5ontheFloor
New member
Can't answer your question but it reminded me of this video. I still laugh like a loon when I see it
https://youtu.be/jvnx4M293oU
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Bears and ARB fridges
- Thread starter alirawk
- Start date
https://youtu.be/jvnx4M293oU
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Guns are about 50 percent effective. Spray is about 98 percent.
SS_Syndicate
New member
We car camp (overland) fairly often. Sadly, it's only about once a year that we make it into bear country. Since we are often exploring all day we don't start setting up camp until near dark. This is rarely in a "campground".
We know it's not right, but we leave our ARB fridge with cold food and a Grizzly cooler with dry goods in the vehicle (covered) unless we are traveling with the JKU. Since it has a soft roof put it in the trailer.
Black bears are pretty curious but typically are not too hard to run off. If a Grizzly comes around... well, good luck.
We carry spray, everyone has one on them at all times. I also carry a .44 mag with bear loads. If push comes to shove. My wife and I also have 9mms on us at all times. We know it's not much, but it's better than nothing at all. I listed these items in the order of use.
I honestly worry more about cats than bears as for a personal attack, but I will say bears have increadible noses. If you can smell something you are essentially calling any bear down wind for 2 miles to your camp. We keep this in mind when selecting our foods. But also be sure to clean your cooking stuff VERY well.
We know it's not right, but we leave our ARB fridge with cold food and a Grizzly cooler with dry goods in the vehicle (covered) unless we are traveling with the JKU. Since it has a soft roof put it in the trailer.
Black bears are pretty curious but typically are not too hard to run off. If a Grizzly comes around... well, good luck.
We carry spray, everyone has one on them at all times. I also carry a .44 mag with bear loads. If push comes to shove. My wife and I also have 9mms on us at all times. We know it's not much, but it's better than nothing at all. I listed these items in the order of use.
I honestly worry more about cats than bears as for a personal attack, but I will say bears have increadible noses. If you can smell something you are essentially calling any bear down wind for 2 miles to your camp. We keep this in mind when selecting our foods. But also be sure to clean your cooking stuff VERY well.
DeepSea88
New member
I'm a Green Bay Packers fan so when it comes to the Bears, I would never leave anything to chance. I'm actually sad to see Jay Culter go because he was one of my favorite Green Bay Packers! He threw sooooooo many interceptions and had such a terrible time at Lambeau Field!!! HAHAHA!!!!! Anyways, yeah keep your food sealed and stored as best you can.
MaddoxPics
New member
You'd want to check on where you are carrying it. For instance here in most areas of the Sierra Nevada it's illegal to use it. I forget why, but I want to say because the scent would ultimately attract them possibly? Who knows. Anywhere in Grizzly country take that.
Bodie the Dog
Banned
Lucky to see a bear
I avoid campgrounds like the plague. Especially since campgrounds do tend to concentrate the Plague and attract bears. Regardless, I consider myself lucky to see a bear; usually all I see is its ass as it is running away.
But I have suffered real, expensive damage from marmots (coolant system) and squirrels (chewing holes in my tent and my backpack).
I avoid campgrounds like the plague. Especially since campgrounds do tend to concentrate the Plague and attract bears. Regardless, I consider myself lucky to see a bear; usually all I see is its ass as it is running away.
But I have suffered real, expensive damage from marmots (coolant system) and squirrels (chewing holes in my tent and my backpack).
Bodie the Dog
Banned
OMG funny
But I had to mute the sound. "Leave Britney alone!!!" Awesome laugh, thanks.
But I had to mute the sound. "Leave Britney alone!!!" Awesome laugh, thanks.
SS_Syndicate
New member
Frankly, If I have the need to use either I will deal with the ramifications a legality later.
I make sure we carry legally, but if/when it comes to using something to protect myself or my family I don't care what the law is.
MaddoxPics
New member
I have no problem with that, but you honestly shouldn't be worried about black bears, they aren't going to attack you. I do a lot of photo work for the NPS and have photographed them hundreds of times, including with their babies.
MaddoxPics
New member
Marmots are THE worst.
jrandom
New member
Attachments
wadle5
New member
Yes to both
Where are you getting these percentages from. 50% in what...ending the situation, shooing the animal off, killing the animal? Either way it looks like when we camp I am . . . . . . .148% safe.
CO-Cygnus
New member
Hitting a bear with a kill shot with a sufficiently large caliber pistol while you are amped up on adrenaline is way harder than deploying bear spray.
Superintendent of the GTNP. The goal is to keep from being hurt, not killing the animal.
wadle5
New member
You didn't answer the question. 50% effective in what??? 98% effective in what?
greatape
Senior Member
Dryer sheets...
My bad, thought I did, must have hit delete. Guns prevent injuries to the hiker about 50 percent of the time. Bear spray prevents injuries about 98 percent of the time. I understand that neither does much to protect your underwear.
What you have to remember, is the vast majority of bear attacks happen when a hiker or hunter surprises a bear. In other words, you round a blind corner with the wind in your face and you're between momma and her cubs or there's a bear with a kill.
You've got to pull your gun, take the safety off, take aim and squeeze off multiple shots at an animal running the speed of a thoroughbred. If you see the bear long enough to calmly do this before she charges, you're probably not getting charged. Of course, the timing doesn't change with spray, but you don't have to be accurate, just in the general direction.
Interestingly, wildlife managers don't automatically hunt and kill a bear that's attacked a human, even if it's fatal. If it was a defensive attack, as in the above scenario, they'll generally leave it alone. Bears protecting food and cubs aren't a threat to a great deal of people. If it was a bear rummaging through your campsite for food, they'll evaluate whether to kill it or move it.
But if it was stalking you for a while, or if it comes into a tent with no food in it, that bear's just crazy and it's got to die.
The other thing to remember if you're in a National Park, especially Yellowstone, Yosemite or the Tetons, and you start spraying bullets, you've got a better chance of hitting other hikers than stopping the bear. Most bears don't want any part of people and if you give them a chance to get away, they will.
Cotton socks on day 5 of a 6-day hike.
greatape
Senior Member
No we're talking!
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