# Mauled by a bear, then he drove himself home

> A 20-year-old archery hunter survived a surprise bear attack near Augusta, Montana, then got behind the wheel himself.
- Title: Mauled by a bear, then he drove himself home · Fox News
- Summary: A 20-year-old archery hunter survived a surprise bear attack near Augusta, Montana, then got behind the wheel himself. In a surprise bear encounter, playing…
- Keywords: bear attack, montana, hunting, wildlife safety, grizzly, news, politics, Mauled, bear, drove, himself, home
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/travel/savage-bear-attack-leaves-wounded-montana-hunter-horrifying-option
- Author: Andrea Margolis
- Published: 2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bear attack, montana, hunting, wildlife safety, grizzly, news, politics
## Attacked while archery hunting
On Monday morning, a hunter on state land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte, south of Augusta, ran into a bear and was mauled.

> when he encountered the bear and was attacked
## He drove himself out
Badly hurt and alone, the man got in his vehicle and drove home. From there a private vehicle took him to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls.

> The hunter drove himself home after the attack
## He curled up and took it
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the 20-year-old fell into a fetal position during the attack. His injuries were significant but not life-threatening.

> smacked him around and left
## Nobody knows the species
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks says the bear has not been identified and the investigation is open. Grizzlies and black bears both range that country.

> The species of the bear involved is currently unknown
## Carcasses are the danger
FWP told hunters to pack meat out fast, hang what is left, and carry strong headlamps. Never butcher an animal at dusk without a plan for the dark.

> Avoid cutting up carcass at dusk or night
## A busy year for bears
A hiker survived a grizzly mauling on Glacier's Grinnell Glacier Trail in May. South Lake Tahoe police logged 174 bear calls this year against 97 last year.

> They are fattening up for winter. Heads up, hunters and fishermen.
## Key takeaway

In a surprise bear encounter, playing dead is often the right call, and bears are especially active in fall while fattening up for winter.