An axe for bear defense?!

why not just make a lance with the axe in the first place....

choppers are tools for making other, better tools.

just my opinion as a hawker.

vec
 
vector001 said:
why not just make a lance with the axe in the first place....

choppers are tools for making other, better tools.

just my opinion as a hawker.

vec
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Knives, axes, hammers, and for that matter, guns, are all tools. I am not suggesting otherwise. But, these brief glimses of life during the 19th century are interesting; and, it is a subject we seldom talk about on this forum.

n2s
 
Boy... I dunno. I think the smell in my pants would deter an attacking bear first. I would like to think my K5 hawk would make a nice dent in a bear. After I put a couple 325 grain 500s in him first.
 
missing is for sissies anyways - they wouldn't be in bear-filled woods. :D:thumbup:


vec
 
Oh, OK, so I don't knee cap my hiking buddy with the hatchet and run like hell?


Ain't got to be faster than the bear.....


Pat


P.S what a bear hunting buddies for? Bait
 
I have LOTS of black Bears on and around my land and never a problem. I talk to them when I encounter them, they sit and listen and then go on their way ;-)))
I'd rather use my hawks on the f#@*#@@@ prospectors who come on my land ;-)))

Regards

Robin
 
If your thinking of the big coastal brownies up in Alaska I wouldn't even attempt it unless that was your only chance of survival. most times they will maul you then walk away. I've seen how tough these bears can be. The 8' 6" one I shot took three solid hits from my .416 Rigby. Now the much smaller black bears you might have no choice but to use your ax as they are more apt to eat a person.
Tony
 
tonyc454 said:
If your thinking of the big coastal brownies up in Alaska I wouldn't even attempt it unless that was your only chance of survival. most times they will maul you then walk away. I've seen how tough these bears can be. The 8' 6" one I shot took three solid hits from my .416 Rigby. Now the much smaller black bears you might have no choice but to use your ax as they are more apt to eat a person.
Tony
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I think "tonyc454" just gave you a good rundown. What he said about the blackies being more apt to actually eat you is the same I've heard on several of those survival type shows. Most people have no idea of the unbelievable, super strength that even small bears possess. If at all possible avoid all bears at all cost.

I've heard it be told that a mother with cubs will even come at you even if you shoot her with a big caliber, high powered rifle. That is if you dont hit her in a vital area. It's been my experience that most bears want to avoid humans anyway unless there's an overpowering smell of food to attract them.

If you have to be in bear country I think it would be advisable to carry some type of potent pepper spray or even LEO grade mace if you can get it. I've heard that effective chemical sprays will deter them most of the time. Be very careful my brother
 
OK, ya'll keep shooting, running and smackin them with axes, I'll keep talkin to them.

Here are some stats on Bear attacks that ended in death (not eating). "Between 1900 and 2003 there were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears, 50 due to brown bears and 5 due to polar bears."

I have heard of One woman being eaten in Quebec a couple of years ago. The Bear was shot and found to be a dump Bear that was dying of starvation. 50 deaths in 103 years....
NOT sayin Bears can't be dangerous but I personally have had quite a few close encounters without Ever a threat from the Bear (other than Mock lunges).

;-))

Regards

Robin
 
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JD Spydo said:
If you have to be in bear country I think it would be advisable to carry some type of potent pepper spray or even LEO grade mace if you can get it. I've heard that effective chemical sprays will deter them most of the time. Be very careful my brother
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makes a good point but you dont want pepper spray you want bear spray as it is more potent. I have never heard of bear spray not working and at the very least it would give you time to regain composure and run safely.

Pipeman said:
OK, ya'll keep shooting, running and smackin them with axes, I'll keep talkin to them.

Here are some stats on Bear attacks that ended in death (not eating). "Between 1900 and 2003 there were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears, 50 due to brown bears and 5 due to polar bears."

I have heard of One woman being eaten in Quebec a couple of years ago. The Bear was shot and found to be a dump Bear that was dying of starvation. 50 deaths in 103 years....
NOT sayin Bears can't be dangerous but I personally have had quite a few close encounters without Ever a threat from the Bear (other than Mock lunges).

;-))

Regards

Robin
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there maybe hasnt been very many recorded deaths yes but i know that there are probably 50+ run ins/attacks a year throughout canada so having something to help protect you is not a bad idea at all a hawk or axe would be a last bit deffence but it would be a lot more useful than having nothing
 
A browning light 50 would make me feel safe.
Bears aren't my biggest problem here though I have come across them.Mines moose.I had a BIG Bull run-in a few weeks ago and he made me nervous.he came out of a thinned stand of trees and out on to the path I was walking on.He turned and started to run away when he stopped and came back towards me.He stood about 30 feet away and just stared at me.All I had was a pipe tomahawk and a bushcraft knife so I was pretty F***** if he decided he didn't want me around.We just stared at each other for what felt like a long time and then he just slowly turned and walked away with a sort of "I could have but I didn't" swagger about him.Now I carry at least my Rogers Rangers Fort Turner Hawk as well as a knife of suitable size for a long knife.
 
savagesicslayer said:
A browning light 50 would make me feel safe.
Bears aren't my biggest problem here though I have come across them.Mines moose.I had a BIG Bull run-in a few weeks ago and he made me nervous.he came out of a thinned stand of trees and out on to the path I was walking on.He turned and started to run away when he stopped and came back towards me.He stood about 30 feet away and just stared at me.All I had was a pipe tomahawk and a bushcraft knife so I was pretty F***** if he decided he didn't want me around.We just stared at each other for what felt like a long time and then he just slowly turned and walked away with a sort of "I could have but I didn't" swagger about him.Now I carry at least my Rogers Rangers Fort Turner Hawk as well as a knife of suitable size for a long knife.
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Yup, I'd be a LOT more worried if I had a pissed off Moose after me. We have a huge population of Moose here tearin up the trees as we speak ;-))

Regards

Robin
 
We had a black bear come in our campground when I was a kid back in the 1960's. 7 of us (counting Mom and Dad) in a Coleman tent (the green one with the awning, classic). My Dad woke up and grabbed our axe, it was in the tent. The bear went through our stuff, knocked the ice chest off the picnic bench, and it popped open. It ate raw eggs, raw bacon (including the package), a box of Hershey's bars (wrappers and all), and tore open and lapped up a 1/2 gallon of milk. Then it ambled up to the front of the tent on its hind feet, about 6 feet tall... my Dad said they were 'eye to eye', about 3 feet apart, and he could smell the bear's breath...

They stared at each other, and then the bear went away. My Dad had the axe cocked back ready to strike. Dad was 6' 1", and weighed 240. It could have been a real mess!!! We all spent the rest of the night in our stationwagon after Dad woke us up. He only told my Mom why after he woke us, didn't tell us kids until later.
 
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savagesicslayer said:
A browning light 50 would make me feel safe.
Bears aren't my biggest problem here though I have come across them.Mines moose.I had a BIG Bull run-in a few weeks ago and he made me nervous.he came out of a thinned stand of trees and out on to the path I was walking on.He turned and started to run away when he stopped and came back towards me.He stood about 30 feet away and just stared at me.All I had was a pipe tomahawk and a bushcraft knife so I was pretty F***** if he decided he didn't want m
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One of the survivor type TV shows that I do give some creedence to is Canadian Les Stroud's SURVIVORMAN. In one of the episodes he filmed up in Canada he was in some forest that was full of moose,. He said in that show that the one animal he feared more than about any animal on the planet was a bull moose during rut. He said they literally go berserk trying to kill any living thing in their path. Bears can be bluffed because I've seen it done before. But there would be no stopping a bull moose short of a big caliber rifle like a .375 H & H or bigger.

One thing that the brother's testimony made clear. Be very careful how you store your food because that will bring bears in for sure. They have one of the best noses in the entire animal kingdom. I've also heard that certain high pitch noises will drive bears off because they have very sensative hearing.

Hey I'm not knocking using an axe if you have one handy. I'm for using any kind of weaponry necessary to preserve one's life or protecting one's self. Personally I would like a thick bladed Gurka Kurkri myself over an axe for that type of defense because I believe a lighter weight weapon would have it's advantages. I was fortunate enough to nail a couple of the really good Cold Steel models made with Carbon V before they become extinct. I love the Gurkha Kukri and I take one of mine in the woods with me every time I go. I just hope I never get that close to a bear or any other potentially dangerous animal to begin with. But as the old saying goes "I would rather have it and not need it, as to need it and not have it". AGain I say to all of you>> be extremely careful around wild animals. That recent chimp attack that happened to that one lady in Connecticut still gives me the creeps :eek:
 
There used to be Russians that hunted bears with spears. They had a name for the hunters and I think it was the same name as the spear. I seem to recall that they would instigate a charge from the bear and set the foot of the spear into the ground and support it with their own foot. And pray hard...
 
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