Bear country, little known 'facts"

[jon_norstog]

To the list:

I just got a letter from Idaho F&G informing me that my brother's and my new hunting area (unit 61) is infested with griz. Well, we're pretty careful anyway. But get this!

F&G advocates beaR SPRAY rather than firearms for self defense. Included in the letter was a blurb by Tom Smith, PhD, bear research biologist. He says that in 300 Alaskan bear attacks where the human defended him/herself with a firearm, there were 23 fatalities and 16 severe injures, plus 48 additional less serious injuries.

in 72 attacks where the human used bear spray for defense, there were only 2 injuries, both less than serious.

That bear spray must be som BA-A-A-D S**t!

I might give the man a call, actually. It's not the resu;t I would have expected.

jn

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[jjroth]

that on a grizzly there 5% area to hit with firearm to put it down, hit the other 95% and you see what a sense of humor they have!

I think that its a follow-up to the FS servey where the indicate a shotgun & slugs aare better for defense, but given the non-familiarity with firearms today, just trying to buck-up the eco's sense of well-being.

[MAC10]

That makes sense, for several reasons. It is way easier to score a hit with pepper spray under the extreme stress of a griz encounter, than to hit the small and fast moving vital area on a bear with a firearm. Plus, spray incapacitates instantly by causing temporary blindness, extreme pain, and trouble breathing. Getting shot probably doesn't hurt as much. There are many stories of bears keeping going for a couple of minutes with shot out hearts and other bad damage, just on adrenaline and attitude.

Most people who get jumped are, if they are armed, using scoped hunting rifles, in a bolt action. Usually only time to get one shot, and close up it is very hard to score a vital hit with such a rifle. There is some evidence the very painful and hour long experience of extreme distress at getting sprayed in the face leaves educated bears more likely to avoid humans, rather than dead or wounded ones, as well as being a better choice for self defense because it works so well. I usually carry both spray and firearm. Sometimes just the spray. I have used it on several black bears and two grizzlies. It works. I have had a faceful of it defending my bee yard, and can testify it is indeed "bad ****".

Being careful and smart is the most important thing. Surpising bears is to be avoided-you are already on the right track

[Gibbs505]

Actual sign in Bear country,

[DaveHH]

Massive thing, looked like it had an abscess on its paw to **** it off or make it hard to hunt. The day before it had been shot 6 times with a .38 by a late hiker who was killed and eaten. These shots just made it a little more ****ed. The guy who got it shot it 4 times with a 7 mag, I guess one through the head,which should do in about any large animal. The spray seems to work on these animals with large olfactory systems as whatever it would do to us is multiplied by a factor of maybe 1-100. I would much rather stake my life on good marksmanship and not a cheap chemical that may or may not work. Most people can not hit a barn, let alone a charging animal. I can. Also smacking that critter when he is out a ways makes more sense than waiting until he decides for you. The hell with any penalties associated with doing that, what's your life worth? One shot to scare him and if that doesn't do it, do him.

[gunner]

Hi Jon,
i am glad that the most dangerous bears here are these ones. But dont laugh they are very tricky. If you "kill" a few hundreds ( They always come in big groups in the evening while you watch TV ) they make holes in your teeth and rings around your hips. And no spray helps.

Regards

Gunner

[oldhound]

Massive thing, looked like it had an abscess on its paw to **** it off or make it hard to hunt. The day before it had been shot 6 times with a .38 by a late hiker who was killed and eaten. These shots just made it a little more ****ed. The guy who got it shot it 4 times with a 7 mag, I guess one through the head,which should do in about any large animal. The spray seems to work on these animals with large olfactory systems as whatever it would do to us is multiplied by a factor of maybe 1-100. I would much rather stake my life on good marksmanship and not a cheap chemical that may or may not work. Most people can not hit a barn, let alone a charging animal. I can. Also smacking that critter when he is out a ways makes more sense than waiting until he decides for you. The hell with any penalties associated with doing that, what's your life worth? One shot to scare him and if that doesn't do it, do him.

Well I'm with you on that. Feel's kind of naked in bear country without a rifle.

[jon_norstog]

Well, guys!

I think i'll go with the bear spray. As IF&G pointed out, the legal implications of killing a bear even in self defense are enough to make you wish you had just been et.

My wife is in town and wants me to take her and our nephew to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I might pick up some spray along the way.

jn

[Bill Hollinger]

Get the 10% Sabre brand fogger. The streamer isn't as effective. The fogger is alcohol based and the streamer water based.

[jon_norstog]

Well, I ran out of 4350 so had to stop at Doc's in Pocatello after work. They had two brands of Bear Spray. I got the UDAP pepper power. It doesn't say whether it is alcohol or water based, but it does say it will spray 30 feet. It came with a holster and a picture of a bear, nice touch, I can check the photo to make sure of my target before I spray. Let's see, which pocket is it in .. damn, I had it just a minute ago!

It was $34.95.

I can think of some non-bear situations where it might come in handy - could have used it this weekend in fact, right in town.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, guys.

jn