12 gauge beanbag rounds for problem bears?

H Wally

H Wally

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Long story short, our community has intermittant issues with problem bears. Usually 2 year olds that have tasted garbage and started hanging around and causing problems. We're remote and dispersed enough that bears can spend all day in the community without being easily seen, and have city people living up there in the summer who dump their trash and leave their coolers out. Recently we had to have an absolutely beautiful black bear shot because he was tearing shed doors off looking for garbage. It's a crying shame to have had it happen, and it's the second year in a row. All because of people not cleaning up their garbage. One group learns and another screws it up.


SO

1) Is it legal to use beanbags to drive off a bear that is destroying property and endangering people? Bear scares did absolutely nothing after the first few times.
2) Are they effective on bears? There are enough people with shooting experience and spare time that they could lay a very effective beating onto it with beanbags to make his life miserable any time he came into the community.
3) Are beanbags rds available in canada?
4) Where?
 
Properly applied bean bags can be very effective. Aversion training can work with bears if you start their training before they get into enough goodies to decide that no amount of discomfort will stop them! Basic rules are start early and don't send a boy to do a man's job. Going around and slapping all the idiots leaving garbage out wouldn't hurt either. :D Spend a bit of time here: http://www.beardogs.org/ and get a feel for her program. You can buy bean bags in Canada too, but I can't find the address now- others will chime in with it I'm sure.

You aren't in Vic anymore, what part of the world?
 
RobSmith said:
I'd call MNR first, harassing wildlife and all of that.
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Exactly - that's what I was concerned about. Then again, bearbangers are for harassing wildlife too. The CO is supposed to be hanging around more often so I'm hoping to ask him if I run into him.


jaydog said:
Properly applied bean bags can be very effective. Aversion training can work with bears if you start their training before they get into enough goodies to decide that no amount of discomfort will stop them! Basic rules are start early and don't send a boy to do a man's job. Going around and slapping all the idiots leaving garbage out wouldn't hurt either. :D Spend a bit of time here: http://www.beardogs.org/ and get a feel for her program. You can buy bean bags in Canada too, but I can't find the address now- others will chime in with it I'm sure.

You aren't in Vic anymore, what part of the world?
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North of Pemberton. I'm all over the place, but that's where the problems are.

We've been dealing with the idiots who leave garbage out, but it never fails that a guest or a new owner will do it once, and that's all it takes to draw a bear in. It's being considered if posting pictures of the dead bears on the community bulletin boards and front access would be a good way of shocking some reality into people. Something along the lines of "This is what happens when you leave a cooler on your back porch"

There are a few people up there that hunt big game including bears that would probably be capable of doing the job properly and safely. It's just a matter of sorting out the legalities and sourcing the ammo if it is legal. The problems tend to crop up beginning of summer until early fall, since that's when most city people are there. As soon as the food sources are gone, so are the bears. It's not a situation where we're occupying similar territory, as there are loads of berry fields and food sources outside the community, and no other people living within 10km or more in any direction of the community. The issue is getting people to stop leaving trash out and then forming early negative associations with people for any bears that still end up in the community.

I would honestly rather pay out of pocket to drive these bears off rather than see them being killed because of others' stupidity.
 
At work, we are required to carry a "bear deterrent" round in the chamber, followed by lethal rounds, usually slugs.

If your going to use bean bags, just be prepaired to respond to one pissed off bear... Almost all will run away, it's the other one that doesn't, that might become a problem.

Cheers
Jay
 
Good comment Jay about the pissed off bear if they'll be using a single shot.

I'll be watching this thread for a supplier or load info. They could be usefull in a pump for a deterrent and grouse load.
 
Margo Supplies in High River, AB carries what you are looking for:

http://margosupplies.com/public/canadian1/bear_dets.htm


Harassing bears, even blacks, before they become habituated has proven to be very successful and is a common practice in many places including Nation and Provincial Parks. Unfortunately, a habituated black bear almost always comes back regardless of how much harassment/discomfort/pain is caused. They are stubborn and tenacious...

Once a black has become habituated, even relocation is not usually effective and the animal usually ends up having to be destroyed.
 
I suggest a bean bag round for the ones causing the problems then they will understand that the locals are serious about not wanting to kill these so called problem bears!

Seriously though, H Wally I think I can feel your concern cause I too do not like to see these cool animals destroyed because of someones sloppiness or just being lazy.Because after all " A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear " and nobody steps up at takes responsibility for their actions.

You might get some support from the local C/O off the record, but I am sure they will want to know more about the animal involved.They have to keep records on the actions of the animal that is alleged to be causing those problems,before they take action to destroy the animal if it is deemed "A Problem Bear"

I have witness a gas jockey in North Van who was feeding a bear outside the store and boy was I pissed...called the cops and referred to the C/O's who dealt with it.... So I too have a vested interest in the safety of the public and for the bear itself.
Good Luck,
Rob
 
So you can't use single projectile centerfire, what about rimfire?
In Sask, rimfire is really common for prarie chickens.
 
Why not fireworks? My one bear encounter with one in a campsite, where it did not go away by yelling at it, was best solved by throwing a screcheroo near it.

Probably cheaper per use than a bean bag round.
 
pie1 said:
Why not fireworks? My one bear encounter with one in a campsite, where it did not go away by yelling at it, was best solved by throwing a screcheroo near it.

Probably cheaper per use than a bean bag round.
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That may work with wild bears, but bears that get used to being around humans are often not easily scared by noise. You need to cause them physical discomfort to deter them, especially if they have had success in the past finding food where the humans are...
 
krausb said:
That may work with wild bears, but bears that get used to being around humans are often not easily scared by noise. You need to cause them physical discomfort to deter them, especially if they have had success in the past finding food where the humans are...
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Have you listened to a schrecheroo? I think it counts as physical discomfort :D

But in all seriousness I agree :p
 
H Wally said:
North of Pemberton. I'm all over the place, but that's where the problems are.
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Devine, right? I can't remember:p

Go ahead and blast them with bean bags or rubber bullets, the COs likely are not going to consider it harassment any more than throwing a rock at them.

I've actually thought about prying open some trap loads and filling the wad with some hot glue or silicone to make cheap "rubber" slugs
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Jay said:
At work, we are required to carry a "bear deterrent" round in the chamber, followed by lethal rounds, usually slugs.

If your going to use bean bags, just be prepaired to respond to one pissed off bear... Almost all will run away, it's the other one that doesn't, that might become a problem.

Cheers
Jay
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Definitely. Just because you're screwing with a bear and non-lethal rounds, ideally you would have two people with two different guns. At worst, just carry two different guns. I would say keep some slugs or buck in a pump gun after the beanbags, but if you screwed it up you would end up wounding or killing the very animal you're trying to save. Far easier to just have a second gun/shooter.


krausb said:
Margo Supplies in High River, AB carries what you are looking for:

http://margosupplies.com/public/canadian1/bear_dets.htm


Harassing bears, even blacks, before they become habituated has proven to be very successful and is a common practice in many places including Nation and Provincial Parks. Unfortunately, a habituated black bear almost always comes back regardless of how much harassment/discomfort/pain is caused. They are stubborn and tenacious...

Once a black has become habituated, even relocation is not usually effective and the animal usually ends up having to be destroyed.
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Thanks! Knew that someone sold them out there.

krausb said:
That may work with wild bears, but bears that get used to being around humans are often not easily scared by noise. You need to cause them physical discomfort to deter them, especially if they have had success in the past finding food where the humans are...
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Yahh - the problem bears we have stop running after the first one or two shots with bear bangers.


Gatehouse said:
Devine, right? I can't remember:p

Go ahead and blast them with bean bags or rubber bullets, the COs likely are not going to consider it harassment any more than throwing a rock at them.

I've actually thought about prying open some trap loads and filling the wad with some hot glue or silicone to make cheap "rubber" slugs
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Actually we're very close to you :p

I kindof think the same as you in respect to the CO's, but it's always better to check.

I guess you would put a sabot around the home made rd to keep it from gumming up the barrel or disintegrating? I guess it would need to be tested to make sure it doesn't penetrate or act in some unforseen way. If so, might be a good cost effective bear deterrent.
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