Fishing Alone in Yellowstone.

[mlarocco]

I have had three close encounters with moose. They are big, ugly creatures (compared to a horse) and can be unpredictable. A couple of years ago talking with a Gallatin National Forest Ranger he said they have more moose incidents each year than any other animal.

Another critter to give wide distance to in the park area is the bison.

[PYochim]

Michael, I'm glad you are safe. This guy visited me on the Madison a while back. He was curious but did not appear aggressive. The photo was taken from my truck with a 70 mm lens to give an idea of how close he was.

[wb4tjh]

When in bear country, always fish with a friend.....that way if a bear attacks, you don't have to outrun the bear, only your friend.....

[Eric Peper]

You need to get the tourist hordes back into YNP!!

Check the webcam at the West Entrance at about 10:00 AM any morning. You will see the hordes.

Apparently, one of the genius tourons wanted a bison picture yesterday. She is now in the Idaho Falls hospital after getting within 10-feet of her subject, who then closed the distance with head down and horns pointed. That's Yellowstone. It's inhabitants never disappoint.

EP

[snorider]

Eric,
Another flying touron? One would think the image of a buffalo throwing a person in the air,which is printed clearly on the leaflet they hand out at the gate, would be sufficient to warn people away. On my first trip this year I witnessed a family of 4 chasing a sow and cubs thru the lodgepole hoping for a photo op..no comment...
And I will agree there is definitely no shortage of visitors this year. However, if you hit the gates at 5:30am there is not a soul to be seen. I have decided to just fish the bighole over the long weekend. But thanks to the one brave soul who responded, maybe the following weekend?

[Brooks]

I have had three close encounters with moose. They are big, ugly creatures (compared to a horse) and can be unpredictable. A couple of years ago talking with a Gallatin National Forest Ranger he said they have more moose incidents each year than any other animal.

Another critter to give wide distance to in the park area is the bison.

Yeh, but you never hear about a moose eating your liver while you’re still kicking and screaming.

[headwaters]

Michael, it's good to hear that you are still with us! And, I think your decision not to fish alone in YNP sounds like a good one. And, notwithstanding all the advice you received above about having gotten all your bad luck out of the way at once, I note that I didn't read anything in your account about you running into a bison that day!

Rupert

[Flykuni3]

I have had three close encounters with moose. They are big, ugly creatures (compared to a horse) and can be unpredictable. A couple of years ago talking with a Gallatin National Forest Ranger he said they have more moose incidents each year than any other animal.

Another critter to give wide distance to in the park area is the bison.

Yeh, but you never hear about a moose eating your liver while you’re still kicking and screaming.

Ooo, that's how one of the bad scientists died in the first Jurassic Park (the book not the movie). Eviscerated by raptor as he flailed helplessly. Crichton's and Michael Connelly's bad guys always die real bad.

[Eric Peper]

Eric,
...
And I will agree there is definitely no shortage of visitors this year. However, if you hit the gates at 5:30am there is not a soul to be seen. I have decided to just fish the bighole over the long weekend. But thanks to the one brave soul who responded, maybe the following weekend?

FWIW, I just checked at 1:15 PM local Y'stone time, and there were only a few cars near the west gate. Not a very nice day there weatherwise, but . . . who knows.

[PT48]

Gosh Eric, I would have thought that CV would have decimated numbers in YNP this season, especially with the absence of overseas visitors. When I went in there in 2014 and 2018 I was gob-smacked by the crowds and fully understand my disappointment at not seeing a grizzly bear.

[snorider]

Hey PT48,
Next time I will take you fishing, we should see plenty of bears

[PT48]

That is very kind of you Michael. Hellmtflies tried and came up short. You are not factoring in that I am old and you will be able to outrun me when Mr Grizz makes his charge are you?

[TimM]

Yikes! I've been too close for comfort with a couple of bears but have never been charged. I had a moose get gnarly on Isle Royale but there were plenty of trees to keep between us. On the whole I'll take the moose encounter over a bear any day!

[snorider]

PT48 the thought never crossed my mind . Besides... Old age and Treachery always overcomes youth and skill.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0kVgSPAkcg

[pgwulf]

Sounds like you had a great day! Two generations of bear and moose and a healthy rainbow, I'll take that everyday...I've done the bears, moose, and healthy rainbow there too, but not all in the same day! It gets furry on some of the Gallatin tribs as well, always got my head on a swivel.

[DUCKMANNM]

Snorider, you should definitely NOT buy lottery tickets. Glad you got away with your skin still on!

[Bee]

In one way or another I have had close encounters in the YNP or close by (and Glacier NP) that are similar to your day, and with all the species you dealt with. Also a close encounter cougar episode in central Oregon bird hunting country .

My son and I hit a black bear (actually he hit us)one night in a rental car between Hebgen and Last Chance . Created a bit of stir in that area, and our friends Brad and Dionne kept the paper story about it posted in the Grub Stake for decades.

Actually I'm more scared of the on -coming drivers than the critters.

[mlarocco]

I may not have read all posts in this thread but I was wondering if the 1st encounter could have been avoided if a noise announcer (bell) was being worn?

[redband02]

If it was me, just smell the bear poop for bear spray or take a stick and stir it up looking for the bear bell.LOL

[oldgoat54]

A few year back I talked to a power line crew near the Yellowstone river. The story's they told about animal encounters made my blood run cold. Seems the park service uses the ROW for the lines to dump the roadkill. Two guys were inspecting the lines on a Razor and a beer reached out of the forest and removed one of then from the machine. That ended my fantasy of working in the park.