Prior to meeting the father of my college girlfriend, I was warned. He was the chief criminal investigator for Missioula, he was a decorated Vietnam Vet with a love for guns and he held the record for taking down the largest grizzly bear in the US with a straight bow. He did it without a side-arm and only had a knife to protect himself from it's charges. I'll never forget the first time I met him. I drove up his mile long driveway in the middle of nowhere MT. There were signs posted, the first read "keep out." The second, "turn around now" and the last one said "nothing beyond this point is worth your life." He turned out to be a very nice man, that just happened to be a bad-ass bear hunter. Grizzlies are probably the coolest animal I've ever seen in the wild except perhaps for a Mountain Lion. When hiking out there, don't forget to either wear bells or sing-songs on the trail. Last thing you ever want to do is startle a bear.
I've come across black bears in the wild, but thankfully never a grizzly. Personally, I'd just rather use bear spray because I'd hate to kill a bear. Not to dish on that guy, but AFAIK most 'bear hunting' simply entails baiting the bear with some food, and waiting in a tree stand to kill it when it comes to eat. IMHO the bad ass hunters are turkey hunters. Turkeys are smart and really tough to stalk. You also have to often call them in, and worry about the wind, etc., which requires a lot of skill. I'm sure dropping a bear with a bow isn't too easy, however. As an aside, I've eaten bear meat, and it is some of the most rank shit that I've ever put in my mouth. Just plain awful. Not even a flavorfull stew could mask its nastiness. I imagine people would taste better.
I would agree that baiting an animal and then shooting it would require little skill or courage. Unless it was a bear and unless you were using a long-bow. NOT a compound bow. I'd also be shocked if he didn't stalk and kill the bear. This guy was a purist and was attempting to recreate a type of hunting that no longer occurs. I'd also be shocked if he didn't eat the bear. He seemed the type that had a "code" about such things.
That would be badass, but I would be just as shocked if he did. I can't imagine trying to sneak up on a grizzly with a bow. That would be crazy reckless. You'd basically have one shot, and the conditions might really suck.I'd also be shocked if he didn't stalk and kill the bear.
Pre-children, unmarried and just returned from 'nam. I'm not sure if he stalked or not but he did describe it has having "one shot," that I recall.