Loosedhorse
Moderator
I know this topic has come up before, so let me start out with some discussion:
I am addressing brown bear/grizzly attacks rather than black bear. I have been told that black bears are far less likely to attack, and easier to dissuade. (If I am wrong, please let me know.)
It is clear that a gun does you no good if you either can't get it into action in time, or if you are a bad shot and/or haven't practiced with your gun. So, my question has to do with, for example, a fly-fisherman who has his hands occupied when the bear approaches. For this reason, I'm going to specify I'm thinking of a pistol in a chest holster, rather than a slung long gun. (I've also been told--just told, no documentation--that the rangers investigating a bear shooting incident are more likely to see one involving a handgun as defensive, and more likely to view a guy with a long gun as maybe "looking for trouble"; so let's stick with handgun). Similarly, I'd want the pepper-spray on me, easily accessible.
The USFWS is on record as being a BIG fan of pepper-spray. However, I think there are good reasons to be suspicious of their data. They compare outcomes in pepper-spray use and gun use against attacking bears, but the types of attacks in those cases may vary. If a person uses a gun on a bear, that's a HUGE investigation with lots of penalties in the balance; I would therefore think that someone armed only with a gun would not shoot at a curious bear or a posturing bear, but ONLY at a charging bear. A person with bear spray might use a lower threshold for use, and if so then comparing bear-spray-use "attacks" to gun-use attacks may be apples to oranges.
Here's the study, if you'd like to review it yourself: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/bear_cougar/bear/files/JWM_BearSprayAlaska.pdf
On the subject of carrying both, I talked with one Alaskan who HAS been attacked and injured by a brown bear, many years ago. He carries a gun only, saying there's no time to get out the pepper-spray, and then--if it doesn't work--get out the gun. He wants his one chance to be a firearm, if he's attacked again.
So, what do you all think?
My ideal situation would be to be in a group, with at least one person carrying spray, and at least one person--always close together--carrying a firearm. However, sometimes we're alone.
(PS: AVOIDING bear attacks is paramount. Whether we choose to carry a gun or spray, if a bear attacks and injures a human, and the rangers can find out which bear it was, it is likely that the bear will be designated a threat to public safety. If so, it will be destroyed. None of us want that, just like we don't want to be mauled in the first place. So don't feed the bears...especially not with yourself!
I highly recommend the avoidance advice in this book, though I am less certain of the pepper-spray-only advice; I wonder sometimes if some people perhaps count a bear's death as a bigger tragedy than some tourist's death. Still, I didn't want anyone to be able to distort my words into some false premise; so, to be clear: I would NEVER want to get attacked by a bear so I "get to" shoot it.)
I am addressing brown bear/grizzly attacks rather than black bear. I have been told that black bears are far less likely to attack, and easier to dissuade. (If I am wrong, please let me know.)
It is clear that a gun does you no good if you either can't get it into action in time, or if you are a bad shot and/or haven't practiced with your gun. So, my question has to do with, for example, a fly-fisherman who has his hands occupied when the bear approaches. For this reason, I'm going to specify I'm thinking of a pistol in a chest holster, rather than a slung long gun. (I've also been told--just told, no documentation--that the rangers investigating a bear shooting incident are more likely to see one involving a handgun as defensive, and more likely to view a guy with a long gun as maybe "looking for trouble"; so let's stick with handgun). Similarly, I'd want the pepper-spray on me, easily accessible.
The USFWS is on record as being a BIG fan of pepper-spray. However, I think there are good reasons to be suspicious of their data. They compare outcomes in pepper-spray use and gun use against attacking bears, but the types of attacks in those cases may vary. If a person uses a gun on a bear, that's a HUGE investigation with lots of penalties in the balance; I would therefore think that someone armed only with a gun would not shoot at a curious bear or a posturing bear, but ONLY at a charging bear. A person with bear spray might use a lower threshold for use, and if so then comparing bear-spray-use "attacks" to gun-use attacks may be apples to oranges.
Here's the study, if you'd like to review it yourself: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/bear_cougar/bear/files/JWM_BearSprayAlaska.pdf
On the subject of carrying both, I talked with one Alaskan who HAS been attacked and injured by a brown bear, many years ago. He carries a gun only, saying there's no time to get out the pepper-spray, and then--if it doesn't work--get out the gun. He wants his one chance to be a firearm, if he's attacked again.
So, what do you all think?
My ideal situation would be to be in a group, with at least one person carrying spray, and at least one person--always close together--carrying a firearm. However, sometimes we're alone.
(PS: AVOIDING bear attacks is paramount. Whether we choose to carry a gun or spray, if a bear attacks and injures a human, and the rangers can find out which bear it was, it is likely that the bear will be designated a threat to public safety. If so, it will be destroyed. None of us want that, just like we don't want to be mauled in the first place. So don't feed the bears...especially not with yourself!
I highly recommend the avoidance advice in this book, though I am less certain of the pepper-spray-only advice; I wonder sometimes if some people perhaps count a bear's death as a bigger tragedy than some tourist's death. Still, I didn't want anyone to be able to distort my words into some false premise; so, to be clear: I would NEVER want to get attacked by a bear so I "get to" shoot it.)
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