Bear Spray

[Brooktrout]

Great and relevant discussion. I have hiked, camped, fished, and backpacked all over Montana, Canada, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico for about 27 years now. I even spent 2 1/2 weeks in AK last summer. I ALWAYS hike or fish with bear spray, period. (Use UDAP or Counter Assault in the Magnum sizes and order the holsters so you can have it on your belt ready to use in an instant.) Like the scouts say, "Be Prepared."

Although most black bears will run at the first sight or scent of man it is not as uncommon as one might think that they will try to stalk, kill, and eat homo sapiens sapiens. Wolves too. They are wild animals and given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances they will kill humans. I am not saying that humans are at the top of their menu though. But don't let the soft headed greenies fool you. Just last year some poor schmuck in AK was killed and partially consumed by wolves, n/k.

But GRIZ is a completely different deal. GRIZ evolved out on the rolling plains during the Pleistocene where the best defense was a ruthless, savage, and immediate offense. And this is in their DNA. Given enough space GRIZ will leave you alone, but get too close or startle a sow and cubs or a bear on a kill and you're in deep trouble in a hurry.
If you have practiced drawing your bear spray and releasing the lock, you will be more ready to respond if that charge ever comes. It's just like owning a pistol, you have to practice with it in order to be prepared to use it effectively. I don't remember the odds but you are much more likely to hit the bear with pepper spray than you are to deal an immediate death blow via any kind of pistol round. Besides, bears run so fast that you are lucky to even get off one well-aimed round.
If anyone remembers the Timothy Treadwell deal in AK you will remember that when the rangers had to shoot one of the bears that was eating on poor, dead Tim they shot it 14 times with a .40 semi-auto and unloaded 6, 12 ga slugs into it before it finally went down for good.
Bear spray works best.
Use the trusty Model 1911 against the two-legged predators.