grizz protection, sidearm or pepper sray for archer??
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HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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A handgun is just extra weight and a pain in the ass.
Just hunt with a rifle heavy enough to stop a bear.
Pepper spray?
Just pepper the bear with magnum bullets.
Use common sense, there is a number of rules you should follow in Grizz country.
Your brain is your best defense.
Just hunt with a rifle heavy enough to stop a bear.
Pepper spray?
Just pepper the bear with magnum bullets.
Use common sense, there is a number of rules you should follow in Grizz country.
Your brain is your best defense.
G
GrandpaNasty
Guest
I assume you are hunting with a bow somewhere otherwise i'm not sure why you'd want to carry a pistol? If so legalities of carrying a gun?
O
outtabreath
Guest
I've heard that no matter what type of pistol you take you should file the front sight down smooth. That way it won't hurt so bad when the bear shoves it up your A**
Seriously, I have been wondering the same myself. Headed for two weeks of backcountry in Alaska in August . I have talked to alot of people and I am taking pepper spray only. Don't need the extra weight. Plus more people die from the guns they carry than by bear. Actually, more people are killed by dogs than by bears. If you haven't heard from me by September, I was wrong.
Seriously, I have been wondering the same myself. Headed for two weeks of backcountry in Alaska in August . I have talked to alot of people and I am taking pepper spray only. Don't need the extra weight. Plus more people die from the guns they carry than by bear. Actually, more people are killed by dogs than by bears. If you haven't heard from me by September, I was wrong.
Wes
Very Active Member
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Guess they were too worried about dogs!
Updated: 4:15 a.m. ET June 27, 2005
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two people camping along the Hulahula River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge were killed by a grizzly bear, officials said Sunday.
Officials discovered the bodies and an unused firearm in a tent Saturday at a campsite near the river. They also shot and killed the animal.
The couple, whose names were not released, was believed to be in their late 50s or early 60s, North Slope Borough police said. They were from Anchorage and had been on a recreational rafting trip down the river, Alaska State Troopers said.
The victims were in their tent when the attack occurred, according to Tim DeSpain, spokesman for Alaska State Troopers.
The campsite was clean, with food stored in bear-proof containers.
?The initial scene indicates that it was a predatory act by the bear,? DeSpain said.
A rafter had seen the animal at the site and notified authorities.
The couple?s injuries were consistent with a bear attack and there were no signs of foul play, said Kelly Alzaharna, a lieutenant with the North Slope Borough Police Department.
There were no other people at the campsite, which was about 12 miles up river from Kaktovik, a community of about 300 on Barter Island and the only village in the refuge.
Officials are not sure when the couple was killed
Updated: 4:15 a.m. ET June 27, 2005
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two people camping along the Hulahula River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge were killed by a grizzly bear, officials said Sunday.
Officials discovered the bodies and an unused firearm in a tent Saturday at a campsite near the river. They also shot and killed the animal.
The couple, whose names were not released, was believed to be in their late 50s or early 60s, North Slope Borough police said. They were from Anchorage and had been on a recreational rafting trip down the river, Alaska State Troopers said.
The victims were in their tent when the attack occurred, according to Tim DeSpain, spokesman for Alaska State Troopers.
The campsite was clean, with food stored in bear-proof containers.
?The initial scene indicates that it was a predatory act by the bear,? DeSpain said.
A rafter had seen the animal at the site and notified authorities.
The couple?s injuries were consistent with a bear attack and there were no signs of foul play, said Kelly Alzaharna, a lieutenant with the North Slope Borough Police Department.
There were no other people at the campsite, which was about 12 miles up river from Kaktovik, a community of about 300 on Barter Island and the only village in the refuge.
Officials are not sure when the couple was killed
O
org
Guest
One I heard in Montana:
"How do you tell black bear and grizzly dung apart?"
Answer:
"The grizzly dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper."
"How do you tell black bear and grizzly dung apart?"
Answer:
"The grizzly dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper."
G
Garion33
Guest
Bottom line is you have to do what you feel comfortable with. All advice below is good, but if you feel you need a handgun, then by all means carry it. I wouldn't start at the .357, but the .500. It's not light, but if you are that worried...I would take the largest you can accurately shoot and screw the weight. In a charge situation, you may have only a second, or if you're lucky, 2-3 seconds to pull your sidearm and shoot. Spend lots of time shooting quick draw style or better yet, see if you can pull the trigger with you're butt as you run 
! Anyway, I would opt for my more powerful rifle as my bear gun. A can of spray adds less than a pound to your weight and is much easier to use, as long as the wind isn't blowing back at you. I liked HunterHarry's answer about pepper spray and whole heartedly agree.
Good luck.
Garion
! Anyway, I would opt for my more powerful rifle as my bear gun. A can of spray adds less than a pound to your weight and is much easier to use, as long as the wind isn't blowing back at you. I liked HunterHarry's answer about pepper spray and whole heartedly agree.Good luck.
Garion
fisrtcoueswas80inches
Very Active Member
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"and an unused firearm in a tent Saturday at a campsite near the river. They also shot and killed the animal."
how do you shoot and kill the bear with a unused firearm?
Casey
how do you shoot and kill the bear with a unused firearm?
Casey
ELKMASTER101
Very Active Member
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THE RANGERS HUNTED DOWN THE BEAR AND SHOT IT.
they found it only a hundred yards away from the site,
waiting for its next meal.
they found it only a hundred yards away from the site,
waiting for its next meal.
AndymanSavage
Very Active Member
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LAST EDITED ON Jun-28-05 AT 01:35PM (MST)[p]pepper spray, no thanks. How about S&W Airlite in .41 mag. (24 ounces). I believe that it is much more inconvienent not to have a face than to carry a sidearm. And as far as legality, it's not legal for the bear to chomp your grill, but he will do it anyway.
BTW I have a concealed firearms permit here in UT, witch allows me to carry a sidearm on any hunt here and also has reciprocity with many other states including Alaska. you pack here you can pack there.
Andy
PS go to www.packing.org for a list of states that honor permits issued elsewhere.
BTW I have a concealed firearms permit here in UT, witch allows me to carry a sidearm on any hunt here and also has reciprocity with many other states including Alaska. you pack here you can pack there.
Andy
PS go to www.packing.org for a list of states that honor permits issued elsewhere.
G
girlbowhunter
Guest
Thank you all for making me laugh so hard today!!!! Beauty of a bear pic!!!
nochawk
Moderator
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I usualy carry a 12ga mossberg mariner in my pack, its nice to have around when you are dressing out your game. Its best to have a buddy with you to watch out while you do this.
Pepper spray is nice if you see it comming... Pistol is nice to have but it only works when the bear already has you down.... but a 12 Ga with slugs will make him stand up and take notice.
If there is bear sign in the area, go somewhere else, they run off the game so you may as well. avoidance is always best.
Nochawk
Pepper spray is nice if you see it comming... Pistol is nice to have but it only works when the bear already has you down.... but a 12 Ga with slugs will make him stand up and take notice.
If there is bear sign in the area, go somewhere else, they run off the game so you may as well. avoidance is always best.
Nochawk
R
RLH
Guest
i have a good friend who guides bear hunters on kodiak island. he laughs at the thought of any pistol for browns. any pistol. he said if you're afraid of a bear eating you, pack a big rifle. .340 weatherby is the minimum he'll let a hunter use. prefers .375's and up. he does pack an extended mag, short barreled, pistol gripped wingmaster 12 ga. when guiding salmon fishers, just for bears. loads 2 rounds of 00 buck and the rest slugs. he's had to kill quite a few browns with it too. said it's tough to stand your ground and let one get close enough to insure a head shot. but buckshot in the face will usually turn em. he's a rough sob for sure, and he gets a little spooky just talking about some o' the stuff he's endured. i've killed and hunted lotsa blacks, but never chased the kodiaks. don't know if i'd ever want to, but after talking to him and others, i wouldn't waste my time with the false confidence of a pistol.
T
TBinKodiak
Guest
Man I said I was done with these stupid spray vs pistol debates, but this one seems fairly civil so here goes....
Well your dealing with an odd animal. They are programed to eliminate a threat and if hurt they instantly get a mega dose of adrenalin, which makes a 300lb steriod junky hopped up on cocaine look like a 3 year old with a plastic bat in comparison. Once that happens you basically have to make a brain shot. If you can hit a basketball (brain) coming at you at 35 mph through brush then a pistol will work (just remember that basketball is attached to a 1,000 lb animal that wants to kill you). If you don't hit the brain you just increase the anger and make a possible false charge into a very deadly situation. Another option is to eliminate the bears sight and breathing ability. That is done with a quality bear spray (not to be confused with regular pepper spray). Also by using spray you don't escalate the situation by wounding a bear that may have only been bluffing.
Would I carry a pistol? Heck no, it weighs to much and is too ineffective. If I'm deer hunting I carry my 338 Win Mag and when I go hiking I carry bear spray (counter assualt). If I'm hunting solo I carry both.
Will a 357 work? sure, but I wouldn't bet my life on it (better than nothing though). Now we have 2500-3000 browns here on an island the size of Conneticut and I believe there are 600 griz in the entire lower 48 so your chances of even seeing one are pretty slim. That said it doesn't really matter what you take because your chances of using it are pretty slim.
Just my 2 cents.
Well your dealing with an odd animal. They are programed to eliminate a threat and if hurt they instantly get a mega dose of adrenalin, which makes a 300lb steriod junky hopped up on cocaine look like a 3 year old with a plastic bat in comparison. Once that happens you basically have to make a brain shot. If you can hit a basketball (brain) coming at you at 35 mph through brush then a pistol will work (just remember that basketball is attached to a 1,000 lb animal that wants to kill you). If you don't hit the brain you just increase the anger and make a possible false charge into a very deadly situation. Another option is to eliminate the bears sight and breathing ability. That is done with a quality bear spray (not to be confused with regular pepper spray). Also by using spray you don't escalate the situation by wounding a bear that may have only been bluffing.
Would I carry a pistol? Heck no, it weighs to much and is too ineffective. If I'm deer hunting I carry my 338 Win Mag and when I go hiking I carry bear spray (counter assualt). If I'm hunting solo I carry both.
Will a 357 work? sure, but I wouldn't bet my life on it (better than nothing though). Now we have 2500-3000 browns here on an island the size of Conneticut and I believe there are 600 griz in the entire lower 48 so your chances of even seeing one are pretty slim. That said it doesn't really matter what you take because your chances of using it are pretty slim.
Just my 2 cents.
