I'm going to keep this short and to the point, basically so others can learn from the charge we experienced, what worked for us and what we could have done better.
This past weekend my brother and I and his friend packed into the Absarokee wilderness with one horse for his goat hunt. About 3/4 of the way in, we surprised a silver tip sow feeding on grouse berries that had a cub. The wind was in our face so she didn't smell us, we ran into her about 60-70 yards out and started yelling and making noise when we saw her. She took off at first, but we could see the other bear run through the trees with her.
We all drew our pepper spray when seeing her, and as we were deciding what to do next could hear her coming back at us like a freight train through the trees crashing through everything. The first charge she stopped about 40 yards out, we all grouped up together near the horse ready to spray and yelling at the sow. She turned and ran, and came back for a second charge stopping around 30-35 yards. My brother at this point loaded his rifle in the event she came in at us. We yelled more and prepared for the worse, she turned and went back again.
THe third charge was the worst, she came to within 25 yards on the top of the crest of a small rise, at this point my brother had her in the scope, I had both pepper spray and handgun out, and our companion raised his arms and yelled to go away. This irritated the bear worse, she huffed and stomped and appeared to be ready to come in on us. My brothers friend gave a burst of pepper spray and we all started stepping back slowly, this seemed to have an effect and the bear then turned and ran.
Lessons learned: Good things we did: 1. stay together in a tight group and close to the horse, made us look more formidable. 2. we all drew our pepper spray and guns, and made a racket at the bear. 3. We did not turn and run, and surprisingly all stayed composed through the encounter.
Things to improve on or not to: 1.don't raise your hands to appear larger with a sow with a cub, this seemed to enrage her more and challenge her 2. If you get into an area of "bear food" whether it be berries or pine nuts, be on the lookout and ready, or re-route your trail around. 3. Most important, we should have started backing away from the initial encounter, we stood our ground trying to figure out what to do next. Soon as we started backing away it seemed to help. 4. Discharge the pepper spray earlier in the encounter, don't wait.
Be safe out there, hope this might help others a little.
This past weekend my brother and I and his friend packed into the Absarokee wilderness with one horse for his goat hunt. About 3/4 of the way in, we surprised a silver tip sow feeding on grouse berries that had a cub. The wind was in our face so she didn't smell us, we ran into her about 60-70 yards out and started yelling and making noise when we saw her. She took off at first, but we could see the other bear run through the trees with her.
We all drew our pepper spray when seeing her, and as we were deciding what to do next could hear her coming back at us like a freight train through the trees crashing through everything. The first charge she stopped about 40 yards out, we all grouped up together near the horse ready to spray and yelling at the sow. She turned and ran, and came back for a second charge stopping around 30-35 yards. My brother at this point loaded his rifle in the event she came in at us. We yelled more and prepared for the worse, she turned and went back again.
THe third charge was the worst, she came to within 25 yards on the top of the crest of a small rise, at this point my brother had her in the scope, I had both pepper spray and handgun out, and our companion raised his arms and yelled to go away. This irritated the bear worse, she huffed and stomped and appeared to be ready to come in on us. My brothers friend gave a burst of pepper spray and we all started stepping back slowly, this seemed to have an effect and the bear then turned and ran.
Lessons learned: Good things we did: 1. stay together in a tight group and close to the horse, made us look more formidable. 2. we all drew our pepper spray and guns, and made a racket at the bear. 3. We did not turn and run, and surprisingly all stayed composed through the encounter.
Things to improve on or not to: 1.don't raise your hands to appear larger with a sow with a cub, this seemed to enrage her more and challenge her 2. If you get into an area of "bear food" whether it be berries or pine nuts, be on the lookout and ready, or re-route your trail around. 3. Most important, we should have started backing away from the initial encounter, we stood our ground trying to figure out what to do next. Soon as we started backing away it seemed to help. 4. Discharge the pepper spray earlier in the encounter, don't wait.
Be safe out there, hope this might help others a little.
