Practicing bear defense shooting

[Jcs271]

As a hunter, and more specifically a predator hunter in grizzly country, I always recognize the potential for a bear attack when calling. I try to follow all of the rules for calling safety but realize that sometimes "stuff" happens! This was brought home to me about 4 yrs ago when an adult female black bear in perfect condition came after me in a full predatory attack with my scent blowing directly into her face. Miraculously, I saw her in time to shove the barrel towards her face and shoot her through the mouth killing her instantly. Shooting an animal in self defense is not fun, nor is the subsequent investigation by state game wardens and bear management specialists. Since then I am even more careful with site selection when calling, particularly in heavy timber.
To that end I practice a lot of close range shooting with my rifles and my 10mm pistol. Equally important I mentally practice what I will do in response to an attack.
This weekend I setup a motorized target in the backyard and outfitted it with one of the Alaska State Parks charging bear training targets.



I invited several of my friends over but did not tell them why. They were just told to bring their rifle and sidearm because we were going to do something different.
Everybody got a chance to shoot both their rifle and handgun from a variety of positions.

Click "img" on left side below for video......

I was very happy not to embarrass myself to badly.


Click "img" on left side below for video........

At the end of the day one of my friends said "You know, this may have saved my life". He carries a .357 revolver and after multiple runs he only had one hit (near the top of the back), the rest were clean misses. He was very honest when he said that he had never given much thought to shooting moving targets and will be spending a lot more time practicing.
While I realize most talk of bear guns and stopping power is just recreational mental gymnastics because few of us will ever be faced with the situation, it is a confidence booster to have some experience with shooting at moving targets.

P.S. The motor is a commercial unit from Action Targets in Utah. Variable speed that can probably push 20mph with a light target. We were running it at 10mph due to the uneven terrain. The cart is a homemade device that I use at my Safari Rifle shoot every year. It is also REALLY, REALLY fun! Good Hunting, be safe. JCS

 

[mtmander]

try bear spray, bigger area covered

 

[Jcs271]

try bear spray, bigger area covered

Where is the manly fun in that!

 

[Titan_Bow]

I just got home from a week up north of Libby. One night I had a close encounter with a moose, who charged and missed me by about 3ft. as I was riding my mountain bike down a logging road. That encounter demonstrated to me that in all likelihood, you'd probably never even get a chance to draw your spray or firearm! I've heard that stated before, that alot of bear attack survivors had a firearm or spray and they never unholstered it. that definitely looks like a valuable skill to hone however. If you did have the luck on your side to be able to see a charging bear and have a few seconds to react, having the confidence to actually hit your target is crucial!

 

[HighDesertSage]

I hope I never have to defend my self against an animal with a pistol. The only thing I am even moderately accurate with is a .40, and even then its pretty sad. I carry bear spray for critters and a .40 for psychos.

 

[1_pointer]

Good and fun practice!

 

[Jcs271]

I just got home from a week up north of Libby. One night I had a close encounter with a moose, who charged and missed me by about 3ft. as I was riding my mountain bike down a logging road. That encounter demonstrated to me that in all likelihood, you'd probably never even get a chance to draw your spray or firearm! I've heard that stated before, that alot of bear attack survivors had a firearm or spray and they never unholstered it. that definitely looks like a valuable skill to hone however. If you did have the luck on your side to be able to see a charging bear and have a few seconds to react, having the confidence to actually hit your target is crucial!

You were in my neighborhood. We had a USFS law enforcement officer killed while riding his mtn bike near Glacier park last summer. He actually collided with a large male grizz. I ride gated roads several days a week and have for years carried my bear (moose) spray in the water bottle holder. Not sure it would have helped in the case of a collision but may prove handy if I have some warning.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Just for fun, here's a tidbit of interesting trivia I've learned from the Law Enforcement and bear guys I've worked with. They have said that for your average shooter, you can take the size of the group shot under a controlled situation and double it for a situation where the shooter is under duress. Seems like a reasonable estimate to me. You do have more margin for error with spray.

Looks like a fun day at the range! We had to do moving targets for firearms quals, and those were my favorite part!

 

[Jcs271]

Having spent the majority of my life in law enforcement, hanging around hunters and other "gun guys", I think that only doubling the size of groups fired under stress is pretty optimistic. I would guess that when under a close range attack, most folks will just turn and run or start banging away with un aimed fire. Happily the odds of it actually happening to any of us is extremely remote.

 

[Dinkshooter]

That looks like fun, vids didn't work for me

 

[DeltaDave]

This is a long shot no pun intended I know this is an old post but when I did a search for moving bear targets you popped up. I have been looking for a charging bear target like you made, your design looks functional, simple, and easy to gather the parts to make this moving target. As the old saying goes why reinvent the wheel. Would you be so kind as to give me a material list for this target setup.
I looked on the action target website for the motor but I did not see the motor. I will try to contact action targets during business hours.
Thank you for your consideration.

 

[Jcs271]

The electric worked ok but since then I have designed something much better. Using an old wheelbarrow rim (wheel) and some scrap steel bedframe rail I fabricated an extension to go onto the existing bolts of my atv rear wheel. By propping the rear of the atv off the ground I can have the target move forward and reverse at ANY speed I want. All using a bomb proof atv motor that won't burn out on me.



The target carts are also made from welded scrap bed frame rails with Harbor Freight inflatable tires. Fun and cheap project that works great!

 

[Jcs271]

Well, a new guy revives an 8yr old thread, I happen to see it and reply, new guy doesn't come back.

 

[DeltaDave]

Well, a new guy revives an 8yr old thread, I happen to see it and reply, new guy doesn't come back.

The new guy here. Thanks for the latest and greatest version of the moving bear target. Looks a lot easier to power up and control speed. Are you using rope or wire cable on this version to move the target? Yes I will check back more often. Spring is coming I now have a new project to work on.

 

[Jcs271]

I used a well anchored T post at the other end. With a nice pulley attached to it. And I used some moderate weight nylon rope that I had pre-stretched at home. I wrapped a little bit of bicycle inner tube around the wheel attached to the ATV. The rubber just gives it enough bite/traction to grip the rope and move the wheeled target cart. With some very basic tools you can actually make a pretty utilitary Target mover. Good luck

 

[Greybeard]

That looks like a real hoot. You could change that to all kinds of fun targets. Bigfoot, a methhead with a sharpend screwdriver, crazy redheaded ex-girlfriend, ect.

 

[DeltaDave]

I used a well anchored T post at the other end. With a nice pulley attached to it. And I used some moderate weight nylon rope that I had pre-stretched at home. I wrapped a little bit of bicycle inner tube around the wheel attached to the ATV. The rubber just gives it enough bite/traction to grip the rope and move the wheeled target cart. With some very basic tools you can actually make a pretty utilitary Target mover. Good luck

Thanks for the info. I will keep you informed as to my progress on this project. Might be a while as winter is still here in Alaska. I will start to gather up the parts and pieces so that I will be ready this spring.