Bear repellant

[Dan in MI]

I had a non gun guy ask about what gun to get and carry while hiking in TN in case a bear shows up.


I told him the bear is more scared of you and more than likely will be long gone before you even have a hint of him being there. I aslo informed anything that would be good bear medicine would be cumbersome to anyone not really wanting to have gun on/with them. I suggested bear spray/repellant (an idea he really liked) but didn't have any info besides that.

So I'm coming to the knowledge base for a follow up. What's a good bear repellant? Brand etc....

 

[contender]

Well, I deal in wildlife. And, I did a bit of research and found good stuff about "Counter Assault." Then I went to the SHOT Show met the folks, discussed things, and not only did they convince me,,, they have been donors to my Fo NRA event for the last few years.
I also saw them recently available for rent or purchase in Yellowstone National Park.

I'd recommend "Counter Assault." And if your friend get one,, tell them "Thanks! for supporting the Friends of the NRA" for me!

 

[Don Lovel]

Friends who live in Alaska were telling me about buying Counter Assault for their kid's school bus stop shelter and to keep in their tent when camping, they all carry hot loaded 45 Colt Ruger Redhawks for trail guns, but keep bear spray around like having a fire extinguisher handy

 

[eveled]

bear spray around like having a fire extinguisher handy

Now there is a million dollar idea, if I ever heard one. Bear spray/fire extinguisher, ready for whatever emergency comes up.

 

[BearBio]

Ditto with Counter Assault. It's what we carry.

 

[Dan in MI]

Thanks guys.

Anybody have a link to the bear spray scat ID sign? :lol:

I have to at least show him that.

(edit)
Found it.

 

[gramps]

Alaska does allow killing a bear in "defense of life and property" (DLP). That being said, there is a bunch of paper work involved.
gramps

 

[trebor44]

Counter Assault is the way to go. Having lived and worked in Griz country, my first container only cost $25 MSRP. Over time it leaked, not something you want on your hands etc. The manufacturing process is much better today but it does have an expiration date (aerosol propellent related) per their web site. I would not travel in bear (or wolf or lion) country without it. Not foolproof but a good tool to add to your 'protection'. Note: there was an incident several years ago in the Greater Yellowstone area where a individual was not able to retrieve either the bear spray or his weapon due to the speed and intensity of a griz attack. So, if you can keep it handy, use it, it will probably save your life. 8)

 

[BearBio]

Good idea to get 2 cans. If you use one, how do you get back to your (car, camp, cabin, etc)? Or you run into 2 bears?

Also, the nozzle will clog if you use the can and the spray dries on the nozzle.

 

[RolandDeschain]

I had a non gun guy ask about what gun to get and carry while hiking in TN in case a bear shows up.


I told him the bear is more scared of you and more than likely will be long gone before you even have a hint of him being there. I aslo informed anything that would be good bear medicine would be cumbersome to anyone not really wanting to have gun on/with them. I suggested bear spray/repellant (an idea he really liked) but didn't have any info besides that.

So I'm coming to the knowledge base for a follow up. What's a good bear repellant? Brand etc....

I have hiked all over TN for the past 40 years, live here now, and go hiking at least once a week.

Although there was an attack this summer, it is extremely rare. In fact, your friends chances of being attacked by a bear here are probably about the same as winning the Powerball. But with the 2 legged meth head varmints being what they are, (to whom packing bear spray would identify your friend as an unarmed noob) I never venture into either woods or town here without packing a firearm. Since he is not a gun guy - this would be a good excuse to become one and get himself a decent revolver. (my woods gun is a Glock 32). And also a hiking stick - not only to navigate rocks, but to flip snakes off the trail. (which are protected). My family always snickers about my hiking stick till it starts to warm up and they start seeing the snakes, then they all end up carrying one. :wink:

 

[powder smoke]

Alaska does allow killing a bear in "defense of life and property" (DLP). That being said, there is a bunch of paper work involved.
gramps

Thanks!

I messed up. The guy (Tom Oar) lives in the Yak River Valley of Montana, so it would be Montana law he felt constrained by.

Heck even here in Maine deadly force is allowed for life property and livestock.
Seems to me that is common sense. No Grizs here but a couple of springs ago
there was a rash of Black bear attacks on livestock. Mostly sheep IIRC.
My friend in Randolf NH shot a Black Bear rapping on his picture window called
the warden and told him to come and get the dead bear. The Warden seen the bear prints
on the window there was no problem. ps

 

[noahmercy]

I carry a container of UDAP and a 454 Ruger Alaskan when I'm in grizzly or moose country. (A mamma moose is pert near as dangerous as a griz, so I take them both seriously!) Why UDAP? I've met Mark Matheny a few times and I like the guy and feel he markets a good product. The neoprene holster allows use of the spray without having to get it all the way out and it's flexible enough that one can still aim it a bit. If you don't know who Mark is, look into the attack he survived...it still makes my blood run cold, and I know how it turned out!

The 454 is loaded with LBT-style hard cast 300 grain bullets that run a little over 1400 fps from the stubby Alaskan. Yes, I can go hotter, but this is capable of shooting through the biggest animals on the North American continent and it's still controllable. The revolver is there because it has been shown that some bears who have been sprayed before are tolerant of pepper and it will not consistently deter them. I'd rather have the option of lethal force in case I run across a "seasoned" bear that is intent on making a snack out of me.

A neat trick a guide friend of mine suggested is getting a set of clip-on "rearview mirrors" like bicyclists use. He says he was amazed at the number of times he witnessed bears, cougars, wolves, and coyotes come out on the trail behind him and follow him. Apparently, it's not as uncommon as we might like!

 

[BearBio]

Good idea to get 2 cans. If you use one, how do you get back to your (car, camp, cabin, etc)? Or you run into 2 bears?

Also, the nozzle will clog if you use the can and the spray dries on the nozzle.

What if you run into four bears? :wink:

Same as if you have 6 bullets and run into 7 bears?

 

[Colonialgirl]

Good idea to get 2 cans. If you use one, how do you get back to your (car, camp, cabin, etc)? Or you run into 2 bears?

Also, the nozzle will clog if you use the can and the spray dries on the nozzle.

What if you run into four bears? :wink:

That's EASY !!
Just show them a picture of BearBio or Contender !!
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink: :wink: :wink: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[exavid]

If the fellow was going hiking with anyone else who didn't have a gun the best thing to do is to slip a piece of old salmon in the companion's pocket when he wasn't looking. Also if he ran into a hostile bear, tripping your hiking partner before you run is a good tactic.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

The show "Mountain Man" calls for a certain amount of drama. I don't doubt for a second Tom would shoot a bear that put him in jeopardy. The bear was a scrounger and I'm thinking not that much of a danger. Let that change a bullet would be headed his way. These guys live in the same area as the bears and they get to know the wild life pretty well.

In other places:
Hunters bag 2 huge brown bears on Kenai Peninsula
http://www.adn.com/article/20150623/hunters-bag-2-huge-brown-bears-kenai-peninsula
Open this for the article and a great picture.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Brown bear shot and killed in Kodiak after it charged man

link: http://www.adn.com/article/20150623/brown-bear-shot-and-killed-kodiak-after-it-charged-man

44 Mag revolver is what I heard, emptied it all 6 shots.

 

[CLAYPOOL]

If they show up around here I am going to do the same thing for them as the other problem. Count number of legs : Trail Blazer = 25 - 60 MPH. Reverse lights come on. Thump - Thump. Screeching noise (Car stopping) Door opening. .45-70 being loaded. , Hammer going back. Apply liberally. Make sure Marlin Cow Boy is unloaded. Re case rifle. Put in back seat. Count brass. Drive off. Shut mouth.....!!!

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Alaska does allow killing a bear in "defense of life and property" (DLP). That being said, there is a bunch of paper work involved.
gramps

Thanks!

I messed up. The guy (Tom Oar) lives in the Yak River Valley of Montana, so it would be Montana law he felt constrained by.

In Montana Grizzlies are protected. I've said it many times, the truth is F&W place more importance on bears than they do on people. That's why they don't have any credibility when it comes to pushing bear spray. Then they always push the story about how many bear attacks have happened in the last 100 years. They don't want it public how much that's changed in the last 5 years.

 

[ilikerams]

Good idea to get 2 cans. If you use one, how do you get back to your (car, camp, cabin, etc)? Or you run into 2 bears?

Also, the nozzle will clog if you use the can and the spray dries on the nozzle.

What if you run into four bears? :wink:

That's EASY !!
Just show them a picture of BearBio or Contender !!
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink: :wink: :wink: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

If you run into ten bears all you have to do is make a peace treaty with him. :lol: