What Weapon Against A Bear?

[dstyle]

If I recall correctly...I believe in the Lewis and Clark Expedition diaries, there is a story of one of the members (sorry read a loooong time ago and don't remember who) fending off a grizzly attack with what I believe was a pike or polearm. (Either way close enough to a spear). Again if I am remembering it correctly, the person in question retreated into a lake or river and braced the weapon so that the grizzly could not get at him. Either way +1 for spear(ish) item. If we are stuck on handheld weapons and excluding bearspray, I want something that will keep the bear as far from me as possible.

[fj40jay]

this is great, am I the only one who read it..good stuff.
I say get a S&W governor. small, light and will shoot 45 long colt or 410.

[will_1400]

I've always wondered if a bear can be chased away by a rapid fire salvo in the air. It would be nice to not have to kill a bear to save your life. Bear spray seems pretty effective from what I hear, but if a type of firecracker could be designed that was easy and quick to light, and it would scare the bear off... I have no idea if deafening noice is enough to do the job. At least you wouldn't have to aim it!

THAT would get you jail time almost immedately. Rules 2 and 3 of gun handling: do not point at anything you do not wish to destroy and know your target and what it behind it. If you fire into the air, your rounds will come down somewhere and you're accountable for whatever happens. Also, discharging a firearm into the air (as opposed to self defense or hunting) not only wastes ammo but is illegal in most areas of the States.

As for not wanting to kill something to save your life... my thought is that if something is trying to kill me, all bets are off and I'm going to take away that thing's ability to threaten/kill me as quickly and efficiently as I'm able.

[philwar]

THAT would get you jail time almost immedately. Rules 2 and 3 of gun handling: do not point at anything you do not wish to destroy and know your target and what it behind it. If you fire into the air, your rounds will come down somewhere and you're accountable for whatever happens. Also, discharging a firearm into the air (as opposed to self defense or hunting) not only wastes ammo but is illegal in most areas of the States.

As for not wanting to kill something to save your life... my thought is that if something is trying to kill me, all bets are off and I'm going to take away that thing's ability to threaten/kill me as quickly and efficiently as I'm able.

I failed to express myself properly twice in one post.

1) I did not mean to fire into the air as a means to scare off the bear. Just as an experiment to see if it works, and if so, to make something that has the same effect but not the lethality.

2) I don't like to see bears killed, and it is particularly ironic if it is done by people who appreciate the wild, nature. But you have no argument with me over priority. I hope to take my family on a trek through wild country some day, and I hope I never have to kill to protect me and mine. But I would not hesitate, and I am quite proficient with guns.

[Uath]

I agree with you guys, a spear would be better than anything. I think if you asked our cavemen ancestors what weapon they would choose to stand off a bear, they would say:

1) Fire
2) Bow and Arrows
3) Spear
4) Axe/Club
5) Knife
6) Bear Hands (Get it??)
In some ways the spear would be better than a bow. I might even give it a nod.

I love the fireworks and air horn suggestions. Nobody said sling-shot (someone said sling). The sling -shot is a favorite toy of mine. I like the kind without an arm rest. I always use marbles and I'm pretty good. I think everyone is right, you just have to try and bluff, that really is what's gonna do you the most good.

Like I said; mountain lions scare me more than bears. In a weird way, you might be able to COMMUNICATE with a bear. Just like with a dog, "I don't want to, but if you come closer, I'm gonna stave your head in." A dog would understand that message, so might a bear, a mountain lion on the other hand....

I don't think they're stupid. Not at all. I just think their brains aren't put together that way. It's hard to imagine them feeling FEAR. That is a scary animal. Like I said, I walked up on one years ago. I had a .38 snub and I know how to use it but.... I'm not stupid either, just let Mr. Cat walk on and don't even CONSIDER the idea of facing it off.

Moose are BAD news also. I've heard horrrible stories of those babies. The females are the ones. You have NO idea how big they are until you see one up close. THey can kick you to death in a half second.

[Magnaminous_G]

Claymore mines would work much better than any of those. I'm sure if our ancestors had the choice, they would use them

[Daddyo16]

this is great, am I the only one who read it..good stuff.
I say get a S&W governor. small, light and will shoot 45 long colt or 410.

Nope. It will just piss the bear off.

[will_1400]

this is great, am I the only one who read it..good stuff.
I say get a S&W governor. small, light and will shoot 45 long colt or 410.

Dude, what? A .410 in a 28" barreled shotgun isn't adequete for pheasant, yet alone a charging bear. I seriously don't get how a shotgun shell that is considered weak sauce in a field-sized shotgun is all of a sudden Mjolnir when it's fired from a 3" barreled revolver... If you can pack something like a Governor (or Judge) then you can pack a Redhawk, Model 29, etc.

[will_1400]

I failed to express myself properly twice in one post.

1) I did not mean to fire into the air as a means to scare off the bear. Just as an experiment to see if it works, and if so, to make something that has the same effect but not the lethality.

2) I don't like to see bears killed, and it is particularly ironic if it is done by people who appreciate the wild, nature. But you have no argument with me over priority. I hope to take my family on a trek through wild country some day, and I hope I never have to kill to protect me and mine. But I would not hesitate, and I am quite proficient with guns.

If you want an irony... it's hunters and fishermen that supply the vast majority of funding for wildlife conservation. Appreciating and respecting nature do not necessarily conflict with hunting or killing in self defense.

[JParanee]

If you want an irony... it's hunters and fishermen that supply the vast majority of funding for wildlife conservation. Appreciating and respecting nature do not necessarily conflict with hunting or killing in self defense.

This is the best post in this thread

Hell it might be the brightest post I've read in prac tac

[medcommander]

If you want an irony... it's hunters and fishermen that supply the vast majority of funding for wildlife conservation. Appreciating and respecting nature do not necessarily conflict with hunting or killing in self defense.

I'm a hunter as well and as I stated before a wildlife conservation major. I do find though that there is a big difference between hunting and killing. Hunting is much more than just killing the animal, its a respect for the land and the creatures that inhabit it. While killing is dirty mean and an unfair way to bag game.

Easy distinction: Using a weapon and your wits to bag game in the cleanest and humainest way possible and then respecting the animal enough to honor its life and use it to sustain your family is hunting. Using an automatic weapon, AR, treestands, or high powered rifles that kill an animal from hundreds of yards is killing. Hunting shouldn't be target practice with dead animals at the end...

These of course are my opinions and in no way do you have to agree with them or even like them. I know I kinda got off track here but I have ADHD so...ohh pretty butterfly!

[shangchi108]

I think a stout sharp spear is your best non-chemical/non-firearm option...preferably with someone else holding it while I'm at home safe in bed.

[Nate805]

It seems I might be the only one following the rules of the thread. The op wanted to know which weapon you would choose that can be CONCEALED and isn't a firearm.Spears are a no go.

[will_1400]

It seems I might be the only one following the rules of the thread. The op wanted to know which weapon you would choose that can be CONCEALED and isn't a firearm.Spears are a no go.

See my kukri/parang recommendation earlier in this thread...

[brady.kevin07]

I'm taking my buddies Akita. According to the AKC its a bear hunting guard dog. Don't believe me then check out this link http://www.akc.org/breeds/akita/

[Longtrang]

Running shoes...

[will_1400]

I'm a hunter as well and as I stated before a wildlife conservation major. I do find though that there is a big difference between hunting and killing. Hunting is much more than just killing the animal, its a respect for the land and the creatures that inhabit it. While killing is dirty mean and an unfair way to bag game.

Easy distinction: Using a weapon and your wits to bag game in the cleanest and humainest way possible and then respecting the animal enough to honor its life and use it to sustain your family is hunting. Using an automatic weapon, AR, treestands, or high powered rifles that kill an animal from hundreds of yards is killing. Hunting shouldn't be target practice with dead animals at the end...

These of course are my opinions and in no way do you have to agree with them or even like them. I know I kinda got off track here but I have ADHD so...ohh pretty butterfly!

I can see where you're coming from. Definately agree with you to a small extent (i.e. I don't like people who brag about taking shots in excess of 600 yards; that's plain irresponsible) but I disagree regarding equipment. Some of the animals I hunt, I don't want to have only a bow and knife as my weapons if I can avoid it (for bear, I'm packing a 12 with hardened slugs or a .45-70 lever gun). Either way, no matter what equipment I have, I want my kill to be as clean and efficient as possible. Causes the least suffering and reduces the chance of me losing the animal.

[Haakon]

I've always wondered if a bear can be chased away by a rapid fire salvo in the air. It would be nice to not have to kill a bear to save your life. Bear spray seems pretty effective from what I hear, but if a type of firecracker could be designed that was easy and quick to light, and it would scare the bear off... I have no idea if deafening noice is enough to do the job. At least you wouldn't have to aim it!

Somewhat along those lines I was thinking one of those canned air air-horns. They're really loud, maybe loud enough to scare a bear off.

[edmundl]

They already have a pyrotechnic device .It's called a "bear banger". They are usually fired out of a pen like flare launcher or 12 gauge shotguns. They roughly have a range of about 150 to 200 feet. The noise output is similar to an M-80. They usually contain about 2 grams of flashpowder. 70/30 ratio of potassium perchlorate and 400 mesh dark aluminum powder. Bear banger are very easy to obtain in Canada. In the U.S.. If you buy them you usually have to sign an "end use" statement. The ATF takes a very dim view of people using them for recreational fireworks use instead of their intended purpose. Which is to hopefully frighten bears away from you. You should detonate the device to the side of the bear away from you. If you fire it over their head. The bear would most likely come racing towards you. Not good.

[12345678910]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35484383.../#.T8h7TFJv9uA

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