Only cases where bear spray was sprayed were included.
In 15% of firearm cases, the firearms were not fired.
Firearms cases were included to maximize the number of human injuries.
bkmk
I have to believe there was a second or two when Timothy Treadwell wished he had a gun.....right before a bear killed and ate him that is.
I don’t want to be in the control group.
I see no mention of species.
The efficacy must also be sorted out by species
If you don’t have one, they are not effective at all....................
You want bias, exactly 0% of bears were interviewed for their side of the incidents.
Is there anyway to tell how many of those situations were because of the lack of time to deploy the firearm? Same is true of bear spray. It seems that would have to count as a fail for either defensive tool if the bear is on the person so fast that there is no time of deploy.
Heck, if I were in a situation where there was risk of angry rioters bearing down on me, I'd probably choose the bear spray for that too. I'm not anti-firearms in the least (quite the opposite) but I think there is an element of machismo in the way people continue to argue in favor of firearms as a preferred bear attack deterrent. If you are going bear hunting, take the rifle. But if you just don't want to get eaten, carry bear spray.
The first thing to remember when dealing with any sort of bear is to leave them the H alone. Don’t go for that selfie. Don’t taunt them. Don’t chase them. And above all DO NOT FEED THEM! And keep in mind that with a large grizzly you are not safe in your car or pickup. Most people do not understand how heavy, fast and powerful a large grizzly can be. A grizz can cover a couple hundred yards with a blown out heart. A grizz can outrun a horse.
It is too easy to make generalizations about bears. In the east, black bears are less aggressive and are more used to people. In certain regions of Alaska and British columbia one may encounter the predatory black bear. The last thing you see is a black blur coming out of the woods at the speed of a horse.
People have employed all sorts of ways to deal with bears. I have chased a large grizzly out of the yard banging a pot with a ladle. I have also had to dispatch a grizzly with a rifle.
Grizzlies especially are opportunistic omnivores. So it is very impoprtant to keep a clean house yard or campsite. A grizz may decide that your place is a great den. I had a neighbor who had a grizz tear off the overhead door on his garage, overturn a freezer, and decide that this was a great place to hang out. It was evetually dispatched from an upstairs window with a .300 magnum.
The two most dangerous encounters are cub defense and carcass defense. Never approach a sow with cubs. Never approach a feeding bear. IF you come across a carcass LEAVE THE AREA.
Pepper spray or a pistol can discourage a bear that is only casually interested in you. If you have been identified as a threat or a food source you want to have a large caliber weapon.
Just saw a video of a guy who got attacked by a grizzly in Big Sky Montana. His .38 misfired and it bit his jaw off. Ooops!!
Winne the Pooh believes in the second Ammendment. He carries a gun.
I have this hanging in my gun room..... funny.
https://www.classictinsigns.com/Lester_s_Ammo_p/1758.htm
When my father was stationed in Cold Bay Alaska, one of his fellow troops shot a bear in the rear with a Very pistol ( flare gun ). It ran off setting the tundra on fire.