Not Another Bear Question???

[Autolite]

Yes, I've got another bear question. Black bears are out and about now in my neck of the woods. I was wondering if anyone has any experience or knowledge reference to the use of bean-bag shot as a bear deterent. I've read that black bears will most often feint a charge rather than press on with a deadly attack. I've encountered black bears on several occasions, at close range, and have never actually felt threatened. However, it is apparant that the bear, in some circumstances, showed no fear of humans. This is not a good thing. I wouldn't want to kill a bear unless it was a 'clear and present danger' to my personal safety or the safety of others around me. I was wondering if a bean-bag shot to the butt would be enough to keep a bear from coming back. I thought about loading up with a bean-bag round as a first shot, only then followed with triple 000 and slug.
What do y'all know about the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of bean-bags against bears? Remember, I'm only talkin' about black bears. Brown bears and Grizzlies are not encountered around here ...

 

[pittspilot]

I would assume that a bean bag would merely prompt the bear to RYNO (rip ya [a] new one)

My feeling is that either the bear is a threat or not a threat. If it is a threat then I do not want to waste ammunition or time with non-lethals.

 

[Stinger]

By all means, use the bean bag, but not on the bear.

Be sure to take a friend along...if a bear charges, shoot your friend with said bean bag, and run like H-E-double hockey sticks.

You don't have to outrun the bear, just your friend.

Hmm...I wonder why I don't have many friends (left)...


the above post was obviously tongue firmly in cheek


Stinger

 

[Highland Ranger]

Fish and Game and some of the local town police used them at one point . . . . . last time we had an incident though, they blew an air horn while holding a shotgun.

Not sure what the current thinking is but if they had a bean bag load I'd think they would have used that - air horn made him move along but not very quickly - he did a "top of the food chain" slow saunter into the woods.

I also vote for lethal - how does that go, if its worth shooting, its worth shooting twice (and I'll add, with a real round)

 

[mete]

The problem with bean bags is that if he charges ( he'll move very fast) you're defenseless. Wave your arms, shout, use loud whistle,air horn and have a gun with live rounds in case he doesn't get the hint. I've met a few ,only had to shout at one of them(who was knocking on my door). BTW I tried the shouting and waving arms on a racoon once ,from three feet away, it had no effect. He obviously had rabies and my gun took care of that.

 

[Foreign Devil]

Bean bags don't always work on people let alone bear, I wouldn't try it.

 

[dairycreek]

I have had one experience with a bear!

She was old, sick, and exceedingly angry at me for being there. I can assure you that a bean bag load would not have slowed her down one way or another. It took a hot 44 magnum load to bring her down that day. Conventional wisdom has it that black bears will run when encountered - this bear was not aware of conventional wisdom. If you are likely to meet a bear in the woods - be ready at all times. Good shooting

 

[Wildalaska]

Fish and Game up here, police agencies USFW and many of the surveying compannies all use bean bags or rubber bullets on bears, inclduing griz and polar.

The companies doing arctic work always use rubber bullets/bean bags since to shoot a polar bear is muy paperworko for the Feds. They usually hire a local native with a rifle as back up since he can kill a polar bear legally.

WildsillylawsAlaska

 

[cheygriz]

Every year there are 3 or 4 people killed by bears in the USA and 350-400 killed by bees. A can of "Raid" in the woods would probably protect you better than that .460 Weatherby.

 

[PATH]

The can of raid is nifty but I'll take the .357 just in case.(Black Bear usage of course.)

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
--------------------------------------------
Conventional wisdom has it that black bears will run when encountered - this bear was not aware of conventional wisdom.
---------------------------------------------

It's not impossible to find a bear that can't read, or at least doesn't subscribe to all the popular outdoors magazines. Such a bear might make a mistake and do what black bears aren't supposed to do.

I have bears around my place here in Arkansas -- my beehive in the "back yard" was raided once. Since my place is very remote and acts as the "cork in the bottle" stopping people from going farther down the valley, the bears here are very bold.

I carry a Colt New Service with 255-grain wide flatnose cast bullets loaded to about 1,000 fps.

 

[Autolite]

Thanks for the replies ...

We encounter black bears almost daily. (Saw eight today, four adults and four cubs). Of the adults, only two ran away from our truck. One of the adults did a 'feint charge' to get us out of his/her face. There was no problem as all the bears were encountered far from camp. The problem is the one or two bears that come into camp without any fear (happened a week ago). That's why I want to know about the effectiveness of the bean-bags. Cracker shot doesn't seem to bother them too much so I figure that a bean-bag in the butt would be a reminder to stay away from camp.
I have read recommendations that say to not use bean-bag shot without someone else with 'real' bullets as backup. We have a 12 guage Rem 870. I'm thinking about loading it so that the first shot is a bean bag followed with several slugs if required ...

 

[azrael]

NOTICE WHAT WILD SAID...<They usually hire a local native with a rifle as back up> that should tell ya something...

2 years ago we had a woman get killed by a Black bear...he didnt read the memo...When we camped near there I carried a .44mag loaded with Buffalo Bore sledgehammers, to back up my 8mm Mauser...My P32 was for me..lol

With my luck?? Bean Bags would=DRT

If ya use a pump, then have the first round or two as BB...After that OOBuck and some of them Brenekke Slug thingies...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That's why I carry my Colt New Service -- I have confidence it will stop Baumgarten if he gets fractious.

Now, I just wish I could find someone who makes a nice holster for this gun.