Bear protection

[Madison COunty]

What do you carry when in bear country for protection? Is a handgun or bear spray more effective and if you carry a hand gun what caliber do you carry or recommend?

I have not hunted in bear country yet but would like to next year so I'm just trying to figure out what is/would be best to carry besides my long rifle. Also I understand whatever you carry for protection needs to be accessible and not in your lack.

[WapitiTalk1]

Taurus Ultra Lite .44; HSM 305 GN bear loads. Any more, I'll only carry it if heading back to a kill (for pack out) or to continuing a tracking job. Only even bring my big gun along when hunting big bear country.

[Brendan]

Smith and Wesson 329PD .44 Mag plus bear spray if I'm bowhunting. If rifle hunting, the S&W gets left at the truck.

Spray is more effective unless you practice religiously with the pistol and can be effective under pressure.

In your case, with the rifle, get some bear spray and have it on your belt or shoulder straps.

[Elkhunttoo]

Plenty on this topic right now. A guy just got worked over really hard and has his story and video on Facebook. He said the bear ran right through the pepper spray. I used to feel pretty good with the spray in grizzly country but I prefer my .357

[Lefty]

Plenty on this topic right now. A guy just got worked over really hard and has his story and video on Facebook. He said the bear ran right through the pepper spray. I used to feel pretty good with the spray in grizzly country but I prefer my .357

I rethought my bear spray decision after that attack Im still going with bear deterrent.
Ive read where the sound of the blast is the effective portion of a firearm. While I have never been in front of a firearm blast I can imagine the sound is disorienting

After seeing the grizzle a few weeks back Ive changed some strategies during the archery season.
My daughter must carry a large spray on her waist and a small can on her wrist except when setting up on a calling location
wont hunt near fresh grizz sign
walk together in the dark
Limit time walking in the dark. No calling in the dark
I remind my daughter often put your pack up over your head if your on the ground with a bear

[jmez]

I carry spray. Don't carry a gun.

If you are going to carry a handgun for grizzly bears it should be a minimum of .44 and use the heaviest hardcast bullet it will take. Like was said above, if you don't practice a lot under stressful situations about all you are going to do is make noise with a gun.

[Madison COunty]

Maybe only carry a gun to shoot yourself befor the bear rips your head off and tears you apart?

[jmez]

Honestly, you should be far more concerned with your safety driving to the hunting spot than being mauled by a bear.

[RAMMONT]

Well I live in bear country and while I don't spend a lot of time worrying about being attacked I do carry a handgun for self defense, it's like that saying, I'd rather have one and not need it than need it and not have it.

I usually carry my Freedom Arms .454 or my .308 SOCOM semi-auto rifle. I don't carry big caliber guns because it takes a big gun to kill a bear, I carry them because a bigger gun has a greater potential of stopping the bear quicker and there is less chance that I'll get mauled by a dying bear. There is no reason to shoot at a bear unless you know it's charging and you wont usually know that until it's within a few yards of you, a distance that a bear can cover in just a few seconds. You aren't going to have much time to shoot so if I ever have to pull the trigger on one I want as much knock down power applied as possible with the first hit.

[baddaddy]

.44 mag here in Colorado with 325 grain hard cast. Carried a .454 casull with 395 grain hard cast and a .416 remmy when I was in AK.

[husky390]

What bear country are you going to be in? Here in CO I carry a G20 with a 6" barrel in a HPG Kit Bag. Never been in grizzly country but if I ever go I'd carry bear spray and a Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pointysticks]

which bear? black bear? grizzly?

for black bear, i keep a clean camp and carry a bear tag. they disappear every single time.

grizzly, only been in no Idaho, and i just kept a clean camp and my wits about me.

[VT Sasquatch]

Jujitsu lessons

[WapitiTalk1]

Jujitsu lessons

made me think of this.

[Lefty]

I loved that old add.

I had a group of students that whenever someone was telling a big story ( lie)
" Oh look! An eagle"

[Lefty]

,.... and carry a bear tag. they disappear every single time..

Ive seen two grizzlies where I hunt. One attacked a cow and calve moose. The cow moose charge worked on the grizz. Later that day when I went down to track the grizzle I realized how big and powerfull they must be. I struggle to walk through the sage where the bear "just glided thorough"

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7701&p=87182&hilit=track#p87182

Likely the same bear as the track above.
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/livestock- ... thanized-0