Bear encounters

Rotte

Rotte

Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
3,214
Read a sad story in the paper today: two grizzlies have been shot and killed in encounters with hunters.

In one case the hunter came upon a bear feeding on a carcass. The bear charged and the hunter reportedly tried to use bear spray as a deterrent. When that didn't work he shot the bear. In the second case, a hunter came across a grizzly with two younger bears. The adult bear charged, again was reported to not have been deterred by pepper spray, and was shot.

I'm assuming the stories are acucrately reported. I find it somewhat remarkable that people were able to get their bear spray out, use it, and then have time to resort to their firearms. Grizzlies move fast ( I had one charge right by me once--I didn't know he was their until he went flashing by, and then he was 50 yards awy in a blink.). Again, assuming these stories are true, it gives me pause as to how effective pepper spray is.
 
Two thoughts

1) bear spray is not pepper spray. Bear spray has been documented to be as effective or more effective than a gun in stopping a bear charge. There are statistics somewhere. :)

2) They might have just sprayed the bear after shooting it to make it look like they exhausted all options before shooting. Shooting bears without the right permits or a very good excuse can lead to a lot of paperwork and heavy fines.
 
I agree with #2. But, if #2 is not correct, then we have two examples in one week of #1 being incorrect.

(BTW, my bear spray is pepper spray: Counter Assault Bear deterrent...and is, I just realized, expired as of 2014. Oooops. :o Active ingredient is Capsaicin, same thing I put on my morning eggs.)
 
Who knows. I doubt bears suddenly became immune to the effects of bear spray. The problem is in the spray itself, the application of the spray (they missed?), or in the reporting of the incident. Send the used spray bottles to a lab for testing or something. :)

(So to be more precise. Bear spray is pepper spray, but not all pepper spray is bear spray. The bear sprays add more capsaicinoids to the mix than the typical pepper sprays designed for use against humans. :))
 
Yup. And, as you can tell, I'm still wondering about the details of the two incidents..... :confusion:
 
Often bear spray is used much too early. Ideally, the bear should be inside of 10 ft. When used too early the cloud dissipates and is not even close to the effectiveness of close range.

That being said, when a bear is chaging, it takes nerves of steel to wait until they are 10 ft away. If I were to make a guess, in both incidents the spray was used to early and rendered largely ineffective.
 
I wonder if even bob munden is fast enough to use a can of bear spray, register its inefficacy, then draw and put a bear down in the time it takes for it to charge those last 10 ft. :)
 
One other factor, bear cans are big, if they shot off a little keychain dog spray, its the same stuff, but about enough to season a meal for a bear. Time and distance are weird under stress, so It could well be that they misjudged a bluff charge, blasted the spray early, then opened fire. Or maybe was trying to double fist the spray and the weapon, and so missed the spray shot. Who knows?
Giving all benefit of doubt to those who were there, It may well be as they say. On the other hand a lot of people claim the fire extinguisher couldn't put the car out.
 
I don't get sad over bears. Or wolves. Conflicts with humans are a natural consequence of the inevitable interactions when society thinks it is a good idea to protect and increase the number of apex predators and expand opportunities for people to collide with them. Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.

frpld.jpg
 
Are you referring to the number of humans or bears? :rolleyes:

If you are saying there are too many people I agree with you.
 
sideways said:
Are you referring to the number of humans or bears? :rolleyes:

If you are saying there are too many people I agree with you.
Click to expand...

Everyone has the opportunity to reduce the human population by one if they feel the need to do so.
 
But bears are more epic! A peanutbutter smear and a quiet walk in the woods and then... 15 minutes of fame!
 
What's the rush? Might as well get my shits and giggles in while i'm here. I just won't contribute to the narcissism of overpopulation is all. That and I don't like children. Win win.
 
If I come in contact with a charging grizzly no way choosing spray over rifle. Why take the risk of dying. If their coming at you they have only one intent and that is to kill you.

We don't have grizzly around here so that's nothing I have to worry about. Black bears are timid. Can't think of single story of someone being mauled by black bear around here. I remember a hunter years ago who claimed he got surrounded by pack of wolves though. Saw a big black wolf during the day after harvested a deer. Was about 50 yards away from me. But they also just run when they see you to. Got a different one on game camera. Some pics of eagles too. There is wolf scat everywhere so know there are more around. But they always are, just don't always see them. Heard some howling very close to me when was sleeping tent this summer. That's kinda spooky. But chances are they'll leave you alone unless rabid or staving. Want to try to get some on video here soon.
20151105_145438_zpsnbeo2mtf.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
20151105_145552_zpsvcun6xzf.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
20151105_151314_zpsajjealiz.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
20151105_151508_zps3riqhnf3.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Yup. I am a coward. If the option existed to not have been born that would be OK too. :)

\_(ツ)_/¯
 
From a hike with my son last summer. Didn't see the bear. Just his scat. Right on the trail. My son saw bears on six separate hikes this summer.

Bear%2520Scat%2520Bear%2520Chrurch%2520Rock%25206.30.15.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top