Bears in the winter

[Night goat]

I feel dumb for asking this but I simply don’t know…. I’m not 100% convinced a bear won’t get up mid winter and end hibernation early if temperatures allowed.

The reason why I bring this up as I’m going up to southeast Alaska in 2 weeks to visit a friend for a while and we have plenty of adventures planned out… everything in me is saying to bring the 10mm… she says there’s nothing to worry about, but I say that it’s Alaska and it’s not worth risking it even if they are supposed to all be sleeping, I don’t trust that entirely. It’s a no brainer to me 3/4s the year to stay armed up there but she says it’s safe this time of year… I just don’t like letting my guard down up there…

Thoughts?

[Skillet]

I feel dumb for asking this but I simply don’t know…. I’m not 100% convinced a bear won’t get up mid winter and end hibernation early if temperatures allowed.

The reason why I bring this up as I’m going up to southeast Alaska in 2 weeks to visit a friend for a while and we have plenty of adventures planned out… everything in me is saying to bring the 10mm… she says there’s nothing to worry about, but I say that it’s Alaska and it’s not worth risking it even if they are supposed to all be sleeping, I don’t trust that entirely. It’s a no brainer to me 3/4s the year to stay armed up there but she says it’s safe this time of year… I just don’t like letting my guard down up there…

Thoughts?

In Sitka here. 

#1 - If you want to carry, carry.  No chick's false confidence could ever get me to not carry if I felt I needed to, no matter how sweet the cake was...

#2 - If the reason you are carrying is you are worried about bears being up in February, I think you are worrying too much. There's other good reasons to carry.

#3 - I've been wrong about bears being up during late November blacktail hunts, but I've never, ever, seen any activity after Dec 1 until about March 1.  We have a few bruin marauders that let the town know when they're up and about, since the garbage pickings are pretty easy. And unless I'm not as up on that info as I think I am, I don't believe we've had a bear on the prowl here in Jan/Feb.  But - even though it has been very stormy this winter, it has been warm.  So I could stand to be corrected.

Just some free advice, probably worth what you paid for it.

[Rob]

I saw a black bear in eastern Wa walking on an iced over lake in January on a sunny 25 degree day...

Bears do not hibernate in the true sense, they will on occasion get up and do a walkabout.  That said, I would think it to be very unusual to see one up and about that early.

No reason not to bring your 10mm though!

[pashok23]

Take it!!!

[carpsniperg2]

You know the saying: Better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

There were some people on youtube, we were just talking about in a bad spot with a bear wishing they had more guns and a way to protect themselves better when stuff went bad.

[KFhunter]

I'd prolly pack a regular EDC for people, they can get a little sketch this time of year 

[headshot5]

I wouldn't be too concerned about bears right now.  Other predators etc, I would including moose in deeper snow they get pissy.  How far North into Alaska are you going? 

[boneaddict]

I’d be more worried about 2 legged predators, and the 10 works wonders on them.

[KFhunter]

I’d be more worried about 2 legged predators, and the 10 works wonders on them.

Zip right through if using bear loads, it might be less lethal than a 9mm with self defense rounds.

[Rob]

Good point on Moose.  They scare me a lot more than bears.