Bear Mauling Victim interview

[Bear Paw Jack]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=COUxLR5_vhM&app=desktop

Watch the whole thing, to begin with it doesn't look like there was too much damage but later on you find out the damage in places you can't see. This happened in Juneau, Ak.

 

[caryc]

I see one lesson to be learned from that. In bear country, also carry a big caliber handgun that's easy to get at. Like they both said, a rifle is not always easy to get at.

 

[exavid]

I lived in Juneau and Ketchikan for 22 years. Saw lots of bears in that time flying out of those two towns. Two things I never left town with were a S&W M29 and my Savage 110L 30-06. The Tongass National Forest that covers most of SE Alaska has lots of brown and black bears. Only fools wander ashore without a firearm of sufficient caliber at hand. One of my daughter's friend's father was killed by a bear. Hunting deer but got jumped by a black bear. Don't believe anyone who tells you black bears aren't dangerous. I think they are the most unpredictable of the ursine breed.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

The guys were on Chichagof Island. That is part of what is referred to as the ABC Islands of Alaska. They are Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof. The truth is in a dense forest like they have there, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get your rifle up. (Many folks, take the position that if you have a rifle, you don't need to pack around a handgun on top of everything else). One of the better "coaches" when it comes to bears, is a guy in Canada, James Gary Shelton (bear in mind this is Canada) recommends having a good size knife that you carry with you in case you get you loose your rifle in the scuffle with a bear. I've mentioned a guy I met in Alaska that fought off a Kodiak Brown Bear with a Buck 110 folding hunter. Key thing is he lived. The guy that was mauled here lived, and had a lot more serious injuries, that what it appears from the video. He talked about it at the end of the video. Personally I prefer a handgun. But in anything having to do with bears, there are no guarantees. He is lucky to have been with a partner. The ABC's have the highest density of brown bears anywhere in the world. The nature of density and proximity has a tendency to cause problems. But it does go to show that multiple people have a better chance of surviving than one person by himself. Everyone needs to be armed.

 

[exavid]

I always believed if you're going to the bother of carrying a slung rifle there's no reason not to strap on the S&W 29 as well. Getting separated from your rifle is one danger. I've taken people out to fish on some of the rivers. They have to have at least a rifle if they're going to work up or down the river away from the airplane or camp. I'll bet you I've found some over 100yds from their rifle. They put it on the ground when casting then start working along the river and getting quite a ways from the rifle. Not good. SE isn't like NW Alaska. In the NW on the Arctic coast there's only willow brush, not much in the way of real trees or dense woods. Still have bears but they're easier to spot before they get too close.
To me the most dangerous place to fish in Alaska is 'combat fishing' on the Kenai.

 

[BearBio]

I see one lesson to be learned from that. In bear country, also carry a big caliber handgun that's easy to get at. Like they both said, a rifle is not always easy to get at.

Again, studies of almost 2000 (now) bear attacks show that bear spray is 95%+ effective in stopping the attack and handguns are about 65% effective.

Situational awareness: rifle, handgun or spray==anyone can fail if you don't get it out. Anywhere I can't see 50 yards in bear country, my hand is on whatever I have==thicker stuff, it is in my hand. In my one (bluff) charge, I didn't have time for rifle, pistol, or spray before the bear was 10 feet from me (starting at 50 yards).

Of course, you can't swagger around town with bear spray on your hip, or pickup chicks in a bar.