According to Germaine White, Information and Education Specialist with Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the bear made contact with the hunter but the extent of the hunter's injuries are unknown at this time.
"It was a surprise encounter at close range, under dense cover," White told the Inter Lake.
The hunter was with two other people at the time of the incident, White said. The species of bear is unknown.
Tribal Wildlife Bear Biologists, Tribal Conservation Officers and a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks conservation officer responded to the scene at approximately 2:15 p.m. The attack reportedly happened off Olsen Road south of Ninepipe Reservoir on the west side of Highway 93.
Stacy Courville, Tribal Bear Biologist, says the encounter is under investigation. Courville reminds hunters that the entire Mission Valley is bear habitat, home to both black and grizzly bears.
Comment: Over the same weekend and a few miles to the south-west of the above location a similar event occurred: Thousands of dead fish found in Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana