Thank you all for the amount of time you took to help me out. Obviously protecting my clients is important to me, thank you!
But makarov -- I've a bone to pick with you. You snowboard, yes? So does that mean you carry a avalanche shovel AND a probe at the same time? I hope so! For that matter, you had best get a snow saw for checking conditions. You see, my idea of having two rifles is in the name of preparedness. Now of course both rifles would not be on *me* at the same time. I would have the "boomer" slung on my shoulder (yes, it can be done with a pack on), and the .22 on the pack of another. Climbing sure is great, isn't it?
Dr. Rob, like I said above, the rifle wouldn't really be lashed to my pack.
Cliff, over the next few years, the country I will be in -- I could encounter anything from the black bear to the polar bear. Yes...seriously. But for this season, I will only be in black bear country.
I am not going out to hunt intentionally. I just would like to be able to take a bear quickly and cleanly should I have to. The idea of having to take more than one shot does not appeal to me. This is the reason I brought the Ruger 375 up in the first place. Sure, it might be a bit much, but since when does that matter when a bear is charging your friend? The other reason that I would like to carry a rifle when guiding is a "peace of mind" issue for the clients. They all know that the places where the climbs are is bear country, so they would feel more comfy if they saw the guide (me) with a large rifle (and knew that he knew how to use it). To be honest, I am more afraid of being ill-prepared than meeting a bear.
These "bear-gun" threads always do seem to draw a crowd! I have heard everything from "eschew the rifle and use bear-pepper" to "buy a Marlin and use my ammo." But really, thank you very much for the suggestions! I don't know what I would do w/out you guys. Have a good one!
Hueco
But makarov -- I've a bone to pick with you. You snowboard, yes? So does that mean you carry a avalanche shovel AND a probe at the same time? I hope so! For that matter, you had best get a snow saw for checking conditions. You see, my idea of having two rifles is in the name of preparedness. Now of course both rifles would not be on *me* at the same time. I would have the "boomer" slung on my shoulder (yes, it can be done with a pack on), and the .22 on the pack of another. Climbing sure is great, isn't it?
Dr. Rob, like I said above, the rifle wouldn't really be lashed to my pack.
Cliff, over the next few years, the country I will be in -- I could encounter anything from the black bear to the polar bear. Yes...seriously. But for this season, I will only be in black bear country.
I am not going out to hunt intentionally. I just would like to be able to take a bear quickly and cleanly should I have to. The idea of having to take more than one shot does not appeal to me. This is the reason I brought the Ruger 375 up in the first place. Sure, it might be a bit much, but since when does that matter when a bear is charging your friend? The other reason that I would like to carry a rifle when guiding is a "peace of mind" issue for the clients. They all know that the places where the climbs are is bear country, so they would feel more comfy if they saw the guide (me) with a large rifle (and knew that he knew how to use it). To be honest, I am more afraid of being ill-prepared than meeting a bear.
These "bear-gun" threads always do seem to draw a crowd! I have heard everything from "eschew the rifle and use bear-pepper" to "buy a Marlin and use my ammo." But really, thank you very much for the suggestions! I don't know what I would do w/out you guys. Have a good one!
Hueco