Study: Guns no more effective than pepper spray in bear encounters

Star-Tribune ^ | March 25, 2012 | KELSEY DAYTON

[TYVets]

When I read this thread the thought of a .416 Rigby or Remington popped into my head.

Many years ago I read a story written by a native of Alaska about hunting for moose, sheep, goats etc in grizzly country. Most of the locals at that time carried 30-06's when hunting. I don't recall the distance, but the writer said that when a grizzly got to that point the shooting started.

Since the study that started this thread talks about people who hesitated, it would be interesting to read that story again.

[wjcsux]

My son in Alaska always carries a 45-70 with hot loads with him when fishing in western Alaska...just in case! When hunting brown bears, the minimum is a .338 mag...
I have to agree. I was in my local gun shop a few weeks back. I was eyeing a Model 700 Remington in .375 H&H Mag that would be up to the task of stopping a Grizzly. As they say "bring enough gun".

[marktwain]

Grizzly Guns (World Record shot with a .22)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2846837/posts

Bella Twin and her World Record Grizzly .22 long

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/LandOwner/images/GRIZLEY2.JPG

[General Heinrich Von Nuisance]

Ping for Reference

[archy]

As bears begin to emerge from dens in the greater Yellowstone National Park ecosystem, a new study says carrying a gun into bear country doesn’t make you any safer.

Great news! I'll believe it just as soon as I see the Yellowstone Park Rangers turn over their handguns and the shotguns and assault rifles in their vehicles for cans of bear spray.

I know three people who've been part-eaten by bears. I agree that the spray works to send the bear off, sometimes. But once they close and smell blood, it takes a whole lot more. And in the case of one of my three pals, it was two bears.