Well, I've had just one. The bear apparently decided my wife looked too tough to mess with and left, so while I was able to strike a heroic pose standing between her and the bear with the spray out, I didn't have to use it - no doubt to everybody's distinct relief. I remember thinking at the time that I would have cheerfully traded a truckload of the stuff for one elderly .30-30.
Bear defence
- Thread starter savagefan
- Start date
Well, I've had just one. The bear apparently decided my wife looked too tough to mess with and left, so while I was able to strike a heroic pose standing between her and the bear with the spray out, I didn't have to use it - no doubt to everybody's distinct relief. I remember thinking at the time that I would have cheerfully traded a truckload of the stuff for one elderly .30-30.
Pepper spray is effective...ish. There's no doubt it is an irritant that is hard to ignore and sprayed into the face of a bear within 15 yards it will definitely cause the animal pain.
In a standoff or altercation with a bear trying to decide whether your caloric value is worth the trouble it can tilt the decision in your favor. In a standoff or altercation with a bear trying to decide if you are a threat to itself or its young it can tilt the decision in favour of killing you just in case. Same goes for all the other non lethal detterents like bear bangers. They all have a little something in common with using a replica gun to deter a guy holding a knife... a big one. If I had to pick between the two I'd pack the bear bangers because I have seen bears run from the sound of a shot and I know that with a glorified firecraker the wind isn't going to make me suffer more than the bear.
If I had my pick of anything it would be the Rossi Ranch Hand in 44 mag. First shot in the air, second in the head, third in whatever you can hit from your unfortunate angle underneath a bear.
In a standoff or altercation with a bear trying to decide whether your caloric value is worth the trouble it can tilt the decision in your favor. In a standoff or altercation with a bear trying to decide if you are a threat to itself or its young it can tilt the decision in favour of killing you just in case. Same goes for all the other non lethal detterents like bear bangers. They all have a little something in common with using a replica gun to deter a guy holding a knife... a big one. If I had to pick between the two I'd pack the bear bangers because I have seen bears run from the sound of a shot and I know that with a glorified firecraker the wind isn't going to make me suffer more than the bear.
If I had my pick of anything it would be the Rossi Ranch Hand in 44 mag. First shot in the air, second in the head, third in whatever you can hit from your unfortunate angle underneath a bear.
Now that is a perfect example of why guns are so often not effective. People fantasize about completely unrealistic scenarios too much. If you believe you will have time to make three shots, you understand nothing about bear attacks. Bear spray will work way better than that plan.
If you are going to insist on carrying bear spray practice with the brand you will carry atleast once! Maybe even in less then ideal conditions so that if in real world scenario you get contaminated by the spray yourself you'll have enough sense to start getting distance between yourself and the bear instead of rolling on the ground writhing wonderring how bad it is gonna get. I've been pepper sprayed as part of my training and can say while I'm lucky enough it doesn't seem to effect my ability to function nearly as bad as it should, I've seen a lot of other people freak out and become useless after pepper spray is deployed in a confined space.
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
try them pepper balls for pintball guns even worse because they have a higher OC content (kind of like real peper spray but they also are like a paintball and hurt more)
You are completely wrong and in your fantasy.
A bear won't be the same after getting shot once, it slows down. You will have time to shoot 2nd time if necessary. Bear spray is proven to be useless, 100% useless. The most it can do is to turn off the bear for a few minutes and it will come back. Last year, a guy was killed in an American national park by a mother grizzly. I have news for you, He USED bear spay!
We do a lot of bear security (monitoring) up here for various companies and groups,all my guys carry rifles & scare pistols. We do not allow bear spray on any job sights. It is not worth risking any of our lives or of any of our clients.
stay safe
pounder
stay safe
pounder
The first thing that I thought when I read that was, "This person has never seen a bear MOVE!"
The second thought involved just how difficult it really is to effect accurate aimed fire with a Ranch Hand in ordinary situations, never mind the highly-charged atmosphere of defense.
Ted
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You're digging a bigger hole with every sentence.
Sorry, just couldn't resist. It is evident you have not shot many bears, let alone a single adrenaline-charged one.
Ted
Sorry, just couldn't resist. It is evident you have not shot many bears, let alone a single adrenaline-charged one.
Ted
I did not check the adrenaline level of this one. But it was very high for sure.
My first shot was at the gut, from one side to the other side. The bullet was recovered under the skin. I thought I had dispatched it. But when I approached it at about 10 yards, He heard my voice(I was happily calling my son to come), he stopped mourning groaning and charged at me. We were that close, but I did not panic at all. My 9.3x62 sent a 286 grain tsx into his head. The bullet passed his head, exit to throat and into the belly and out. You can see the head shot wound.
I don't care how tough a bear can be , he is NOT a tank. One shot will slow him down at least, 2nd shot will dispatch him for good. Period.
Of course, we will continue hear fairy tales of those magic bears, that is fun to hear only. 2 bullets will end any game bear. well, if one like to argue, I will add one more bullet. 3 bullets for a sure kill.
I carry bear bangers and spray many times throughout the year in the backcountry. They both have risks. Bangers can scare them towards you if used improperly, and bear spray has the risk of propellant failure.
If a firearm is too slow and inaccurate to deter an angry
bear; then annoying said angry bear by a mist making its eyes
burn like fire will work for sure
If there is no firearm
option then go for it. For those who don't shoot a couple
bears a year; they are tough and determined when they
want to be. They can and will ignore deadly wounds if
they feel strongly about something.
bear; then annoying said angry bear by a mist making its eyes
burn like fire will work for sure
If there is no firearmoption then go for it. For those who don't shoot a couple
bears a year; they are tough and determined when they
want to be. They can and will ignore deadly wounds if
they feel strongly about something.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I did not check the adrenaline level of this one. But it was very high for sure.
My first shot was at the gut, from one side to the other side. The bullet was recovered under the skin. I thought I had dispatched it. But when I approached it at about 10 yards, He heard my voice(I was happily calling my son to come), he stopped mourning groaning and charged at me. We were that close, but I did not panic at all. My 9.3x62 sent a 286 grain tsx into his head. The bullet passed his head, exit to throat and into the belly and out. You can see the head shot wound.
I don't care how tough a bear can be , he is NOT a tank. One shot will slow him down at least, 2nd shot will dispatch him for good. Period.
Of course, we will continue hear fairy tales of those magic bears, that is fun to hear only. 2 bullets will end any game bear. well, if one like to argue, I will add one more bullet. 3 bullets for a sure kill.
Nicely done, that is a nearly textbook stopping shot. Many bear hunters who find themselves in similar situations opt for a chest shot, which will seldom be effective in time, and time is not on your side. As to the first shot slowing him down, you can't count on that, particularly if the bear you've plinked is a large one. It is prudent not to make, and more importantly not to believe, generalizations about what a bear might or might not do in any given situation. They can and will surprise you.
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As usual, succinct and to the point. Every bear is different, and every encounter will be different.
To the OP, this is the author alluded to earlier, http://www.amazon.ca/encounter-survival-guide-James-Shelton/dp/096980990. His books are well worth the read. A firearm may be more effective, but if it is slung or packed (because you are carrying your bow for instance) it may be way less available than a can of spray on your belt. Both can be effective when used properly, both have pros and cons.
Nice bear, elker, and very good shot! Not sure why the first shot was in the gut, however have been around enough to know stuff like that happens. No question the second shot would do the trick. The 9.3X62 is a truly great bear cartridge! I have killed both black and grizzly bear using it....a lot of them.
There was a time when I was of the same opinion as you currently hold, but after having personally dispatched more of them than I can remember, several scores of them while guiding, working for our wildlife branch, and hunting, as well as having witnessed many others taken by hunters, friends and family, to say the first shot will always slow them down is just simply not the case.
I remember enough of them that actually became especially-animated after being hit, to make that statement without any reservation whatsoever. The fact is, many bears, with perfectly placed shots, will actually bolt off and run considerable distance, or tear up an impressive amount of real estate before dying.
As well, there are enough documented instances of mortally wounded bears dying after seriously mauling or killing people who had inflicted the wounds, that even if I had not had the experience I have, I would still be skeptical.
As Boomer and wapitiwhacker have said above, they can and will surprise you.
Having said all that, let me say again I admire your shooting skill. To anchor a charging bear with the shot you made is a feat not many are capable of when things are really happening fast!
Ted
There was a time when I was of the same opinion as you currently hold, but after having personally dispatched more of them than I can remember, several scores of them while guiding, working for our wildlife branch, and hunting, as well as having witnessed many others taken by hunters, friends and family, to say the first shot will always slow them down is just simply not the case.
I remember enough of them that actually became especially-animated after being hit, to make that statement without any reservation whatsoever. The fact is, many bears, with perfectly placed shots, will actually bolt off and run considerable distance, or tear up an impressive amount of real estate before dying.
As well, there are enough documented instances of mortally wounded bears dying after seriously mauling or killing people who had inflicted the wounds, that even if I had not had the experience I have, I would still be skeptical.
As Boomer and wapitiwhacker have said above, they can and will surprise you.
Having said all that, let me say again I admire your shooting skill. To anchor a charging bear with the shot you made is a feat not many are capable of when things are really happening fast!
Ted
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Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
The preponderance of evidence is that spray is more effective than firearms in preventing injury from bear attack.
However, for many reasons, many of us prefer firearms when given a choice. I use both, depending on whether or not having a firearm is even possible where I am, and whether or not it is feasable to have one.
One good question to ask yourself - If you were to KNOW FOR SURE that you would be attacked by a bear on the walk you are heading out on RIGHT NOW, would you grab a firearm or the bear spray? The answer to this question may bring things into focus for you.
Last fall, when I KNEW there was a very large grizzly eating my hanging moose meat, I grabbed an open sighted 9.3x62, chambered a round, and proceeded to chase off the bear (litterally yelling and chasing the bastard). Personally, I would not have done this with a can of bear spray.
However, for many reasons, many of us prefer firearms when given a choice. I use both, depending on whether or not having a firearm is even possible where I am, and whether or not it is feasable to have one.
One good question to ask yourself - If you were to KNOW FOR SURE that you would be attacked by a bear on the walk you are heading out on RIGHT NOW, would you grab a firearm or the bear spray? The answer to this question may bring things into focus for you.
Last fall, when I KNEW there was a very large grizzly eating my hanging moose meat, I grabbed an open sighted 9.3x62, chambered a round, and proceeded to chase off the bear (litterally yelling and chasing the bastard). Personally, I would not have done this with a can of bear spray.
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antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
yes someone get this guy a double rifle and a ele tag because he has the DG hunter in him really good shot elker i really hope the day never comes if i have to even try a shot like that
