Effectiveness of bear-spray on bears?

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Lucky

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Very effective if applied before it is on top of you. That is the problem. Most likely you will have no problem with a bear, yet if it charges you the amount of time between it being out of range of the spray, and it being in range of the spray and on top of you is barely enough time to spray it nevermind recieve an irritant response.

I have heard making a cloud for it to run into prior to it getting within range and then continuing to spray when it does is much more effective.

The spray will be highly effective when it begins to effect them, but that might be several seconds after you spray them, and that is a long time in a bad situation.

It is however more effective on bears and other animals than even humans because they do not understand it, or know what is happening, and are very in tune with thier highly sensitive nose which suddenly cannot smell and are on fire (as well as eyes).

Still if you think about when you would know your in danger, like it is charging from 50 yards away. Lets figure this out, they can run 30mph, that is 158,400 feet per hour. 2640 a minute, 44 feet per second. You spray can sprays how far? Most are 15-20 feet. That means if it is coming full speed it would be in range all of half a second. Good luck.

Yeah pepper spray only, it will be eating you by the time anything else is irritating it. I assumed all bear spray is pepperspray as it effects animals much greater.
 
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I have heard

that pepper spray is easier because it's a big fog and it's hard to shoot a bear thats charging you, if you miss the shot due to flinching say, you may not get another shot. but the huge fog will hopefully get in the bears nostrils.

I have used bear spray ...on large groups of drunks and nasty San Francisco bums and junkies...seems to work great on them.

I have never used it on bears nor have I ever shot a bear.
 
Very effective if applied before it is on top of you. That is the problem. Most likely you will have no problem with a bear, yet if it charges you the amount of time between it being out of range of the spray, and it being in range of the spray and on top of you is barely enough time to spray it nevermind recieve an irritant response.
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I'm looking for some studies or graphs or something.


It is however more effective on bears and other animals than even humans because they do not understand it, or know what is happening, and are very in tune with thier highly sensitive nose which suddenly cannot smell and are on fire (as well as eyes).
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But now that I think of it I've seen documentaries where bears stick their snouts right into beehives and eat them up. So their noses aren't really vulnerable at all. And the manufacturers of CS say up front that it doesn't affect animals because of the fur and lacking tear-ducts.

And I've also heard that throwing rocks at animals will keep them at bay, because they're too dumb to understand how they're being hit when they're so far away from you. But if an animal is attacking you then it's probably really really mad or hungry, and it wants to really really hurt or eat you. (at least that's how I think their emotions go, no superego at all, those beasts)



So is bear-spray only good for surprising curious animals who try to get too close?
 
And the manufacturers of CS say
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CS is a gas and works far differently than pepper spray. It is designed to cause eyes to water and people to choke and gag, and is primarily effective in enclosed areas or where large concentrations can persist undistrubrbed by wind or open air(even though it is used to dispurse crowds and people in the open). Powerful pepperspray is very effective against animals and works topicaly not indirectly as a gas. At the very least the ability of the animal to tell where your location is would be severely hampered. So as I would advise against people, once you spray be sure to move to one side or another of where they would have seen you prior to being blinded.

It is a severe inflammatory agent of mucus membranes and sensitive tissue. Places like the nostrils and eyes, inside of mouth or places on thier other end. It will quickly overload thier senses and cause them to panic once it registers with them and they tend to flee. It may take a few moments to register with them though, and as I said earlier they run at 30mph, and that is 44 feet per second. The large sprays cover 15-20 feet. So how effective it is also depends on what the situation is when you use it. However they usualy slow down and will proceed to try to speak to you like a bear with intimidation and body language before attacking and assess you at which point they are perfect for spraying. Your worst case scenario would be a mother with cubs and she may or may not decide to try and intimidate or use body language to run you off before attacking. In such a situation it is best to anticipate the path of the animal and fill the air it will run through on its way to you with the spray. This has worked before and gives you the ability to put more deterent on target in a shorter time.

In fact a large determined grizzly will be stopped more quickly with a face full of potent spray disabling the senses it needs to continue an attack (sight smell) than with many handgun calibers that would require careful aim or a lot of rounds to stop one.
 
I betcha bears like pepper steaks as much as we do, just douse yourself with pepper spray. Get a gun so that when you pi$$ Mr. Bruin off for real, you can shoot yourself to avoid the pain from severe mauling. Just kidding. I have no experience on bears other than what I read or see on T.V. FWI, "Grizzly Man" showed that most bears have much more tolerance for us two legged species than we give them credit for. Were I to venture into real bear territory (like the Brit that does this survival show on Discovery), I would prefer a 45/70 over anything else. Make noise on the trail, bears will try to avoid you.

I was walking the dogs in the woods behind a rest stop somewhere between Illinois and Texas when we all spotted this "cute" pussycat kinda crunched up in a ball because of the cold (it was late January). Stupid me stops to look at "pussy" from a distance of maybe 10 feet, the dogs (G. Shepherd & Anatolian Shepherd) View attachment 289372 stop to look and keep their distance (first ignored sign, these dogs are used to chasing herds of wild boar the size of VW's). The "cat" looks bored and unconcerned (second sign that I ignored). So I step a little closer clicking my tongue and say "how ya doin' pussycat?" Pussy lifts up to full height and opens mouth WIDE bobcat.jpg , (photo from Google) no growl or hiss, then hunches back down. I had the presense of mind to back off, called the dogs, kept talking to MR. BOB and felt very lucky that the cat was either too lazy or just knew I was extremely stupid and decided to be forgiving. I would check about bears with some of the old timers who live in bear country, from what I hear, you really have to get in their business before they return the favor (except perhaps getting between a momma & cub). I would think the bears in parks are more dangerous as they have lost their fear of humans who try to feed them and then necessitate killing the bear later.
 
The Montana Department of Fish and Game, States that it is Important to know the type of bear in your Area, Wear Bells and Carry Pepper Spray
Black Bears are smaller than Brown Bears and are less dangerous to humans when humans are in Black Bear Country.
Black Bear sign has berries, nuts, small bones, and animal fur in it.
Brown Bear sign has little bells and smells like pepper spray.
:neener:
 
Effectiveness of bear-spray on bears?

Well, just how Pi**ed off do you like your bears.
If you shoot a bear and do not kill it, it will be very angry. Shooting hurts.
Bear spray does not kill the bear, but may cause pain.

So, how pi**ed off do you want to make this bear.
 
I wouldn't trust pepper spray against bears. I've yet to run across an anecdote where anyone successfully used it to ward off an attacking bear.
 
Bear spray is better than nothing, most of us in Alaska carried it but also carrying 357, 44 or 45 Win Mag is far better.
Most people I know that bought Bear spray intended to use it on people :).

The trick with bear spray is to use it before the bear is committed to attacking you. Like any other animal they go through a decision making process on whether to attack or leave. I think spray can be effective in causing an uncommitted bear to leave but not one that is attacking.

I've read of people using the spray effectively but never personally talked to anyone who had used it.

On the other hand I have talked to quite a few people that were forced to use their handgun on Bears. In some cases it was on black bears that had followed them up a tree.

If you are in both grizzly and black country you also need to be aware of the differences in response between play dead and fighting back.
 
Someone told me a tale once, that he was going into the Bob Marshall wilderness (a place in montana with brown bears), and someone asked what he was carrying for protection against bears. He had a .357 that he had gotten for that purpose, and showed it to the other fellow.

The other fellow said, "you should have filed the front sight off, with a rasp". This man asks "why would I do a thing like that to a brand new gun?" and the other fellow said, "so it won't hurt as bad when the bear takes it from you and shoves it up your a$$".
 
The other fellow said, "you should have filed the front sight off, with a rasp". This man asks "why would I do a thing like that to a brand new gun?" and the other fellow said, "so it won't hurt as bad when the bear takes it from you and shoves it up your a$$".
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Grew up in Montana & have been fortunate to have seen a lot of Mr. Griz. Never had a problem, but will always choose to throw large chunks of lead as opposed to hot sauce or rocks. Had to shoot a black bear one time . . . used a .44 mag; 5 solid hits, which included heart, lungs, and a broken shoulder. Bear still still covered 100 yards before it piled-up & fortunately in a direction away from me. Last time I carried a .44 as bear insurance. Authoritative rifles or 12 gauge slugs are my choice.
 
I've heard of it being used effectively against 250-300 lbs black bears a couple times. altho from the story I heard the bears were never actually a threat (just bears lumbering too close to someone's deck @ camp)... never the less, they did not like it and retreated clumsily from the two stories I've heard. I didn't hear anything about the delayed reaction brought up earlier in the thread. from what I understood it seemed to work nearly instantly.

however, these were not angry charging grizzlies, or even large black bears. so y'know, carry a firearm.
 
But now that I think of it I've seen documentaries where bears stick their snouts right into beehives and eat them up. So their noses aren't really vulnerable at all. And the manufacturers of CS say up front that it doesn't affect animals because of the fur and lacking tear-ducts.
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While the exterior of their noses may be protected from bee stings, bears have one of the most highly developed senses of smell on earth. The area of nasal mucous membrane in a bear's head is one hundred times larger than that of a human. That is a lot more membrane to get inflamed.

CS gas is not the same as OC spray, so I wouldn't concentrate on what the CS manufacturers say. OC is an inflammatory agent. With the right mindset though, it is possible to fight through OC spray in your face, eyes, nose and lungs, it will just be more painful than the same confrontation without OC.

Will OC ward off a charging bear? I don't know, since I don't know the mindset of the bear, but I bet if you hit a bear right in the face it at least wouldn't be able to see or smell you for quite a while.
 
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slightly used bear spray

I heard a rumor that you can purchase almost new cans of bear spray from the Ranger's station in most federal parks. It still contains most of the spray and only smells slightly like bear scat.
 
twgcpn9.jpg



Give them something to eat so they'll be distracted.
 
SHARPS-SHOOTER - "Someone told me a tale once, that he was going into the Bob Marshall wilderness (a place in montana with brown bears), and someone asked what he was carrying for protection against bears. He had a .357 that he had gotten for that purpose, and showed it to the other fellow.

The other fellow said, "you should have filed the front sight off, with a rasp". This man asks "why would I do a thing like that to a brand new gun?" and the other fellow said, "so it won't hurt as bad when the bear takes it from you and shoves it up your a$$".

Ohhhh nooooo! Not that hoary old one again!! :rolleyes:

In the last nine years I've been on the Internet "huntng/firearms" sites, if I've seen that one once, I've seen it a thousand times.

First time I ever heard it was in Sept. of 1957, when a college friend of mine who'd spent the summer in Alaska, panning for gold, told it to me.

He said an old Alaska "sourdough" told him that, when said "sourdough" saw my friend's Colt Govt. .45ACP. My friend, who'd been a paratrooper with the 187th Regimental Combat Team (ABN.) in Korea, did NOT dump his .45. Said it always gave him "comfort."

So, that "joke" has been around, awhile. :)

L.W.
 
I spend most of my summers in the outdoors close to YNP and Grand Teton National Park. And all fall hunting in Mr. Griz's habitat. You can't carry firearms in parks and I spend some time in them. (Not hunting:) ) So I trust my life with bear spray. I have seen griz in YNP and Glacier while out and about and seen plenty of black bears other times. I have also had encounters with them while hunting in the Bridger Teton Wilderness in WY. I have realized a few things.

Say you are carrying a shotgun. Mr. Bear jumps out in front of you and charges from 100 yards away. You probably aren't going Mr. Swat guy in the wilderness which means you have to unsling the shotgun, take the safety off and place a well aimed shot into the bear, hitting its CNS. FAT CHANCE.

Same goes with a .44, .460 or .500. That is a TON OF WEIGHT TO CARRY. You will carry it for one day and say this is BS, and stop carrying it. Even if you do have an Airlite .44 mag, you still have to unholster it and fire, and hit Mr. Bears CNS. Thats funny, I would like to see someone try.

Bear spray you have to remove the safety tab and fire. It can be done from the belt!!!

Oh, and one little thing. If you shoot a Griz in the lower 48 you are going to have a nice time proving that it was actually a real charge and not a false charge, which griz like to do to get you shook up.

Bear spray works on other animals besides bears too. I have a good buddy who was being chased by a Moose and he gave it a dose of Bear Spray. The moose was messed up and he got out of there. I have had more problems with moose and lions in the backcountry than any other animals. Bears don't worry me enough to have to shoot everyone. Or at least think like I do.

I carry both bear spray and a .44. I always hope the bear spray works. I pray to god if it doesn't the .44 saves my ass.

My first choice will always be the spray though.
 
Say you are carrying a shotgun. Mr. Bear jumps out in front of you and charges from 100 yards away. You probably aren't going Mr. Swat guy in the wilderness which means you have to unsling the shotgun, take the safety off and place a well aimed shot into the bear, hitting its CNS. FAT CHANCE.

Same goes with a .44, .460 or .500. That is a TON OF WEIGHT TO CARRY. You will carry it for one day and say this is BS, and stop carrying it. Even if you do have an Airlite .44 mag, you still have to unholster it and fire, and hit Mr. Bears CNS. Thats funny, I would like to see someone try.
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I've read a number of accounts where exactly this was done. I don't know why you think it is so impossible.
 
I have used pepper spray

I can relate numerous instances where I have been confronted by bears, and I have yet to be eaten, nor have I shot one. While a night watchman at Swiftcurrent in Glacier Park in the late 1960's, I had two run-ins with Grizzlys. The first was while walking a trail in daylight... walked up on a sow with at least one cub. I ran and jumped off a shelf that was 20 feet high, and she didn't follow me. (Bears cannot travel at 44 feet per second right out of the gate). One night, at 2 am, while making my rounds I stepped around a corner to see a huge Grizzly in the parking lot, 30 feet away. He raised up fully, did a "huff", and I was rocketing for the motel annex before his paws hit the ground. In 1967, two women were killed at 2 different locations in Glacier by bears on the same night (book: "Night of the Grizzlys"). One of them was a Swiftcurrent employee that we all knew. I am afraid of bears.
At Philmont Scout Ranch in 1972-3, we had an amazing number of incidents with black bears. I am of the opinion that Blacks are more dangerous than Grizzlys. I watched one time as a NM Game and Fish officer cooly stepped behind an aspen tree and shot a charging black bear dead with his Ruger Blackhawk 44 magnum. He said, "bears can't negotiate trees". Another time, I got to skin a bear that the Game and Fish fellows had dispatched. I still have the ratty skin.
One night, the Game and Fish men set a trap to catch a bothersome bear at Webster Park, a quarter mile from our camp. The trap was a 4 foot diameter tube of heavy guage chain link fence, 8 feet long, mounted on a trailer with 15 inch truck tires. While playing cards that evening, we heard a huge "Ka-Pow"! In the morning we saw what had happened. Above one of the tires was a 14" diameter hole in the fencing, and the tire had a quarter of it cleanly cut away. The bear was gone. I was more amazed at the bear's ability to eat through a tire than through fencing!
One afternoon, a bear was rummaging a pack of a scout right out in front of camp headquarters. 200 boy scouts were inching up taking pictures. The bear serenely eyed them, allowed them to get to within 15 feet, then did a "wuff" and made a fake lunge of a few inches. The field was instantly deserted. I am a witness... Boy Scouts can travel at 100 FPS.
In 1999, I was hiking in Waterton Lakes, Alberta. I came around a turn in the trail, and a Grizzly saw me. He started for me slowly at first... I ran back to a tree, stood behind the tree and unloaded my can of mace on him (It is hard to concentrate in that kind of situation, and hold it on his head, rather than run!). I turned and ran, and he didn't follow. Even an hour later, I was looking behind to see if he was coming. Mace (and a tree to step behind) is the thing to have. Pepper spray is not effective... I have more stories about that, but this is getting a bit long winded. Lee Davis
 
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