If you use the bear spray at 20 yards, I don’t see how you would possibly have time to squeeze off one shot at the charging griz.
You wouldn’t. I mention the 20 yard statistic only because I’ve read it’s the standard which would be used in determining if you acted in self defense. For no good reason at all I’d be more inclined to use spray on black bears. Probably because I’ve seen them acting like big racoons off and on since I was a kid and I underestimate the very real threat they represent.
I didn’t mean to imply anyone has said only to use the spray at 20 yards, but don’t think most are effective much past that. Especially in wind. But they do make a very large, dense cloud, and if you’re upwind I might use it. If not upwind you’re just incapacitating yourself, and providing seasoning for the bear.
They just did a "study" in a town near the park during which they fired off bear spray at various distances.
Conventional wisdom was 60 feet.
These guys pretty quickly settled on 40 feet, just because even with a light breeze the spray tended to dissipate.
I suppose someone will have to do a study on the study.
These backpack set-ups are supposed to work pretty well.
That or lots of beans and garlic the night before lol..