bear defense ammo

Alright, this finally appears to have degenerated from fair points to the same old fear stuff again that could result in no grizzly hunting seasons for BC, and dead bears for dubious reasons. On the order 99.99% of the time a grizzly couldn't give two turds about your family, especially if you're in a camper, they may want your food and garbage however, spray is ideal for the vast majority of troublesome bears. Shoot a grizzly for putting a paw on your camper and get ready for court and a lot of fun you would soon regret, a bear also doesn't deserve lead for that, you're in HIS home. A shot of spray and away he goes, lesson learned. Guns have their place but it's a lot less frequent than many on the internet feel is appropriate.

Predatory bears, you'd be lucky to see that behaviour once in your lifetime with your exposure level recreationally using the bush, and I wouldn't net on it. Shot of spray does the same thing here on changing the bear's mind. Cubs defence situations? You're pretty well hooped spray or gun, and a shot and wounded grizzly will intensify its attack, fight or flight- they choose a good deal of fight.

well lets try to prevent deterioration. the comment of mine you quoted was 100% accurate. please dont infer beleifs of mine that i have not expressed.
 
Alright, this finally appears to have degenerated from fair points to the same old fear stuff again that could result in no grizzly hunting seasons for BC, and dead bears for dubious reasons. On the order 99.99% of the time a grizzly couldn't give two turds about your family, especially if you're in a camper, they may want your food and garbage however, spray is ideal for the vast majority of troublesome bears. Shoot a grizzly for putting a paw on your camper and get ready for court and a lot of fun you would soon regret, a bear also doesn't deserve lead for that, you're in HIS home. A shot of spray and away he goes, lesson learned. Guns have their place but it's a lot less frequent than many on the internet feel is appropriate.

Predatory bears, you'd be lucky to see that behaviour once in your lifetime with your exposure level recreationally using the bush, and I wouldn't net on it. Shot of spray does the same thing here on changing the bear's mind. Cubs defence situations? You're pretty well hooped spray or gun, and a shot and wounded grizzly will intensify its attack, fight or flight- they choose a good deal of fight.

Thank you for attempting to bring some truth and reason to this thread, sir.
 
Thank you for attempting to bring some truth and reason to this thread, sir.

actually, this thread is about whats ideal bear defense ammo, and in the original post, i specifically tried to discourage stuff like this.

im not asking how unlikely this need would be.
im not asking how ####ty the legal fallout would be.
im not asking opinions on when people think bears deserve to be killed.

ardents response offered lots of negativity, but not a single recommendation on bear defense ammo.

he offered a suggestion for bear deterrence ammo (spray), which is great.

but this is a bear defense ammo thread.
 
Thank you for attempting to bring some truth and reason to this thread, sir.

It is probably true that Ardent's views are correct, however, I would like this thread to continue in an exploratory manner so that
we can all get at the whole story and be convinced about the facts rather than having this thread locked.:wave:
 
I think that if a bear was charging me.
from a distance that affords me perhaps a second or 2 a number 7 1/2 birdshot for a 12 ga ...should blind the bear.
and mess up its sence of smell.
second round ....buckshot or slug

If there was time

Now no question theres gonna be pi$$ ed off bear
that I hope cant find me
 
sorry for gettin this party started then duckin out for the weekend.

so i read that a rifle always beats a shotgun. obviously a 45-70 beats a .410, but id guess a 10ga slug beats a .22lr, so....

concensus has been that a .303brit beats a 3" 12ga slug, but does a 7.62X39 beat a 3" 12ga slug?

this thread has made me less likely to choose spray, as some of concerns with spray seem shared by others.

I wouldn't go that far with rifle vs shotgun. A reasonably powerful rifle beats a shotgun, but it's not like shotguns are useless. More than one Bella Coola grizzly guide has carried a pump shotgun stoked with slugs as his primary defense/back up gun. I'd definitely take a 12g loaded with Brennekes over 7.62x39

I wouldn't completely discount spray, it's a good tool. Although I don't carry it anymore, it still is a viable option most of the time.
 
I think that if a bear was charging me.
from a distance that affords me perhaps a second or 2 a number 7 1/2 birdshot for a 12 ga ...should blind the bear.
and mess up its sence of smell.
second round ....buckshot or slug

If there was time

Now no question theres gonna be pi$$ ed off bear
that I hope cant find me

If you are going to shoot a bear to blind it, you may as well shoot to kill. Leave the 7.5 shot at home and whack it with a slug.
 
To avoid the potential for a bear attack.
on saterday my boy and I put his whole cow elk (in one piece)
Into the back of my 91 four runner instead of going home for the truck (1 1/2 hour minumum round trip)

I like this! Finding ways to avoid or reduce potential for bear encounters and conflicts should be an important feature of this thread.:d
 
actually, this thread is about whats ideal bear defense ammo, and in the original post, i specifically tried to discourage stuff like this.

im not asking how unlikely this need would be.
im not asking how ####ty the legal fallout would be.
im not asking opinions on when people think bears deserve to be killed.

ardents response offered lots of negativity, but not a single recommendation on bear defense ammo.

he offered a suggestion for bear deterrence ammo (spray), which is great.

but this is a bear defense ammo thread.

Then you should understand any adequate rifle is the best choice between a rifle and a shotgun. Any rifle and load suitable for deer is "adequate".

Spray is the defense (not just deterrence) that has the best odds of working, for most people, in most circumstances, with the most safety for people.

Bears do not deserve to be killed unless they are chewing on someone. If it is out of range of your spray can it is not yet a real danger, and randomly spraying the can into the air while it "waits out of range" until your can runs dry would be pretty stupid. No other word for it.

What else do you need to know?
 
I think that if a bear was charging me.
from a distance that affords me perhaps a second or 2 a number 7 1/2 birdshot for a 12 ga ...should blind the bear.
and mess up its sence of smell.
second round ....buckshot or slug

If there was time

Now no question theres gonna be pi$$ ed off bear
that I hope cant find me

Yeah, that's a good idea. First shot should always wound and anger the bear. THEN you can think about actually killing it. :rolleyes:
 
Then you should understand any adequate rifle is the best choice between a rifle and a shotgun. Any rifle and load suitable for deer is "adequate".

Spray is the defense (not just deterrence) that has the best odds of working, for most people, in most circumstances, with the most safety for people.

Bears do not deserve to be killed unless they are chewing on someone. If it is out of range of your spray can it is not yet a real danger, and randomly spraying the can into the air while it "waits out of range" until your can runs dry would be pretty stupid. No other word for it.

What else do you need to know?

In remote camps if they get food from you or are about to destroy something important to your survival like your communication gear, aircraft, shelter etc. they need to be killed.
 
In remote camps if they get food from you or are about to destroy something important to your survival like your communication gear, aircraft, shelter etc. they need to be killed.

Yes, unfortunately, if a bear is behaving in a way that shows no fear of humans but rather an inclination view them as a source of food, it is better all around to kill it when you come across it. Or is that a horrible way to look at the situation? Keeping in mind that I am used to bears turning and running from me or somehow not noticing me.
 
Ever been punched in the nose ?
I have and my eyes watered so bad I couldent see.
a bear has a way more sensitive nose.
and 12 ga is a hard wack.












Yeah, that's a good idea. First shot should always wound and anger the bear. THEN you can think about actually killing it. :rolleyes:

My thinking is ...while dropping a load in my pants.
I am likely not gonna be the greatest shot...
Aww heck..
I dont pack a 12 when in the bush anyhow lol.


But we did actualy talk about this topic while hunting this year.
many many grizz tracks all over my hunting aria.

Unlike anything I have seen before.


And for that very reason...we did put that cow elk in the back
 
In remote camps if they get food from you or are about to destroy something important to your survival like your communication gear, aircraft, shelter etc. they need to be killed.

Yes, that's true, of course. My generalization is an attempt to stop the idea that the fact you see a bear - sometimes fairly close - means you are in mortal danger and need to shoot it. Bears going about their bear business should just be left alone. Bears that see humans as sources of food (either personally, or in our stuff) are a real threat that cannot be removed without the bear's death in most cases. Many bears die due to that fact. But I have seen many bears that were "just passing through", and our paths happen to have crossed. We all just went our way without incident.

Unless it is chewing on someone or something important, it doesn't need to be shot. How's that for an amendment? ;)
 
Skneub, If I decide to shoot a gun at something, it is always because I have decided that circumstances are such that I have to kill it. That's what guns are for. I never intentionally wound something.
 
Nice solution Skneub! Many more grizzly bear tracks than you have seen in that area before? Was there a weather situation that made the berry
crop small this year so that the bears are moving around searching for food?:wave:
 
actually, this thread is about whats ideal bear defense ammo, and in the original post, i specifically tried to discourage stuff like this.

im not asking how unlikely this need would be.
im not asking how ####ty the legal fallout would be.
im not asking opinions on when people think bears deserve to be killed.

ardents response offered lots of negativity, but not a single recommendation on bear defense ammo.

he offered a suggestion for bear deterrence ammo (spray), which is great.

but this is a bear defense ammo thread.

What ardent was trying to tell you is that the situation you mapped out of a bear "defence" is not defence at all .... No bear is going to break into your camper in some Jaws like manner to eat your family.... The he bear in that situation would be nosing around your camper due to smell of food.... Some loud noises and such would be your best "defence" in that situation....

A much better way to protect your family would be to keep your food in sealed containers, keep your garbage tied up and elevated in a tree away from camp..... An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of "cure".....

It's great to talk bear defence and all, but if you want to talk best for task ammo, you must also be situationally minded, or the discussion means nothing......
 
Skneub, If I decide to shoot a gun at something, it is always because I have decided that circumstances are such that I have to kill it. That's what guns are for. I never intentionally wound something.

Yes , I cant argue against what you say there.
but I will say that if I feared for my life i wouldent care so much about its suffering and would only care about my well being


Nice solution Skneub! Many more grizzly bear tracks than you have seen in that area before? Was there a weather situation that made the berry
crop small this year so that the bears are moving around searching for food?:wave:

There seemed to be plentiful cranberry crop this year.
most of the bear crap was red.

It was very dry.
the last couple winters were deep snow early.
 
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actually, this thread is about whats ideal bear defense ammo, and in the original post, i specifically tried to discourage stuff like this.

im not asking how unlikely this need would be.
im not asking how ####ty the legal fallout would be.
im not asking opinions on when people think bears deserve to be killed.

ardents response offered lots of negativity, but not a single recommendation on bear defense ammo.

he offered a suggestion for bear deterrence ammo (spray), which is great.

but this is a bear defense ammo thread.

Yep, my answers for you were on page 1 and 2, I was the first to suggest your rifle to you.

On the rest I agree, until they spiral towards the same old encouraging guns first and foremost to those just dropping in and reading the last page. It definitely started to arrive there. Overall catch your point and your aim isn't the bigger picture, but one aspect of it which I believe is well answered by now- I'll refrain from getting in its way.
 
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