I dont want to come across here as a negative nellie, but, if possible, it is better to take it off your belt, point it, at arms length, toward the bears face and spray him in the face. But before that---- Ignore them and back away slowly. Unlike women, ignoring them works most of the time.
YES, on both counts !Bears are far more predictable than humans!
I feel 100% safer alone at night in bear woods than I feel downtown Saskatoon.
Me to my wife: "this steak is overcooked, fries cold and beer warm..."
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I want someone to create bear spray that can be deployed like a ninja smoke bomb. I'll throw it and just hit the dirt. And wait. And cry.
"Despite multiple attempts by all seven people to haze away the bear, it continued its charge. Due to this immediate safety risk, the bear was shot and died about 20 yards from the group. The bear was an older-age male grizzly."
This is interesting and prompted a thought. Would a shotgun/slug gun with self defense style barrel and high capacity magazine be the ultimate bear defense weapon? Maybe loaded every other with slugs and 000 buckshot?
TBH, on most Canadian forums this seems to be the consensus in terms of firearms carry in bear country. But we also cannot legally carry a handgun... In terms of efficiency, I'd much prefer a shotgun but if I were to carry it all day everyday I'd compromise for a handgun...
Probably not. Folks overestimate the capabilities of a slug because it’s big. In reality they deform easily, which CAN limit penetration. Shot placement is your first concern, followed by penetration.
I think the better argument for a shotgun is ease of aim and pattern when using buck shot.
Even still, buckshot has limited abilities to penetrate through bone and heavy tissue relative to a large bore rifle slug. Ive seen the performance of buckshot. It works, with limitations. There certainly is a psychological component that compels folks to feel more comfortable with buckshot than they would a rifle, despite the fact the rifle very likely to be more effective.
You're completely right, but I'd rather have 2-3 buck shot pellets hit a bear over a clean hardcast miss!!!
In 20 years at the Pd we shot three people. 20 years guiding, one bear.
polar bears are the exception, as they follow and stalk. Since I dont took like a seal, they are curious and sometimes hungry. They tend to walk straight toward you with their head down and if you dont run or defend yourself in some way they would walk right up to you before taking a bite, so you try to discourage them before they get to close. this is when we do use a shotgun or aerial flares in a effort to make it look elsewhere for dinner. Bear spray only works if the wind is at your back and it is not minus 25 or colder., however I believe this thread os referring to the Grizzly
Exactly. Which was my point earlier about taking the boy into the mountains, Dog attacks, car accidents, drowning, accidental firearm discharges, ------
