Posted on 07/25/2011 8:28:15 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner
A grizzly bear sow with a cub attacked a group of teenagers on a month-long survival-skills course Saturday night in the Talkeetna Mountains, causing severe injuries to two of the hikers, according to Alaska State Troopers.
(snip)
The group was on the 24th day of a 30-day backpacking trip, school spokesman Bruce Palmer said by phone from Wyoming. It was the group's first day unaccompanied by adult instructors, Palmer said.
"For the last bit of the course, we would have them travel as a student group without the instructors, utilizing the skills that they've learned over time," Palmer said.
(snip)
The seven group members were in a line, calling out to make noise as they crossed the creek, Palmer said. The first hiker had apparently made it out of the water and was out of sight of the others when he began screaming, Palmer said.
The grizzly mauled the teen, attacked another group member, then returned to the first victim, Palmer said.
"It sounds like it was moving around within the group," Palmer said. The hikers carried three canisters of bear spray, but there was no initial indication that the hikers used the repellent, Palmer said.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
see post 71
Why would a hunter who is carrying a gun rely on bear spray?
Who said that?
You are incorrect when you say bear spray won’t stop a charging bear. Man up to your mistake and move on already.
Or keep spreading misinformation. You won’t be the only one here doing that.
I agree with your cartridge choice, but getting a nice pre-64 beat up in the brush would be a shame. Seen what they’re getting for those suckers these days?
I had a 1938 Mod. 70 carbine in .30-06, made a nice profit when I let that go. Even had a Stith no drill scope mount and a NIB 2.5x Lyman Alaskan to go along with it.
But, what would they know. Please, please, please - by all means - go camping in the mountains with a case of this stuff. Leave the guns at home. But, please go by yourself - don't take your kids, grandkids or cousins. It's entirely up to you.
“NOT deter them, but stop the aggressive behavior”
Obviously, you no idea about what you have “read”. Pepper spray does nothing to the bear to cause it to stop an attack. A bullet physically disrupts the bear’s ability to attack. The bear doesn’t get a choice. Pepper spray might irritate a bear but it is still the bears’ choice to continue the attack.
If you’re going to read “scientific” “studies”, you might want to know a thing or two about science before you go making conclusions.
When I lived near Yellowstone, I always carried a .44 S&W 629 with me. It was easier to fight off a ranger than an enraged grizzly bear. One year they put the remains of a Swiss tourist in a baggie after a griz attack.
You are wrong.
I’ll try and break it down for you:
Bear charges.
Man sprays bear with bear spray.
Bear stops charge and leaves area.
This is what is meant by “stops the aggressive behavior”
“Rule 3 - When running for your life, make sure someone else runs slower . . .”
Also known as the “Sneaker Defense”.
“What’s with the sneakers, Vern, you ain’t gunna outrun no Bear?”
“I only got to outrun you, Bubba.”
Please by all means keep not making sense.
“Man sprays bear with bear spray.
Bear stops charge and leaves area.”
You obviously are an idiot incapable of understanding choice and no choice. You assume the bear will stop the attack willingly after a shot with pepper spray.
I hope you never take another victim with you into bear country armed with your pepper spray.
Indians down Ft Yukon killed a polar bear sow 3 years back with an AR, 55 grain .556
All the bear we got this Spring was with 6.8 stag 15. They didn't run 30 yards, collapsed.
I have a couple 460 S&W's, way more than a 44.
No where did I say that pepper spray disables a bear or renders it incapable of inflicting injury.
Learn to read. Bear spray is effective in stopping a charging bear.
Check out the Marlin “Guide Gun” in the 45-70 chambering. Ported barrel, short, easy carry. The noise that round gives off in that particular rifle alone is unbelievable!
I have never been armed with pepper spray.
Once again. Bear spray is effective in stopping charging bears.
It puts out 6,000 foot pounds. But there is nothing, that feels, balances, shoots and feeds like a Pre-64 Mod. 70 in 375 H&H. I would not trust my life or anyone elses with anything less.
***A 9mm is much better than a can of spray; and any fool knows this.***
Fred Bear, the famous big game BOW HUNTER, carried a .44 mag S&W under his jacket when he hunted grizley and other dangerous game. It was backup for his bow hunting skills.
I read that he did have to pull it on a bear but his guide stopped him from shooting as his arrow was already bleeding out the record sized bear.
You have no clue what you are talking about and obviously you have never had actual experience in either scenario.
Spent six weeks in AK last fall, then visited Hyder AK, accessed thru BC. Coming thru Canadian customs, we had two bottles of pepper spray seized, and were allowed to keep one.
All of them had bear outline logos, but only one actually said "bear spray". If it doesn't say "bear spray", they consider it a weapon. All three were from the same package (three sixes in one box).
The customs agent was a pepper spray nazi, Hyder is really tiny, has no US Customs, yet the Canadians seize pepper spray that has obviously entered Canada at another port of entry.
Seen the Guide Gun at a local shop. Don’t think I’d want to run many rounds throught it off the bench.
There was another thread last night about this incident. I posted the accounts of the first encounters with grizzly bears by Americans. It didn’t take Lewis and Clark and their party long to decide that they wanted to avoid these bears, even though they were armed to the teeth with the best weaponry of their day.
Unarmed teenagers shouldn't be sent out to fend for themselves in the middle of a larger food chain. The officers and instructors of the company organizing these expeditions should face criminal prosecution for reckless endangerment. The parents are idiots who should know not to feed the bears (with their own children!).
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