Bear protection

[ryan in maine]

I'm not a hunter, but that wouldn't stop me from buying this to take. Maybe even this since it gives you 9 shots of 45/70. Kind of big though.

If you'll be working out of your Jeep frequently I don't see any reason to be lacking a good rifle, right?

Do you think you could rig a rifle to your pack in a similar fashion to the tripod? Maybe lashed to the side of your strong hand. If you could manage that you might be able to get away with carrying a small .44 rifle/revolver combination. This would give you 10 shots of .44 in a 6 pound rifle.

Disclaimer #1: I'm just using Marlin as an example. Obviously you could give your business to whatever company you prefer to.

Disclaimer #2: I'm not Alaska-tested.

You might even want to look into getting a new pack with more lashability. I'm partial to Maxpedition. Here are links to their Falcon 2 backpack, or for something a bit larger, their Vulture 2 backpack. They're about as modular as it gets.

Disclaimer #3: I'm new here and new to firearms, so don't go by what I say without counter-acting with the appropriate proportion of your own good sense.

I am however, a well-seasoned hiker.

These are just some idea's. I hope you find a good solution.

 

[84B20]

ryan in maine,

I mentioned in a previous post that I will be taking my 870 with me, but for times I may be away from the vehicle I wanted some immediate protection. That's why I chose the Ruger.

As for your suggestion about the pack, I don't think I could come up with a better one than I already have. See the photo below:



It is designed for large format photo equipment and carries all that I need. Adding a long gun to it would make it very difficult to hike, maneuver and draw a weapon in time. The Ruger at my chest, I feel would give me a better chance.

Incidentally, they aren't shown, but there are more than enough lashes on the pack to tie anything I would need plus two long outside pouches as well.

 

[TallPine]

Be sure to take plenty of mosquito repellent, too ...

 

[ryan in maine]

Wow! Now that is a set-up! I'm also new to photography and I've started out with an Olympus C-8080. The equipment you have there looks very impressive to me. What pack is that, by the way? I've heard of packs catered to photographers but that's the first time I've really seen one in action.

Sorry I did not read the post regarding your shotgun before-hand. I will read more thoroughly in the future.

It's highly a personal decision then. Personally, I wouldn't want to rely on a handgun here in Maine, and we don't have anything with grizzlies' attributes. I would not feel comfortable with my chances of putting 5-7 well-placed shots into a grizzly (or even one of the gigantic moose around here) in rapid succession if it were charging me. 1 shot, sure. 2 shots, maybe. 3 shots is probly beyond my ability (but who knows when your adrenaline is flooding you). I would like to have that shotgun there with me though. You could find some set-up to lash it to the side of your pack and you could starting practicing drawing it next weekend. I would rather be uncomfortable and feel over-loaded by slinging a long-gun over my shoulder for awhile than be armed with only a revolver.

You wouldn't leave your camera behind to save weight, right (that's your job)? To me, it's even more illogical to leave behind the long-gun to save weight (that's your life).

It's about as personal of a decision that you could make, in my opinion. If you have your .44 on your chest and a grizzly attacks you, then it will be worth its weight in diamond. But, like I've heard many folks here on THR say, in so many words, "your revolver is there to help get you back to your long-gun".

I think if I were in your position, I'd consider the size of my perimeter. If I'm going out more than 100 feet from the Jeep, I would lash the long-gun to my pack.

Am I making any sense? I feel like I'm not making a very good point since I'm new to firearms and I haven't spent any time in Alaska.

I'm not gonna give up on the long-gun being in your immediate control though. A slug just seems like it's way more qualified for the job. And of course, a rifle even more qualified. I've just never understood the concept of avoiding taking a long-gun in favor of a handgun. I doubt I ever will.

Edit: I would rather feel uncomfortable and over-loaded with a long-gun than carry a lone revolver. It seems to me it would be as simple as lashing a scabbard to the side of your pack. That would mean you would have to simply reach behind your shoulder to draw your long-gun.

If I'm going nowhere with this lemme know, haha.

 

[84B20]

ryan in maine,

It is a Lowepro Super Trekker AW.

I've done a bit of research on the ammo I'd be using and the two gentlemen that make it (Buffalo Bore and Garrett Cartridges) have taken a number of bears both grizzly and black with it, if I'm not mistaken.

It's not just the weight, it's the difficulty in maneuvering a shotgun with the pack on. Try to imagine a rifle or shotgun held up to your shoulder with a 50 pound pack on your back then imagine a handgun in the Weaver stance. I think it would be easier to use the handgun.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still have the shotgun loaded with 00 and slugs nearby, my wife will carry that if we are that far away from the jeep.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

84B20, that is some pack. let me guess. You are a watercolorist. Just kidding...I bet you can take some doozy photos with that set up. Are you a landscape guy or nature photographer?

 

[84B20]

PlayboyPenguin,

Landscape. Check out my website:

http://www.compupal.com

 

[ryan in maine]

I've done a bit of research on the ammo I'd be using and the two gentlemen that make it (Buffalo Bore and Garrett Cartridges) have taken a number of bears both grizzly and black with it, if I'm not mistaken.

As long as it's proven then I'll support you using it.

I know the terrain in Alaska is some of the roughest on the planet and it would be difficult to navigate much of it with a rifle on your person. I wouldn't fault you for sticking with the revolver. In the end we'll both be right.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still have the shotgun loaded with 00 and slugs nearby, my wife will carry that if we are that far away from the jeep.

Now that's the best solution I've heard yet! Two shooters are better than one! Haha

That's nice that you can take your wife along. It should be an unforgettable trip.

Great site, by the way. I hope I can take photo's on par with those some day.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Wow, very nice work. Grade A artwork. I love the interpretive style. How you capture form and contrast and make them more important than subject. At least that is my take.

 

[vynx]

On Saturday evening (2 nights ago) there was a show on cable (discovery channel I think - something like "Hunter or Hunted".

The first show was about 2 men attacked by Bown Bears in Kodiak Alaska. The first Human fatality in Kodiak from a Bear in 60 years they said. One man died and one lived - one bear died & one lived. Both men shot the bears with rifles at close range and both were still mauled. They were deer hunting and the bears wanted the deer meat. The bear that died was a small female - I think they said 250 lbs - the man she mauled (230lbs) lived . The bear that lived and killed the deer hunter was a big 700 lb. male. shot in the shoulder but lived and the game wardens said since it was protecting meat it was not going to be killed (the hunter shot a deer then left it to continue hunting, when he returned the bear had claimed the kill).

The show emphasized that the bears only attacked humans because they were very hungry/starving due to a bad winter (no berries) and a bad salmon run they were not getting enough food so they wanted the hunters deers.

Both bears left the men after they attacked - they only attacked to get at the deer meat.

Anyway, what I was left with after seeing this is I would have a Grizzly pepper spray (or 2,3,4) and an air horn. Even the bolt action deer rifles (ddn't mention the caliber) didn't stop the bears.

Great show if you get a chance to see it.

 

[84B20]

vynx,

It's not just the caliber or type of firearm you use, it is also shot placement that makes a big difference.

You should read the books by James Gary Shelton. He discusses many bear attacks and how to avoid them or deal with one. See an earlier post for the titles.

 

[stevekl]

If you're in Richmond, VA, you can kill 2 bears using only crappy parenting.

I hope someone gets this reference.

 

[57Coastie]

I'm only a year late, but I see you had given yourself two years or so before making the trip, and I just stumbled into this thread looking for something else.

While in the military many long years ago I served two tours in Alaska, some of it in very remote and rough country, and I, and on the second tour, my wife, carried a Ruger 44 Mag. carbine for protection should we, together or separately, stumble into a brownie unawares up close and personal. While we never needed it for the reason it was carried, I always felt confident that it would serve the purpose if needed. Lightweight, not cumbersome, handy, rapid firing and hopefully ample firepower for the purpose it was carried, and it was not a great encumbrance interfering with our enjoyment of unmatched country.

I will stress that we carried this weapon only for self-protection when hiking. I would not recommend it for hunting brownies.