Carry Gun in black bear country?

[rio grande]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/bear-attack-statistics.htm

Scary.  Most deaths from Browns..on that list...but lots from black bears.
What about hot loaded .45ACP? Heavy bullet...?

[S.B.]

rio, don't know where you heard that but, I've read most bear attacked are from blacks not Alaskan browns? Native Alaskans will tell you, it's not the bears but the moose you have to worry about.
Steve

[rio grande]

rio, don't know where you heard that but, I've read most bear attacked are from blacks not Alaskan browns? Native Alaskans will tell you, it's not the bears but the moose you have to worry about.
Steve

No, I just meant on their list, they seem to list a lot of Brown attacks when the discussion was about 'black bear country'.
I don't know which is responsible overall for most deaths.
When I lived in Colorado, I always worried about black bears. It was unsettling to be hiking and come across fresh bear crap.  
I carried a Smith Mdel 58 in .41 mag for a while but that was too heavy for the mountains (whew!).
Went to P97 Ruger .45, with the infamous Black Talons.
My brother always just carried a little Swiss Army Knife!

[S.B.]

I see now, maybe not enough coffee yet this morning?
Steve

[buck460XVR]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/bear-attack-statistics.htm

Interesting link...........24 deaths by Black Bears in both the U.S. and Canada over a period of 100 years. Considering in just the last TEN years almost 450 folks were killed by lightning and over 300 folks were killed by bee stings in the U.S. alone, not only should we carry a big azz handgun in the woods, but we need to carry a lightning rod and wear a mesh tent.........or we'll never make it back alive.

In reading the details of the deaths from the link posted, in many of the situations, had  the victim been carrying a hand cannon, it wouldn't have made any difference at all. Some folks were already carrying rifles very capable of killing a bear and still were killed. One death listed was from a pet/caged bear.


Are Black Bears dangerous? Yes, and in certain situations can attack without provocation. Whenever one is in an area where they live, one must be observant and wary. Does one need to be alert and aware whenever in Black Bear country.....Yes. If one knows that a confrontation with a Blackie is inevitable, should they take some sort of protection? Most certainly. Does every one that takes a walk in the woods need to buy a $1000 hand cannon in order to feel safe..........IMHO, No, not according to the statistics. This idea is only perpetuated by internet myths and handgun manufacturers wanting to make sales for niche handguns. Again, according to statistics, we are safer walking in the woods with Blackies, than we are walking in our own back yards.

But to each their own, one must do what they have to do to feel comfortable and safe. This is America and we have that right.

[Graybeard]

I admit I feel safer walking in the woods even if bears are present than walking down the street of ANY large city at night. Still in both cases I'll remain armed and hope I don't need to pull it.

[Bigeasy]

Ya know, someone with no hangun experience may find himself in a bad spot if he is really charged by a bear, even if he is armed with a 357 / 44 / 45, whatever.  There is a lot to be said for a large (10 - 16 ounce) canister of pepper spray, in fogger configuration.  Same thing used by correctional officers in prison riots.  The stuff really works, and is easy to hit with, as you literally blanket a large area 20 feet in front of you.  It has been proven time and time again on bears.

  I never sprayed a bear, but did spray a moose once up in Maine when I was running my camera during the rut.  I got too close, and he got all stiff, his hair stood up, and he started walking up to me with his head swaying from side to side.  I was carrying a can of OC spray, and a .44 mag. Ruger on my right hip.  My hand fell on the spray first, and I am glad that is what I used.  He spun and ran like horse on race day.

Larry

[Cabin4]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/bear-attack-statistics.htm

Interesting link...........24 deaths by Black Bears in both the U.S. and Canada over a period of 100 years. Considering in just the last TEN years almost 450 folks were killed by lightning and over 300 folks were killed by bee stings in the U.S. alone, not only should we carry a big azz handgun in the woods, but we need to carry a lightning rod and wear a mesh tent.........or we'll never make it back alive.

In reading the details of the deaths from the link posted, in many of the situations, had  the victim been carrying a hand cannon, it wouldn't have made any difference at all. Some folks were already carrying rifles very capable of killing a bear and still were killed. One death listed was from a pet/caged bear.


Are Black Bears dangerous? Yes, and in certain situations can attack without provocation. Whenever one is in an area where they live, one must be observant and wary. Does one need to be alert and aware whenever in Black Bear country.....Yes. If one knows that a confrontation with a Blackie is inevitable, should they take some sort of protection? Most certainly. Does every one that takes a walk in the woods need to buy a $1000 hand cannon in order to feel safe..........IMHO, No, not according to the statistics. This idea is only perpetuated by internet myths and handgun manufacturers wanting to make sales for niche handguns. Again, according to statistics, we are safer walking in the woods with Blackies, than we are walking in our own back yards.

But to each their own, one must do what they have to do to feel comfortable and safe. This is America and we have that right.

Understanding the base line in these stats is very important. Yes, more people are killed by lightning and bee stings but then again, a whole lot more people are in position to get killed by these then by bears. When you go into bear country, your risk inclines dramatically because you have now placed yourself in the base line. Since we only have bears in so few a places, of course people are less likely to get killed by them as compared to bee stings and lightning. If you never drive a car, you can't get killed in a car wreck either.......Once you start driving, your risk goes with the rest of the statistical base line. Although I don't know the measure for bear kills, the real measure in any statistic is per capita, not gross numbers. When in bear country, take the needed precautions.

[Lloyd Smale]

around here we have a cheaper solution then pepper spray. We just yell the majic words at them. Id tell you what they are but all youd see is a bunch of astrics!!!!!!!! I also agree with grande. You can find statistics that make walking out to your car seem dangerous if you look for them.

Ya know, someone with no hangun experience may find himself in a bad spot if he is really charged by a bear, even if he is armed with a 357 / 44 / 45, whatever.  There is a lot to be said for a large (10 - 16 ounce) canister of pepper spray, in fogger configuration.  Same thing used by correctional officers in prison riots.  The stuff really works, and is easy to hit with, as you literally blanket a large area 20 feet in front of you.  It has been proven time and time again on bears.

  I never sprayed a bear, but did spray a moose once up in Maine when I was running my camera during the rut.  I got too close, and he got all stiff, his hair stood up, and he started walking up to me with his head swaying from side to side.  I was carrying a can of OC spray, and a .44 mag. Ruger on my right hip.  My hand fell on the spray first, and I am glad that is what I used.  He spun and ran like horse on race day.

Larry

[45-70.gov]

you  need  to be  armed   any way

so  in  bear  country  might as well  upgrade  to a bear  stopper

[Doublebass73]

I admit I feel safer walking in the woods even if bears are present than walking down the street of ANY large city at night. Still in both cases I'll remain armed and hope I don't need to pull it.

X2

I grew up in a city in Massachusetts where crime and seeing drug dealers and hookers out on the street were a normal part of life. I live in the country now with lots of black bears around. I feel MUCH safer where I am now. Every time I see black bears they are skittish and want to get away as soon as they see me. I like the idea of pepper spray better than my .38 snubnose if a black bear was charging me.

[45-70.gov]

I admit I feel safer walking in the woods even if bears are present than walking down the street of ANY large city at night. Still in both cases I'll remain armed and hope I don't need to pull it.

X2

I grew up in a city in Massachusetts where crime and seeing drug dealers and hookers out on the street were a normal part of life. I live in the country now with lots of black bears around. I feel MUCH safer where I am now. Every time I see black bears they are skittish and want to get away as soon as they see me. I like the idea of pepper spray better than my .38 snubnose if a black bear was charging me.

those  hookers scare  me  too

[Siskiyou]

This summer I heard about a bear being seen on a California golf course a few times.

To be fair to the bear he/she should be allowed a daily take of one golfer.  Either sex is allowed.

[Doublebass73]

those  hookers scare  me  too

LOL yes they were the ugliest women you could imagine

I'll never forget one night I was driving through the bad part of town, I was about 18 years old and on my way to my girlfriend's house when I saw 2 hot women standing on the corner dressed up like hookers. I started laughing because I knew something was very wrong. They were way too nice looking to be local hookers. They looked like Julia Roberts in the movie "Pretty Woman", very Hollywood. After I picked up my girlfriend I drove her by the "hookers" and we laughed about it. Naturally they weren't hookers. I picked up the local paper the next day and there was a kid I went to high school with in hand cuffs, they were young women who worked for the sheriff's dept. dressed up like hookers. They busted at least 15 guys for propositioning and one was the kid I went to high school with ha ha!

[Ole Man Dan]

I admit I feel safer walking in the woods even if bears are present than walking down the street of ANY large city at night. Still in both cases I'll remain armed and hope I don't need to pull it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graybeard  beat me to it.  The mean streets are getting meaner.  A .45 ACP goes with me when I go anywhere in the cities now days... 
That said, I still carry a heavy loaded .44 Mag. or a .45 Colt when I venture into the woods.
It just makes sense.

[Ole Man Dan]

This summer I heard about a bear being seen on a California golf course a few times.

To be fair to the bear he/she should be allowed a daily take of one golfer.  Either sex is allowed.

If the Bear want's to play thru, let him. 

[375supermag]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/bear-attack-statistics.htm

Interesting link...........24 deaths by Black Bears in both the U.S. and Canada over a period of 100 years. Considering in just the last TEN years almost 450 folks were killed by lightning and over 300 folks were killed by bee stings in the U.S. alone, not only should we carry a big azz handgun in the woods, but we need to carry a lightning rod and wear a mesh tent.........or we'll never make it back alive.

In reading the details of the deaths from the link posted, in many of the situations, had  the victim been carrying a hand cannon, it wouldn't have made any difference at all. Some folks were already carrying rifles very capable of killing a bear and still were killed. One death listed was from a pet/caged bear.


Are Black Bears dangerous? Yes, and in certain situations can attack without provocation. Whenever one is in an area where they live, one must be observant and wary. Does one need to be alert and aware whenever in Black Bear country.....Yes. If one knows that a confrontation with a Blackie is inevitable, should they take some sort of protection? Most certainly. Does every one that takes a walk in the woods need to buy a $1000 hand cannon in order to feel safe..........IMHO, No, not according to the statistics. This idea is only perpetuated by internet myths and handgun manufacturers wanting to make sales for niche handguns. Again, according to statistics, we are safer walking in the woods with Blackies, than we are walking in our own back yards.

But to each their own, one must do what they have to do to feel comfortable and safe. This is America and we have that right.

While I understand what you are trying to say about statistics and the probability of a bear attack happening to any particular individual, the fact remains that when you are out and about in bear country you could be stalked and killed by a bear. It does happen.

If it happens to you, it is no longer an abstract statistic. I would prefer to be armed, just as I would prefer to be armed if faced by a violent human criminal. I may lose the fight...but I would prefer to lose fighting , rather than die defenseless. That is my mindset...I will use deadly force to defend myself and others from violent predators, whether animal or "human".

[myronman3]

10mm glock 20.   i have been nose to nose with a gi-normus blackie once, and been very close to others on many occasions.  having any gun is better than none.   i have never had to shoot a bear, but it is much easier to stand your ground when you are armed. 

[SHOOTALL]

I have never had a bear charge or really show intrest in me . I have been close ( anytime i see a bear inside 100 yards its close ) . With a handgun of any cal. it seems you stand a good chance of feeling tooth and claw.
 I think a can of spray might work better if it worked backed up by the handgun .
 A shotgun with 00 buck and slugs seems a better choice after thinking about it

[dpe.ahoy]

If he doesn't "do" handguns, he should carry a light carbine in 44 mag or 45 colt/ 454 Casull.  If he's willing to learn how to handle a handgun, I agree with 44 mag or hot 45 colts, both with hard lead SWC's or LBT type.  DP

[Swampman]

Marlin 1895G

[SHOOTALL]

870 pump and call it bird hunting

[Connecticut Yankee]

 First year in deer camp up in the Adirondacks, the kid was assigned all the unwanted chores. One evening he was sent down to the spring hole to fetch a pail of water.  He came running back all out of breath, yelling that there was a bear up to his waistline out in the middle of the spring.   one of the old time hunters says, " Don't be so afraid kid, that bear is just as afraid of you as you are of it".  Kid replys, well then, that water won,t be fit to drink now anyway.

John M.  A Connecticut Yankee

[S.B.]

CY, good story. I'll remember that one.
Steve

[WFN]

There are many black bears in Washington State, we live on acreage in a wooded area that had resident bear until development chased them out around 1995. They are still occasionaly seen in the area. They tend to avoid people and I have not heard of any local attacks despite thousands of encounters with hikers and residents. I am more worried about driving to work than bear attacks, the odds of a black bear attack are very, very, slim.

Cougars are a definate threat in our area. There had been a number of fatal cougar attacks in the western states and British Columbia in the past couple of decades. Sometimes dogs are mauled in western Washington, and occasionally cougar will show up in parks within the city limits of Seattle. Young children are often victims (look at the stats). Cougars will stalk people from behind by surprise, making handgun defense more difficult.

Most cougar attacks are on solitary people, I would not let our children play alone in our backyard when they were younger, as we have a few acres of forest. My only handguns are 45 auto, probably effective against cougar but not the best for black bear.

We had a couple of bobcats in our yard last summer, the rabbit population had swelled, and the cats came in for their favorite food.

[myronman3]

Cougars will stalk people from behind by surprise, making handgun defense more difficult.

cracks me up everytime i hear about someone getting mauled, the story usually involves other people driving off the attacking animal with sticks and stones.    then some moron "expert" is brought in to suggest the proper way to scare away an attacking animal.   shooting it would be so much easier.

[Lloyd Smale]

Rob Applegate who is a buddy of mine lives out in washington and says those cougar are a real danger out there and hes as honest as they come so if your talking cougar instead of bear you have a very legitimate consern.

There are many black bears in Washington State, we live on acreage in a wooded area that had resident bear until development chased them out around 1995. They are still occasionaly seen in the area. They tend to avoid people and I have not heard of any local attacks despite thousands of encounters with hikers and residents. I am more worried about driving to work than bear attacks, the odds of a black bear attack are very, very, slim.

Cougars are a definate threat in our area. There had been a number of fatal cougar attacks in the western states and British Columbia in the past couple of decades. Sometimes dogs are mauled in western Washington, and occasionally cougar will show up in parks within the city limits of Seattle. Young children are often victims (look at the stats). Cougars will stalk people from behind by surprise, making handgun defense more difficult.

Most cougar attacks are on solitary people, I would not let our children play alone in our backyard when they were younger, as we have a few acres of forest. My only handguns are 45 auto, probably effective against cougar but not the best for black bear.

We had a couple of bobcats in our yard last summer, the rabbit population had swelled, and the cats came in for their favorite food.

[myronman3]

cougars, bears, meth cookers, pot growers, illegal aliens, even people tresspassing on your property....there are so many reasons to be armed while in the woods.  you never know what is behind the next tree or bend in the river.    and if there is one thing i know for sure, things will happen when you least expect it.  my philosophy is that if i expect things and am prepared for them, they will not happen.  so i stay prepared.     

[EdK]

First off I'll agree it is comforting to be armed in the woods - more so for two-legged varmints and such than the bears but last but not least because we can!

Now with that said on to my reason for the post: I have no idea how to gather the statistics but if we were able to determine how the sedentary lifestyle of bear-fearing forum posters were contributing to their own demise (i.e. hours spent in front of computer munching, drinking beer), we could very likely conclude that this very thread was more dangerous to one's health than the possibility of a bear attack!

[45-70.gov]

First off I'll agree it is comforting to be armed in the woods - more so for two-legged varmints and such than the bears but last but not least because we can!

Now with that said on to my reason for the post: I have no idea how to gather the statistics but if we were able to determine how the sedentary lifestyle of bear-fearing forum posters were contributing to their own demise (i.e. hours spent in front of computer munching, drinking beer), we could very likely conclude that this very thread was more dangerous to one's health than the possibility of a bear attack!

I   RESEMBLE  THAT  REMARK

besides  i  am  going  jogging if  i turn this computer  off[maybe]

and  when  ever  i  fondle  a big bore  revolver
it  lowers  my  blood preasue

you  folks with  a blood preasure  cuff
test  it  for  yourself!!!