A Wyoming antler hunter is recovering in a Billings hospital after being attacked by a bear Friday morning.
According to the Park County Sheriff's Office, the attack was reported Friday at approximately 10:47 a.m. to the Park Co. Sheriff's Office 911 center. The attack reportedly happened in the East Painter Creek area.
Wyoming officials said the man was injured this morning by a grizzly bear while shed antler hunting in Sunlight Basin northwest of Cody.
Spencer Smith, 41, of Cody was antler hunting in the area when he encountered a grizzly bear. He sustained “severe neck” injury and was attempting to walk to his four-wheeler. Park County Search and Rescue (SAR), the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Cody Regional Health Wilderness Response Team, Wyoming Game and Fish, and Guardian Flight were all immediately activated to begin searching the area for the subject.
At 11:31 A.M. Game Warden Chris Queen located Smith’s four-wheeler at the boundary of the Game and Fish and the Forest Service in the East Painter Creek Drainage. He was then able to locate the victim. By 12:01 P.M. Smith was loaded into the Guardian helicopter for immediate transport to St Vincent’s Hospital in Billings. Park County Search and Rescue and Cody Regional Health were canceled prior to arriving on scene.
“The safety of outdoor recreationists is always at the forefront of our minds,” said Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor Dan Smith. “Our thoughts are with the individual who was injured and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
Smith was described as being alert and in stable condition.
Wyoming Game and Fish will be investigating this incident further.
