WG&F released their investigative report on the grizz mauling this past fall. It's hard reading and knowing the outcome. Rest in peace Mark.

https://www.wyofile.com/game-and-fish-bear-spray-repelled-killer-grizzly/

Saw that. Hard to read. Very sad. Also again drives home the lesson that everything is just talk/speculation until the investigation is complete. Even at that, there will be some things that are never known.

Sad deal and makes you think about who you hunt with.

It's sad that even after the initial mauling the guide was still trying to save his client, who eventually fled and left him to die.

Very sad, Uptain was a true guide and did his best to protect his client

I can't blame his client for running away, he's helpless (no spray, no gun) and just trying to save his own life.

If I were the guide, in grizzly country , my sidearm would be loaded and on me all the time ( mistake cost him his life )
and while cleaning will have one person stand watch, armed

RIP sir

Very true. Being attacked by something with big teeth and claws is going to be somewhat unnerving, to say the very least. I do admire the courage of the guide, though.

Yes Sir....horrible outcome. Both the guide and hunter should have been better prepared......serious lapse in situational awareness...

“Chubon stated he was unfamiliar with the functionality of the Glock,” the report says
The mother bear then turned from the guide and charged Chubon. He told investigators he could not remember if he tried to pull the trigger. Chubon sidestepped the charge but the bear grabbed his right boot and pulled him to the ground.
“…[H]e attempted to throw the handgun to Uptain who was now again yelling at the bear, but the handgun ‘landed short,’” the report reads. Chubon “inadvertently ejected the loaded magazine while trying to disengage the safety,” the report says.

Some questions in all of this... Who doesn't know how to shoot a Glock? Couldn't remember if he fired a shot? Ejected mag while trying to disengage a safely that doesn't exist?

Sad deal, and I'm sure he froze up in the moment, which isn't surprising...but sounds like some stuff got made up in the aftermath.

Sad story. I won’t judge or blame....... it would be hypocritical of me.
I am guilty of getting too comfortable around known dangers.

Here's one possibility.....points and pulls the trigger....nothing....no round in the chamber...

Panics and tries to release the safety dropping the magazine.....

The bear now starts towards him...panics and throws the now completely empty (worthless) pistol in the general direction of the guide while simultaneously trying to avoid a charging grizzly...

Plausibly, but still just a possibility.....

Very likely the bow hunter never held or fired any pistol much less a glock....the report didn't say and I don't know. But I've been shooting pistols for well over 40 years and have only held a glock at a gun show and have never fired one....

X2

In this instance, The guide was a very great man among normal men

I agree completely....my comment about situational awareness was intended as a reminder to the rest of us and in no way meant as a condemnation of the guide or the hunter....bad deal all the way around and most likely could have been avoided.

I've done all kinds of stupid stuff over the years that make me shake my head in hindsight.....R.I.P. Mark.....

I've always wondered about charges and such. I "feel" like I would be able to function highly in a situation such as a charge, but heck, I have no idea whatsoever, I've never been in a situation like that. My uncle is a PH in Africa and they had a wounded Lion charge this past season, the client fires a shot, the Lion comes at them and the client just freezes and doesn't chamber another round quick enough. Luckily, a well placed head shot tumbled the cat a few feet from them. It was intense footage to watch, let alone be there for it.

Very sad deal

Very sad

Your good, I didn’t think other wise.

I let a mountain lion get to 11 yards from me this year, not only that I was sitting down, thinking it was cool. Then he didn’t want to leave. I put Dave and myself in bad position. Not saying it wouldnt of been epic to see Trex going nacho libera tackling a lion but it was stupid on my part.

Uption is a reminder to all of us. Unfortunately a stark reminder

That would have been kool as hell....I probably have done the same thing......

Horrifying. RIP.

The end of the article tries to define the nature of the attack for statistical purposes, but comes off semantic. The bears probably smelled the elk, came to eat it, and attacked the humans who were working on it. Sure, it’s slightly different from a bear defending a fresh kill it made itself, but it seems like the bears were wanting the elk, right?

Just seems odd to me the way it’s being classified. Terrible story regardless.

That was a difficult read...very sad. Hindsight being 20/20 and not to disparage anyone, but being in known bear country with a downed elk, and putting spray in backpack because it was irritating seems a bit cavalier to me. Same with having access to a gun, but unsure how to operate. No evidence that it would have changed the outcome (other than the attack stopped after mother bear sprayed), but at least there would have been a better chance.

So sad for everyone involved, especially the kids!!! But...what a way to go out!

My respects and tribute the courage of the guide as the client supported that he got the bear off of him. Panic is not uncommon in men as I witnessed a grown man through his shot gun at a ground hog that he shot and was running to his hole in back of the shooter. Cant imagine the horror of a 1000# 7 ft bear!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember earlier comments made here soon after the incident was first reported how standard practice is to have someone standing watch anytime a game animal is field-dressed, quartered, and packed in bear country.

Side note - It was the Obama administration that initiated changes in federal laws that allow Open Carry in our National Parks. Granted, hunting is not permitted and laws are very restrictive on firearm use. Still, I understand it's a common practice by hikers.

The truly sad part of this story is that a professional, experienced guide managed to screw up in so many ways when it came to their security. This was NOT an unforeseeable event.

I realize that he tried to do right after the numerous lapses, so his heart was in the right place, but both of them might have been very much alive and well with a very different and exciting tale to tell their kids and grand kids had the guide done a better job.

I live, hunt, and fish in Grizzly country and have been charged three times. One of the three is on my fathers wall. Every bear has its own personalty and you just never know. I have fished within 20 yards of a bear with no issues and been around 10+ at a time while they are feeding on salmon and they couldn't care about you. You just never know, so it is always better to be safe than sorry. Have a gun handy, and always good to have multiple people around.

-TJ

A few pictures:

I am inclined to agree that certain precautions and safety measures were breached. The incident 'might' have turned out differently if not for this. Very sad in any case.

One glaring mistake is to NOT have a round chambered in any firearm you intend to use for defense. While it might not have made a difference in this instance....it is a patently bad idea to think that IF there is trouble you will have time (or the ability) to charge the weapon.

As for how a person will act (or not act) in times of extreme stress...that is hard to know. The 'Guide' certainly did his part.