Bear/woods pistol

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In the early 2000’s the forestry service reintroduced brown bears into the San Bernardino Nat’l Forest. That is where I was hunting. I confirmed this with the Nat’l Forest office in Big Bear, CA.

I’m not sure where the confusion lies here but according to Fish And Wildlife, the only bears in the San Bernardino National Forest are Black Bears.

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/SB-LC_NWR_Wildlife_2009 508 Comply.pdf
https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/SB-LC_NWR_Wildlife_2009 508 Comply.pdf
I did a Google search for Brown Bears reintroduced there and got exactly zero hits. If that had been the case I would have thought there would have been some record of it. In any event, this is off topic so apologies to the OP.
 
I’m not sure where the confusion lies here but according to Fish And Wildlife, the only bears in the San Bernardino National Forest are Black Bears.

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/SB-LC_NWR_Wildlife_2009 508 Comply.pdf
I did a Google search for Brown Bears reintroduced there and got exactly zero hits. If that had been the case I would have thought there would have been some record of it. In any event, this is off topic so apologies to the OP.

Oh, there’s no confusion in my part.
 
I know they reintroduced the black bear to San Bernardino National Forest from Yellowstone, I've never heard about Grizzly's though.
 
The 2 rangers that I reported the huge bear tracks to told me they brought in a couple of Brown Bears to possibly reintroduce them into the area. I asked if that was a good idea and they said it was above their pay grade or something along those lines. I have no idea why there isn’t anything on the internet about it.
All I know is the next couple of times I hunted there I carried one of my .357 magnums and some slugs for my shotgun. When I hunted deer I had my .270 and one of my .357s.
 
We don't have grizzlies but Black bears are common and I have seen a couple at my campground where I spend much of the summer. It is next to an Indian reservation, a national wildlife refuge, and a state forest. I haven't seen any mountain lions, but others have, have seen a wolf they are common here, charged by a Bull Moose years ago. Lots of coyotes around. My .357 would be plenty if I bothered to carry it. I am more worried about my dog tangling with something than I am for myself. My brother carries a pistol to protect his dog in that same area. I generally don't carry unless I am hunting but I often have a truck gun. I was camped in Oklahoma a few years ago and a guy told me to carry because of the hogs. If I am outside after dark I usually have something close bye or in my hand.
 
I carry a S&W 686 or a Taurus (Clone) .45 colt SA. Love them both, but S&W is a tack driver.

Only black bears around here (Shenandoah area of VA). Today, I walked up on the largest one I’ve ever seen. It ambled away without much concern of me.

7FBEB596-99DE-479E-85C6-D4D06C92D125.jpeg E16D30B7-9EA4-438D-914F-5E334A61F73F.jpeg
 
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I'm in the woods with my camera quite a bit in northeastern North Carolina. Some of the biggest Black Bears in the world are present and I've seen them here over 700 lbs. I've had two very close encounters (within 30 feet) with bears over 500 lbs. Fortunately, the bigger and fatter they are, the more well fed and laid back they seem to be. The only bears that have made me nervous are moms with cubs that can pop out in front of you on a trail with next to no notice. Otherwise, I've never had any trouble with bears. Nonetheless, I've carried a number of guns with me. But I usually carry a Glock 20 or 29 10mm loaded with Hornady 200gr HPs. Never needed to pull it, on a bear or anything else

Both these guns now have TruGlo TFX Pro sights on them now.
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