Debate: Gun Vs Bear Spray

[Unholysavage]

I’m a geologist, and in a past life spent 3 summers mapping for the geological survey up in northern Sask. we had bear spray, bear bangers (pencil flares), and rifles that usually stayed in camp (where we had plenty of bear problems).
I’m likely one of the few people here who has been charged by a black bear in the bush. I had bear spray in a holster on my belt, which I practiced quick-drawing every night, and it happened so fast that I couldn’t get it out before the bear was on me.

We had no idea it was there, and were making plenty of noise, and it covered 10 yards in about a second and a half. We were on top of floaty bog, walking towards the stand of trees that the bear came out of. When it charged, I turned towards it and my right leg fell through. At the time I remember thinking I was dead as I fell onto my side, but it jumped on top of me and didn’t attack. It stood over me, it’s muzzle 6 inches from my face, and huffed. After about 10 seconds it looked up and saw my assistant, who was desperately trying to pull her bear spray out of her pack, and it turned and ran.
Had I been still standing, no question that it would have taken me down. My assistant claimed that she saw cubs, but I crawled/limped back into the swamp away as fast as I could.

Unless a bear is stalking you, giving you time to load/aim/fire, a long gun may not help you a damned bit. Bear spray in your bag won’t help you. A loaded handgun, in my hand before it charged, may have given me time to fire once or twice. But I wouldn’t have had enough time to carefully aim for vitals.
People don’t seem to understand how fast these things are.

 

[Gnome75]

Watching a documentary on the Arctic. Out and about in one of those big Snow Cats or whatever they're called. Stopped to watch a big male polar bear. It finally got too curious, stood up and started leaning on the side of the bus. Driver had enough of that, and reached out with a can of bear spray and let him have it! That bear took off like a scared rabbit! Went about 100 yards, stopped to bury his head in arms, and then have a good pout as he watched the big rig drive on.

Definitely worked on that one!

I don't doubt your story one bit. I still am not convinced bear spray will stop a pissed off and or motivated bear though.

 

[sir_springer]

And you're right about that. The polar bear was merely being curious, not aggressive. All charged up with its own adrenaline, anything is possible!

Nothing like a first hand account of been there, done that in the previous post! That's the thing that's the scariest aspect of an attack - how unbelievably fast it happens! Heard a story from one fellow, watched a black bear chase a full grown hunting dog across a field - said it was all the hound could do to stay one step ahead of the bruin!

Most have likely already seen this vid, but it shows just how fast things can go south...