CBSN DenverWatch Now
A grizzly bear waits to be fed at The Wild Animal Sanctuary on October 20, 2011 in Keenesburg, Colorado. The non-profit sanctuary is a 720-acre refuge for large carnivores that have been confiscated from illegal or abusive situations and is currently home to over 290 lions, tigers, bears, wolves and other large carnivores. It is the oldest and largest carnivore sanctuary in the United States, having been in operation since 1980. On Tuesday the owner of a Zanesville, Ohio private animal reserve set loose 56 animals, of which 49 were hunted down and killed by law enforcement and six others were tranquilized and are being treated at the Columbus Zoo. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)Grizzly bear (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

CHOTEAU, Mont. (CBS4) – A man hunting in Montana was able to fend off a bear using a tip given to him by his grandmother.

Chase Dellwo, 26, was bow hunting with his brother near Choteau, Montana Saturday morning when he stumbled onto a sleeping grizzly bear, the Great Falls Tribune reports.

READ MORE: Hazy Skies Over Downtown Denver Could Become A Regular Thing During The Summer

The bear was spooked, and charged Dellwo, knocking him off his feet. It bit down on his head, roared “the loudest roar I have ever heard,” Dellwo said, and paused. Dellwo managed to sit up before the bear came back and bit his right leg.

When the bear came back again, Dellwo said he recalled a tip from his grandmother.

“I remembered an article that my grandmother gave me a long time ago that said large animals have bad gag reflexes. So I shoved my right arm down his throat,” Dellwo said.

READ MORE: Denver Venue Requires Proof Of COVID Vaccine, Negative COVID Test For Some Shows

It worked. He walked out, bloodied and disoriented, to find his brother and head to the hospital.

Dellwo suffered a head injury, a swollen left eye, and deep puncture wounds on his right leg. He has several hundred stitches and staples.

“I want everyone to know that it wasn’t the bear’s fault, he was as scared as I was,” said Dellwo.

MORE NEWS: Denver Public Safety Manager Murphy Robinson Accuses City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca's Chief Of Staff Of Discriminating Against A White Staff Member

Dellwo was not carrying bear spray, and said the windy and rainy conditions likely caused him and the bear to be so surprised. His suggestion for others: carry bear spray.