Grizzly Bear Defence rifle
- Thread starter nulll
- Start date
Good advice. You can buy a two-pack that includes an inert training can, if you've never deployed bear spray then it's worth the extra cost (which is less than two regular cans of spray).
Wind direction is key. You don't want to get that stuff in your face. I've got a few stories about that, including getting jumped on New Years eve in 2003 or so, hands down one of the worst experiences of my life. Far worse than when a robber tried to spray me working at Domino's Pizza... Another far more entertaining story is the time my friend somehow set off a can in a storage locker full of the group Scouting gear. After evacuating the building for a while my friend wanted to know how spicy it was so he dipped his finger in it to taste. But that's not the good part, the good part was a while later driving home he rubbed his eye with that finger! Lmfao
billbmcleod
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Back very close to Bruce County
I don't know about the other provinces but on Ontario where we don't have any grizz you would still be expected to follow the hunting regs that would limit your mag
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Might be of interest this study done for U.S. Forest Service 1983. Researchers ranked .458 Win Mag / 500gr highest. Mindful that bullet technology has improved since then.
Safety in bear country: protective measures and bullet performance at short range. https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/publica...e-measures-and-bullet-performance-short-range
Safety in bear country: protective measures and bullet performance at short range. https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/publica...e-measures-and-bullet-performance-short-range
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I have an older Marlin .45-70 but I don't generally carry it when hiking unless solo in grizzly country. When hiking through grizzly country I prefer to go with a friend or two and carry bear spray which is way lighter than a rifle.
Black bears I don't worry much about. I've managed to scare off every black bear I've ever seen by yelling and throwing rocks. Most leave way before I have to yell. If they are busy eating I just leave them alone. Predatory black bears worry me a little and in that case a .45-70 would be the ticket.
Grizzlies are a another thing entirely. I spend time every summer going up mountains in remote grizzly country. I've been ( accidentally ) very close to just one while on foot and I didn't enjoy the experience. A full grown grizzly is huge and basically if it wants you it's likely to get you. If you are going to take a shot at one be damn sure of an instant kill or a paralyzing shot because you aren't going to get a second chance. Make it mad and that grizzly will mess you up for life. For that reason I just carry spray in grizzly country and try to make smart route choices, although this can be tricky in the mountains as often they like to travel in the same terrain as we do.
Chris.
Black bears I don't worry much about. I've managed to scare off every black bear I've ever seen by yelling and throwing rocks. Most leave way before I have to yell. If they are busy eating I just leave them alone. Predatory black bears worry me a little and in that case a .45-70 would be the ticket.
Grizzlies are a another thing entirely. I spend time every summer going up mountains in remote grizzly country. I've been ( accidentally ) very close to just one while on foot and I didn't enjoy the experience. A full grown grizzly is huge and basically if it wants you it's likely to get you. If you are going to take a shot at one be damn sure of an instant kill or a paralyzing shot because you aren't going to get a second chance. Make it mad and that grizzly will mess you up for life. For that reason I just carry spray in grizzly country and try to make smart route choices, although this can be tricky in the mountains as often they like to travel in the same terrain as we do.
Chris.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
I would have #### myself so bad it would have come out through my pant legs and out through my collar.
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
The things that bears have to put up with from humans......can't even take the cubs for a walk on the beach anymore .
That guy that was pretty much guaranteed to get eaten. Amazing that he lasted that long. It does show that, for the most part, they aren't too interested in hunting you down.
A mountaineering instructor I took a course from in Alberta years ago told me an interesting story where he was helping the parks guys track down a dangerous grizzly. They followed it's tracks in a huge loop until they intersected their own trail again and found the bear tracking them. Spooky sh*t if you are out alone.
Chris.
In the spring im mildly concerned with black bear in my area (eastern Ont). rest of they year are well fed and go about their own business.
My Mossberg 500 is heavy so it would likely stay home but my Ruger PCC9 is much more comfortable to carry.
I know a 12ga slug/00 is obviously the most effective but if I have 13rds of 9mm (Glock 40 mag) is that going to be enough?
Lol ..... have you looked closer at the last couple frames ..... there are around 20 brown bears in that river fishing ...
billbmcleod
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Back very close to Bruce County
We don't have grizz in Ontario but we would still need a hunting licence and abide by the three round shotgun rule. But a charging bear might make more than three redundant! On once had a sow coming at me fast as I was between her and two cubs. I had a 30-06 and the result was sad but I made the decision at 100 yards. I wasn't waiting for a false charge.
There is usually a huge difference in attitude between a well-fed coastal bear and a mountain grizzly. Coast bears usually will tolerate more interruptions than it's mountain cousin.
