Not sure where to post this - protection in bear country ??

[Joe Chartreuse]

Handguns, hollow point ammo etc. all illegal in New Jersey. Going through the state non-stop from a place where you are legal to a place where you are legal with the guns and ammo correctly locked up allows the transit. Have a vehicle break down, take a side trip etc. and you can be arrested, put in jail, suffer confiscation etc. Some other states may be about as bad. Long guns usually given more slack than handguns. Industrial size spray for bears will probably serve you well. A shotgun will probably be able to handle all of your defense needs. Some ammo better than others, research it.

Not exactly right. They are legal for home defense and sportsman. However, if in the home you have to claim to be a sportsman ( range or hunt). Weird piece-work laws around them. The real problem comes in when one tries to transport them from one place to another.

 

[trebor44]

So over a half century of woods walking, I've seen more bears while driving than hiking. Oh, and I did work in the woods for about 20 years. Most bruins were booking in the opposite direction from. There were a few trying to get the food cache but that was in the National Parks!

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Fun but useless fact: Bruin is dutch for brown, and technically only brown bears are bruins. Might be useful as a bar bet, but..... nah.