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THOMPSON FALLS – No charges will be filed against a deer hunter who said he shot a grizzly bear to death in self-defense in the Lower Thompson River area on Oct. 26.

Warden Capt. Lee Anderson of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commended the unidentified man for contacting the agency quickly after the shooting.

The hunter was near the Little Thompson River when he heard a noise in the brush and saw a large bear charging him. He shot the animal in the chest at a distance of approximately 11 yards with a .270 caliber rifle.

The bear ran back into the brush after being shot, and the hunter and a companion followed the tracks briefly until they realized it was a grizzly. They then left the area and reported the shooting to FWP.

“It is not illegal to shoot an animal in defense of human life per (Montana Code Annotated) 87-6-106,” Anderson said, noting the law does require such incidents to be reported to FWP quickly so they can be investigated.

Anderson said game warden Troy Hinck and warden Sgt. Jon Obst investigated, and corroborated the information the hunter had provided.