Several years ago, a man was taken down, killed, and partially eaten by a black bear at Liard Hot Springs. Years before that, a geologist was killed and eaten by a very large black bear, also in northern B.C. They are predators. WH
Hiking in bear country?!?
- Thread starter Daddymac
- Start date
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Two of my 45/70’s. Siamese Mauser and a Remington/Miroku 1886. I’d take one of these.
Both are repeaters!
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Fed bear is a dear bear
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Isn't that what there doing in your campground getting fed?
Getting into tents, ice chests food thats left out.
Yes, although we have bear proof food storage boxes and dumpsters after an unfortunate incident a decade ago. But still, 120 camp fires all cooking food is pretty tempting.
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Exactly, so a fed bear is not always a dead bear.
Thinking of bears and what they eat:
The campsite, where the grizzly had circled and caused the Airdale to growl, wasd located on a tributary to the Flathead and was just about a half mile down from a nice basin where I had seen some nice rams. I spent three nights there while I proved rams were never there when I really wanted to see one. Just befo0re I left, I cooked up a box of Kraft dinner to compliment some fish I had caught. I couldn't eat all the KD so I just dumped the leftover potion on a rock beside my fire ring. I figured th
e e bear could have it. I hiked back up there a week later. There were bear tracks all through my sleeping area and the KD was still right there! Says something about the edibility of KD!
On that watershed, I see grizzlies often but have never seen a black bear. Three watersheds to the south, I see plenty of blacks but no grizzlies. Interestingly enough, there are wolves in the grizzly area but not in the black bear area. I have no explanation for this. WH
The campsite, where the grizzly had circled and caused the Airdale to growl, wasd located on a tributary to the Flathead and was just about a half mile down from a nice basin where I had seen some nice rams. I spent three nights there while I proved rams were never there when I really wanted to see one. Just befo0re I left, I cooked up a box of Kraft dinner to compliment some fish I had caught. I couldn't eat all the KD so I just dumped the leftover potion on a rock beside my fire ring. I figured th
e e bear could have it. I hiked back up there a week later. There were bear tracks all through my sleeping area and the KD was still right there! Says something about the edibility of KD!
On that watershed, I see grizzlies often but have never seen a black bear. Three watersheds to the south, I see plenty of blacks but no grizzlies. Interestingly enough, there are wolves in the grizzly area but not in the black bear area. I have no explanation for this. WH
Brians356
Gold $$ Contributor
My dad worked summers in the woods in the Clearwater region of N. Idaho before and after WW II. There was once a problem black bear hanging around a work camp's garbage dump. Some old timer took a wooden bucket and drove three or four big nails into it at intervals around it's circumference, baited it, and set it out. The bear stuck it's head into the bucket, then the nails grabbed and held it in place when he tried to back out. Paniced, the bear charged blindly straight into a large pine tree, head first. The bucket exploded into segments and the bear dropped dead.
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A mom was also killed and her daughter severely mauled. It happened on the boardwalk right as you start entering the tree’s to the first pool area.
When I camp up there everything is in an air tight and up a tree, and I’ve still had bear issues at Liards. Park attendant said they have to dispose of 35-50 bears a year.
It’s also normal for pools 2-3 to be shut down due to bears.
A 10 year old was dragged out of his tent too in Hillards Bay on Lesser Slave. His parents were in the camper 20 feet away.
Always and never are indeed words that I try to avoid, for good reason. I’m not trying to get into a peepee measuring contest with anyone in this forum. It’s the best one with the most professional level shooting information. I can happily bow out of the conversation if my experiences in my region differ and offends other with there experiences.
Cheers
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
I am not either, just don't agree with comparing a black bear to a bunny rabbit thats what gets people in trouble.
Living central BC there are a lot of black bears and grizzlies.
Because there are many more black bear than grizz, the black bears are more of a problem.
With black bear watch your back trail, more than a few times you will see a b bear cross or somewhere in front of you and find that the bear is behind you.
With grizz ( among what others have mentioned) use your nose. A few people have had bad encounter with a grizz as they have stumbled unto a cache and the bear is near by protecting it.
Teen aged Black Bear seem to be the worst for getting into trouble as they get batted around trying to find a territory, could be starved or injured and look for easy pickens in desperation.
If you carry a fire arm it should be in your hands, especially in tight quarters.
When my wife and I are hiking we put a Dominion 13" Backpacker in 12 gauge, it is a single shot placed in a back pack with but sticking out, either one of us (who ever is wearing the back pack) has easy access to it by the other.
You will likely only get one shot away before all hell breaks loose anyway, shot will be taken at spitting distance.
Because there are many more black bear than grizz, the black bears are more of a problem.
With black bear watch your back trail, more than a few times you will see a b bear cross or somewhere in front of you and find that the bear is behind you.
With grizz ( among what others have mentioned) use your nose. A few people have had bad encounter with a grizz as they have stumbled unto a cache and the bear is near by protecting it.
Teen aged Black Bear seem to be the worst for getting into trouble as they get batted around trying to find a territory, could be starved or injured and look for easy pickens in desperation.
If you carry a fire arm it should be in your hands, especially in tight quarters.
When my wife and I are hiking we put a Dominion 13" Backpacker in 12 gauge, it is a single shot placed in a back pack with but sticking out, either one of us (who ever is wearing the back pack) has easy access to it by the other.
You will likely only get one shot away before all hell breaks loose anyway, shot will be taken at spitting distance.
I don’t care if it’s a Grizzly or a Black Bear, they both have really sharp claws. Our problem is that the Grizzly doesn’t have any one hunting them so they basically go wherever they want until the game dept traps for re locating or some poor sap ends up shooting one and then you have to make a choice to call it in, call for help or get the hell out of there.
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