Need advice for defense against bears

[Dwrice]

You don't really need the A-10, a battery of 155's firing HE or WP work just as well :} I vote for leave the bear alone!

 

[frankiestoys]

you only need a .22 and a buddy to stop a bear. The .22 is to slow down your buddy enough to stop the bear. :d

now thats funny lol

 

[D!rty H@rry]

480 Ruger

 

[CJ]

Requisite list of jokes for every bear thread:
"Whatever it is, just be sure to file down the front sight..."
"A .22. Just shoot your buddy in the knee to slow him down and run."

Really, most encounters with blacks which I know about were solved without having to shoot the bear. The sound of a shot was sufficient to send even mama bear with cubs packing.

 

[AKElroy]

I would not try this with a Grizzly, but I have seen youtube video of fisherman approached by blacks, the bear STEALS the fish on the line, with the fisherman chasing it, screaming curse words & throwing rocks to get it back. Bear runs off, satisfied with the fish.

 

[9MMare]

As an ex-park ranger, I can tell you that on the uncommon occasions that a black bear charges, it is almost always a bluff charge. Even sows with cubs. I dont suggest that you 'take that chance' that it's a bluff, however on govt natural lands it is the duty and responsibility of the person to remove themselves from the the situation as much as possible. Those animals live there.

Shooting a sow with cubs leaves them motherless. (which should go without saying) And snakes should be given the same consideration, btw. It's amazing how many grown men are afraid of rattlers, etc.

Just like is said when cc'ing in civilization that firing is a last resort to corresponding deadly force, it should be the same in the wilds.

I worry more about moose in the lower 48 than black bears anyday.

 

[CrazyIrishman]

9MMare,


When it comes to snakes, particularly the ones that crawl on their belly, I don't have a problem giving them respect or the room to leave the area.

I haven't had any contact with rattlesnakes, but I have had contact with copperheads and water moccasins (aka-cottonmouth).

The problem with the cottonmouth I encountered was that after I backed away from him......quickly, he insisted on coming after ME! Needless to say I ran like hell! LOL!

Its been my experience that "most" snakes will leave as they are more afraid of us than us of them. Unfortunately, thats "most" ,NOT ALL snakes!



Now......if ya want to talk about TWO-legged snakes thats a much different story!

 

[9MMare]

Good to hear.

Yes, cottonmouths mouths can be exciteable. I've never seen one chase anyone, but I've seen them panic...I've moved them off roads, they 'lose traction' on the pavement, and panic. I'd prefer to deal with a rattler over them myself.

 

[luigi]

Hmmmm, Guess I'll have to try to devise some sort of splint that would be easy to carry and put into position.

http://www.sammedical.com/sam_splint.html sam splint

 

[wgp]

I once read that if you are limited to a .357, lubricate it with bacon fat. If you encounter a bear, throw the gun at him and run away while he licks it dry.

 

[dmazur]

There's another thread running with a link to a 1983 USFS report -

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=485872

 

[AStone]

The .22 is to slow down your buddy enough to stop the bear.

That and Mainsail's A-10 are the best posts so far.

I've walked in woodlands where bear roam for 4 decades.
Never had a problem. Pay attention. Don't carry food in your tent.
If you even spill food on your clothes at dinner, leave them outside the tent.

Fear lightning (in western high country), hypothermia, broken bones
& meth cookers far more than bear outside of MT, AK or BC.
(If you go up there, then the story changes.)

What caliber for lightning?

 

[Shadow 7D]

why are you scared of a black bear?
I really want to see what you carry for the monster under your bed
It's called bear spray, it's made for bears, and funny enough, it even works, and the part where you learn what to do, and NOT TO DO.

Don't know bout yall, but around here, you shoot a bear, your the one getting investigated, and if it wasn't clear, and by that I mean witness by no less than your preacher, the F&G's grandmother and a biologist, your going to wait a while.

 

[tipoc]

OK, I apologize, I hate to feed the bears in bear threads but...

Here is a Black Bear what took two rounds from a .44 Mag here recently, one to the skull, and walked away...

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/NV_Big_Bear_458567C.shtml

why are you scared of a black bear?

Well it weighs 600 pounds, ripped a hole in the garage door and is breaking into my house to steal my cookies. I likes my cookies.

tipoc

 

[Ben86]

Is it true that you should try firing a warning shot first to try and scare it off? I have heard that once you wound the bear it will absolutely try to kill you, but if you fire a shot at the ground you might be able to just scare it off and avoid the fight. Can someone tell me if this is retarded hearsay?

 

[Cosmoline]

Heavy hardcast solids are the way to go for a handgun. But most black bears are not a real threat to an adult male. They'll size you up and figure you're too big for their belly. The predatory episodes usually involve children or smaller women.

I have heard that once you wound the bear it will absolutely try to kill you, but if you fire a shot at the ground you might be able to just scare it off and avoid the fight. Can someone tell me if this is retarded hearsay?

Instances of shot bear coming after people are rare and restricted to the meaner types of griz. I have heard of "warning shots" to the ground turning charges. But there are no guarantees.

 

[MT GUNNY]

Use what ever you like for all other Critters except bears, after you have determined that don't enter the Outdoors unless your with a Friend you can out run!

 

[9MMare]

When people make first-hand experience comments about black bears (or grizz's) it helps to know where you are located. It often makes a difference.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

Bearinpickup

A nice chey pickup with trash bags in the back parked 100 yrds away makes a fine deterrent. Bear jumps in pickup snatches trash bag and heads out happy. Makes nice pictures and camp fire story. Scatter gun not in photo.

 

[mustang_steve]

make a rolling cart with a 100x100 barrel-edge to barrel-edge array of breech-loading 22.mag rifles. Aim at bear, fire all of them simultaneously.

The bear should be look like a hill of ground beef from the front when done. And you can say you've used .22mag weapons to drop a bear sucessfully on the first shot.

Given, the ATF might be unamused by this....so YMMV.

 

[rondog]

I'll leave 'em alone, if they leave me alone. But if he starts beating on my Jeep, it's ON!

 

[jmr40]

If your friend can handle a 44 comfortably there is nothing wrong with that choice. Around black bears I would feel well enough armed with either a good 357 mag or my 1st choice, a Glock 10mm loaded with hot loads. I backpack a lot in bear country and have all 3 choices and the Glock is the gun that gets carried most.

If I were hunting, or hiking in big bear territory then the 44 mag would get the nod.

 

[goon]

The bears we have in the east aren't really mythical creatures of doom. They're just bears.
I've seen over a dozen while hiking in the woods, some of them only feet away. They have always either continued on about their business or flat out ran away from me, knocking small trees aside as they fled.
I pack an SP-101 any time I go in the woods and lots of times when I go somewhere else. It's loaded with full power 158 grain JSP's for woods carry - either Federal or Magtech.
There are many other options as well - actually too many to list.

If it comes to long guns - Marlin 336 in .30-30 is an obvious choice.

 

[bad_aim_billy]

Fear lightning (in western high country), hypothermia, broken bones
& meth cookers far more than bear outside of MT, AK or BC

Why outside of those states? I fear lightning way more than I fear bears...

 

[snakeman]

30/30 45/70 44 mag 454 casull anything slow and heavy and that he shoots well will suffice. 357 would be marginal but not incapable