Jeremy Hill Bear Shooting: Man Could Face Jail Time For Killing Grizzly In His Yard (VIDEO)

Jeremy Hill of Idaho is facing a trial, after he shot and killed a grizzly bear that came into his yard.

Hill claims that he came into the yard where his children were playing to find three grizzly bears had entered the property. He shot one of the bears, killing it and scaring the others away.

Hill reported the incident to the state authorities, who did not express concern. But federal authorities have charged Hill with killing an endangered species.

The case has stoked passions has attracted many supporters, including Idaho's republican governor Butch Otter. If convicted, Hill could face a year in prison or a $50,000 fine.

Hill's trial is scheduled to begin on October 4th.

Comments

[Bearfeet]

11:17 AM on 09/04/2011

An ounce of ...

http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_0541978c-d6aa-11e0-9729-001cc4c002e0.html

[Supersteel]

04:00 PM on 09/01/2011

What a nutty story. If he didn't shoot it and then it hurt someone everyone would be saying what a dope he was. He called fish and game immediately after the shooting to report it. He wasn't going for a trophy as some have suggested. This case is going to go away because too many people agree with him, including some major players.

[hagagaga]

11:45 PM on 08/29/2011

The proper course of action if a bear is too close is to put a piece of lead in it.

[Michel Roy]

04:48 PM on 08/28/2011

What, he has to PROVE that there was immediate danger? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

[dawns6]

08:39 AM on 08/28/2011

This is very infuriating ,If it were my children outside plating in thier yard and grizzlies showed up I would do the same thing.Yes I feel bad for the grizzly but the man was protecting his kids and he was scared just as his kids where, He had every right to do what he did and and the feds are absolutely absurd for arresting him and making him go thru all this for protecting his own ! its just outragous !

[beancrisp]

01:01 AM on 08/28/2011

People who believe he should be prosecuted = EVIL.
People who believe he should not be prosecuted = RIGHTEOUS.

[eaglespark]

07:53 PM on 08/27/2011

If you read other sources you will see that there is more to this story. Hill and his wife were concerned about the safety of the children because they could not immediately locate them:

[“Not being able to see the other four children playing basketball, Jeremy and Rachel (his wife) were instantly afraid for their children’s lives. Jeremy yelled at the bears and called for his children. "After receiving no immediate response from his children Jeremy gave the baby to Rachel, and retrieved his daughter’s .270 rifle from the laundry room. Jeremy then went out onto the front porch yelling for his children. "Hearing no response and in fear that his children were in serious danger, Jeremy shot the closest bear about 40 yards away. After the shot the two other grizzly bears ran into the garden and yard and into the timber. "As this happened, Rachel reported that the children had made it into the house safely.”]

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/08/24/rockybarker/grizzly_killing_charges_get_boundary_county_folks_charged

[vtmilitia]

08:47 PM on 08/26/2011

There are way to many people posting here whose understanding of nature is based solely on Disney films.

[EIZEL]

02:22 PM on 08/27/2011

Reading the post on this page, I agree with you.
Beside that..., the bear is still dead; and what's more - it is certainly going to stay that way, whether the man is jailed or not, but jailing the man might not be much good for his kids. I also suggest that, an interview with the other 2 bears that survived the shooting should be set up (strictly no guns folks!), their views on the matter obtained, then the panel should be set up to make recommendations that no one will be required to follow. Ah, I almost forgot..., an interview with Grisly Adams and no. 7, is a must!

[sanfran55]

08:18 PM on 08/26/2011

Bears need to fear man, or you'll end up its lunch one day. Ask Timothy Treadwell.

Just because of this one incident where this man protected his home and children from some bears that were stalking out his place doesn't mean every single American is going to go out and start shooting bears for fun and make the species extinct.

[Jennifer Zirn]

07:52 PM on 08/26/2011

I believe that animals have as much right as us.

But with that being said, the bears were in the yard with his small children. He had a right to protect his own, just as the bears do. There is a threat if you are in a view of grizzlies, especially since it was most likely a momma and her cubs, who she would protect.

It is interesting that if people are in the wild, where there are bears, and attacked, you see comments that they should of had a gun. This guy had a gun (probably for this reason) and people believe he was wrong.

We weren't there, so we don't know if he fired in the air first or shot it in the back.

Yes, those bears are on the endangered species list, but he saw a clear danger to his kids. I'm sorry that the bear died, but I can't see fault in his actions. He did what every parent would do.

[EIZEL]

02:24 PM on 08/27/2011

Your comment is like a breath of a fresh air.

[SpecialTater]

11:39 PM on 09/16/2011

As for me, I actually wouldn't even hazard firing in the air as you said, because it could have driven the bears wild and crazy. If one of the bears had the moment to steel themselves for an attack, it would have been to late for one of his kids or himself.

Firing at a bear closest to his kid was probably the best option.

[wjk1212]

07:12 PM on 08/26/2011

Well 26 years ago I didn't move into coyote territory. Now I see them in my backyard. And it's not because of lack of habitat or this or that. It's because they are breeding and they have free rein to hunt anything that moves smaller than they are. Including small dogs, cats, rabbits etc. If "let nature take it's course" was true? You would not be on this planet.

[EIZEL]

02:32 PM on 08/27/2011

Why you single me out? But, not letting nature take its course resulted in 7 billion of us destroying ourselves, and almost anything we come in contact with!

[hagagaga]

11:40 PM on 08/29/2011

Coyotes came about so humans would have a use for that wonderful .223 cartridge.

[Mason Wirsig]

06:53 PM on 08/26/2011

He's supposed to stand there and evaluate the threat level of three giant bears next to his kids? And now he has to PROVE there was an imminent threat? What? How about the prosecuting attorney proves someone guilty for a change instead of a defendant having to prove their innocence?

[marymeade2]

04:49 PM on 08/26/2011

I'm sure he assessed the situation and had to act quickly. I wouldn't want to be confronted by a big old grizzly in my yard. I don't think he should be jailed.

[satanmademedoit]

06:34 PM on 08/26/2011

they still have questions to answer...like...was he even confronted? what exactly did the bear do and how close were they to the bear? if he shot it just to shoot it then he should b in jail for longer than a year...it all depends, right?

[wanttoknowfacts]

07:11 PM on 08/26/2011

Who cares what the bear did or how close. Have you ever seen how big they are? Or how much they weigh? Or the strength of their arms and those claws? I suppose you could fight one off, right? Bears have been known to just tear down a door and go inside and just do what they want. They are not all looking for honey.

[marymeade2]

11:48 PM on 08/26/2011

I am assuming this man assessed the situation and made a decision. If there is a follow up to this story, I will read it, but, I made a comment based on the fear, I might feel and, yes, projected on this guy, however, this story does not tell the entire story.

[Martin Beck]

04:45 PM on 08/26/2011

Mr Hill should not go to jail , but it's important to point out that we should not be living in areas where these creatures populate and make a living . I don't know if the bear was a threat or not , but I don't know what Mr Hill was thinking . Did he think that he could solve the " problem" by killing a couple a three bears ? I don't know . He had no right to kill the bear .

[Mason Wirsig]

06:55 PM on 08/26/2011

Put yourself in his shoes. Three giant grizzly bears are within feet of your children. What would you do? Get your crook and sheep dog and herd the bears out of your yard?

[dfh611]

07:38 PM on 08/26/2011

Suppose there was no threat. Suppose Mr. Hill saw a lone bear on his land and thought, nice trophy. Suppose he killed the bear and claimed self defense adding two more bears for effect and his children for sympathy. Suppose he notified authorities in order to get permission to keep the carcass. Free meat and a bear mount, possible?
Similar cases have happened before. Would charges be filed if no probable cause in evidence. Doubtful. We don't know all the facts. There could be more to this story.

[eaglespark]

08:17 PM on 08/27/2011

"we should not be living in areas where these creatures populate and make a living"
"He had no right to kill the bear"

We should not live in the state of Idaho? Seriously? And I have no "right" to protect my family from deadly threats? Seriously?...

[Diane Dickinson]

04:39 PM on 08/26/2011

If a bear is in my yard where my children are playing I'd do the same. I can't believe the people who think the man was wrong! I think we should round up all the 'touchy feely' people and put them in the woods, weaponless, and let them read poems to bears.

There is a conflict with wild life and human kind. Still, a person does not just stand by idly when their children are in danger. The man was not camping oe hiking. He was at his home and I can't imagine what else he could do.

[SpecialTater]

11:43 PM on 09/16/2011

If his kids have already been flanked by multiple bears, shooting IS the only options.
I've seen photos of people eaten by bears -- it isn't a pretty sight.