I Tried to Flush a Pheasant. Instead, I Got Mauled by a Grizzly — and 320 Stitches

A Nest of Grizzlies

Two buddies secured permission to go pheasant hunting in Montana, but flushed something much bigger and unexpected: a sow grizzly.

Mark Miner and his hunting partner Willie Reed started their day by hunting ducks in an irrigation ditch in the rural farm area around St. Ignatius, 50 miles north of Missoula, Montana.

On the morning of October 20, 1985, Miner, 25, and Reed, 24, drove to their destination, eager to hunt pheasants, with no thought of bears crossing their path.

I Tried to Flush a Pheasant. Instead, I Got Mauled by a Grizzly — and 320 Stitches

Author's summary: A hunting trip in Montana takes an unexpected turn when two friends encounter a grizzly bear.

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Outdoor Life Outdoor Life — 2025-10-14

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