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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 3:22:51 AM |
Shooting should be left to the experts. I'm sure you'd hate to pull the trigger, miss and hit the guy across the street looking out his front window.
I’d also hate to watch a child get eaten while standing around waiting for the authorities to arrive.
I've seen many videos shown on the 6 o'clock news regarding a bear or other wild animals that have wandered into towns... eventually caught by animal control, tranquilized and taken back to nature. Alls well that ends well. Now imagine if every Tom, D1ck and Harry that felt threatened grabbed thier guns and opened fired on that animal? You'd see more than a tranquilized bear on the evening news.
I think you’re missing the point here. A wild animal will not be as generous with your life as you are being with its life. Choosing not to exert deadly force when not directly confronted with death is not a problem as long as you are capable of exerting such force should the situation call for it. But many people that routinely do all they can to offer alternate means of neutralizing a situation will typically be “too soft” to even defend their own lives when the situation calls for it. They look at a wild animal and think “cute furry creature.” The animal looks at them and thinks “dinner.” | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 4:56:32 AM | | Animals aren't thinking "dinner" when they look at humans. They are usually scared and needing to protect them selves or their family or territory. If someone walked into your house, you would probably defend yourself. Why shouldn't they. Most will not attack a human if they feel there is any other option. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 5:57:18 AM |
I’d also hate to watch a child get eaten while standing around waiting for the authorities to arrive.
Now your being a bit silly, I never said you should stand watch while a child is being eaten.
I think you’re missing the point here. A wild animal will not be as generous with your life as you are being with its life. Choosing not to exert deadly force when not directly confronted with death is not a problem as long as you are capable of exerting such force should the situation call for it. But many people that routinely do all they can to offer alternate means of neutralizing a situation will typically be “too soft” to even defend their own lives when the situation calls for it. They look at a wild animal and think “cute furry creature.” The animal looks at them and thinks “dinner.”
So your solution is just "open fire" at all costs, and ask questions later. You were just killing it before it killed you right?
And since when is a coyote walking down the street mean your "directly confronted with death"? OH NO, it's coming right for us!!! (a reference to South Park, for those who have seen it)
Why not use an alternate means if your life isn't directly in danger? I have no problem with killing an animal if it's either him or me at that moment, but what makes you an expert on whether that animal is going to eat a child, or is just passing through? Just like every hiker that comes in view of a wolf/bear isn't attacked and eaten.
Most will not attack a human if they feel there is any other option.
I have to agree... I can't count the amount of times my husband and I were either out walking or hunting for deer, and a bear or wolf would cross our paths. They would either turn tail and run away, or stand around to sniff us, and then casually walk away. It's dangerous to have the attitude that you have to shoot every wild animal you come across because you "fear for your life". Do you shoot the stray dogs that come into your street too? You should, because they are probably more dangerous to your kids than a wandering wolf.
Make sure to unload your weapon though... you probably wouldn't get it on the first or second shot. Then you can explain to the police and to Mrs. Smith across the road why there are bullet holes in her blue sedan. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 6:16:22 AM | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
smartest person in the room.
People carrying in these situations don't "Shoot at anything that moves." Something moving is not a threat.
its quite obvious that you've never owned a farm anywhere remotely near a city. as I said earlier, as a kid, we lost a golden retriever and a cow to idiots that either didn't know what a deer was or didn't care what it was they shot as long as it was moving. I won't even go into the number of shotgun pellets I've seen embedded in cow's hides.
your faith in the intelligence of the gunning owning public belies my direct experience. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 8:38:24 AM | its quite obvious that you've never owned a farm anywhere remotely near a city.
Nope, but I lived with them all around me in South Texas during dove season. Close enough. Yes, every now and then our house caught some #8 dove. True enough. However, when you consider how many people were out there, I was amazed at how few times it happened. Of the multitude of CCW'ers out there, precious few shoot "anything that moves". You keep referring to hunters like they are CCW'ers. They are, sometimes as well, but CCW'ing and hunting are two VERY separate things.
Shooting should be left to the experts
Who are these "experts" you speak of? Are you implying that some cop who shoots MAYBE 100 rounds a year + his quals. is an "expert"? I would much rather trust myself than 90% of the cops out there. Any day. At least I am familiar with my weapons and use them enough to know what I can and cannot expect of them/myself. However, you are welcome to whip out your cell and squeel for help if you feel the need. I hope 15 minutes isn't too long to wait. As long as you consider yourself incompetant and rely on others, you will always be at someone/something's mercy. Educate and free yourself. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 8:56:02 AM |
Who are these "experts" you speak of? Are you implying that some cop who shoots MAYBE 100 rounds a year + his quals. is an "expert"? I would much rather trust myself than 90% of the cops out there. Any day.
That's not the point I'm trying to make. I'm also a pretty good shot with a gun. My point is that someone with a gun bought on a whim for thier "protection" shouldn't be whipping it out to shoot at some varmint that decided to stroll into town. You might trust yourself, but do you really trust everyone else that they can shoot to kill... instead of shoot to injure the dude next door?
Also, these experts ARE the police. If they shoot out the window across the street, they'll have to answer for it, not you or some other guy who's going to get into alot more trouble for unloading his weapon on a street full of houses. These experts are the ones with tranquilizer guns and are trained to deal with these situations. I understand many gun owners want to go all rogue and handle it themselves, but be realistic... unless you want to land yourself in jail, don't be the comic book hero.
I realize that many of us who grew up in the back woods, on farms and out of the cities have some sort of weapon experience... whether it be shooting ranges or hunting, or whatever. City folks that own a fire arm because they are afraid of intruders... or just because the law says they can, aren't the ones I'd trust to shoot the broad side of a barn. Also, most people (in the states) who own firearms in the cities and suberbs, have hand guns. They aren't near as accurate as a rifle or shot gun. So lets NOT have random people who just bought thier fancy little gun weeks ago shooting at coyotes who've wandered into town. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 9:09:55 AM | I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 11, spoken by the character Atticus Finch. The point is, people all over the world function just fine without guns. They use their brains instead. It has been said repeatedly in this thread to hike smart and you don't need a weapon. It has been described by someone who grew up in a place bordering the wilderness with wild animals coming on to their property that the family did not arm themselves, they used their brains, and, in fact, when it was hunting season, that's when they needed to stay indoors because it was the hunters with guns who were really dangerous, not the wild animals. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 12:45:08 PM | | It is not the responsible hunters that will be the problem, it will be ones who have very little experience with firearms. A handgun against a bear, unless you are crack shot under stressful circumstances all you are going to do is piss it off and who says they would be able to hit anything anyways, panic would set in and shots would go stray, possibly killing another person. Not to long along, a hunter was killed who was wearing a orange/yellow safety vest, the guy who shot him by mistake, said he thought he was a deer. One of our neighbours growing up had a stray shot go through her kitchen window while was sitting having her tea. Accidents happen even with those who have experience with firearms, it would be a nightmare with novices. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 12:46:59 PM |
Nope, but I lived with them all around me in South Texas during dove season. Close enough. Yes, every now and then our house caught some #8 dove.
#8 dove. pfft.
try some double aught buck blowing a hole in your house or a hunting arrow sticking out of an inside wall.
some idiot here blew a hole in his leg getting down out of a deerstand yesterday. not only was he drunk (empty bottle of jack in the stand) he was hunting out of season and the deerstand was a quarter mile from a school.
he'll get some minimal fine and lose his hunting license which he obviously doesn't pay any attention to anyway. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:22:23 PM | Yep, didn't take long to find stories about more hunting deaths than deaths from predators. The stats don't look good for protection with guns. ' Course the gunners will say its about using guns in a smart way - while they ignore suggestions that the predator problem would be less if people hiked smart. Personally, i don't go hiking if there's likely to be hunters about - too dangerous. I figure I'd stop hiking if I knew there were lots of 'hikers' packing 'protection' too.
I never gave much thought about being vulnerable while armed and hunting until, back in the early 90's, I read the story of two hunters killed by a grizzly. According to investigators both men died quickly with little or no time to react. A firearm, with a partially chambered round, was found by one of the men. They had unloaded their firearms and started to dress the animal not knowing that those actions sealed their fate.
A friend of mine, who hunts elk with his brother, told me that when a elk is downed there has to be at least two people there. One to look after the animal, the other to stand watch with a loaded gun just in case a grizzly wants the kill. They were inexperienced and unprepared which seems to be a theme that repeats itself frequently in this thread. It also points out that the danger is very real as the above poster pointed out.
A loaded rifle at close quarters is a poor means of self defense. Pepper spray or a sidearm are much easier to use. As for hikers packing, there are also other posters that stated that they arm themselves to go for hikes. Where it is legal to arm with a pistol, many probably do but you'd never know meeting them on the trail. Many people arm themselves where it is not legal because they would rather take their chances with the legal system than a cougar or grizzly. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:39:40 PM | Yep, we need more gunners out there to cull the population.... Even Dick Cheney managed to bag a lawyer on a quail hunt. And I would guess al of these folks weren't stressed out by a wild animal they thought was going to eat them - Though Dick said the quail was HUGE - and pretty angry.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351877,00.html
BELLE PLAINE, Minn. — The Sibley County Sheriff says that a man who accidentally shot and killed his 9-year-old son while they were hunting apparently mistook the boy for a turkey.
http://www.theunion.com/article/20091101/NEWS/911019999/1066&ParentProfile=1053
Authorities Sunday were investigating the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy who was hunting with his family near North San Juan.
The boy was hunting deer with a group of family and friends Saturday morning in an area between North San Juan and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park when he was shot in the left ribs, according to sheriff's reports.
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/addpost.aspx?PostID=13360074&x=35&y=13
An 11-year-old boy hunting Friday night was shot and killed after his gun accidentally discharged, shooting the child in the head.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/63636797.html?elr=KArksDyycyUtyycyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Brady Damhof was wounded Saturday while duck hunting near the west-central Minnesota town of Svea. Authorities say another member of his hunting party apparently stumbled, and his gun went off. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:42:18 PM |
One to look after the animal, the other to stand watch with a loaded gun just in case a grizzly wants the kill.
Mavcomart, I realize that this isn't exactly on topic, but perhaps you could inform me. Would it not be in the best interest of the hunters in this circumstance, to simply let the grizzly have the kill? I'm having trouble understanding why the hunters would not use this as an opportunity to escape. Would not the grizzly, or any bear, prefer the already freshly killed animal, over chasing down hunters?
I know that it would be foolish not to defend yourself if cornered, but this seems, to me at least, the logical thing to do ----> escape rather than have a confrontation where there is risk of not hitting your target spot-on. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:48:49 PM |
#8 dove. pfft.
try some double aught buck blowing a hole in your house or a hunting arrow sticking out of an inside wall.
some idiot here blew a hole in his leg getting down out of a deerstand yesterday. not only was he drunk (empty bottle of jack in the stand) he was hunting out of season and the deerstand was a quarter mile from a school.
he'll get some minimal fine and lose his hunting license which he obviously doesn't pay any attention to anyway.
its quite obvious that you've never owned a farm anywhere remotely near a city. as I said earlier, as a kid, we lost a golden retriever and a cow to idiots that either didn't know what a deer was or didn't care what it was they shot as long as it was moving. I won't even go into the number of shotgun pellets I've seen embedded in cow's hides.
your faith in the intelligence of the gunning owning public belies my direct experience.
These replys are always entertaining and add life to the serious discussion that take place in many threads and they usually come from this poster. I would like to see the link to the news story about the drunken hunter. Without it, stories are just so much blah blah blah. His postings also make me very glad I don't live where he does for it seems that every crime that a gun owner could commit has happen to him or some one he knows because of his "direct experience". Any way on to some seriousness.
The coyote shot and recovered after the attack on Taylor Mitchell was tested and found to be a healthy, 30 pound animal with food already in its system meaning it wasn't even hungry.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9013871.html
This is how you back up a story wudger.
Since the attack, more and more people are relating their experiences.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1150781.html
The comments on this story are very interesting as well. I have to agree with the person that said that a cull would not be effective or the right thing to do. People need to learn what they can about these animals and be prepared to live with them because they are here for the long run. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:58:15 PM |
right. the guy fell out of the tree yesterday and the local paper is a weekly.
when the Eagle comes out, I'll post the link. falling out of a tree and blowing a hole in your thigh doesn't make the NY Times.
we do have some damn healthy coyote packs though here we don't get attacked. maybe nova scotians are more tasty. must be the lox.
I'll take pictures next time.
nothing like a training coordinator who apparently lives with the bears. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 2:59:18 PM |
Mavcomart, I realize that this isn't exactly on topic, but perhaps you could inform me. Would it not be in the best interest of the hunters in this circumstance, to simply let the grizzly have the kill?
I agree and this is a very good point. However, in the case of the two men killed, they let their guard down and the grizzly did not give them a chance to run away. A person standing guard would probably be able to scare off a bear with a shot in the air or at least delay its attack long enough to escape. A little reading about grizzly's, their speed, and aggressiveness would also shed some light on why just simply letting the bear have the kill may not be as easy as it sounds. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 3:34:41 PM |
that's when they needed to stay indoors because it was the hunters with guns who were really dangerous, not the wild animals.
http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=19990211003
https://gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20020228001
Here are some links that say other wise, at least where I live. Statistical info on this is hard to come by and I wish a had a more accurate presentation. I do know of two fatalities here however. In the past 15 years, two have died. One as they sat in the front of a vehicle. The gun being placed in the trunk accidentally discharged. The other was shot during a moose hunt in low light by his fellow hunter. He was not wearing hunter orange as is required by law to be worn while in the woods during hunting season. Both accidents due to carelessness. Now go look at the highway fatalities over the same 15 year period. Do these people that stay inside not drive either?
Again lack of preparation and carelessness were the case of these gun related deaths as are many other deaths that are not gun related. This is human nature, accidental deaths happen and for many reasons. Driving cars, playing sports, working on a ladder all kill but we do not stop doing what we do just because others die. Do we? | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 3:37:11 PM |
A little reading about grizzly's, their speed, and aggressiveness would also shed some light on why just simply letting the bear have the kill may not be as easy as it sounds.
If the grizzly wants your kill and your standing anywhere near it, it's going to come through you to get to that meat... and it's going to be mean. Unless I had an ATV or truck handy, there is no way I'm running away from fresh meat when there is a grizzly close by... I'm easily the appitizer. Especially if there is more than one bear around. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 4:03:27 PM |
there is no way I'm running away from fresh meat when there is a grizzly close by
This seems counterproductive to me. If you have the opportunity to run, you have a chance of escape. If you stand still when you had opportunity, and try to confront, even with a gun, there is a greater chance you'll be maimed or killed. When we read about bears invading a campsite or residential area, they usually seem to have far more interest in raiding the food supply than confronting people, if given the choice. I might not be fast, but I can still run faster than any tempting dead delicacy that's guaranteed to be a stationary distraction.
All these years of watching the Discovery Channel would seem to suggest that animals, when presented with the opportunity to scavenge a kill, will stop chasing anything else and quickly chow down on the remains. What seems like the logical thing to do, as evidenced by the animals having taken down the prey, is run like the****ns unless you're bigger and stronger. Hyenas don't seem to put up a serious confrontation when lions appear on the scene to take their kill, I suppose because they understand the dynamics well enough to know that they can catch something else later and still escape with their lives.
Whenever someone utters the phrase "pick your battles," somehow, choosing to stand and confront a grizzly doesn't seem to be one of those battles you'd voluntarily choose.....I just hope people don't choose to confront bears with some misplaced sense of bravado.
Oh well, just my $.02 | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 4:04:55 PM | I take it mavcomart is indian for he who walks with bears.
heres a link to the Pennsylvania Game Commission site. if you download the data for 2008 you can see statistics aren't too hard to come by here.
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/addpost.aspx?PostID=13360837&x=31&y=7
there were three fatal hunting accidents in PA in 2008. (I know this may be a shock but there are a lot more people in PA than in nova scotia) and 35 non-fatal accidents. statistics show the impact of both a training program and in the rapid urbanization of much of Pennsylvania.
as for the "convenience" of the yutz who shot himself here the other day, please note that its hunting season in PA, which means the woods are FULL of camouflaged hunters (somebody tell these bozos that deer are colorblind). I was playing disc golf in a local park today and two ramboians went wandering thru carrying hunting bows and arrows, having gotten lost in the part of the park where a deer hunt is going on. with a little luck they could have bagged a cross country runner from one of the high school meets going on there.
and believe me, most guys who "accidentally" let loose a blast and hit a dog, cow, house or themselves generally don't report it to the Gaming Commission. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 4:45:04 PM | I take it mavcomart is indian for he who walks with bears.
heres a link to the Pennsylvania Game Commission site. if you download the data for 2008 you can see statistics aren't too hard to come by here.
http://forums.plentyoffish.com/addpost.aspx?PostID=13360837&x=31&y=7
there were three fatal hunting accidents in PA in 2008. (I know this may be a shock but there are a lot more people in PA than in nova scotia) and 35 non-fatal accidents. statistics show the impact of both a training program and in the rapid urbanization of much of Pennsylvania.
as for the "convenience" of the yutz who shot himself here the other day, please note that its hunting season in PA, which means the woods are FULL of camouflaged hunters (somebody tell these bozos that deer are colorblind). I was playing disc golf in a local park today and two ramboians went wandering thru carrying hunting bows and arrows, having gotten lost in the part of the park where a deer hunt is going on. with a little luck they could have bagged a cross country runner from one of the high school meets going on there.
and believe me, most guys who "accidentally" let loose a blast and hit a dog, cow, house or themselves generally don't report it to the Gaming Commission.
Yep just call me Yokeamatata, that is what all of my Indian brothers call me. I talk to bears too! 
If you go back and re read my post, I was referring to the area in which I live, Nova Scotia, not Pennsylvania. Go and find some better links to the Nova Scotia stats and get back to me please.
Speaking of links, here is the correct link to what you were referring. Yours does not work. I already had this in my archives. I do my homework:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/2008hrsireportdraft.pdf
As you noted the article also goes on to say that hunting related mishaps are down 80% since 1959 when hunter education programs started. It also states that it is the one of the lowest on record. A quote from the article:
"Conclusion
Overall, the year 2008 was another top year on record for the fewest number of
hunting-related shooting incidents, and continued a positive decline in incident rates per
100,000 participants. Additionally, the number of turkey-hunting incidents increased from
18% to 29%, and deer-hunting incidents decreased from the previous year by 6%.
Volunteer hunter education instructors, student graduates and the entire hunting
public should be congratulated for continuing to make hunting a safe activity!"
Your comment about the two bow hunters shows your bias towards hunters in general. Your insulting remark as to the probability of these hunter shooting high school children in a track meet says much for your mentality.
And just for chuckles and giggles, what does your post have to do with the subject of the thread. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 4:52:12 PM |
All these years of watching the Discovery Channel would seem to suggest that animals, when presented with the opportunity to scavenge a kill, will stop chasing anything else and quickly chow down on the remains.
We must have been watching the different Discovery Channel, because if a bear sees me anywhere near the kill that they want to dine on, they will see me as a threat and therefore want me as far away as possible. Have you never seen a bear chase away other bears while trying to dine on a carcass.. or fighting with other bears to get at the meat? That's not a battle I want to fight.
If you have the opportunity to run, you have a chance of escape. If you stand still when you had opportunity, and try to confront, even with a gun, there is a greater chance you'll be maimed or killed.
Clearly you've never seen a grizzly bear run. Let me tell you what the Discovery Channel has told me... bears are faster than humans. So no, running from a bear is not always a means of escape. As a matter of fact, bear experts tell us to "play dead" when confronted with a bear. If I have a weapon, with bullets in it, it is a far better means of me being able to escape from a bear. This is of course assuming that the bears not breathing down the back of my neck and instead standing a ways from me... because if it's close enough for me to smell his breath, then I sure do have a better chance with a gun, than I do trying to run.
Of course if he's not threatening or coming close, then I have nothing to worry about and won't have to shoot anything. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 5:02:57 PM | http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9013871.html
from the story:
LOUISBOURG — Experts have determined that a coyote believed to be involved in a shocking attack on a young hiker on a Cape Breton trail was neither diseased nor hungry...
...Bird said the coyote was a 14-kilogram adult female in ``really healthy shape.'' There was also evidence that the coyote had food in its system...
I would say there is a chance that she was attempting to feed them and that food they found will have the answer.
Since the attack, more and more people are relating their experiences.
...and let onslaught of people with a coyote story come forward, because in Atlantic Canada it is everyones dream to be on live at five.
When I was in Cape Breton last week, right after they would "...terrible thing that happened to that hiker..." it was followed up with an account of their own or close friends coyote experience.
Human Nature - Everyone wants to be the 1st to say -
I Told You So. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 5:46:07 PM |
Have you never seen a bear chase away other bears while trying to dine on a carcass.. or fighting with other bears to get at the meat?
Sure, but two BEARS are pretty equally matched and they know it. If one bear is unwilling to retreat, there will be a battle. A snake and a mongoose will square off, because they are equal opponents, as will scorpions, who are their own natural enemies. Mountain lions will prey on coyotes, but they won't expend much energy trying to deliberately confront a bear or a pack of wolves. We also don't see humans take on bears in cage fights for that same reason.
In the examples I quoted, the animals inhererently know when they are outmatched due to dispareties of size, strength, aggression, and persistence. One of the laws of nature is that animals will seek self-preservation when confronted by an unequal foe, which is best accomplished by showing submission and running away. Even polar bears with cubs will stop chasing once the threat is over - i.e. the other polar bear continues to run in the opposite direction. The other bear, who must have gone to Harvard because he is so smart, escapes with everything but his pride. Yeah, I have actually seen this on the Discovery Channel....
Unfortunately for Bear Grylls of the "Born Survivor" show, he forgot that he isn't a match for a hive of angry bees who stung him to the point of being unrecognizable when he decided to pretend that he was Pooh bear and stuck his hand in the honey pot. The obvious lesson there is that even confirmed mountain men/survivalists get it wrong on occasion.
When humans don't realize that they aren't invincible, they often find life to be nasty, brutish, and short. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 6:01:51 PM | | Cheshire, I'm not arguing with you that standing your ground to a bear, that is clearly bigger than you is a wise idea. I get that animals only fight other animals they think they can beat. But if I'm the one with gun power... then the "laws of nature" go out the window. | |
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| Protection From Predators
Posted: 11/2/2009 6:03:01 PM | I knew the pro and anti gun crowd would try to take over this thread, you guys are so predictable 
Anyone that thinks you need more than pepper spay to defend yourself against a coyote is delusional.
I'd carry both a shotty and pepper spray (2 cans) when in grizzly country, but I have more faith in the spray after having to use it.
I'm a former guide outfitter and now an avid hunter in Northern BC where there are lots of Grizzly bears, I've had to make split second decisions several times on what to do when charged by a bear, both Black and Grizzly.
The steps I took were:
1st - shoot a warning shot to scare the bear away before it got too close. This worked probably more than 95% of the time.
2nd - Walk away from the area (backwards and never take your eye off the bear) while gently talking to the bear. This is effective, but it can piss you off because the bear will take you Elk or Moose that you worked so hard for. The clients were typically very upset and wanted to shoot the bear, but I never let them as Grizzlies are limited entry hunting only and I would have been subject to a huge fine if we killed a Griz without cause.
3rd - We only had to deal with one that was not going to give up his charge. My partner hit him with two shots right in the face with his shotgun from 20 feet with little effect, then I filled his face with pepper spray from about 10 feet. Anyone that tells you that pepper spray doesn't work doesn't know what they are talking about. That bear was hit hard with the shotty, but didn't loose stride (do you realize how big they are?), but when I hit him with the pepper spray, he stopped in his tracks and bolted. Good enough for me.
I love firearms, I hunt and shoot all the time, but the last thing I want is frightened urbanites carrying a firearm while in the bush, not a good idea. | |
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