Handgun in Brown Bear Country?

[ball151]

Hey everyone,
I will be heading to the AK peninsula in about a month and just had a final call with our outfitter before they headed to the peninsula for the season. In that discussion, he mentioned not needing to bring a handgun for bear defense purposes. I then reached out to another outfitter friend up there who said the same thing. This seems so foreign to me, as currently when I'm hunting in grizzly country I carry a 10mm in a Kenai chest holster, and when in non-grizz country, I carry a 9mm on my chest for cats, etc. I was planning on taking my 10mm in chest holster to the peninsula, but after hearing two outfitters up there telling us this isn't needed has thrown us for a loop. Just wanted to float this out to everyone here and get your thoughts. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[ProRoad]

and with that I just saw a bear attack on Fox News. No, I would proudly be wearing my 10mm Glock 20 with Buffalo Bore flat nose.

 

[AntelopeEater]

It is interesting how different peoples attitudes and beliefs are when it comes to bear protection.

For what's it worth, if you are hunting with a guide and also carrying a rifle, it is highly unlikely you would actually ever draw a sidearm in genuine self-defense even if you carried one the whole time.

If I was bow hunting I'd carry a pistol, same with solo hunting. Otherwise, I'd be happy to not carry extra weight.

 

[Legend]

If I was an outfitter I wouldn't want a client swinging a pistol around. Way more dangerous than bears.

 

[BRWNBR]

If your already questioning your outfitter this hunt is getting off on the wrong foot….

30 years guiding brown bears. I do not carry a handgun. I discourage clients from carrying handguns. It’s not needed. Could there be a one in a million situation it’s needed? Yes. Maybe carry a sword then as well. Or perhaps a trauma kit. A raft. Survival tent. Etc.

More guns is not typically what’s necessary….

Since the Rokslide crowd isn’t gonna be on your hunt I’d stick with the advice of the guy you’re paying.

 

[jd270win]

Bottom line - I would listen to your guide.

Do what makes you feel good, and helps you sleep, but here are my thoughts: You’ll have a rifle with you, as will the outfitter. Those will both be vastly superior bear defense weapons. Having two firearms on your person is likely excessive to your requirements.

I live on the edge of town in the populous portion of Alaska, and this time of year (the browns are just starting to exit dens) I won’t take my garbage can down to the road without wearing my 10mm in a chest harness. The bears are particularly aggressive for the moment, as evidenced by the mauling that happened yesterday on JBER. But, that was a few US Army soldiers doing land navigation in a very bear-dense area that likely stumbled on a den occupied by a sow with cubs.

But…that’s not the same situation you’ll see on the peninsula. They will have been awake for a while, and generally want to avoid you. The bears are hunted there (as recently as last fall), which makes a difference in their behavior. The scariest bears (to me) will always be sows with cubs or a punk two year old that has just been run off by his mama and doesn’t know how to avoid trouble yet.

I don’t want to speak for your outfitter, but I don’t like have pistols in camp if everyone already has a rifle. More firearms + more people = more chance of a bad firearms accident.

All that said, when I do carry a pistol (camping, scouting, fishing) it’s a 10mm in a chest harness.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Even in a combat zone, I never carried a pistol if I had a rifle. I don’t understand why this situation is any different.

 

[ball151]

Bottom line - I would listen to your guide.

Do what makes you feel good, and helps you sleep, but here are my thoughts: You’ll have a rifle with you, as will the outfitter. Those will both be vastly superior bear defense weapons. Having two firearms on your person is likely excessive to your requirements.

I live on the edge of town in the populous portion of Alaska, and this time of year (the browns are just starting to exit dens) I won’t take my garbage can down to the road without wearing my 10mm in a chest harness. The bears are particularly aggressive for the moment, as evidenced by the mauling that happened yesterday on JBER. But, that was a few US Army soldiers doing land navigation in a very bear-dense area that likely stumbled on a den occupied by a sow with cubs.

But…that’s not the same situation you’ll see on the peninsula. They will have been awake for a while, and generally want to avoid you. The bears are hunted there (as recently as last fall), which makes a difference in their behavior. The scariest bears (to me) will always be sows with cubs or a punk two year old that has just been run off by his mama and doesn’t know how to avoid trouble yet.

I don’t want to speak for your outfitter, but I don’t like have pistols in camp if everyone already has a rifle. More firearms + more people = more chance of a bad firearms accident.

All that said, when I do carry a pistol (camping, scouting, fishing) it’s a 10mm in a chest harness.

Thanks so much, I appreciate the helpful, constructive reply.

 

[RockAndSage]

Echoing what others have said - if it was a bowhunt or muzzleloader hunt, for sure, carry the handgun. But a rifle hunt, with a rifle-armed guide, that handgun wouldn't be much more than extra weight in that context, along with telling your guide you might be a difficult client who doesn't listen to a professional's seasoned advice. There might be situations, places, contexts, etc, where it would be a good idea to also have a bear handgun, but this doesn't sound like that.

 

[ProRoad]

ok, I was mostly kidding! Of course the OP should take the advice of his guide but I will admit that I am scared to death of bears and sharks.

 

[ball151]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. I'm not one to go against what an outfitter tells me, but I at least wanted to pose the question here since I typically do carry a handgun when in the backcountry personally, and there are numerous other threads on here where most commenters are 'pro' carrying a handgun when in bear country (as do I when I'm backcountry hunting). Just wanted to ask the group. Thanks again.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I absolutely would carry a handgun in grizzly county....................if I didn't have a rifle in my hands.
Otherwise leave it at home or in the tent.