, but given the remote locations, FWP staff likely won’t investigate further. Access to Wolf Creek is through private land, and homeowners in the area have been notified.

Trail closure in Bear Creek

FWP and the Beaverhead National Forest have closed Bear Creek Trail 6326 for 1 mile south from the junction of 6326 and Helmet Pass Trail (6357), see map here. The trail is on both Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area and Beaverhead National Forest.

The closure is in place due to a dead horse on the trail in an active area for grizzly bears.

The closure will be in place until Nov. 17.

Be bear aware during hunting season

Bears will continue to be active during hunting seasons this fall. Here are some precautions to help hunters avoid bear encounters:

• Carry bear spray and have it accessible.
• Watch for and be extra cautious around bear sign, creeks and areas with limited visibility. Most incidents happen in surprise, close encounters.
• Hunt with a group of people. This can help you make localized noise to alert bears to your presence, and groups of people are more likely to deter a bear than a solo hunter.
• Make noise when you can, like after you’ve harvested an animal or when you’re hiking back to your vehicle.
• Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
• When retrieving a harvested animal, use extra caution.
• Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from where it was harvested as quickly as possible.
• If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground, if possible, and at least 100 yards from the gut pile. Leave it in an open area where it can be observed from a distance.
• Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. Make noise while approaching the meat. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.
• Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

To learn more about how to be safe in bear country, click?visit?fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.