Knife to carry in Bear country

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shane45-1911 said:
And for context, a grizzly can run 35 MPH for much longer distances than 100m, and he isn't on any groomed track-and-field oval.

EDIT - I posted this before you added the second set of stats about the bear. :)
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Combat boots…bad idea. Nikes laced up real tight…also bad idea.
Im glad there’s no bears in Iowa lol
 
A fillet knife?…You ask (and most of you didn’t)
The last time I was cornered by a bear, I dove in a creek, swam down a trout, filleted it real quick, threw half to satisfy the bear, jumped in the Lamborghini SUV, made it back to camp in time to broil my half of the trout and catch Wheel of Fortune while my clothes dried by the fire.
A filet knife for sure.
 
My remote cabin is in black and brown bear country and they are amazing animals. Yes people have defended themselves with knives, but anyone planning to do so is either not very educated about them, or nuts.

Seeing a brown bear up close makes you very humble and I have been in scenarios that carrying a 500 S&W felt very under-gunned. Putting a size 12 boot sideways inside of a fresh front paw print, or smelling the bear but not seeing it, or walking up on a freshly killed moose in thick brush, or being bluff charged by an angry sow are things that stay vivid in your mind!

Carry the knife you love and trust, but pray that you will never need to use it against a bear other than hypothetically. 🤪
 
Plenty of others have already posted my first thoughts. Whatever you can kill yourself with the quickest and easiest with.
My second thought is, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Who cares what the law says. If the chances of being attacked by a bear are that high, I'd carry bear spray whether it was legal or not. The jury won't rip your arms off. The bear might. I can understand some common reasons someone might not be able to carry a .44 Magnum. I can't understand why the law would prevent someone from possessing bear spray in bear country. Am I missing something?
 
dryflytrout said:
Plenty of others have already posted my first thoughts. Whatever you can kill yourself with the quickest and easiest with.
My second thought is, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Who cares what the law says. If the chances of being attacked by a bear are that high, I'd carry bear spray whether it was legal or not. The jury won't rip your arms off. The bear might. I can understand some common reasons someone might not be able to carry a .44 Magnum. I can't understand why the law would prevent someone from possessing bear spray in bear country. Am I missing something?
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Good question/post.

Why would bear spray be illegal? I’d carry that as well regardless.
 
Given a bear can pick you up by your head, in its teeth, and shake you like a rag doll, I am skeptical that a knife will make much of a difference if the bear attacks.


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I remember reading about the Australian Kung Fu man who went into the lions cage, no doubt influenced by Tarzan Movies, where Tarzan beats up the lion. You can read about who won the fight: Kung Fu Lion

All things considered, humans are weak and pathetic when alone and separated from their technology.
 
So for what it's worth...
Maybe 3 or 4 years ago I was fly fishing a slightly remote area of Northeast Pennsylvania. Remote enough that i had no cell signal. I didn't see another person the entire day. On my way out I saw a black bear. The trail was what we call a "rhodo tunnel" around here. Mountain laurel so thick it covers your left, right, and above with 3-5 feet of clearing to walk . The bear ducked into the laurels and disappeared off the trail. I had to walk by the last spot I saw it to get out. It's getting dark. All I have is some cheap Remington 4" fixed blade. Just enough to cut off my waders instead of drowning if they filled with water. I gathered my courage, drew the knife, put my arms above my head, and screamed and roared as loud as I could. I was sure the bear was 4 feet off the trail waiting to ambush me. It wasnt. I got past fine.
 
I don't live in grizzly country, but I do hike in areas with plenty of black bears and big cats. I'm not sure if firearms are legal in all of the areas I visit, don't care, don't want to know, don't want to discuss it; I'll just say, I'm from Florida ;) . Still, statistics prove that bear spray is by far the most effective defense against bears, so I carry that and keep it easily in reach on the outside of my pack. If all else fails, I will certainly try my best to use a knife (or whatever else I can use) in a last ditch attempt to defend myself, to the last breath. I owe that to my loved ones, successful or not. People have fought off bears and cougars with knives before, though unlikely. However to plan on defending yourself against an apex predator with just a knife is foolish IMO. I can't imagine a place where you can carry a dagger big enough to kill a bear but not bear spray. Nevertheless, self defense, against person or animal, is a human right; so the way I see it you should be equipped with the most effective tools to defend yourself, don't do anything wrong, and in the off chance you have to use them, escape with your life and let the chips fall where they may 🤷‍♂️
 
I agree. I have discreetly carried a pistol in bear country where and when it was prohibited. I believe the statute of limitations has run out on those particular violations, but I’d do it again if needed.

Parker
 
helobite said:
Given a bear can pick you up by your head, in its teeth, and shake you like a rag doll, I am skeptical that a knife will make much of a difference if the bear attacks.


brLFyPT.jpg



I remember reading about the Australian Kung Fu man who went into the lions cage, no doubt influenced by Tarzan Movies, where Tarzan beats up the lion. You can read about who won the fight: Kung Fu Lion

All things considered, humans are weak and pathetic when alone and separated from their technology.
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I'd rather have my .375 JDJ with me...
But with a knife: I can put up a pretty good fight...
dryflytrout said:
How about an M14 rifle with an M6 bayonet?
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As far as a knife goes, my choice would either be a good size Bowie or a machete. Maybe. I’ve hiked and camped for years in bear and mountain Lion country and always carried a .357 magnum 180 grain JSP or hard cast lead (Ruger SP101 or GP100 for me), .45acp with 230 grain FMJ in a 1911 or Glock 21, or a .40S&W with 180 grain FMJ in a Glock 27. I want penetration. I’d rather be illegally alive than legal beagle in a body bag. That’s just me though. If you’re limited to a knife I think maybe Buck 120, marine corps KaBar, or cold steel Bowie, at the bare minimum. I’d think you need Enough blade for good penetration from different angles because he’s not just gonna hold still and let you stab him without a fight to say the least.

I’ve killed a couple bears and quite a few wild hogs with knives but there were several good hunting dogs latched on to them and all I had to do was stick them behind the armpit into the chest cavity and get the heart and preferably lungs as well. Stab deep, and then a sweeping cut out on the withdrawal. It used to be en-vogue in these parts to take more dangerous game with a knife. But that was hunting with dogs and other guys with rifles ready to smoke Yogi if things went to crap, not defending my life with a big bruin on top of me trying to put me on a T shirt. If I’m ever in that situation I hope I’ve got one of my .30-06’s in my hands and see it coming.

Edited to add, the knife I used was a Buck 119 and a Buck 120 on at least one bear and couple or three bigger size hogs.
 
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