Hunting in bear country
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JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
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I've never owned a can of Bear spray in my life. In the wilderness other than our national parks, I'm very seldom without one of my 44mags. -Hunting or not. (well.. OK, I'm always hunting) Hmm....? If I'm in Bear country, I'm probably in Wolf country. And to get there, I probably hiked through Mountain Lion territory.
-Steve
-Steve
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Looks like you are in the East, so I would say that unless you come between a sow and her cubs, you are in greater danger of being farted on by a bear than being mauled since the south end of a north bound bear is all you will see.
In the unlikely event you are attacked or at least threatened, you at least need a decent handgun. You mentioned hiking. Where do you hike? Do you have a concealed carry permit? Can you carry while hiking?
Pepper spray is like whistling in the dark for the most part. It may work and it may not. I'd rather have a magnum revolver or even my 1911.
In the unlikely event you are attacked or at least threatened, you at least need a decent handgun. You mentioned hiking. Where do you hike? Do you have a concealed carry permit? Can you carry while hiking?
Pepper spray is like whistling in the dark for the most part. It may work and it may not. I'd rather have a magnum revolver or even my 1911.
Art Eatman
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leathermanwave
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When hunting bears I carry a .270 or 12Ga, a .357 magnum, and a buck 119.
I do not trust pepper spray, I do trust lead spray.
I do not trust pepper spray, I do trust lead spray.
The area I normally hike in that has a lot of bear activity is Shenandoah National Park. Haven't gone hiking there since Jan. 9th, so I haven't been carrying when hiking. I do wear a bear bell which helps a lot. When I do see bears along the trail they are moving away from me and yet to have an aggressive encounter with a bear. Rattlesnakes on the the other hand....
I carry both Alaskan Bearspray and 44 or 41mag pistol. But I'm in Grizz country. I carry a 12ga when hauling out game. But that's just me....I prefer not to hunt in Grizz country as do many others. So the non Grizz areas have ALOT more hunters. A conundrum for sure.
caribou
Member
I live in the relm of three kinds of Bears; Polar,Brown and Black.
Rule #1 regarding Bear stopping.
If you want to stop a Bear, carry a rifle..... or a 12 Gauge , it is VERY nice as well.
Rule #2
If you MUST carry a pistol, Remove the front sight anyway, when the bear greases you up with the Spray, it wont hurt so much when he shoves the pistol up yer butt.
Rule #1 regarding Bear stopping.
If you want to stop a Bear, carry a rifle..... or a 12 Gauge , it is VERY nice as well.
Rule #2
If you MUST carry a pistol, Remove the front sight anyway, when the bear greases you up with the Spray, it wont hurt so much when he shoves the pistol up yer butt.
moooose102
Member
boy, your one hell of a good freind, NOT!
if i KNEW i was going to be in bear country, i would get a can of bear spray. but what i would use, would depend upon the conditions. if it was a suprise, and the bear is attacking to defend itself (which means it is a very close encounter) you probably are not going to have time to switch between spray, and gun. in that case, i would use the rifle. no sense being eaten, or just mauled 1/2 to death. but if i had a little more time to be prepared, as in i saw it moving towards me, i would ready the rifle, make a lot of noise to try and scare it away, and if it kept coming, try the bear spray. if it didn't work, i would have a backup plan already in place. i am all for saving the animal, as long as it is not at the cost of myself, or fellow hunter.
wheelgunslinger
Member
I hike the appalachians a lot.
I'd just take the rifle, if you're hunting in bear areas. If you're hunting deer, bring enough rifle for a 300lb blackie. (as in, don't bring a 243 or something like that).
Snakes? Not a big deal. Just walk around them. I've never been bitten yet, but I keep my eyes peeled. Most people step right over them and never get bitten.
Though if you step on one, it won't matter how much gun or spray you have.
I'd just take the rifle, if you're hunting in bear areas. If you're hunting deer, bring enough rifle for a 300lb blackie. (as in, don't bring a 243 or something like that).
Snakes? Not a big deal. Just walk around them. I've never been bitten yet, but I keep my eyes peeled. Most people step right over them and never get bitten.
Though if you step on one, it won't matter how much gun or spray you have.
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