https://idfg.idaho.gov/article...d-hunter-north-idaho


Grizzly bear mistakenly shot and killed by a hunter in North Idaho

Friday, June 9, 2023 - 3:05 PM MDT
A male grizzly bear was mistaken for a black bear by a hunter, who reported the incident

On the morning of June 8, a nonresident hunter shot and killed a male grizzly bear he mistook for a black bear. The bear was killed in Idaho’s Panhandle, north of Upper Priest Lake. After shooting the bear and identifying it as a grizzly, the hunter contacted Idaho Fish and Game and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

The incident serves an important reminder that grizzly bears can be found in game management units in the Panhandle, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and grizzlies are known to occasionally visit portions of the Clearwater Region. Hunters can refer to page 73 of the 2023 Big Game Seasons and Rules to see units where grizzlies may be found.

Grizzly bears are protected under state and federal law, and bear hunters are responsible for proper identification of their target.

All hunters are encouraged to review their bear identification skills to avoid mistaken identity. Size and color of the animal are not reliable indicators of species. It’s best to look at multiple features in order to make the right call. Grizzlies typically have short, rounded ears, a dished facial profile, a prominent shoulder hump and 2-4 inch long claws.

Hunters and others can learn more about bear identification skills and learn the difference between a defensive and predatory encounter by using Fish and Game's online resources.

Not a good mistake to make. I doubt the hunter was out to purposely shoot a griz, they are protected after all. Plus he self-reported to F&G. Would a passing grade on a bear test have prevented this, maybe, maybe not. None of us were there except the hunter (and maybe a guide, professional or otherwise). Maybe better to have not shot I suppose if there was any doubt about the target. Hunter will be charged by somebody to be sure a "lesson" is learned, which can as likely be that hunter decides it's not a sport worth doing anymore and decides to quit hunting altogether.

Be interesting to learn the hunter's fate once the legal system has had its way with him.