Hiking in bear country?!?

[ebb]

I have never had a problem with bears as i don't go where they live and they don't come here where i live

 

[Triple BB]

I used to hunt the Thorofare. Had bear experiences every single time we were up there. An outfitter I hunted with had killed 4 grizz in self defense with his 9mm. About 10 years ago, we were walking back to the horses. We popped out of a timber patch and a large boar was about 75 yds in front of us. He stood up on his hind legs and charged. My outfitter pushed me to the side and started firing. I think he cut loose with 10 or 12 shots. At about 5 - 10 yds the bear made a hard right and ran towards the timber screaming and growling. The outfitter said put your crosshairs on him and if he comes back, kill him. The bear disappeared. I asked the outfitter if he hit him. He said you saw what I saw…

 

[fx77]

I recall many posts on this topic in many forums
an Alaskan Retired State Trooper recommended a shotgun slug as first choice
No semiautomatic as it may not recycle if bear is on top of you
Revolver is therefore preferred
Caliber 454 Casul.....but never have I been attacked by a bear

 

[jds holler]

I'm not gonna look up the stats, but I'm pretty sure that the odds of being killed by lightening, bees, dogs, and fellow humans is quite a bit higher even in bear country, than being killed by bears.

That being said, I've been kinda scared in bear country up in Alaska. I was fishing a creek canyon on the Kinai Peninsula and seeing paw prints as big as dinner plates. I was armed with a fly rod, and a fillet knife, and when I encountered a couple guys they treated me like I was some kind of moron. Maybe I was. I was a confirmed cheechako and they made that clear. They were both packing hog-legs, and I fished with them for the rest of the day.

The thought of being shredded and eaten alive, is a deterrent to many folks, and that makes bear country all the more attractive to some of us. jd

 

[D Coots]

Exactly. It’s a personal choice but I know what I think. If a person doesn’t mind not being top of the food chain or being hunted, go nuts. People can go swimming with sharks, bungee jump in Mexico, run blindfolded across the interstate, pet Buffalo in Yellowstone or whatever. Just don’t act surprised when it ends poorly.

I like the way you think. Bar fights over pool games slowed way down when I quit frequenting them years ago.....

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Bear in the top pic is pulling a biden on her

Hes everywhere

 

[Rsadams]

Do not cover your self in honey or carry a pikanik basket.... Do carry a large caliber something....

 

[ebb]

After I read the story of 2 airforce guys that got a permit to hunt bears on Kodiak Island, I think i will pass on the big angry bears. Maybe a brown eating salmon on one of the rivers, with someone I trusted as back up. browns don't seem near as angry as Grizzly or Polar bears.

 

[pikespeakgoat]

 

[Twicepop]

I've never hunted where the big bears roam, but I've read that when traveling on foot in their territory you should wear something that makes noise at every step, like a bell or some other device. Most attacks happen because the bear was surprised by the intruder into their "space".

 

[L.Sherm]

should wear something that makes noise at every step, like a bell or some other device.

Don't work very well when your hunting.

 

[L.Sherm]

browns don't seem near as angry as Grizzly or Polar bears.

Brownies are nothing more than Coastal Griz.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

In the fall you have elk bow hunters calling(sounding like dinner to grizzly). Later on rifle hunters sounding dinner bells,grizzly associate gunfire with blood,gut piles,wounded prey. With no actual hunting pressure on the apex predator, there is NO reason for the grizzly bear to fear humans. If you really have situational awareness, stay away from kills,cubs, dead livestock and don't surprise bears in close you will be in more danger driving to and from on the trip.

 

[STS]

I'll throw this anecdotal story to illustrate lower 48 grizzly bear behavior when they have little fear of humans because they have not been hunted. The first week of May last year a West Yellowstone man was killed by a grizzly about 3 miles north of town. The victim had located a winter kill moose carcass in some very dense willows about 150 yards off the highway. The moose had also been located by a male grizzly that had claimed it for himself. To make a long story as short as possible, the man visited the area several times (at least 5 times) trying to photograph the bear. The bear finally had enough and attacked, ultimately costing the man his life the next day.
I talked to the officer who found the injured man. He told me that while they were trying to transport him to the hospital, there was a helicopter hovering above the site, and several law enforcement / forrest service personnel at the site and the bear was constantly circling the group. The following day seven Montana FWP /Forrest Service personnel went in to try to remove the moose carcass since it was close to a campground. The bear charged them and was shot and killed. The moose was dynamited to destroy it so no other bears would come along and recreate the disaster.
The take home message is this, you can wear bells and talk and yell all you want, but if you run into a bear that is on a high value food source there is no way it's going to give it up voluntarily. This time of year is especially risky since there are hungry bears just out of the den and winter kill carcasses available. Those things are ticking time bombs in certain situations. Enjoy the beauty that is common to this part of our country but be careful out there.

 

[mike a]

Alway go with a buddy an wear fast running shoes. You don’t have to be faster than the bear. Just your buddy. Wink.

 

[BigWyoming]

I'll throw this anecdotal story to illustrate lower 48 grizzly bear behavior when they have little fear of humans because they have not been hunted. The first week of May last year a West Yellowstone man was killed by a grizzly about 3 miles north of town. The victim had located a winter kill moose carcass in some very dense willows about 150 yards off the highway. The moose had also been located by a male grizzly that had claimed it for himself. To make a long story as short as possible, the man visited the area several times (at least 5 times) trying to photograph the bear. The bear finally had enough and attacked, ultimately costing the man his life the next day.
I talked to the officer who found the injured man. He told me that while they were trying to transport him to the hospital, there was a helicopter hovering above the site, and several law enforcement / forrest service personnel at the site and the bear was constantly circling the group. The following day seven Montana FWP /Forrest Service personnel went in to try to remove the moose carcass since it was close to a campground. The bear charged them and was shot and killed. The moose was dynamited to destroy it so no other bears would come along and recreate the disaster.
The take home message is this, you can wear bells and talk and yell all you want, but if you run into a bear that is on a high value food source there is no way it's going to give it up voluntarily. This time of year is especially risky since there are hungry bears just out of the den and winter kill carcasses available. Those things are ticking time bombs in certain situations. Enjoy the beauty that is common to this part of our country but be careful out there.

The message here is don't go looking for trouble - 5 times - and then be surprised when it happens.

 

[robert8904]

Great bears were a problem for the Lewis and Clark expedition. They were large, numerous and belligerent
at that time. The understated style of writing at the time barely takes the edge off some truly horrifying encounters they had.

 

[JFrank]

I'll throw this anecdotal story to illustrate lower 48 grizzly bear behavior when they have little fear of humans because they have not been hunted. The first week of May last year a West Yellowstone man was killed by a grizzly about 3 miles north of town. The victim had located a winter kill moose carcass in some very dense willows about 150 yards off the highway. The moose had also been located by a male grizzly that had claimed it for himself. To make a long story as short as possible, the man visited the area several times (at least 5 times) trying to photograph the bear. The bear finally had enough and attacked, ultimately costing the man his life the next day.
I talked to the officer who found the injured man. He told me that while they were trying to transport him to the hospital, there was a helicopter hovering above the site, and several law enforcement / forrest service personnel at the site and the bear was constantly circling the group. The following day seven Montana FWP /Forrest Service personnel went in to try to remove the moose carcass since it was close to a campground. The bear charged them and was shot and killed. The moose was dynamited to destroy it so no other bears would come along and recreate the disaster.
The take home message is this, you can wear bells and talk and yell all you want, but if you run into a bear that is on a high value food source there is no way it's going to give it up voluntarily. This time of year is especially risky since there are hungry bears just out of the den and winter kill carcasses available. Those things are ticking time bombs in certain situations. Enjoy the beauty that is common to this part of our country but be careful out there.

Well written,
An additional aspect I always think about to a hiker wounding a bear is now a game warden has to go find that animal to finish the job.

 

[miningshawn]

I live a couple hours from Yellowstone. Theres grizzlys in every range around here. And usually one of two people do get attacked each year it seems. When you consider the amount of people out in the mountains its pretty rare but it is still something to take serious. If your a good shot with the 9 carry it. Your only going to get a shot or two. The 10mm guys talk about capacity vs a 44 but every attack I remember hearing about or reading about, that bear was on them so fast sometimes they didnt even get one shot off. A guy that got tore up in Lima a few years back got one shot off but didnt have time to cycle the bolt for a second. One well placed shot is what the focus should be on in my opinion. Have the family carry spray as well.

Completely agree.

Working the North Slope as a surveyor, bears are a fact of life. The best practice is to be aware, don't put yourself near food and water sources. But when you must...
A 12 Guage with slugs and buckshot is your best friend. The problem is carrying the thing all day.
I personally carry a Ruger 454 Alaskan and a can of bear spray here in Montana. Almost all bear attacks are a complete surprise, having a G20 with 15 rounds is cold comfort when there is only time for 3. I want my first one to count.
A short barreled revolver is light, easy to deploy, and compact.
Bear spray is good for most encounters, and I have seen it well used. But a starving young or old bear may not be deterred.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]