Bear defense gun?

OP, you've awakened a beast with this topic.

You seem to have the right idea with a ranch hand, but no need to holster a ranch hand AND carry another rifle. If I were you I would just bring the 870 you already have and if you really want/need to have hands free get a sling for it.

Unless you are constantly moving camp its really not worth it to buy a gun just for this one trip.
 
I assume that you are not hunting bear and that bear are out of season when you go on this trip of yours so know this, carrying a fire arm designed and loaded to kill a bear without a license and out of season will result in you and your buddies being treated as poachers. As a poacher you stand to lose everything that you brought with you on 'the hunt' including cars, trucks, boats, gear...everything. I can also tell you that standing in the middle of a forest with a loaded gun arguing with an MNR officer about how you are not a poacher is not how you want to end a camping trip. MNR officers have absolutely no sense of humour when it comes to this sort of stuff and the courts will back them up all the way. Even if you do go to court and win it will probably be years and $$$ before you and your buddies get any of that stuff back, if at all.

If you must carry something than how about one of those really friggen' loud portable boat horns. 2 or 3 of those going off with scare the crap out of just about anything.
 
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A FLARE GUN...................there is so much wrong with this suggestion I won't even get started..........SHEEEEESSSHHHH !!!

No, I'm not an idiot, the gentleman ^^^ has amended his previous post after reading my response.
 
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saxsaxsax said:
Hi all,

Recently thinking about going camping and hunting with a couple of friends of mine. Then we were talking about what to bring for bear (or against any large animals that's potentially life threatening)

so I was looking at the Mare's leg ranch hand with a 12inch barrel which could be used almost as a side arm with a holster, freeing up my hands to do other stuff like carrying a bolt action rifle or something else....

The other option I guess is to get a 12.5" grizzly shotgun barrel and put it on my R 870 and use that instead...but I feel like that's something I would have to carry with my hands all of the time...

can anyone with experience recommend something from their experience?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

We have big grizzles here all awake and wandering anywhere they want now. I'm in the bush a lot and have never had A run in with on or one of it's black cousins (yet) but it always crosses my mind and keeps me aware. My thought is that something like that will happen just when you think it can't or won't . "My" personal solution... A Marlin 1895SBL in 45-70 with 5 rounds, a red dot site and a safari sling...to keep my hands free! :)
 
Just because you have a rifle the MNR in the Muskoka’s are not going to treat you like a poacher. Act like your hunting with the firearm and they will. If you just target shooting or its hanging around the camp or cottage they aren’t going to do a thing.
Flare gun, I missed that, please don’t shoot a flare gun in the bush at a bear. This is almost a sure way to cause a forest fire.

Boulevard said:
I assume that you are not hunting bear and that bear are out of season when you go on this trip of yours so know this, carrying a fire arm designed and loaded to kill a bear without a license and out of season will result in you and your buddies being treated as poachers. As a poacher you stand to lose everything that you brought with you on 'the hunt' including cars, trucks, boats, gear...everything. I can also tell you that standing in the middle of a forest with a loaded gun arguing with an MNR officer about how you are not a poacher is not how you want to end a camping trip. MNR officers have absolutely no sense of humour when it comes to this sort of stuff and the courts will back them up all the way. Even if you do go to court and win it will probably be years and $$$ before you and your buddies get any of that stuff back, if at all.

If you must carry something than how about one of those really friggen' loud portable boat horns. 2 or 3 of those going off with scare the crap out of just about anything.
Click to expand...

c-fbmi said:
A FLARE GUN...................there is so much wrong with this suggestion I won't even get started..........SHEEEEESSSHHHH !!!

No, I'm not an idiot, the gentleman ^^^ has amended his previous post after reading my response.
Click to expand...
 
Bear defense ....bear spray . If you are too macho for that , use a 45-70 with HSM bear loads ..
 
Boulevard said:
I assume that you are not hunting bear and that bear are out of season when you go on this trip of yours so know this, carrying a fire arm designed and loaded to kill a bear without a license and out of season will result in you and your buddies being treated as poachers. As a poacher you stand to lose everything that you brought with you on 'the hunt' including cars, trucks, boats, gear...everything. I can also tell you that standing in the middle of a forest with a loaded gun arguing with an MNR officer about how you are not a poacher is not how you want to end a camping trip. MNR officers have absolutely no sense of humour when it comes to this sort of stuff and the courts will back them up all the way. Even if you do go to court and win it will probably be years and $$$ before you and your buddies get any of that stuff back, if at all.

If you must carry something than how about one of those really friggen' loud portable boat horns. 2 or 3 of those going off with scare the crap out of just about anything.
Click to expand...

South of the French and Mattawa Rivers all you need is a small game licence to carry firearms legally. Some regions have stupid calibre restrictions (.275 max), but those areas tend to be in the southern portion of the province and are short on bears.

Pines said:
Bear defense ....bear spray . If you are too macho for that , use a 45-70 with HSM bear loads ..
Click to expand...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...experiences-had-an-interesting-one-last-night
 
saxsaxsax said:
Hi all,

Recently thinking about going camping and hunting with a couple of friends of mine. Then we were talking about what to bring for bear (or against any large animals that's potentially life threatening)

so I was looking at the Mare's leg ranch hand with a 12inch barrel which could be used almost as a side arm with a holster, freeing up my hands to do other stuff like carrying a bolt action rifle or something else....

The other option I guess is to get a 12.5" grizzly shotgun barrel and put it on my R 870 and use that instead...but I feel like that's something I would have to carry with my hands all of the time...

can anyone with experience recommend something from their experience?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

In Ontario, any 100% reliable non-restricted firearm 30-30 power or better with which you are completely familiar and comfortable and accurate to shoot with.
 
saxsaxsax said:
Hi all,

Recently thinking about going camping and hunting with a couple of friends of mine. Then we were talking about what to bring for bear (or against any large animals that's potentially life threatening)

so I was looking at the Mare's leg ranch hand with a 12inch barrel which could be used almost as a side arm with a holster, freeing up my hands to do other stuff like carrying a bolt action rifle or something else....

The other option I guess is to get a 12.5" grizzly shotgun barrel and put it on my R 870 and use that instead...but I feel like that's something I would have to carry with my hands all of the time...

can anyone with experience recommend something from their experience?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have hunted, packed, guided and cowboyed in G bear country for most of my late teen/adult life. If you want something specificly for bear 'defence' forget the shotguns and pistol cartridges. Get a guide gun in 45-70 or 450 Marlin load her up with good 400+ grain cast bullets and practise shooting off handed at 50 yards and under. No matter how 'ready' you think you are for a bear charge you wont be if it ever happens. Do your best to stay calm aim for the nose( you have the best chance of the bullet breaking the spine at the base of the skull) and keep shooting till it doesn't move any more then go change your drawers. That being said the odds of a random bear attack are very small so go out and have fun.
 
LilJoe43211 said:
I have hunted, packed, guided and cowboyed in G bear country for most of my late teen/adult life. If you want something specificly for bear 'defence' forget the shotguns and pistol cartridges. Get a guide gun in 45-70 or 450 Marlin load her up with good 400+ grain cast bullets and practise shooting off handed at 50 yards and under. No matter how 'ready' you think you are for a bear charge you wont be if it ever happens. Do your best to stay calm aim for the nose( you have the best chance of the bullet breaking the spine at the base of the skull) and keep shooting till it doesn't move any more then go change your drawers. That being said the odds of a random bear attack are very small so go out and have fun.
Click to expand...

Well put & the aiming point is the same as recommended by folks like Elmer Keith...it works.
For my own use I prefer the smooth bore .73 cal. repeater (12 ga.) loaded with 525 gr. hard cast slugs from a Lyman mold and pushed out at 1300 fps. In my Winnie 1400, these slugs will print inside 3" at 50 yds.

I use the smooth bore because it's so adaptable for either big game or small within range limits and with the fully adjustable ghost ring rear sight and tritium front, she's easy to dial in. Light, fast on target & hard hitting.
View attachment 12449
 
Well - Its a known fact that Central Ontario bears are particularly fond of campers from large urban centres, such as the "big smoke". Most interesting is their ability to recognize Birkenstock sandals, late model SUV's, and Mountain Equipment Co-op camping gear. Knowing that the more savvy folks from Toronto will arm themselves, and are crack shots, the bears have taken to disguising themselves as large dogs of expensive and desirable breed.
With this last turn of events, the enterprising urban camper is faced with two choices:

1) Camp in Toronto, in places like the Don Valley, or Allen Gardens.
2) Disguise themselves as rural hodads, c/w rusted pickup truck, overalls, and 5 Star whisky.
 
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