Bear spray? What ya think?

[Bshiftbc]

Very timely post for me!

I will be headed into Griz country (37 miles deep on horses) in the Yellowstone ecosystem with a couple of guide buddies next month. I have been researching this very subject with vigor!

Their protocol is very much like MikeWalking wrote about.
1895 guide guns when possible and .44 mags in the tents. They also carry spray as the first line of defense. They have used the spray with good results.

Wasp spray is NOT a good alternative according to my reading. This is mainly due to wasp spray is a stream and not a fog (harder to get a good hit).

A good byproduct of this trip is that my bride bought me a new SW 44 (engraved) for my 50th birthday in May. She told me she hated to spend that kind of money, but didn't want her husband to be bear sh!t either!

An interesting perspective I came up with about the gun....Bears (like most animals) can sense fear. You should feel more confident with a gun than without. This confidence alone (real or perceived) can be the difference.

[MikeWalking]

A good byproduct of this trip is that my bride bought me a new SW 44 (engraved) for my 50th birthday in May. She told me she hated to spend that kind of money, but didn't want her husband to be bear sh!t either!

Has she got a sister willing to settle a bit...

Good point about the Wasp spray. I always took that as a joke...

FWIW My first brand of Bear Spray...Counter Assault?  The Ad with the bloody hunter (it's creator) came with a chest harness and a spandex sock type holster. The retention strap keeps the can pointed forward so all you have to do is press the button.  It was a bit much to wear under my backpack and didn't sit well with my pack straps.  The holster comes off and has a loop. I put a D-ring through it and hung it from a loop on my left shoulder strap.  I hung the 1895 off the other side the same way with an extra D-ring.  One on the pack and one around the sling (Safari Sling)

[Fireant11]

I've been growled at a couple of time.  One I know was a cat and the other sounded like a bear (still unsure).  Once Washington changed the law to allow archery hunters to carry a side-arm, I started carrying a 357 mag.  I figure that is big enough for black bears found in this state or a mountain lion.  I took my pistol to Tactical Tailors and they custom made a holster that clips to the shoulder strap of my backpack.  Easy reach in a hurry and highly visible in case I run into some bozos in the woods.

[sled]

My bear mase sprays 10mm

[oldcamper]

I carry a 44 mag. works great.   

[MikeWalking]

Hey Sled  how loud is that 10mm with that barrel?

[sirmissalot]

The guides I know in Wyoming carry spray and a gun, either a 44 mag, 45 lc or a judge revolver. Then they carry either 45/70 or 450 marlin. They basically carry the spray to keep the forest service guys off their back. They refer to it as hair spray. If you've ever had it in your eyes, you'd know thats the last thing you want with a bear close enough to have used it. I've heard stories of guides killing a bear then spraying it with bear spray, just to make the gamies and forest service guys happy 

Wasp spray sounds like a horrible idea. For one, usually the cans are huge. #2 I've used plenty of it around the house, spraying hives straight up into the eaves and overhangs and can't say I've ever felt a burning sensation in my eyes, face or skin like you would with bear spray. 

Oh, and I carry a 44 mag in a S&W alaskan backpacker, shooting 300 grain handloads. I do sleep with a can of spray next to me up in the mountains though.

[smartazz171]

From The Missoulian, In re guards to this very question after some annual workshop held in Missoula.    "University of Calgary bear expert Steve Herrero was involved in two separate studies that looked at the effectiveness of bear spray and firearms in bear attacks. The bottom line: Ninety-eight percent of those who used bear spray walked away from their encounter unharmed, and none of the people or bears involved died. With firearms, 56 percent of the users were subsequently injured, and 61 percent of the bears died."  If you wanna see all the research, http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/research-bear-spray-stops-angry-grizzlies-better-than-guns/article_b0d338b6-7638-11e1-b809-0019bb2963f4.html   

Think about it guys, unless its a black bear (which is extremely rare even by bear attack stats), most grizzly's attack cause they see you as a threat. Shooting them while already charging you, even if you destroyed there lungs/and or heart, wouldn't save you. Yes it would kill the bear but all it sees is you as a threat and now its in pain and only contributes you for that pain.  My  I don't need to carry a gun to feel more confident.  Some times a bear does a Bluff charge to intimidate a threat, you shoot and wound it during a bluff and its gonna come full at you.  the research speaks for itself.

Bear spray for me....

[Glockster]

don't underestimate blackbears.

A brown bear knows he can kick your azz so many times it will be a bluff charge. 

A black bear, if he comes for you, is trying to kill you.   

In a bear heavy areas of AK, i carry both spray and .44 mag handgun or 12ga shotgun.  In lower 48 black bear & lion only areas i carry a 10mm. 

There's a great article in Sports Afield this month where their author interviews the author of the study that said guns and spray are about even in "success". 

[Mudman]

Both are good but I think bear spray probably more effective than a gun.  I choose the spray 1st and gun 2nd.

[MikeWalking]

don't underestimate blackbears.

A brown bear knows he can kick your azz so many times it will be a bluff charge. 

A black bear, if he comes for you, is trying to kill you.   

In a bear heavy areas of AK, i carry both spray and .44 mag handgun or 12ga shotgun.  In lower 48 black bear & lion only areas i carry a 10mm. 

There's a great article in Sports Afield this month where their author interviews the author of the study that said guns and spray are about even in "success".

I've read that too.  A Grizzly charge is most often defensive and may often be a bluff, although many have gone real bad.   A Black Bear charge is most often predatory.  I got charged coming up the PCT on the backside of the Stevens Pass Ski Area one summer.  No where to go, I was at the corner of a switch back, all day drop one side...just put the .357 in the pack  "so close to the trail head"   when it finally saw me through the brush it spun off like a Gold Medal gymnast    The side arm  now stays on till the tail gate is lifted...

[smartazz171]

Ya I understand that if a black bear comes at you. Fight! They won't just leave, they will feed.

[Glockster]

There's a holster maker in Wasilla AK called Diamond D....their Guide's Choice model allows one to carry a big handgun across the chest so you can use it with a back pack on.  If you have the handgun in the pack it might as well be on the moon. 

Problem with brown bear bluff charges is you have to be pretty experienced to know the difference and it's always best to error on the side of caution of course.   I can tell you when you shoot a bear in self defense in AK, you will have a full forensics investigation and a pile of paperwork...but of course it's always better to stay breathing. 

Good luck all in bear country.

[AKBowman]

 In the entire history of this state how many bear mailings have actually been recorded? You have a much better chance at winning the powerball jackpot than ever being attacked by a bear.

That being said, I do carry a .45 b/c cougars freak me out...sneaky little *censored*s

[sirmissalot]

I reason I started carrying a sidearm is back in 08 I shot a bear with my bow while elk hunting. Tracking a wounded bear through thick brush with only an arrow in my hand to defend myself was not comforting. I have also heard just enough cat stories from friends who hunt or work in the woods to guarantee I will always have a side arm.