Bear spray vs a gun

[jha6av8r]

Interesting article on bear spray compared to a gun. What you use probably depends on what's in your hand at the time.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/research-bear-spray-stops-angry-grizzlies-better-than-guns/article_b0d338b6-7638-11e1-b809-0019bb2963f4.html

 

[Smokecreek1]

Ya, I'll agree with that. Avoiding and knowing how to deal with them in the first place is the best answer, but one can always get blind sided or have one come into camp for dinner and need to do something other than play dead or yell at it. I remember years ago seeing a program on tv where they set up a course that put a bear cut out 30 yards away from the experienced pistol shot and pulled it at the speed of a charging bear and saw how many rounds the guy could place with a pistol on the cut-out and then tried it again using bear spay. The bear spay covered more of the target than the one or two rounds from the pistol that hit the cut out, but again would either stop a charging griz in its tracks? From what I read spray usually stops the bear, but who wants to find out.The results sort of speaks for trying not getting in the situation in the first place.

I have actually tried to see how fast I can pull my bear spray off of my harness and point it, but boy, me thinks I would be bear meat without allot more practice; again I can probably say the same thing about pulling my Colt trooper 357 off of my hip. If I was working in bear country all the time, and not just enjoying once in a while it like I do now, I think I would "practice" with both allot more. For years my work kept be in black bear(not griz country) country and we just learned how to work around them, but I had enough friends of mine working BLM/BIA up in Alaska that were required to carry a gun at all times. Again, as we always say "Be prepared at all times" because anything can and could happen to ruin that nice hike or camping trip.

Smoke

 

[Captm]

I find when not on my hip the canisters stows nicely in quick to reach locations to be used for non lethal defense against the two legged creatures.

 

[jha6av8r]

I find when not on my hip the canisters stows nicely in quick to reach locations to be used for non lethal defense against the two legged creatures.

I make my wife carry the bear spray when she's hiking. More for the two legged predator than the mountain lions in the hills.

 

[BillM]

In the States I carry bear spray when in grizzly country and fortunately have never had to use it. When we travelled to AK in the late 90's I took a shotgun because my understanding was that pepper spray was illegal in Canada. Looking on the U.S. Canadian embassy website it looks to me like that is still the case. They list it as a restricted firearm and state that:

"A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. The ATT will not be issued for hunting or self-protection purposes."

http://canada.usembassy.gov/traveling_to_canada/bringing-weapons-into-canada.html

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

In the States I carry bear spray when in grizzly country and fortunately have never had to use it. When we travelled to AK in the late 90's I took a shotgun because my understanding was that pepper spray was illegal in Canada. Looking on the U.S. Canadian embassy website it looks to me like that is still the case. They list it as a restricted firearm and state that:

"A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. The ATT will not be issued for hunting or self-protection purposes."

http://canada.usembassy.gov/traveling_to_canada/bringing-weapons-into-canada.html

On our 2011 trip to Denali I had Bear spray with us.As I crossed into Canada North of Haines Ak. I asked the Canadian officer about the spray.
His reply "... If it's human pepper spray no go but if it's bear spray OK".
Just relating what I was told.
Frank

 

[craig333]

Funny how you can go into any convenience store here an get pepper spray. I have bear spray in the camper but I don't normally carry it. If I were in a area with bear warnings I'd take it. Fortunately bears normally don't like to eat us.

 

[LuckyDan]

Of equal interest to me was the other article about the faux campsite visit:

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-zoo-grizzly-bear-demonstrates-vulnerability-of-mock-campsite/article_130cce0e-aca4-11e3-9bde-0019bb2963f4.html

 

[Taku]

Link to an outstanding article on this topic published in RMEFs Bugle magazine (disclaimer: it was written by my wife)

http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/SafetyProcedures/documents/Bugle-SurvivalSprayArticle-B-SeptOct2012.pdf

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2009/08/Isbearsprayeffective.htm

http://www.kulr8.com/story/23191179/guns-vs-bear-spray

And a few other articles. A friend of mine was elk hunting north of Jackson two years ago, came out of a small grove of aspens and about two seconds later a two bear cubs popped out about 50 yards in front of him and the sow was right behind. She saw him and immediately charged. he shot his bear spray from the hip and it stopped her about 2 yards in front of him. She circled, he turned and kept spraying. She coughed and took off after the cubs. End of story. It is also recommended that you think about carrying two cans, one in the pack so if you use the can on the hip, you have another for the walk out.

 

[Kolockum]

I rely mostly on bear spray. Having been pepper sprayed during training I can vouch it is a good deterrent but you can fight through it. My biggest concern is startling a bear up wind of me who was not able to hear or smell me before he saw me. And since bear spray is a fog you have to be REALLY cognesent of the wind direction. I try to plan my route accordingly but if I am in Grizzly country then I will carry a .44 in addition to bear spray. I dont really worry about black bears in the Olympic or Cascade mountain range.

I have had to use bear spray on a ratcoon that was claiming our food cache as his own. Worked quite well.

 

[chnlisle]

And adds a nice spicy pop to the Cheerios.

 

[Beach]

pro bear spray article, good read. http://www.ballistics101.com/camping.php

 

[craig333]

Keeping in mind, I've seen a fair number of bears (no griz yet) and never seen one aggressive to people (food is another thing) yet.

 

[N'kwala]

Interesting article started the discussion. Makes sense to me.

I can state categorically that bear spray is legal in Canada. It's sold there, and manufactured there. It seems that some cities (Victoria, BC for sure) require registration to purchase but it's definitely legal and carrying it is encouraged in bear habitat.

People spray is another matter.

 

[N'kwala]

Another reason to carry 2 cans. The only time I've used the stuff was in Manning Park in BC and I was charged by a rotweiler. Unfortunately the spray button fell off, leaving a stream of capsaicin liquid bubbling out of the bear spray cannister. I threw it at the dog who sniffed it and ran off, yelping. His human then gave me hell for attacking his dog. Tough beans. Not sure the strategy would work with a bear.

I went back to the store I'd bought if from and told them my story. The guy behind the counter said he'd never heard any complaints before, which I take to be like complaining of a dysfunctional parachute.

 

[idahoron]

I had a Black bear charge me once. The bear was following my kids through a camp ground and I ran at it with a rock in my hand. The bear ran and I kept chasing it out of the camp ground. Then it turned on me and charged. Another man was behind me and when the bear saw the second man it again ran and we watched it.
I am a fish and game reservist. The Local conservation officer and the Forest service asked me to help them that night. There were five bears in the camp. We went after the one that was following my kids. We used rubber bullets but never had the chance to shoot. The bears were coming into the camp and I knew something was up. I found out that some people were feeding them baked potatoes so they could take pictures. That night I was charged again but the bear backed down quickly. I would agree that spray might be more affective. It most certainly would be easier to use in low light and with a huge rush of adrenaline. I am the kind of guy that would choose a gun in most cases. It would be tough to rely on the spray but I am sure it would work better. That said I would still be wearing a pistol.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

I had a Black bear charge me once. The bear was following my kids through a camp ground and I ran at it with a rock in my hand. The bear ran and I kept chasing it out of the camp ground. Then it turned on me and charged. Another man was behind me and when the bear saw the second man it again ran and we watched it.
I am a fish and game reservist. The Local conservation officer and the Forest service asked me to help them that night. There were five bears in the camp. We went after the one that was following my kids. We used rubber bullets but never had the chance to shoot. The bears were coming into the camp and I knew something was up. I found out that some people were feeding them baked potatoes so they could take pictures. That night I was charged again but the bear backed down quickly. I would agree that spray might be more affective. It most certainly would be easier to use in low light and with a huge rush of adrenaline. I am the kind of guy that would choose a gun in most cases. It would be tough to rely on the spray but I am sure it would work better. That said I would still be wearing a pistol.

In the future when observing persons feeding the bears, spray them with the bear spray. Also most bear sprays are made with an added dye to track down which ever bear has attacked or charged someone, so they can either relocate it or in some cases shoot it. Sounds like a good idea so you can track down relocate and or shoot the people causing the problems in the first place....

Stupid people, potatoes are for people...

 

[John D]

Maximum security would be an M-4 loaded with a 30 round clip and bear spray mounted on a rail. This is no joke. It would take care of business for most women (and men), does not require much training, is light weight, possibly the least expensive, readily available rifle out there and the ammo is cheap. This rig is all purpose, easy to stow behind the truck seat, or inside the FWC, great for home defense too. When carried out in the open where two legged varmints can see it, they would give a wide berth, probably would not even get close enough to say "Howdy". Lets say they are high on something they are growing and don't see the rifle. They come up to assault you; poke em with the barrel, that is what the riot police are trained to do! And if you are worried about the power of the diminutive 5.56 round, AlJazerra says the favorite gun of African poachers is the AK-47. With it, they have just about killed all the elephants in Kenya. The AR based M-4 is, for all practical purposes, about the same as an AK but you could get an AK if you wanted, and for less money.

Look, life is a compromise. If you are really worried about being attacked, stay home. John D

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I've always favored the Ontos. There's just something about those 106's.

 

[craig333]

While I can sympathize with spraying the idiots who feed wildlife I really don't think its worth getting a assault charge over. Take a pic and give it to the authorities.