By Don Haney

FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – Jeb Williams, North Dakota Game & Fish Wildlife Chief, says the pheasant hunter who shot and killed a mountain lion that charged him Thursday is something “out of the box” in this part of the country.

Gary Gorney of Minot was hunting in the Custer Mine area near Garrison in the western part of the state when his bird dog pointed out what he thought was a pheasant only to be surprised when a mountain lion came from tall grass and charged him.

Gorney says he reached for his 9 millimeter pistol underneath his jacket and shot the lion that weighed more than 100 pounds.

Williams says Gorney notified Game & Fish about the kill and he says the department will be “checking in” the mountain lion and the carcass will be examined for research purposes.