Protection from Bear and Moose...should I even bother?

[hunterwinco]

Blkhwk's got it right. Ive was born in Maine and have live here for 48 hunting/fishing/camping. generally if you see a black bear up here its usually heading the other way at a very fast rate. consider yourself fortunate to see them as they are a pretty cool animal. The only time that I walked up on one was as we were hauling bait into my buddy stand about 1600 on a nice August afternoon and a small one (125-150 pound) took off "hell bent for election". Started the CRAP out of me and I did draw my .357 Moose dont really bother at all. If I have any paranoia about things in the woods it would be of 2 legged animals.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Like in the bear threads, the best advice has already been given...bear spray. Have been told by someone attacked by a moose that it worked. I would think a moose attack would be pretty rare, though. Wouldn't carry anything more than spray and a sidearm.

Not to get into personal attacks, but I wouldn't recommend taking the advice of the gentleman from Long Island. I'm not sure what he'd even do were he to come out to grizzly territory. A bazooka, perhaps?

 

[gearchecker]

Cosmolene,
Great pictures of the Moose. They sure are bigger out west here than the ones in the east.
The Alaskan moose are huge, even compared to the moose here in Idaho/Montana.
Moose can and will get agressive very quickly if you are in the area of their young or if they are in the rut.
They are not to be taken lightly or taken for granted under any circumstance, they are dangerous. with that said I'd rather be around a moose than an angry Elk.
A .357 magnum is the absolute minimum for any type of bear and should suit you well for Boar. In your situation I recommend Buffalo Bore hard cast bullets if possible, and practice well in advance of your adventure. Have a great time on your hikes!

 

[BlkHawk73]

[QUOTECall me chicken, but I would carry a nice lever-action .45-70 with stout loads if I were going to Maine for hiking in woods and mountains.
[/QUOTE]

I realize getting away for the concrete and steel can be a shock to some but c'mon man! Then again, having been down on LI a lot, I understand...people stop and find enjoyment and amazement in seeing a grey squirrel running aound. Guess if that's a wild animal to them, anything in the wilderness would terrify them.

 

[Karl Hungus]

Like I've said in all the other "What caliber for bear/scarey animal protection" threads:
the woods just aren't that scarey. I see bears all the time and I've seen moose every now and then (admittedly the moose did give me a bit of a start - they're HUGE) and have never had any problems. The closest I've come to getting killed in the woods is during gun deer season with bullets whizzing by my head. Like others have said - I'd be far more concerned with the risks of driving to the woods.

Why has there never been any "What caliber for Sasquatch protection?" threads? Aren't guys here terrified of Bigfoot?

 

[Leaky Waders]

The best Sasquatch defense is a camera!

 

[GoodKat]

Bear mace would likely serve you best, the only kind of gun I would trust to actually stop a moose would be a rather large bore rifle such as the marlin guide gun.

 

[meef]

Like in the bear threads, the best advice has already been given...bear spray.

Or should you be concerned about encountering killer rabbits, well then - hare spray.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

^^^ ahhhhh ha, classy. Just reminds me of that old movie, Night of the Lepus.

 

[FenderTK421]

Hey Cosmoline, Nice pic (Top one in the snow), looks like you are on C Street and Klatt road, right next to the S. Anchorage Sports park? I live about 2 blocks from there and take my dogs to that park twice a day. I have to agree w/ you about the moose 'usually' leaving you alone. That being said, no matter how careful I am to only let the boys off leash after checking for moose - they can always find ones that I miss. Too many close calls w/ those damn things. The blasted dog is too likely to bring one back to you once he has had his fun and starts to get nervous. IMO moose are like cockroaches... big, tasty cockroaches....

 

[M67]

I had a moose four feet from my head last night. They have to walk that close to my bedroom window to get around the corner of the house.

I've been close to moose in the woods numerous times, very close a couple of times. Never had a "close call", if by that you mean feeling any real danger.

The blasted dog is too likely to bring one back to you once he has had his fun and starts to get nervous.

Or if he is trained to bring them back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzvcRYidcCU&feature=related

 

[arizonaguide]

I'm still a big fan of Bear Spray.

 

[FenderTK421]

By close call I mean them running at you then (hopefully) veering sharply away at 5ft or so. Perhaps being trampled isn't 'real danger'. I'd rather not find out, thanks.

 

[gmh1013]

When I was younger I hiked around Northern AZ and the white mountains and did see a cougar once ....the biggest problem was always 2 legged animals.
I carried a 4 inch Smith .357 and a AR-7 .22 Armalite in my backpack..the AR was the last year production they made them.
The only thing I shot at was a bobcat that i thought was rabid...but missed.
10x more problems from 2 legged than wild animals