TL;DR
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Bowhunter Sam Kezar told Outdoor Life that he fired seven rounds from a 10mm Glock during a grizzly bear charge in Wyoming last September, and that his hunting partner also fired. Kezar credits months of draw and shooting practice with helping him react, but the supplied report excerpt does not establish the bear’s fate, injuries, or independent confirmation of the account.
Bowhunter Sam Kezar says he fired seven rounds from his 10mm Glock as a grizzly bear charged him in Wyoming last September, in an encounter he says unfolded in roughly a second and a half. In an account published by Outdoor Life on Oct. 22, 2026, Kezar credited months of handgun practice with helping him draw and respond; the supplied report excerpt does not establish the bear’s fate or provide independent confirmation of the details.
Kezar, an arborist from near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was bowhunting elk with his friend Jerrad in a unit outside Yellowstone National Park. The pair had noticed fresh bear droppings and claw marks on a tree before walking through thicker timber into an opening. Kezar said they heard rustling and a roar, shouted “Bear!” and then saw the animal emerge from trees in front of them.
He said he initially fired toward the bear’s feet, thinking it might be a bluff charge, but quickly concluded it was coming directly at him. The report’s introduction says Kezar got off seven shots during the charge and that his companion fired one well-placed round. Kezar said he had his bow in his left hand and pistol in his right, but did not remember drawing the handgun.
Before the hunt, Kezar said he practiced drawing from a chest-mounted holster and acquiring a target throughout the summer. He described repeated dry-fire drills and later live-fire practice with a water jug as a target, including drills that involved drawing quickly and firing while backing away. These are details from his account, not evidence that the same approach is appropriate or effective in other bear encounters.
Practice Under Sudden Pressure
The account illustrates how little time a person may have to react to a close wildlife encounter. Kezar described a charge across about 20 yards in roughly two seconds and said his repeated practice helped him operate his firearm during a frightening, fast-moving event. That connection is his assessment of his own experience; the report does not establish that practice or a particular firearm will reliably prevent injury in another encounter.
For readers who hunt or travel in bear country, the report is a personal account rather than a general safety finding. It cannot resolve broader questions about firearm effectiveness, bear behavior, or the best response in a charge. The limited confirmed information here also means readers should not treat the headline’s claim that practice “saved” Kezar’s life as independently established causation.
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From Elk Tag to Bear Country
Kezar said he drew a Wyoming elk tag for an area outside Yellowstone and knew it was grizzly country. He reported buying a Glock Model 20 in 10mm after researching handgun options for bear country, along with ammunition, and setting up a holster attached to his binocular harness. He said he carried the pistol at the front of his body rather than in a pack or on his hip.
The bear encounter followed an unsuccessful effort to find an elk Kezar had shot the previous day. He and Jerrad moved to higher country with whitebark pine and spruce cover, where they noticed signs of bear activity. The report was published as a first-person narrative by Outdoor Life and identifies the encounter as having occurred the prior September.
““I don’t remember drawing my pistol.””
— Sam Kezar, in his account published by Outdoor Life
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Bear’s Fate Is Not Established
The supplied report excerpt does not say whether the bear died, was injured, or left the area, and it gives no information about any wildlife-agency investigation. It also does not include medical records, witness statements beyond Kezar’s account of his companion’s role, or an official incident report. The encounter details and the claim that practice helped save Kezar are therefore attributed to him and the Outdoor Life report, rather than independently verified here.
The excerpt ends while Kezar is continuing his description of the charge. It does not provide the full sequence after the initial shots, whether either hunter was hurt, or what happened to the animal. Those details should not be inferred from the headline.
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Further Details Could Clarify Outcome
The supplied material does not identify a scheduled follow-up, official review, or next public update. Further information from Kezar, his hunting partner, or wildlife officials could clarify the bear’s condition, the aftermath, and whether the encounter was reported to authorities. Until then, the account’s outcome remains incomplete in the excerpt provided.
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Key Questions
When and where did the encounter happen?
Kezar said it happened last September while he was bowhunting elk in Wyoming, in an area outside Yellowstone National Park. The report was published on Oct. 22, 2026.
How many shots did Kezar say he fired?
The report’s introduction says Kezar fired seven rounds from his 10mm pistol during the charge. It also says his hunting partner fired a round.
What practice did Kezar describe?
He said he practiced drawing from his chest-mounted holster, establishing his grip, acquiring a target and dry-firing. He later added live-fire drills with a water jug as a target, including practice while backing away.
Is the bear’s fate known from the supplied report?
No. The excerpt provided does not establish whether the bear died or was injured, or describe what happened after the shots.
Does the account prove that a 10mm handgun is the best choice in bear country?
No. It reports Kezar’s personal experience and his choice of firearm. The excerpt does not offer comparative evidence or establish a universally effective response to bear encounters.
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