Lou Kis lifts the door of the trap. Richard P. Smith
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Editor’s Note: Most of the stories in our F&S Classics series are longer narratives of hunting and fishing adventures. But sometimes, a great photograph—or, in today’s case, several photos—is all you need to tell a great story. This web feature was first published in January 2008.
In 1987, the Montana Department of Fish & Game attempted to relocate an adult male grizzly bear that had been trapped alive after allegedly killing a cow on an Indian reservation near Kalispell, Montana. The bear was tranquilized, fitted with a radio collar and some ear tags, and the trap was put into the bed of a pickup truck and driven deep into the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness, where the bear was to be released.
Photographer Richard P. Smith accompanied Department employees, including state game warden Lou Kis, on the release, in order to document the event with his camera. Such releases are fairly common, and in all previous instances the bears being relocated had run away as soon as they were let out of their traps. But this time something went wrong. Click through the slides at left to see what happened.
If you’d like to see more photos from Smith, or learn about the books he’s written about deer and bear hunting, visit his website.
Lou Kis liftin the door of the trap.Richard P. Smith
As Montana state game warden Lou Kis began lifting the door to the trap to let the bear free, Photographer Richard P. Smith started shooting with a fresh roll of film from the back of another pickup located about 50 yards away. “I programmed myself to continue holding shutter down to capture whatever action took place,” said Smith.
The bear’s head became visible in the opening door. Richard P. SmithKis appeared to have trouble lifting the door of the aluminum trap. It may have been bent. Richard P. SmithAs Kis held the door open, the bear began to emerge from the trap. Richard P. SmithThe bear jumped from the trap to the ground. Richard P. SmithAs the bear hit the ground, Kis dropped the trap door and yelled “Go!” to the driver of the pickup. Richard P. SmithThe bear heard the warden’s voice, and stood on its hind legs to try to get at him. Richard P. SmithThe truck began to move forward as the grizzly tried to grab Kis’s leg in its mouth. Richard P. SmithThe movement of the truck and the weight of the grizzly caused the unsecured trap to fall out of the truck! As the trap fell, the warden fell on top of the bear. Richard P. SmithKis had a camera around his neck that he was hoping to use to photograph the bear after the animal was released from the trap. When he fell on top of the bear, it grabbed the camera instead of latching immediately onto his body. Richard P. SmithKis scrambled to get away from the bear… Richard P. Smith…and the bear started biting Kis’s leg. That’s when Smith stopped photographing the attack. Kis eventually unholstered his .357 magnum handgun and shot the animal, killing it. Richard P. SmithAfter the attack… Kis’s injuries were severe—a fractured and seriously bitten leg. Here he’s receiving first aid. Richard P. SmithKis, holding the .357 that saved his life. Richard P. SmithKis waits for an emergency medical chopper. The dead bear was loaded into the back of the same pickup from which Smith took his photos of the attack. Richard P. SmithGame & Fish employee Al Elser shaded Kis with his coat while they waited for the chopper. Richard P. SmithEMTs eventually arrived and tended to Kis’ wounds. Richard P. SmithThey then helped him get to the chopper. Richard P. SmithKis steps into the helicopter. Richard P. SmithHe was flown to the nearest hospital. Richard P. SmithThe remaining Game & Fish employees took measurements of the dead bear after Kis left. Richard P. SmithShawn Riley measures the animal’s claws. The bear weighed about 500 pounds. Richard P. Smith
