Hunter kills grizzly bear by mistake

A hunter has pleaded guilty in Lincoln County Justice Court to shooting a grizzly bear he mistakenly identified as a black bear.

The hunter shot the bear on Nov. 13 in the Bear Creek drainage south of Libby.

After recognizing he had killed a grizzly bear, he turned himself in to Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials, who say the man was cooperative and led them to the carcass.

Troy Warden Phil Kilbreath and wildlife conflict specialist Kim Annis identified the bear as being a male grizzly that was fitted with a radio collar.

The hunter told Kilbreath he followed a set of bear tracks over a hill and saw a dark-colored bear in the timber that he thought was a black bear, so he shot it.

After entering his guilty plea, the man was fined $735 and sentenced to perform 30 hours of community service.

Hunters are urged to refer to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks literature on bear identification and check out the agency’s online bear identification program at: http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/bearID.