Bear attacks rare, BUT when they DO!

I saw the video of the fishermen throwing rocks at the bear previously and just couldn't comprehend being unarmed in Alaska of all places. Apparently, not even one of the several men fishing had a side arm or pepper spray. I guess just give him your fish and hope that is all he wants. You truly get the picture of who is in charge out in bear country the way he approached them. Quite an impressive video.
 
I'd like a Kevlar vest, and a flak jacket or at least a leather jacket and a motor cycle helmet with some facial protection. A short double barreled shotgun and a 357 mag or higher and 10 mg of Valium and OK, I'll visit the woods. Otherwise I'm more of a city person.:)
 
I live in Alaska with a robust brown and black bear population...when i go hunting i go with what everyone else here recommended....44mag or better with a minimum of 300gr Flat nose hard cast. I have a S&W 629 4" loaded with locally produced "Alaska Backpacker Ammo". its a 320 grain HC at 1450 fps....HOT!! Also Buffalo Bore makes a .44 mag +p+...340gr HC at 1600fps!!!! But only the rugers can chamber those i hear.
 
m.p.driver said:
We go to Gatlinburg Tennessee all the time,last visit the bears would come right up to the porch of the house we were renting.
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Yeah, the last cabin we rented in Gatlinburg was called "a bear's den.";) Then, as now, I prefer 10mm Double Taps, lately in a Glock 29.
 
spray will do you just as much good as a revolver will in my opinion.

Be sure to check the stats on lightning attacks in your state as well.
 
Since we are on the lightning issue, it is truly quite alike. Most people dismiss lightning until they are struck as do people hiking in the woods and caught unexpectedly face to face with a bear and no means of defense.

The last 2 nights, here in the desert of CA, we have had some incredible thunder storms. Understanding the dangers of lighting, we turned off all unnecessary lights, and turned off the television until it passed over. We have another storm coming in around midnight and we will do the same thing. I just read an article about a girl who survived a lightning strike while watching TV.

So, most of the folks attacked by bears, weren't prepared as I would venture to guess most struck by lightning have the same cavalier attitude. Both are potentially preventable when proper steps are taken. Both are much more common that folks like to admit. The attitude of it could never happen to me is what leaves people ill prepared.

Greg Bush would tell all, take the proper precautions and carry a big stick like a .454 Alaskan. He would likely be dead without it. If only one person benefits, then all of the naysayers laughing at us will be worth the sarcasm.
 
spray will do you just as much good as a revolver will in my opinion.

Be sure to check the stats on lightning attacks in your state as well.
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If you are worried about lightning strikes, move north to bear country where you don't see anywhere near as much lightning.

http://geology.com/articles/lightning-map.shtml

When you are in bear country, just remember and keep repeating to yourself, more people are killed by lightning than bear attacks and do nothing to prevent an attack. Then we can write a post about your bear attack here as well. Good luck.
 
Just keep saying, bears don't attack people and perhaps you will believe it. But guess what, another bow hunter attacked by a black bear. Sorry, this isn't supposed to happen. Will some one tell the bears please?

Bear attacks hunter in tree
Man injured after falling 15 feet during encounter
Sara Ganim - sganim@centredaily.com
October 20, 2010 7:13am EDT

SPRING MILLS — An archery hunter was attacked by a black bear Monday night as he sat perched in a tree stand in Gregg Township, a Game Commission official confirmed Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2010/10/20/2282993/bear-attacks-hunter-in-tree.html#ixzz12xXznl3r
 
Bears are not dangerous. Bears are not dangerous. Bears are not dangerous.

Stillwater man distracts grizzly bear that attacked hunting buddy
Click image to enlarge

Kim Wunderlich, hunting buddy of Stillwater resident John Wasser, was recently attacked by a grizzly bear during a hunting trip in Montana. Wasser was eventually able to distract the bear, and Wunderlich is expected to make a full recovery. (Submitted photos)

By Bryan Horwath - Stillwater Gazette
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010 1:53 PM CDT
When Stillwater resident John Wasser left for an elk hunting trip to Montana last week, he had no idea how close he would come to not making back home in one piece.

http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2010/09/24/headlines/390agrizzly.txt
 
Not sure what I should glean from these. But I'l hold out for a point Alaska444

Anyways I live in British Columbia, we have bears.........plenty of bears. And strangely enough...lightning as well.

Believe it or not trappers and prospectors can carry handguns when they're traipsing the bush as well, not many do. If anything they tote a 22 and a can of spray.

But I should apologize for my sarcasm, these "handgun for bear threads" all seem, well odd. Use a proper rifle or use spray, either kill it outright or try and dissuade and blind it IMHO. Wound the bear with a pistol, you are screwed. But I should know better then mentioning a con-handgun argument in a pro-handgun debate.

Fella I go hunting with totes one of these when hes hiking (they're very light, handy, and even lighter then my 30-30 trapper thats my hiking gun), strangely enough there legal here, and much better then a 44 mag or the like in my opinion.
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Of course he's usually walking his dachshund, which must be like pushing a desert cart.

But back on topic, a stick is inferior to a handgun or spray (endlessly debatable), and a rifle is a hell of alot better then a handgun.

Would a handgun have made a difference in this mans predicament? There are to many variables. A can of spray may have just as easily made a difference.

End of the day, what will stop a bear faster? 44 mag with heavy hardcasts or a 450 Alaskan in a win 71? Better yet, stay the heck out of the bush is your worried about bears, since not many men can hit a bears tiny sloped skull when its moving at 30+mph, then you have idiots wounding a bear with hastily aimed shots from his handcannon that will go attack someone else again(if it doesn't eat you first), great idea:barf:

Would a solid copper bullet make a better lightning round :D Or would I be better off not running around outside holding a metal rod in the air?

Would you be better off shooting a bear with a 44 mag and trying your luck with a bear thats hunting you, or avoiding confrontation with bears all together unless your HUNTING THEM?

If you are worried about lightning strikes, move north to bear country where you don't see anywhere near as much lightning.

http://geology.com/articles/lightning-map.shtml

When you are in bear country, just remember and keep repeating to yourself, more people are killed by lightning than bear attacks and do nothing to prevent an attack. Then we can write a post about your bear attack here as well. Good luck.
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Fantastic! you've proven more lightning strikes occur damn near anywhere on earth then there are attacks. Read the map legend then look at the "safety colors" :eek:

Prevent an attack by staying out of the bush and realizing a pistol as a defensive arm for dangerous game as the puny, pathetic stopping weapon that it is. The man in this thread with the 454 was fortunate.

Or are you going to tell me a couple of hastily aimed shots from a round with less then 1700 ft/lb on energy (buffalo bore 44 mag) is a better prevention than not being in the brush in the first place?, fer pete sake a 30-30 has more ME. Elephants have been killed with handguns, does a handgun make an ideal weapon of defense in elephant country? Didnt think so.:rolleyes:
 
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Would a handgun have made a difference in this mans predicament? There are to many variables. A can of spray may have just as easily made a difference.

End of the day, what will stop a bear faster? 44 mag with heavy hardcasts or a 450 Alaskan in a win 71? Better yet, stay the heck out of the bush is your worried about bears, since not many men can hit a bears tiny sloped skull when its moving at 30+mph, then you have idiots wounding a bear with hastily aimed shots from his handcannon that will go attack someone else again(if it doesn't eat you first), great idea

Would a solid copper bullet make a better lightning round Or would I be better off not running around outside holding a metal rod in the air?

Would you be better off shooting a bear with a 44 mag and trying your luck with a bear thats hunting you, or avoiding confrontation with bears all together unless your HUNTING THEM?
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My bear stopper is my .444 Marlin. Perhaps not the greatest, but when you get up into bear rifles, recoil becomes a big issue. My .444 is quite manageable and gets me over 3000 ft-pds of muzzle energy, just about more than double a .454 Casull. Yet, handguns are much better than nothing alone.
 
SPRING MILLS — An archery hunter was attacked by a black bear Monday night as he sat perched in a tree stand in Gregg Township, a Game Commission official confirmed Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2010/10/2...#ixzz12xXznl3r
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Question for hunters - is it legal to carry a defensive firearm during archery season? What defines proper use?

This may sound stupid, but I think that in a similar situation, if sufficiently armed and watching from up a tree, I would try to give the bear a warning shot to hopefully avoid shooting a mother with four cubs along. It's too bad the guy fell out of the tree afterward and got hurt.
 
Spacecoast...

... I am pretty sure this varies by state. Seem to recall reading of some that prohibit guns while bow-hunting.
 
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