So the person survived a Grizzly bear attack by killing the bear, but the rest of us should do it differently. Makes sense, right?

[eddielasvegas]

I can't even wrap my head around the message in this article, but I'm slow sometimes, so I thought I'd consult the RS hive in the event my old age is causing me to miss something.

Article HERE.

Any and all insights greatly appreciated.


Eddie

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Sorry, I want a quick gun on me anywhere there are bears. If it's me or him/her, I'll do everything/anything possible to make sure it's me. Dead bear or not.

 

[505Wapiti]

I'd love to see video of an enraged charging grizzly being sprayed and the effectiveness. I think sometimes animals much like humans aren't wired right and if it wants to throttle you or eat you bad enough, I imagine it could plow through some pepper spray much like a methed out criminal unaffected by the taser.

 

[Shortschaf]

Honestly bear spray has proven affective by hundreds of unlucky and/or idiot tourists

If you have it on you, and the grizzly is not literally already on top of you, why wouldn't you use the spray first?

ETA: not talking about the individual in the article, just an open question

 

[mike.adams.467]

Don't get me started on this.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Well, if the bear is charging and within 30 feet and you use the spray...and it dont work you wont have to worry about it any longer. At that pace, I will take my chances on a lethal shot from a short barrel SG or a .44 hardcast slug from a revolver or 10mm HC slug. Spray may work 90% of the time, but I dont want to risk being in the other 10%.

 

[Wrench]

Last thing I need is to have the wind in my face and bear spray in my hand. The bc on a bullet will always go into the wind.

 

[mntnguide]

Honestly bear spray is proven affective by hundreds of unlucky and/or idiot tourists every year.

If you have it on you, and the grizzly is not literally already on top of you, why wouldn't you use the spray first?

ETA: not talking about the individual in the article, just an open question

I'm more interested where you are coming up with "hundreds" of people use it effectively it each year? That would be multiple encounters every day, all summer. Please do tell where your info comes from, cause i sure don't hear about more than a few all summer in western wyo each year.

I'll always prefer my gun over spray. I can shoot as a deterrent in early instances, along with protect myself in the case of a charge. I bring spray as well plenty of times, but my pistol is the 1st thing I'm reaching for when I have close encounters. If you have to use spray, and the wind happens to be ripping right in your face, how do you think that's gonna work?

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

 

[Wrench]

Not everyone can keep their shit screwed down well enough to shoot through the situation.....so I understand.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Spray works great, but its banned in Yellowstone NP....Really?

 

[Cameron.25]

Yeah screw that, im bringing both gun and spray if I'm gonna be around grizzlies! What if the wind is blowing strong right at you when you encounter one?

 

[Shortschaf]

I'm more interested where you are coming up with "hundreds" of people use it effectively it each year? That would be multiple encounters every day, all summer. Please do tell where your info comes from, cause i sure don't hear about more than a few all summer in western wyo each year.

I'll always prefer my gun over spray. I can shoot as a deterrent in early instances, along with protect myself in the case of a charge. I bring spray as well plenty of times, but my pistol is the 1st thing I'm reaching for when I have close encounters. If you have to use spray, and the wind happens to be ripping right in your face, how do you think that's gonna work?

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

Before I posted, I quickly searched and found an article from Winnepeg stating 1100 uses in 2022. But thanks to your comment I read further and yeah turns out it was 1100 uses in criminal acts... not against bearsapologies for the misinformation, and will edit my post

But regardless, I stand by my question. There are a million what-ifs to ask yourself. Have you actually had close encounters with grizzly and used a firearm and or bearspray? I have not

 

[IDVortex]

I carry a 9mm in bear country. Already letting them know I'm a easy meal considering it's not a 10mm, so I have no opinion. Oh, I don't pack spray, when would wind ever be correct for spray against a bear when it's rarely right for a stalk?

 

[Brooks]

Liberals will carry spray normal people will carry a gun.

 

[Yoteassasin]

Spray is dumb .. to me . But if you insist have fun . I’d rather have my pistol all day every day vs a canister of pressurized seasoning .
Tell me anyone has seen a can of bear spray in a native village in Alaska..
Hahahah that a funny though

 

[Whaledriver]

Dead grizzly is successful on all fronts innthis situation. So called experts are scientists types that like sitting in Starbucks talking about what ifs. Bear spray works until it doesn't. Wind, proximity of bear, other people, spray can failure and spray manipulation. Hot lead gives you a chance. The hell with the liberal bear hugging types.

 

[Moosehunter]

I was packing out a bear a few years back. I say down to take a break and the load sat on my spray "which had lost the safety tab in the brush"...Needless to say there is some huge risk if the wind is bad.
The near full blast landed in my face. Talk about wanting to die. That stuff is insane.
I still carry it but I'm very cautious.
I'll kill a bear if it's threatening me or my wife beyond my tolerance. I'll report it and talk to fish and game to. I live in the thick of grizzly country and I'm not willing to get ripped up if I can help it.

 

[rickyw]

Bear spray. Ha ha! Maybe for a curious bear. What happens when you run out? When the rubber hits the road, I prefer my rifle, though I’ll take my 10mm if nothing else.

 

[Northern Shrike]

I live in Southcentral Alaska and have never had to use bear spray or a firearm defensively. I follow many of the practices in the article, but obviously they don’t always work. I carry a 10mm outdoors when I’m not carrying a rifle.

That being said I do own bear spray and have practiced with it. I think it can be an effective bear (or criminal) deterrent, however I’m often in thick brush or strong enough wind that I wouldn’t want to deploy it. I almost never carry it.

My wife owns a pistol, but feels more comfortable carrying bear spray. Since she knows the risks and has practiced with it, that’s fine with me.
I’ve been in situations where I felt I was more likely to be accidentally shot or sprayed than mauled.

If you come visit and you’re competent with a firearm, I’ll loan you one for a hike. If you are competent with bear spray, I’ll loan you that. If you’re not familiar with bears, I’ll tell you several things the article mentioned knowing that they usually work.
In the situation when the bear comes anyway, I hope I’m as quick and accurate as the man in the article.

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

Spray works great, but its banned in Yellowstone NP....Really?

Spray is banned in Yosemite, not Yellowstone. I was just in Yellowstone and saw a lot of people, including park rangers, carrying bear spray and they had vendors renting it out.

I carried my concealed EDC 9mm with Buffalo Bore 147 gr hard cast. There are many scenarios where spray seems like a bad idea: in the wind, in a tent, solo and blinded, etc. I bring spray sometimes, but in addition to a pistol rather than instead of one.