Jackson, Wyoming

From the Casper Star-Tribune of July 6, 2007

Man gets clear in grizzly killing

Ken Meade agrees it's fair to say he's relieved he was not charged with killing an endangered species.

Federal officials recently determined the 65-year-old Lander man killed a grizzly bear in self-defense last fall.

The case marks what is perhaps the last time a federal agency will be involved with investigating a grizzly killing. The bears were removed from federal protection earlier this year, and control of the animals now rests with the state.

Meade said the one shot he fired to kill the 4-year-old, 350- to 400-pound male grizzly in October was "the luckiest shot of my life."

On Oct. 11, Meade was hunting elk on Togwotee Pass with his chocolate Lab, Clementine. He was camping in a camper, less than 50 yards from U.S. Highway 26/287, he said this week, two weeks after he received word his case had been ruled to be self-defense. He had declined to be interviewed last fall because of the ongoing investigation.