Bear spray? What ya think?

[Fishstiq]

Read this, also some of the comments below
http://www.glacier-national-park-travel-guide.com/firearms-in-glacier-national-park.html

In the above cited article...

"It seems that many individuals here are more scared of humans in National Parks than wildlife. To that, I'm sorry you are so terrified of your own species. 99.9% wish to do you no harm. And you'll probably never encounter the other 0.1%"

This guy is a moron.  1, I carry a gun, so I'm not "terrified" of anyone.  2, where does this jackwad get his statistics? 99.9% of people mean you no harm? Pulls them out of his @$$ I assume.  3, you'll probably never encounter people who mean you harm?  Hey jackwad, go take a tour of a prison, or attend any of the thousands of meetings that take place daily in this country that are support and therapy groups for victims of crimes.  Your sheltered, naeve, ignorant opinion might change a little.  Save your melodramatic "sighs" and assumptions of self grandeure for the sheep who don't know or don't care enough to take care of themselves and their loved ones.  Jackwad.

As to the op, I don't know if bear spray works or not, or how well.  To me it doesn't matter, with or without bear spray, I'm still carrying a gun.

*edit-  if I don't have time to draw a gun and shoot, how do I have time to pull a can of bear spray (which is likely NOT in a holster 4 inches from my hand) and spray?

[Johnb317]

Even with a rifle unless you hit bone and stop the bear ( grizz? ).  It's able to do some damage before it dies.  Also considering they can move around 35 mph you need to be a good shot.   The more I read I'm voting spray.  Lighter to carry too.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/alaska-bear-attack-shot-too-late

Friend of mine was up in Alaska and their guide (on foot) was attacked, whole thing lasted about 45 seconds, guide was torn up, lost a couple mules with gear, and no time to pull a rifle etc..   Lucky for the guide they had a large first aid kit.

I bow hunt so I worry about startling a black bear, but how often has someone been attacked by a black bear?   

[Huntbear]

Even with a rifle unless you hit bone and stop the bear ( grizz? ).  It's able to do some damage before it dies.  Also considering they can move around 35 mph you need to be a good shot.   The more I read I'm voting spray.  Lighter to carry too.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/alaska-bear-attack-shot-too-late

Friend of mine was up in Alaska and their guide (on foot) was attacked, whole thing lasted about 45 seconds, guide was torn up, lost a couple mules with gear, and no time to pull a rifle etc..   Lucky for the guide they had a large first aid kit.

I bow hunt so I worry about startling a black bear, but how often has someone been attacked by a black bear?

If a blackbear attacks.. it is looking for dinner,... fight to the death....

[Johnb317]

Yo! Relax, I glossed over that part and found the comments made by regular visitors to the park more telling.  Sadly I think there is a greater probability of being harassed by humans than bears, and thankfully that's pretty low as well. 
I'm a 30 year NRA member, but the question is gun vs spray with bears and which will leave the hiker/hunter unscathed by the confrontation. 
From what I've read if youre talking grizz  it's shotgun with slugs or spray. 

  on the black bear. 
Red wine with hunters white with fishermen.  ::   

[Huntbear]

 

[hughjorgan]

I would take a pistol 100% of the time. If you think bear spray is the way to go, good for you, but do yourself a favor and have some one spray you in the face with some OC and see what it does to you. If that spray gets you and not the bear you are f--ked. Think about it, most guys hunt into the wind, not with the wind at your back. Bear spray works no doubt, but I would rather take my sidearm with 17 hollow tip bullets over spray.

[NW-GSP]

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[NW-GSP]

I would take a pistol 100% of the time. If you think bear spray is the way to go, good for you, but do yourself a favor and have some one spray you in the face with some OC and see what it does to you. If that spray gets you and not the bear you are f--ked. Think about it, most guys hunt into the wind, not with the wind at your back. Bear spray works no doubt, but I would rather take my sidearm with 17 hollow tip bullets over spray.

the hollow tips are not going to get you the desired effect that you want, hard cast lead is what you want. bone breaking damage is what you want

[Wazukie]

I will take what Greg used http://www.adn.com/2009/08/13/897940/twig-snap-alerts-dog-walker-to.html

[Mudman]

Holy pucker videos!! Guns are looking real good again.  Spray/.45 its all good as long as you have at least one of em!

[Huntbear]

I posted this several years ago...

Even when you have a rifle and know about where the bear is... 

Last 2 minutes are when all the fun happens....   

http://www.huntingreport.com/video_hunt_list_species_details.cfm?id=6

[jaymark6655]

For archery, I like having another hunter with a 12 gauge.

[Kowsrule30]

That grizz is huge!!!!


In the woods I carry my .40 with with solids....... No spray for me.... On the street or home it's Hydrashoks....       

[MikeWalking]

On all my Alaska trips I carried both.  All 8 Griz sightings (in 5 trips) came with enough distance to ponder my choices if needed.   The advantage of hiking open tundra.  The one time I had to put the sights on one I had a fairly good breeze in my face. He finally turned away, guess he didn't like my language.  The morning I crawled out of my tent to see Mommy Griz sprinting my way the crosswind was strong...she hadn't seen me and was chasing squirrels...

That second time, another guy well, well West of me survived a mauling only by spraying the Griz in the face as it chewed on his pack while holding him face down.  He lost most of his thigh after surprising a Griz in the willows. He got him from about 5 feet away.

Bear Spray is said not to work so well on Blackies, more mucous in the nose & eyes.

If it's not raining hard and the wind isn't blowing faster than a walking pace most people are far better off with spray.   A determined Griz can soak up a lot of damage and keep fighting. I wouldn't bet my life on a Handgun although I slept with a Redhawk tied to my wrist loaded with Buffalo Bore Hard Cast 330gr+p, yes they hurt to shoot.  The 1895gs was a little to long to swing in a tent....Same trip as that mauling?  2 more folks were killed in their tent and fed on not so far from me.  They found his 1895gs lever half worked unfired...(lifelong Alaskans)

I did a test spray one morning as I started down the riverbed I was on.  Had a light breeze at my back. A quick spritz at arms length. I got a little bit back on my lips, nose and cheeks below the rims of my glasses.  The CS the Army hit us with was nothing in comparison..

[Battle Ready]

I think if you were being attacked, you would like to have something rather than nothing! I'm sure either would work, and testimony is given on both sides...the only side that has no testimony is the ones who were attacked and had nothing at all to defend themselves..ha ha.

I say have a 10mm with a picateny rail with a bear spray attachment..ha ha. Oh and screaming like a sissy wouldnt hurt either!