Bear Spray

[katmagnum]

Hi All, I've been reading this site for quite some time without posting. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the usefull info. Any way I'm off to Wyoming this fall(late Sept) and my outfitter recommends I bring bear spray. I'm from Oh and have no idea where or what type to buy. any thoughts?
Also almost everyone recommends carrying 550 cord. How do you store it in your pack. I'd like to wrap it around some thing to keep it from snagging on stuff. Any ideas?
Thank

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to "the" elk forum buddy. I personally don't carry bear spray but I'm sure someone will chime in. 550 cord? Wrap it up and throw it in your pack. Carry a bit more than you think you'll need, it's good for lots of applications

[six]

I leave the 550 cord pre packaged. As for the bear spray I bought mine at Bass Pro comes with its own holster. I've seen it in Cabelas as well. Don't wait til you get out there to buy it or you'll pay more.

[DirtyErn]

Been carrying it for a while. I use it between hunting and hiking. The only place you should store it is on your belt( no good in pack). I also like my .44 while hunting:) Be careful with the expiration date. I use my " old" cans during bike rides, during a recent ride the can emptied it self out, didn't realize it until I got home and started wiping the sweat off my face , Somehow it had gotten on my gloves and my face was on fire. After 20 minutes in shower I started to feel better

[Pop-r]

I use Counter Assault. Ebay is the cheapest place I've found to buy it. Carry it on your hip!

[Indian Summer]

First: What part of Wyoming are you hunting in? Not everywhere has bears.

Where in Ohio do you live? There are Cabela's in Wheeling WV and Dundee Michigan if you don't want to order online.

If you do pack cord you should designate one pocket of your pack to field dressing... knives, cord, etc. You never go into that one until game is down so it doesn't matter what's going on in there. I wouldn't think you'd need game bags if you're guided but that's a good place to keep cord too.

If you are guided and not in a drop camp you don't really need cord either. That's field care gear which is a guide's responsibility.

Who is your outfitter?

[Lefty]

Ive only seen two brands offered in my area. We own http://counterassault.com/
I spoke with the owners at the International Sportsmans Expo. Interesting info

I carry bear "deterrent" , no gun.
A few reasons. First a firearm doesn't drop a bear in its tracks ( or a human). Well some guns can , a buddy killed a couple of Kodiak browns just off the end of a 12 gauge with a split slug designed to kill big bears that are too close 35 years ago,.. He supports Alaskan outdoors now carries and suggests bear detergent.
I "carry"" in my truck, ATV, hiking, etc. My school district doesnt allow teachers to have firearms on school grounds. But I can have bear spray in my truck, and always do.

Practice un-holstering, pulling the safety clip, and sweeping, a lot, Practice, Practice, Practice,carry in the same location that you will always have quick access. And Practice. Im not as fast as with a pistol the holster is slow

[RichM]

I carry loose 550 cord in my pack and some (25 feet or so) 5mm 1k static line. I also got bored on a few nights and made braided lanyards for my knives out of paracord. I've got 5-6 feet of para cord on each knife. Hate to admit it but I got the idea after watching "127 Hours" with my fiance.

I looked for a good video of making a 550 cord braid but couldn't find the one I used, this YouTube videowas the closest I could find to a straight up video of how to braid.

Bear spray: I bought some for the fiance and I know I should carry some as it's proven to be more effective than a pistol. Since a bears sense of smell is so much better than a humans, I figure any of the reputable brands are going to give you time to get away... unless your between a mom and her cub.

[BobcatJerry]

Kat, fellow Buckeye here. Hunted in Wyoming last year in the Tetons. Took the spray and never saw a bear, not much to fear most of the time, but when my buddy got a bull down the attitudes of the guides were night and day. Bear spray, dogs, shotguns and pistols all went back in for the pack out. Carry the spray on your hip, and practice drawing it so you are familiar with it. They even sell a practice can if you want or you can use an old one to practice. Usually not much time to figure out how to use it, once you need it. It would be about the same as taking a pistol and not knowing how to shoot it. Big hint if you are flying...buy your spray in Wyoming, they won't let it on the plane even in stowed bags. I left mine as part of my tip with the guide. I ended up buying one before I left and had to leave it, bought one in Jackson and then had to leave it too. Ought to have it in griz country, you just never know. I prefer and the guides prefer you have spray as apposed to a side arm. Never sure how people react when --it is hitting the fan.

[one_elk]

I have used both UDAP http://udap.com/ and Counter Assault http://counterassault.com/ , they both work well. I carry mine on my hip belt or a chest strap, either way just make sure it’s easy to get to and like others have said that you practice getting it out of the holster. I would also strongly recommend getting a can of inert (just has the propellant and not the active ingredient) bear spray to practice spraying with. It is an extra expense but I promise it will be a wise investment if you indeed have to use your bear spray on a bear, mountain lion etc (and yes bear spray is effective on anything that breaths and has eyes…). Time of critical need is no time to be practicing….If you are interested in some additional read the book Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, is a great read and will cut through some of the hype surrounding the subject of bear attacks…Anyway hope you have a great trip