Assemble your pen banger and fire it overhead or unholster and aim your bear spray to stop this. You've got about three seconds.
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Bear Attack?
- Thread starter Mihun09
- Start date
thanks to Glen for the video. I have seen a better version of this one which shows the group drifting around the corners of this small stream silently. They saw the cubs and did not react. In real time they were frozen until the last second and barely got off the warning shot which stopped the bluff charge. They never did any paddling, maneuvering, or made a sound.That is the wrong way to behave in bear country. You have to keep your wits about you and let them know you are coming. Glen's point about 3 seconds is valid. A gun or spray in a pack does you no good. The key is to make enough noise to avoid the close encounters. I used to see bears at around 40-60 yards in Alaska a lot because the vegetation is so dense in SE. There were a lot more that I didn't see. An air horn, firecrackers, and bangers are all good ideas.
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One man's opinion on the proper guns to shoot bears . . . and when and why to shoot them.
"There are many in our society who believe the life of an animal has equal or greater value than that of a human. I disagree. A bear is a wild animal, that when not threatening human life, is a wonderful sight. However, when I encounter bears that act aggressively by popping their teeth, woofing, swinging their head from side to side, charging, etc. I shoot them. I do not give them a prolonged chance to kill my wife, children, myself or any one that is with me. When I encounter bears (which I do several times per year) that run at my sight or smell, they are safe from me because I know I am safe from them. When they show aggression to humans, it is irresponsible to let them live as they will eventually permanently harm or kill someone. I don’t care that our governmental wild life agencies are protecting bears. They are generally misguided in this tactic. The notion that bears are a spiritual, magical life form that has value over human life, is a point of view that not only comes from the typical tree hugger groups/mindset, but it is coming from various fish and game agencies, more and more often. I choose to protect human life over animal life, period. The notion that bears were here before us and therefore have rights to maul us, is not only untrue, but even if it was true, I am here NOW and assert my right to be so."
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=108
"There are many in our society who believe the life of an animal has equal or greater value than that of a human. I disagree. A bear is a wild animal, that when not threatening human life, is a wonderful sight. However, when I encounter bears that act aggressively by popping their teeth, woofing, swinging their head from side to side, charging, etc. I shoot them. I do not give them a prolonged chance to kill my wife, children, myself or any one that is with me. When I encounter bears (which I do several times per year) that run at my sight or smell, they are safe from me because I know I am safe from them. When they show aggression to humans, it is irresponsible to let them live as they will eventually permanently harm or kill someone. I don’t care that our governmental wild life agencies are protecting bears. They are generally misguided in this tactic. The notion that bears are a spiritual, magical life form that has value over human life, is a point of view that not only comes from the typical tree hugger groups/mindset, but it is coming from various fish and game agencies, more and more often. I choose to protect human life over animal life, period. The notion that bears were here before us and therefore have rights to maul us, is not only untrue, but even if it was true, I am here NOW and assert my right to be so."
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=108
This thread is starting to remind of people that practice martial arts. Once they get really skilled, they understand the consequences of getting in a fight and become really good at avoiding conflicts. Experienced bush people in Alaska tend to have the same view of conflicts with bears. They know the habits of the critters and go to great lengths to avoid close encounters. Most of them carry firearms only as a last resort. In Alaska more people tangle with black bears than any other kind, partly because there are more of them. To be in any of the 3 scenarios that started the thread, you have to be stupid or very unlucky. People that show up in bear videos tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. Be smart and avoid the conflicts in the first place.
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Just a little observation on shotgun hardware: I understand the idea behind those folding stocks, they sure make it easier to carry. The idea was introduced from the military where you had various "tommy" guns with folding stocks. Now, the only reason that I'll ever pack the weight is that when push comes to shove I'll be able to use the thing. If you start out with the stock folded, that's what you've got to work with in a bear confrontation. No time for anything else. Your ability to accurately place your shot has gone in the crapper in the interest of having a conveniently portable way to carry the thing.
Then there's the recoil. It's so much better to have the stock firmly on your shoulder with both hands holding the shotgun. If you don't believe me, try it yourself both ways. (without the bear)
In that video, kindly supplied by Glenn, that kid who was shooting bear bangers from a shotgun: He had a ventilated hand guard over the barrel along with an extended magazine. First, you're not going into a firefight where the barrel has a chance to get hot enough to burn your hand, so no hand guard is needed, in fact it might become something to snag things on. Plus the weight.
Ditto the extended magazine, I'd suggest that any confrontation will be decided well within the four shell normal load. On any of the standard "old warhorse" shotguns the manufactures have expended a lot of effort to see that their guns function flawlessly. Trying to fit on an aftermarket accessory like those extended magazines is just asking for problems.
Not to be overly critical but did you notice that the kid dropped the shell he was trying to load? This is one of the reasons why taking your shotgun to a trap range and having fun shooting clays can pay such dividends. Over and over again you go through the process of loading and shoot the gun until your body has really become accustomed to the whole act of shooting and it doesn't require any step by step thought.
That's what I think anyway.....
Rob
Then there's the recoil. It's so much better to have the stock firmly on your shoulder with both hands holding the shotgun. If you don't believe me, try it yourself both ways. (without the bear)
In that video, kindly supplied by Glenn, that kid who was shooting bear bangers from a shotgun: He had a ventilated hand guard over the barrel along with an extended magazine. First, you're not going into a firefight where the barrel has a chance to get hot enough to burn your hand, so no hand guard is needed, in fact it might become something to snag things on. Plus the weight.
Ditto the extended magazine, I'd suggest that any confrontation will be decided well within the four shell normal load. On any of the standard "old warhorse" shotguns the manufactures have expended a lot of effort to see that their guns function flawlessly. Trying to fit on an aftermarket accessory like those extended magazines is just asking for problems.
Not to be overly critical but did you notice that the kid dropped the shell he was trying to load? This is one of the reasons why taking your shotgun to a trap range and having fun shooting clays can pay such dividends. Over and over again you go through the process of loading and shoot the gun until your body has really become accustomed to the whole act of shooting and it doesn't require any step by step thought.
That's what I think anyway.....
Rob
Here is what NOT to do.. A bear fatality yesterday not forty miles from New York City, and five miles from my ex house.
http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/in...ead_in_west_milford_after_bear_encounter.html
http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/in...ead_in_west_milford_after_bear_encounter.html
G
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I guess it worked out good for the other 4 
I suppose the odds are in my favour thus far, in 101 days in da bush in the past 7 Summers we have only seen a bear once.
You have to come to New Jersey. In the northwest corner of the state ( where the attack happened) bears routinely hammock in the back yard.. Or ruin my car. The first article mentions that Jersey has the densest population of black bears in North America.. That includes Ontario....
http://www.nj.com/sussex-county/ind...wer_hunters_in_fourth_consecutive_season.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwl52DP6wZo
This is a former student of mine with a bear he shot last week. 760 some odd pounds dressed. They figure it was in mid 800's or close to 900 fully loaded. That's a very big black bear! And people wonder why I carry guns.
Memaquay,
Thanks for the post. That is one enormous black bear and they only get that way from eating food provided by humans. That is the unfortunate reality. Once they become adept at food sourcing garbage, they lose their fear and become dangerous. We struggle with these problems all the time at Lake Tahoe. Bear-proof trash cans are the first step in avoiding this situation. Bears at LT now routinely open car doors, pull out windshields and break into people's houses when they are at work. Some of them do not hibernate at all, due to the availability of human provided food even in winter. After three years of drought the wild bears are showing up in all sorts of places they don't belong. Last year one showed up in the revolving door of a casino in downtown Reno.
Around here I carry a .357 mag sometimes, and bearspray all the time in a belt holster so it can be deployed quickly. In places like Alaska the bears are really big, so I carry a rifle, an old Winchester 71 in .348.
Thanks for the post. That is one enormous black bear and they only get that way from eating food provided by humans. That is the unfortunate reality. Once they become adept at food sourcing garbage, they lose their fear and become dangerous. We struggle with these problems all the time at Lake Tahoe. Bear-proof trash cans are the first step in avoiding this situation. Bears at LT now routinely open car doors, pull out windshields and break into people's houses when they are at work. Some of them do not hibernate at all, due to the availability of human provided food even in winter. After three years of drought the wild bears are showing up in all sorts of places they don't belong. Last year one showed up in the revolving door of a casino in downtown Reno.
Around here I carry a .357 mag sometimes, and bearspray all the time in a belt holster so it can be deployed quickly. In places like Alaska the bears are really big, so I carry a rifle, an old Winchester 71 in .348.
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This was no dump bear. He was shot in the bush, away from humans. A couple of years ago, on the long stretch between Hearst and Longlac, a 120 mile highway devoid of humans and gas stations, a transport hit another one around 700 pounds. Maybe we have some kind of mutant strain up here.
Makes me think twice about rolling down that lonely stretch of Rt 11 at night. I bet its the fault of the blueberries... there aint no people or dumps!
Something in this story makes no sense. Wild black bears do not get that big and heavy without livestock, salmon, garbage or all of the above. Boar bears can have enormous home ranges. This one is downright obese. Any ideas? How remote can New Jersey really be?
Well, it's not New Jersey, it's Northern Ontario, but I suppose when a bear is that big, the Border Guards wouldn't stop him from entering new Jersey and eating a few people to wash his donuts down with. He is an abnormality, we have some of those up here, like I say the one that took out the transport truck in the middle of nowhere (30 miles from my place) was 700 pounds. There is a full write up about the monster int he local paper today, I'll have to read it and report back.
Reading up a little Wikipedia on black bears.. there are some bruisers in the East. New Jersey does have 800 lb bears though most are much smaller ( the ones I have seen or my husband has hit) Western bears (except for the PNW) tend to be smaller.
G
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Guest
Not sure why that would be except maybe that grizzlies are better adapted to those areas and either are competing for food with blacks, or that the smaller blacks are better at staying out of the grizzly's way.
Other reasons that pop into my head are a lot more people which might mean extra "free" food to scavenge. Much milder climate and more rain than most western areas which could mean more berries, more rabbits, more deer, and milder winters (longer "growing" season). Probably fewer coyotes and no wolves out east to compete for food. Easier terrain to travel on. Small, tough and lean could pay off when you're scrambling up and down mountains at higher elevations. Western bears could have much larger ranges as well, which would mean more travel.
Alan
It's minus forty in Ontario and Maine and most of the East is pretty up and down once you get off the coastal plain. New Jersey where the bears are is very hilly with ridge lines 1800 feet above the valley and lots of cliffs. It's not all flat. Got tons of coyotes too.
I'd put more importance on an abundant deer herd. A prolific nut mast crop. (Lots of hardwoods) and lots of moisture and berries
I'd put more importance on an abundant deer herd. A prolific nut mast crop. (Lots of hardwoods) and lots of moisture and berries
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Hmm.....just thinkin', if there's no dump, no free food, how many 300 pound bears are needed to make a 800 pounder? Shades of Hannibal Lecter!
Well Memaquay, that's one impressive bear, you know if I squint just a little there's a remarkable resemblance to my mother-in-law. Speaking of fearsomness: 800 pounds is impressive but really, even a 300 pounder would be more than enough to punch my ticket. That old 870 makes a great security blanket.
That bear in New Jersey got national coverage, I was amused to see, sure as dandelions in my lawn, the excuse brigade starts in on "it's a poor crop of berries or nuts, it was trying to protect it's young, it's old......etc." What's so hard in looking at all those teeth and realizing that there's a reason for them?
I do believe we've just about forfeited the title of "homo sapiens", wise man. Maybe more apt name would be "BS engulphus" .
I have no idea what happened to the font there, it's back to normal now.
That's all I know and a little bit more,
Rob
Well Memaquay, that's one impressive bear, you know if I squint just a little there's a remarkable resemblance to my mother-in-law. Speaking of fearsomness: 800 pounds is impressive but really, even a 300 pounder would be more than enough to punch my ticket. That old 870 makes a great security blanket.
That bear in New Jersey got national coverage, I was amused to see, sure as dandelions in my lawn, the excuse brigade starts in on "it's a poor crop of berries or nuts, it was trying to protect it's young, it's old......etc." What's so hard in looking at all those teeth and realizing that there's a reason for them?
I do believe we've just about forfeited the title of "homo sapiens", wise man. Maybe more apt name would be "BS engulphus" .
I have no idea what happened to the font there, it's back to normal now.
That's all I know and a little bit more,
Rob
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