Montana Hunter, 20, Survives Bear Attack and Drives Home Near Augusta

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 15

A 20-year-old hunter suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries after a bear attacked him Monday while he was archery hunting on state land south of Augusta.
After the attack near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte, he drove himself home and was then taken by private vehicle to Benefis Hospital, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the hunter curled into a fetal position during what appeared to be a defensive encounter, and the bear "smacked him around and left."
FWP said the bear species is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing, while urging hunters to retrieve meat quickly, avoid carcass work at dusk and never try to haze a bear off game.
The attack adds to a year of serious U.S. bear encounters, including a May grizzly attack in Glacier National Park and 174 bear-related calls around South Lake Tahoe versus 97 a year earlier.