Another Bear Mauling.........

[Lawdog]

Many have heard about the Brown Bear that mauled the boy while camping last month in Alaska but for those that haven't here is the link to the news article about the mauling.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/042704/sta_bearfists.shtml

From what my brother in-law could find out that there were 2 Bear Pepper spray canisters emptied and 2 air horns used.  Thankfully there was the flare gun in camp or things may have ended up much, much worse.  All for a little food that kid forget to eat and left in his tent.  Thankfully the boy is recovering nicely but will carry those marks for the rest of his life.  Sometimes Bear Pepper Spray doesn't work.  Lawdog
 

[Daveinthebush]

This is actually the third mauling this year up here.  It is getting to the point of being so common, I don't even bother with it much any more.

Some of the maulings don't even get reported as some communities don't want the bad press and loose tourism.

The kid that was mauled had food in the tent. He forgot the cardnial rule in bear terrority. Always eat in your buddies tent.

[Sourdough]

On the use of pepper spray, If you don't hit the bear in the face, you're not doing any good.  Spraying it at the bear don't do any good, you've got to hit them in the face.  The nose and eyes, mainly the nose.

[Rmouleart]

A 18 inch barrel H&R 10 gauge with a sling, easy to carry across your back and will save your life in a bear attack, as long as you can get a shot off, I carry it fishing/camping/hiking in bear territory, if not the 10 gauge the SRH 454 casull carried in my bandito holster, using 300gr XTP's. I would not use pepper spray any time, just would piss off the bear, not a good enough defense ageist big dangerous bears. I don't take chances I carry a gun at all times in the field. Aim small hit small RAMbo.

[Lawdog]

Sourdough,

They emptied TWO cans of bear pepper spray into the bears face and didn't do more than make the bear hesitate.  Had about the same results with the air horns.  This is not the first incident where bear pepper spray failed to produce the desired results.  So far it is beginning to show that if the animal has decided to really attack the spray doesn’t detour them very well.  I believe a rifle of suitable caliber or a 12 ga. shotgun loaded with 3” mag. Brenneke slugs would have saved this kid some damage.  I don’t like the idea of a handgun being used for protection on bears as even expert handgun shots get flustered and miss quite badly when they get excited(30 years as a LEO I’ve seen it happen).  I hold to the belief that if an animal has decided to use deadly force I intend to use the same.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog