Unbelievable Feat: Montana Man Stops Charging Grizzly with Birdshot, Wyoming Hunters React

When it comes to stopping a charging grizzly bear, hunters typically rely on bear spray, high-caliber rifles, or powerful handguns with heavy-duty bullets, Cowboy State Daily reports.

But in one jaw-dropping case, a Montana man reportedly dropped a charging grizzly with a single shot of birdshot from a .410 shotgun — a feat that many Wyoming hunters find almost impossible to believe.

The incident occurred in 2003 and has since become the stuff of legend, with Wyoming hunters still marveling at the sheer luck and precision involved.

The story begins in the rural town of Fortine, Montana, where James Beeman woke up around 4 a.m. to the sound of a commotion in his chicken coop. Expecting a skunk or some other small predator, Beeman grabbed his .410 shotgun, a weapon known for its small caliber and relatively low stopping power.

Instead of a skunk, Beeman spotted two grizzly cubs running from the coop. Moments later, a 350-pound female grizzly appeared with a chicken in her mouth. When she saw Beeman, she dropped the chicken and charged at him from about 15 feet away.

As she closed the distance, Beeman raised his shotgun and fired from the hip when the bear’s nose was just 3 feet away from the muzzle.

Miraculously, the bear dropped dead at his feet.

According to reports, the birdshot — typically used for small game like quail or grouse — struck the grizzly in just the right spot. Two pellets from the load traveled through her nasal cavity and into her brain, instantly killing her.

Wyoming hunters and outdoor experts are still shaking their heads in disbelief. The .410 is widely regarded as the least powerful shotgun available, and birdshot — especially #7 ½ shot, like Beeman used — is one of the smallest shot sizes. It’s generally only effective on small birds at close range.

To understand the odds of pulling off such a feat, it helps to know a little about the gun. Most shotguns are classified by “gauge,” such as 20-gauge or 12-gauge, with the smaller number representing a larger, more powerful barrel. But a .410 isn’t a gauge — it’s a caliber, meaning it uses a smaller, slimmer cartridge.

To put it into perspective, Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich said that a .410 shot shell can struggle to bring down a small game bird like a sage grouse — let alone a full-size grizzly. Ulrich, who carries a Taurus Judge revolver capable of firing .410 shotshells, said he only loads the revolver with .410 when hunting for grouse.

“.410 shells have a hard time knocking down a sage grouse, let alone a full-size, charging grizzly,” Ulrich told Cowboy State Daily.

Like many others, Ulrich was stunned to learn that a grizzly had been killed by such a small and relatively ineffective load.

“That guy is forged from wrought iron,” he said of Beeman.

For Garrett Kalkowski of Cody, Wyoming, Beeman’s story hit close to home. Kalkowski experienced his own grizzly encounter on October 3 while hunting with his father near Meeteetse, Wyoming.

In his case, Kalkowski used a Glock 10mm pistol loaded with 200-grain cast lead bullets to defend himself and his father from an attacking grizzly. The cast bullets are designed for deep penetration through thick hide, muscle, and bone — precisely the opposite of what birdshot is intended to do.

Kalkowski had to empty his entire 15-round magazine to neutralize the threat. In contrast, Beeman took down a charging bear with one shot of lightweight birdshot.

“I’m glad it worked out for him, but that’s insane,” Kalkowski said.

Both Kalkowski and Ulrich were floored by Beeman’s success, but they acknowledged that, under specific conditions, it’s possible.

The physics behind Beeman’s shot may offer an explanation, though it still seems like a one-in-a-million event.

At point-blank range — roughly 3 feet — the shot from a shotgun doesn’t have time to spread into a wide pattern. Instead, it behaves like a single, tight cluster of pellets, almost like a slug. This increased density of the shot allowed for deeper penetration than if the shot had spread out.

But even then, it shouldn’t have been enough. Birdshot pellets are small — far smaller than the heavy slugs or cast-lead bullets typically used for bear defense.

According to reports, the luckiest part of the shot was its placement. The pellets entered the bear’s nose, and two of them found their way into the brain, instantly shutting down the animal’s motor functions.

“That’s the only way it could have happened,” Kalkowski said.

He noted that, under similar conditions, his own .410 shotgun might have worked. But he admitted:

“It’s not something I’d bet my or my father’s life on.”

Beeman’s story is rare but not without precedent. History is filled with unusual tales of hunters using small-caliber weapons to stop large predators.

In 1953, Bella Twin, a 63-year-old Canadian Cree grandmother, shot and killed one of the largest grizzlies ever recorded using a single-shot .22 rifle. While a .22 has a reputation for being a “small game” caliber, Bella Twin’s shot was perfectly placed, and luck was on her side.

While Ulrich finds the idea of taking down a bear with a .22 or birdshot incredible, he points out that such feats shouldn’t be seen as a viable strategy.

“Handgun rounds, even the powerful ones, can have a hard time stopping a bear,” Ulrich said. “I carry .410 shotshells in my pocket for grouse, but I would never consider them for bear defense.”

The short answer, according to Wyoming hunters, is “absolutely not.”

Most hunters who frequent grizzly country carry firearms loaded with cast lead bullets or rely on bear spray, both of which are far more likely to be effective in a life-or-death encounter.

Shotguns loaded with slugs — not birdshot — can also be effective bear-stopping tools. Bear defense experts recommend large-caliber slugs from a 12-gauge shotgun, not birdshot from a .410.

Beeman’s success, they say, was pure luck.

“If I’d only had birdshot,” Kalkowski said, “I don’t think I’d be here today.”

Stories of Beeman’s wild encounter have been passed down on social media, hunting forums, and even hunting publications like AmmoLand Shooting Sports News. The story is also said to have been first reported in 2003 by The Daily Inter Lake, a Western Montana newspaper.

Despite skepticism, the story persists. Beeman himself has remained quiet, and he could not be reached for comment.

Some hunters see it as a reminder of the sheer unpredictability of bear encounters. No two incidents are alike, and sometimes luck plays a bigger role than equipment.

“That shot was one in a million,” Kalkowski said.

The story of James Beeman’s “impossible shot” with a .410 shotgun continues to baffle Wyoming hunters and outdoorsmen alike. Most experts agree that Beeman’s success was a blend of luck, adrenaline, and near-perfect shot placement.

While the feat is impressive, no hunter recommends birdshot as a bear-defense strategy. The vast majority of grizzly encounters require the heavy firepower of hardcast bullets, powerful slugs, or bear spray.

Beeman’s story has become a modern hunting legend, a tale whispered around campfires and repeated in online forums. But like many legends, it carries a deeper lesson: when it comes to grizzlies, don’t count on luck.

Instead, seasoned hunters like Paul Ulrich and Garrett Kalkowski continue to rely on proven methods — large-caliber handguns, shotguns with slugs, and bear spray.

Because as incredible as Beeman’s one-shot kill was, it’s a feat no one would ever recommend trying to replicate.