Bear spray vs Bullets

[WildRose]

Muddy. I related this on similar thread another time.We had local warden,bear cage parked on bridge so it had only one direction to go.Warden on cage lifting gate, in back of pickup.Soon as bear cleared it turned and pulled cage and warden down.On the wild ride the warden fired off his service 357 killing G bear.If i remeber they might had a photo ?

I remember that story. Rough day at work!

 

[WildRose]

They can't continue their attack if they're dead. And no more permanent solution than a dead bear.

They also eliminate the possibility of repeat offenders.

PETA endorse bear treatment is stupid. An animal that gets away with one attack on a human is most likely going to repeat it.

 

[remingtonman]

Firearms and bear spray are in 2 different categories as far as bear encounters are concerned. Hunters (firearms users) tend to be quiet, so as to not spook animals, bear spray users tend to make bears aware that they are present in order to not have confrontations. Encounters by people carrying firearms tend to be closer than those carrying bear spray, this in and of itself makes it more likely that the person carrying the firearm is likely to have serious consequences.

Twice I have had to go into heavy brush after wounded grizzlies, nobody in their right mind would think of doing this with a can of bear spray. So now I've set myself up to be in a situation where I could be added to the list against using a firearm vs. bear spray. I think the comparisons are apples (firearms) to oranges (bear spray). At least that is the way I see it.

Gus

I would be a scared to death grown man doing this. What caliber firearm did you have with you?

 

[L.Sherm]

Walk up on one in the dark, you'll need new underwear i thought I was gonna.

 

[biff's reloading]

They also eliminate the possibility of repeat offenders.

PETA endorse bear treatment is stupid. An animal that gets away with one attack on a human is most likely going to repeat it.

...usually the same day.

 

[Grizzly60]

In all of these stories, the victim had to jack a round in the chamber. When seconds count,why not have one in the pipe. That goes for 2 legged threat's and 4 legs

 

[WildRose]

In all of these stories, the victim had to jack a round in the chamber. When seconds count,why not have one in the pipe. That goes for 2 legged threat's and 4 legs

I never carry on an empty chamber. Lot's of people however are just not comfortable carrying one in the pipe, especially those new to defensive carry.

That extra half second necessary to rack one though can get you killed.

 

[Grizzly60]

That extra half second necessary to rack one though can get you killed.

Exactly.

 

[madcalfe]

when I'm sheep hunting I have one in the chamber from the moment I leave my truck to when I get back that also includes while I'm sleeping in the tent... obviously muzzle pointed downwards. never have packed bear spray

 

[Pdvdh]

Bear defense threads never die... Bear mauling victims do... Especially if they carry pepper and air horns.

Anyhow, my son and I met an avid sheep hunter in the Alaska mountain range in Alaska 4 years ago, while we were hunting Dall sheep. This hunter is more my son's age, and my son and this guy have stayed in touch off & on over the past four years. Turns out this hunter was mauled by a sow grizzly bear last September, while hunting sheep. The guy survived the mauling, and was rescued by a USCG medivac helicopter. I watched a video taken by the USCG last September, while they hoisted the mauled hunter up into their chopper. My son just received an abbreviated version of what transpired from the mauling victim. It's fitting to post that brief story in this thread now, based on recent posts by Grizzly60, WildRose, and madcalfe. If you're gonna carry a firearm for protection, it's a compromised weapon with no live round in the tube, depending on the time span between bear charge begins, until bear mauling begins. This sow started its charge from 60yds. The guy had time for only one shot. And the firing pin fell on an empty chamber!

"Oh man. I'm sorry for not getting back. Totally forgot. Congrats on the Kills this year!

I'm all good. Left hand is still not all back to normal but will be soon enough. Need to tell it over a beer or two sometime. By then it may have evolved to me killing it with my bear hands, lol.

I was sheep hunting out in the Wrangells and got between a sow and 2 cubs and had no idea till I saw her stand up about 60 yds away and come straight at me. Went for the rifle and had taken a round off top as we here hiking. Went click as she was about 10 yds away. Basically wore it and fought for my life the whole time. Good lord looked out for me that day. Don't know how I'm still here lol. Was able to crawl back to my pack and get my rifle and get 2 shots off then had to assess my situation and use my inreach to get help. Pretty crazy and a lot more details but that's the down and dirty. Ended a good hunt way too soon, haha, but all in all still a good trip.

I'll be shooting every bear I see from now on. I've got a hatred for griz now lol."

I now know, or have met at least 5 brown/grizzly bear mauling victims in Alaska. Four survived. One dead. I laugh when folks tell me I'm way more apt to die from some other cause than a bear attack, because the odds of a bear attack are one in a million. I tell them it doesn't matter the odds, if I'm the one.

Alaska only has 730,000 total population. And I know 5 that were attacked and mauled by bear. A number of other residents within 35 miles of where I live have also been mauled and/or killed. Of the minimum of 12 folk I can think of that have been mauled and/or killed, takes the odds down to one in 60,000. Since I hunt and hike every year, and supposing there's maybe 8,000 Alaskans that spend as much time afield as I do, I'd personally place my lifetime odds at less than one in 500. I've been stalked from downwind by one boar black bear, and killed it at 20 feet while it was giving me the pre-dog fight stare.

The more time you spend in bear habitat, the greater your odds of bear attack. The one in a million odds is a fairy tale, feel good fantasy. A flat out lie, where I live and hunt.

 

[Wedgy]

The more time you spend in bear habitat, the greater your odds of bear attack. The one in a million odds is a fairy tale, feel good fantasy. A flat out lie, where I live and hunt.

Totally agree.
I live in Los Angeles county and I have had two ~20 yard grizzly encounters both in Wyoming elk hunting, luckily both bluff charged, more like stomped the ground and growled and ran. If you've never been that close and actually FEEL the growl like you are in front of a subwoofer at a concert. When one of them ran thru the smaller aspens it sounded like someone was driving a car thru the forest crashing over and thru the trees. It will happen very fast.

 

[L.Sherm]

I've been stalked from downwind by one boar black

I dont trust none of them ive been charged twice by black bears.

 

[cornshank]

I dont trust none of them ive been charged twice by black bears.

I'm with you , ,I don't trust black bears either , I had one,that decided to do the ground stomp and challenge me , from 40 yds. Not a full blown charge , but it reminds you of what they might do. I fed him something and he never bothered me again.

 

[huckfin]

I don't trust bear spray, too many variables. How do you practice with it, how do you conduct a function test, which way is the wind blowing, how close is 30 feet, ect. I have been sprayed with "bear spray" actually with a spray that has a higher "heat" rating multiple times. Everytime I was tasked with an objective, everyone i completed the task, im just a 5'7" 155lb dude and it didn't stop me and I took a whole can to the face.

A side arm provides you a multi tool on the back country, you just need to train with it. I have never been shot so I can't compare the two, but I think I would take the spray over a bullet any day.