Had a little excitement today grouse hunting

[Song Dog]

Took my 7 month old Springer out on his first Grouse hunt this morning.  We were about two miles down this old logging road when the hair comes up on Ringo's shoulders and he gives a woof and growl.  Twenty yards off the road in the brush there is an answering woof and all hell breaks loose, yep bear.  Lucky for me the bear stayed in the brush and my dog stayed on the road.  The bear ran about twenty yards then walked parallel to us along the road before he finally took off.  I had my sweet little sixteen gauge side by side with number six shot so going after the bear was not an option, but I know where he is and I will go back with the proper equipment to see if I can find him again.  Really proud of my little dog for following commands and not taking off although when that bear woofed Ringo looked at me with that expression of "What the heck was that".  All in all it was a good morning. 

[billythekidrock]

Get back there this evening if you can. Definitely be there in the morning.

[Song Dog]

I know, but because of work I can't get back up there until Friday

[johng]

Dang!     That sounds like too much excitement for my liking... glad you and Ringo are ok!  Springers sure are sweet dogs...it's amazing what dogs can communicate with their facial expressions and the sounds they can make.

So.... I will put this out there and see what you guys think.  This is what I have been told / read on what you are supposed to do in the following situations:

Cougar->  Make yourself appear big, wave arms, yell, throw stuff at them.  Fight like crazy if you get pounced on.

Wolves-> Same as cougars... call dog to heel in all of these scenarios too.  (Opie usually wears a bell too by the way)

Bears-> Don't run, don't climb a tree, back out of the area slowly.  If they attack, play dead and protect your neck with a pack if you are wearing one.  This sounds like a horrible situation to be in.

Is this correct?  With bears I am guessing you don't throw crap at them... just get out of there slowly without showing your back?

Just some other random thoughts...what about worse case scenario in all of these scenarios?  Cougar, wolf (or wolves) or bear charges?  I usually hunt grouse with my 12 gauge and have 00 buck in my hunting vest just in case... would this do the job?  Probably not for a bear? 

Side arm: Sig P226 chambered in .40 --> good enough for cougar and wolves but not for bear?

I think I would be in "Oh Lord Jesus save me" mode so I am thinking buckshot as opposed to slugs...

Thoughts?  Here is to a safe hunt for all of us this season!

- Jg

[wildmanoutdoors]

Grizzlies you protect your head and play dead. Griz dont climb trees.

If a Blackie attacks, fight for your life cause he is going to eat you! He also is a tree climber!

Bears see your mouth as the weapon, just like theirs, thats why you cover and protect your head.

[Goldeneye]

  Glad everything was OK.  Bear / bird dog encounters worry me.

  I've had 2 encounters while grouse hunting over the years that have stayed with me.  First one was a porcupine.  My lab was jumping back and forth over it when I figured out what she found off on the side hill.  I called her off it.  No issues.  2nd one was in a fairly dense stand of alder where I've gotten grouse in the past, my pup was about 20 yards ahead of me  and I came around a sharp corner and there my pup was nose to nose with a 6x6 bull.  As soon as the bull saw me he scooted off.  Again, came away clean.  The encounters happened on the peninsula.  You just never know what your going to stir up.

[AspenBud]

Just do what this guy did

http://www.wqow.com/story/23834852/2013/10/30/hunter-attacked-by-bear-in-barron-county

Just make sure it's close.

[jasnt]

Dang!     That sounds like too much excitement for my liking... glad you and Ringo are ok!  Springers sure are sweet dogs...it's amazing what dogs can communicate with their facial expressions and the sounds they can make.

So.... I will put this out there and see what you guys think.  This is what I have been told / read on what you are supposed to do in the following situations:

Cougar->  Make yourself appear big, wave arms, yell, throw stuff at them.  Fight like crazy if you get pounced on.

Wolves-> Same as cougars... call dog to heel in all of these scenarios too.  (Opie usually wears a bell too by the way)

Bears-> Don't run, don't climb a tree, back out of the area slowly.  If they attack, play dead and protect your neck with a pack if you are wearing one.  This sounds like a horrible situation to be in.

Is this correct?  With bears I am guessing you don't throw crap at them... just get out of there slowly without showing your back?

Just some other random thoughts...what about worse case scenario in all of these scenarios?  Cougar, wolf (or wolves) or bear charges?  I usually hunt grouse with my 12 gauge and have 00 buck in my hunting vest just in case... would this do the job?  Probably not for a bear? 

Side arm: Sig P226 chambered in .40 --> good enough for cougar and wolves but not for bear?

I think I would be in "Oh Lord Jesus save me" mode so I am thinking buckshot as opposed to slugs...

Thoughts?  Here is to a safe hunt for all of us this season!

- Jg

never play dead with a black bear!!!! You will just be eaten. Just like any thing you fight like hell!  The play dead trick is for grizz and only works if its not hungry.....tho I dout they are ever not hungry!

[johng]

Thank you guys for the clarification on the black bears!  Much obliged!

[ctwiggs1]

I'm not sure about wolves but I can tell that for bear and cougar acting big is the way to go. 

If that doesn't work just shoot them.

And honestly if they are already aggressive, I would probably resort to shooting them first.  I know that's not what others want to hear, but I don't see a reason to take a chance at a hospital bill. 

[rtspring]

Many survival books tell you the best thing to have is a very sharp knife! In the event of a full on attack you can pull it out and get to cutting!!!

So many people in a rush would drop their weapon and run!!!

Im not to into the knife thing, i carry a .40 with seventeen in the hopper! Sure i may
Get cut or bit but im shooting to live first then once its on me Im shoving that .40 into the gut and emptying the whole magazine!

I was charged by a bear a few years ago with cubs! She was one pissed off sow! I backed up to a tree and sat down and held my pistol on my knee! Took aim at her head and drew a imaginery line in the dirt at 20 yds, if she had crossed it, Im certain I could of killed her, luckily she stopped at like 21 yards and stood up and chomped at me.   Then wandered off! I think I sharted atleast twice maybe three times..  But what a frickin rush...

[Torrent50]

Many survival books tell you the best thing to have is a very sharp knife! In the event of a full on attack you can pull it out and get to cutting!!!

So many people in a rush would drop their weapon and run!!!

Im not to into the knife thing, i carry a .40 with seventeen in the hopper! Sure i may
Get cut or bit but im shooting to live first then once its on me Im shoving that .40 into the gut and emptying the whole magazine!

I was charged by a bear a few years ago with cubs! She was one pissed off sow! I backed up to a tree and sat down and held my pistol on my knee! Took aim at her head and drew a imaginery line in the dirt at 20 yds, if she had crossed it, Im certain I could of killed her, luckily she stopped at like 21 yards and stood up and chomped at me.   Then wandered off! I think I sharted atleast twice maybe three times..  But what a frickin rush...

Just a quick comment about shoving the .40 into the gut and emptying it, remember that it doesn't take a whole lot of backwards pressure to take it out of battery and make it not fire.  Not that it would be easy to remember while being attacked by a bear, but close-to-contact is better than contact.  Just my two cents worth as a guy who has a bit of experience with a handgun or two.