Montana camper murdered

[Koda]

He was "armed" but they used his own axe against him, my guess is he didn't have his pistol on his person. Just a guess, not enough information... but many times I hear people bring a gun "just in case" but call it paranoia to walk around armed.
I don't know this story and not judging him but it didn't end well.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5167825/montana-camper-killed-bear-ax

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[CamoDeafie]

This is why I worry more about 2 leggers than 4 leggers in the woods. "Bear attack" victim actually hacked/chopped up in tent

View: https://youtu.be/KNMayZCY7rI?si=daYIt1NYdBfOkf1b https://www.kxan.com/news/mans-death-originally-reported-as-bear-attack-was-actually-vicious-murder-montana-sheriff-says/ A man's death that was originally reported to be a bear attack, has been confirmed to be a murder by a Montana...

www.northwestfirearms.com

Older thread on this same event

 

[Xaevian]

Very little details at this point. There is a previous thread...camoD got it.

 

[Koda]

There is a previous thread...camoD got it.

it will probably get merged but very little about defensive mindset in that thread.

 

[RyanG90]

I was just out in Montana camping, scary

 

[CamoDeafie]

it will probably get merged but very little about defensive mindset in that thread.

Yea.. it went off the rails right away

 

[RVTECH]

He was "armed" but they used his own axe against him, my guess is he didn't have his pistol on his person.

Or 'they' (or the one) attacked him while he was sleeping.

Either way this is a tragic, creepy incident and hopefully this guy is caught soon, or better yet, killed by LEO - or an armed and vigilant 'good guy' if the murderer tries this again.

I am a lifelong outdoorsman and one should NOT have to 'worry' while in the woods - aware of your surroundings YES - but not have to be paranoid.

 

[Koda]

I know people that carry guns in cars, and consider themselves armed. Camping, guns are often brought along "in case" but left in tents, vehicles in case needed. They often consider themselves armed, but in reality they are "off body" carrying which is not armed.
Again, not enough info to judge just interested in the training and awareness mindset part of this story.

 

[CamoDeafie]

ON another forum I'm at, theres a suspicion that there's more to the story.. for example, the "friend" who "discovered" the scene, how did he know where the victim's campsite was? And a map of the area showing it to be pretty remote

 

[Koda]

Or 'they' (or the one) attacked him while he was sleeping.

Either way this is a tragic, creepy incident and hopefully this guy is caught soon, or better yet, killed by LEO - or an armed and vigilant 'good guy' if the murderer tries this again.

I am a lifelong outdoorsman and one should NOT have to 'worry' while in the woods - aware of your surroundings YES - but not have to be paranoid.

Thats possible, maybe hes a very solid sleeper. Me, the muzzle is pointing at the tent door when Im dispersed camping in the woods.

I recently picked up some of these cheap clip on motion lights off amazon just for dispersed camping in remote places. They worked really well and you can clip them anywhere and were really bright. Anything moving into the camp is going to trigger the light. One small advantage and hopefully deterrent. Plus, they are in the light.

 

[Koda]

for example, the "friend" who "discovered" the scene, how did he know where the victim's campsite was?

the victim invited him?

 

[CamoDeafie]

the victim invited him?

Possibly. The video in my thread says this; he (the victim) was to meet his friend (the discoverer) on Friday evening, but when the victim did not show up, the "concerned friend" went looking for him on Saturday and discovered the scene, and called it in as a bear attack.

 

[Koda]

Possibly. The video in my thread says this; he (the victim) was to meet his friend (the discoverer) on Friday evening, but when the victim did not show up, the "concerned friend" went looking for him on Saturday and discovered the scene, and called it in as a bear attack.

That does sound suspicious....

 

[RVTECH]

One small advantage and hopefully deterrent.

Id say BIG advantage and an excellent idea!

 

[mkthegrassgrow]

I know people that carry guns in cars, and consider themselves armed. Camping, guns are often brought along "in case" but left in tents, vehicles in case needed. They often consider themselves armed, but in reality they are "off body" carrying which is not armed.
Again, not enough info to judge just interested in the training and awareness mindset part of this story.

I don't consider someone "armed" unless there is a weapon that is prepped and within arms reach of them. Whether it's being stashed in a car, a different bedroom, RV, tent or a bag/purse in a off body carry. When I go camping I sleep with a gun in my sleeping bag... but I've been doing that since I was in the military.

A gun is no good if you can't get to it immediately.

 

[Koda]

Id say BIG advantage and an excellent idea!

I just used them the last few weekends solo hunting and camping. Super bright and lit up the area they are aimed at. The motion sensor worked great as I walked around. They are sensitive to campfire smoke though, first time it turned on from the smoke was a real test of my nerves.
I plan to buy two more to cover all sides needed, they are cheap enough. USB rechargable.

 

[Xaevian]

If you want some other, general local details, MT archery season is 9/3 to 10/20. Youth rifle for deer is 10/17-10/18. General season started this Saturday. Pretty much everywhere off the valleys is remote here. Weather was mild, 63/44 degrees and clear skies. National forest/USFS camping is pretty popular here. Hunting, hiking and camping almost all year long is a statewide passion here, and it is common to see other people unless you are off the beaten path.

Statistically, probably someone he knows, but a heated confrontation with a stranger, possibly bow hunting, hiking, or camping that ended with a nighttime ambush is possible. The friend knowing the camp site isn't that unusual, especially if it is a regular thing. He was in a canvas wall tent (expensive), not a little nylon zippered one.

I haven't spent much time there, if any. It is about 3.5 hours from Missoula near Yellowstone Park/Wyoming. I haven't hunted near there. I spend A LOT of time outdoors here, but mostly on the western side of the divide.

 

[RVTECH]

but when the victim did not show up, the "concerned friend" went looking for him on Saturday

This is odd IF it IS the way it happened.

'When the victim didn't show up' - OK - so the 'victim' was NOT at his established camp when the friend showed up. This is understandable but after an ordinate about of time why didn't the 'friend' start looking for him on FRIDAY ? - especially if it was getting later.

I have often in my life showed up a day later meeting friends camping, and they might have been gone, out hiking, hunting etc. BUT if they had failed to show up say, in a few hours I would have started a look around. Maybe took a drive around to see whats up - but I WOULDN'T have waited until then next day.

 

[Xaevian]

There is no cell service up there per USFS. So, not really that suspicious. If the friend were a suspect, they would probably have said so. I am sure they have a way to see if he was around town. Gets dark around 6pm-ish here about then, and hitting wildlife with your vehicle kinda sucks.

 

[thorborg]

I know people that carry guns in cars, and consider themselves armed. Camping, guns are often brought along "in case" but left in tents, vehicles in case needed. They often consider themselves armed, but in reality they are "off body" carrying which is not armed.
Again, not enough info to judge just interested in the training and awareness mindset part of this story.

Pay attention to the insight if not actual admonition from @Koda
Especially for the uninitiated here are lessons to be learned , for the rest of us, again, the saying about history repeating its self for those who won't pay attention is not just a quaint saying, Nothing has changed in centuries other than increase in complacency, As any one familiar with trappers of 200 years ago, those who stayed alive in wild or lawless territory were never farther than an arms length from their firearms.