An out-of-state hunter was charged by a grizzly bear last week and shot it at only 15 paces away.

State and federal officials won't release many details on the incident, saying it's still under investigation.

However, Tom Flowers, a game warden with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, did provide a brief outline of what had happened.

Flowers said that the hunter was with a guide in the Scapegoat Wilderness, near Halfmoon Creek west of Augusta, when the hunter was charged by an adult male grizzly.

"The hunter shot the bear at 15 paces with a .300 Weatherby magnum rifle," Flowers said.

He declined to comment further, saying that the case was turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which investigates the deaths of all grizzly bears.

The bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Special Agent Rick Branzell with USFWS also refused to elaborate.

"It's still under investigation," he said.

Reporter Eve Byron can be reached at 447-4076 or by e-mail at helenair.com">eve.byron@helenair.com