Autopsy finds hunter killed by gunshot, not grizzly bear attack

Steve Stevenson, a hunter widely reported to have been killed by a 400-pound grizzly bear last week during an encounter near the Idaho-Montana border, was in fact killed by a gunshot wound inflicted by his partner.

The surprising revelation was made Friday by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in Montana. Sheriff Roby Bowe told the Associated Press that investigators were "fairly convinced," however, that shooting of Stevenson was an accident.

Lincoln County Coroner Steve Schnackenberg told the Idaho Statesman that there were clear signs that Stevenson had been attacked by the bear. He added, "We're pretty sure the bullet passed through the bear before it got to him."

Stevenson, 39, an out-of-state hunter from Nevada who was married with two young daughters, was pursuing black bears in the forested Buckhorn Mountain area with Ty Bell, 20. According to an earlier AP report, Bell shot and wounded what he believed was a black bear. (Grizzly bears are protected and cannot be legally harvested.)

But it turned out to be a male grizzly, which turned on both hunters as they tracked the animal through the dense forest. 

Stevenson, according to the report, yelled out to draw the grizzly away from Bell. Bell, according to the Idaho Statesman, shot the bear several times as it attacked Stevenson.

A final report is being prepared by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. It will then be reviewed by the county attorney.


Comments

[D]

@Don
You must be one of those tree hugging vegans. Have you ever enjoyed the thrill of hunting? Most likely not. Being in the woods and becoming one with nature is a fascinating experience that everyone should have. I am an avid hunter and hunt year round. I respect the animals that I harvest and also never leave any to rot in the woods. If you shoot it, you eat it. I rarely buy meat at the store as I have always got fresh meat in my freezer.
What happened here is a terrible tragedy and the last thing these young men's families want to hear is rhetoric from people like you. Get over yourself and show some respect.

[Don Alex]

What, do all of you people just happen to know Ty? Funny how you all happened to show up on the same site, Im sure independently of each other, right? Here's an idea, maybe you rednecks should leave nature alone, you dont belong there and your presence is not natural, so dont go out chasing bears thru the woods with your little popguns, and if you do, at least make damn sure that you arent shooting the ones that you have no legal right to accost. Sympathy = Zero, for Ty and the clown that he killed.

[Bill]

we trust u

[rj]

It sad Ty this is RJ I know u did right and everyone hear believes it too good luck ill good down fighting these stupid people.

[Maureen]

This is such a terrible and unfortunate accident. I know Ty and he is a very ethical young man. I am so sorry for all of them.