Does Bear Spray Work? Maybe it depends.... Interesting article
So nearly everything we've been told about bear safety has been hinged on the notion that bear spray is a better defense weapon than a firearm. At least, that's the conclusions many reached. Turns out, it's not really a matter of better. It's a matter of the circumstance. Very good read. The big take-away for me is that there simply wasn't a large data pool on the use of bear spray with charging bears.
Of course, these studies largely dealt with brown bears and black bears are more relevant to the AT. On that note:
The 2010 study “Does Aversive Conditioning Reduce Human-Black Bear Conflict?” found that methods like chasing, rock throwing, or shooting black bears with nonlethal rubber shotgun slugs were as effective as, if not more effective than, pepper spray.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2401248/does-bear-spray-work
Does Bear Spray Work? Maybe it depends.... Interesting article
a while back a thread on this, it was mentioned that...
a) you're supposed to wait till the bear was pretty close (maybe 20')?, before spraying, and ...
b) it took a few seconds (can't recall exactly how many) for the spray to work.
I remember at the time, doing the math, concluding that the bear could easily cover the distance between you and him before the spray's effectiveness kicks in.
I would think -- if you're an experienced shooter and you have the right weapon and it's you or the bear -- the firearm would be more reliable.
btw -- just addressing the issue, here. Certainly not advocating carrying weapons on the trail. (Me personally? I couldn't hit the side of a barn)!
In grizzly territory outside of Alaska
Quote:
when I make it to grizzly country I'll be carrying both and both will be easily ecsesable[sic]. That's why you see all those folks walking around Alaska have a 44 mag.
In Alaska while in grizzly territory, I would recommend a rifle over a handgun, but to each his own.
But if you're in grizzly territory outside of Alaska, you're either in Yellowstone NP, Glacier NP, or in Canada.
Openly carrying a 44 magnum in ANY of those areas is NOT a good idea, even if you have a permit to own one.