Hunter killed by a bullet not killed by grizzly

The Montana State Crime Lab medical examiner determined Friday that hunter Steve Stevenson, 39, was killed by a single gun shot wound to the chest rather than injuries from a grizzly attack on Sept. 16.

The attack took place on Buckhorn Mountain near the Idaho/Montana border after the hunters shot the bear thinking it was a black bear. The bear turned out to be a 400-pound adult male grizzly, according to Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Greg Johnson.

Stevenson’s hunting companion 20-year-old Ty Bell shot with a 30-06 and killed the bear during the attack.  Bell emptied his rifle into the grizzly. One of those rounds struck Stevenson in the chest, according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is continuing. They do not expect to release any further information on the case for at least another three weeks.