Frulk
Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Messages
- 1,601
Firewood, you should know that what to carry in bear country is THR's version of an oil thread on the ADV Riders Forum.
I've ADV'd in bear country and spend a lot of time on foot in remote areas of Maine (Allagash Wilderness), Wyoming (Wind Rivers, Absaroka's) but also Idaho (ID/Mt border area, Utah (High Uintas) etc. So this topic is somewhat near and dear to my heart.
In my younger years I hunted black bear on the northeastern Canadian side of Lake of the Woods and dropped a spring boar that went every bit of 400 pounds and whose skull I measured somewhere in the low/mid 17-inch range (I'm not B&C cert to score). While doing that I belonged to a now defunct monthly book club and boned up on everything bear related.
You've gotten some great advice so far, ESPECIALLY about having a non-lethal first option.
I've always maintained that there are two types of bears... the one with, and the one without a full-on adrenaline rush/dump in their blood. The second one, in my estimation is the problem. There are some incredible, hair-raising authenticated stories of not just grizzly but also black bears in those pages absorbing multiple high power/large bore centerfire rounds and continuing towards their human target as if nothing happened.
Having read numerous books from various authors on this subject has left me feeling that the only reliable and fast to press into action and possibly provide a one-shot stop outside of the tent is a 45-70 with the hottest charge throwing the heaviest hard cast projectile out of a ported guide gun. Something that is fast to point and provides a sight radius that is more stable under what would be some dire circumstances with the possibility to provide a well-placed follow-up shot. Obviously, there are other, more appropriate firearm/caliber combo choices under different circumstances such as if hunting bear.
I know, I know...so and so killed the largest Brown with a .22 LR head shot and this guy dropped a charging brown with a 9mm etc. Those folks got LUCKY. Great that it worked out for them. Ask any of them if that gun would be their first choice if the same circumstance happened again.
Speaking only for myself, everything else is a compromise dictated by the limitations/realities of the undertaking at hand in bear country. I carry a .329PD in backcountry. The lightest mass produced .44 mag currently on the market. I consider it a compromise and am not confident in its one-shot stopping ability on a grizzly rolling into camp at speed...to say nothing of my shooting ability to place 1-2 rounds in the vitals under those circumstances. My FIRST choice would be that ported Marlin with the aforementioned ammo outside of the tent and the 329PD for use inside of it.
However, thankfully bear attacks are rare. Don't overthink this. Do the basics.
Don't camp in a site where it's obvious food hygiene wasn't enforced. Dig through the fire ring. They're the unofficial garbage cans of campsites. Is there partially burned food in there? Empty kipper cans in bear country are NEVER a good sign...move on and find a better spot if the answer is yes. Bear bag your food. Cook and eat a decent distance away from your tent. NEVER eat or store food in it. Bag your toiletries with the food (toothpaste etc.) I NEVER cook bacon in BIG bear country. Don't sleep in the clothes you cook in if tenting.
Occasionally make some noises. You don't want a bear wandering into camp and being surprised by your presence. Also do it while hiking. Keep your bear spray HANDY...not in your pannier or tent.
You're doing OK with a GP100 with 180 grain hard cast loaded on the hotter side. Of course, you could just go for a guaranteed, proven one shot bear stopper like the .22LR or 9mm.
I've ADV'd in bear country and spend a lot of time on foot in remote areas of Maine (Allagash Wilderness), Wyoming (Wind Rivers, Absaroka's) but also Idaho (ID/Mt border area, Utah (High Uintas) etc. So this topic is somewhat near and dear to my heart.
In my younger years I hunted black bear on the northeastern Canadian side of Lake of the Woods and dropped a spring boar that went every bit of 400 pounds and whose skull I measured somewhere in the low/mid 17-inch range (I'm not B&C cert to score). While doing that I belonged to a now defunct monthly book club and boned up on everything bear related.
You've gotten some great advice so far, ESPECIALLY about having a non-lethal first option.
I've always maintained that there are two types of bears... the one with, and the one without a full-on adrenaline rush/dump in their blood. The second one, in my estimation is the problem. There are some incredible, hair-raising authenticated stories of not just grizzly but also black bears in those pages absorbing multiple high power/large bore centerfire rounds and continuing towards their human target as if nothing happened.
Having read numerous books from various authors on this subject has left me feeling that the only reliable and fast to press into action and possibly provide a one-shot stop outside of the tent is a 45-70 with the hottest charge throwing the heaviest hard cast projectile out of a ported guide gun. Something that is fast to point and provides a sight radius that is more stable under what would be some dire circumstances with the possibility to provide a well-placed follow-up shot. Obviously, there are other, more appropriate firearm/caliber combo choices under different circumstances such as if hunting bear.
I know, I know...so and so killed the largest Brown with a .22 LR head shot and this guy dropped a charging brown with a 9mm etc. Those folks got LUCKY. Great that it worked out for them. Ask any of them if that gun would be their first choice if the same circumstance happened again.
Speaking only for myself, everything else is a compromise dictated by the limitations/realities of the undertaking at hand in bear country. I carry a .329PD in backcountry. The lightest mass produced .44 mag currently on the market. I consider it a compromise and am not confident in its one-shot stopping ability on a grizzly rolling into camp at speed...to say nothing of my shooting ability to place 1-2 rounds in the vitals under those circumstances. My FIRST choice would be that ported Marlin with the aforementioned ammo outside of the tent and the 329PD for use inside of it.
However, thankfully bear attacks are rare. Don't overthink this. Do the basics.
Don't camp in a site where it's obvious food hygiene wasn't enforced. Dig through the fire ring. They're the unofficial garbage cans of campsites. Is there partially burned food in there? Empty kipper cans in bear country are NEVER a good sign...move on and find a better spot if the answer is yes. Bear bag your food. Cook and eat a decent distance away from your tent. NEVER eat or store food in it. Bag your toiletries with the food (toothpaste etc.) I NEVER cook bacon in BIG bear country. Don't sleep in the clothes you cook in if tenting.
Occasionally make some noises. You don't want a bear wandering into camp and being surprised by your presence. Also do it while hiking. Keep your bear spray HANDY...not in your pannier or tent.
You're doing OK with a GP100 with 180 grain hard cast loaded on the hotter side. Of course, you could just go for a guaranteed, proven one shot bear stopper like the .22LR or 9mm.
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