Not gonna deny the paranoia by some, but the fact is, there are a lot of negative bear encounters every year that go unreported; I'd say most.
Factor in the populous that never leaves the city or spends any real time in bear country and the odds quickly change from slim to quite possible.
Why would you say that ? And what makes you think that a person will shit their pants and miss with a firearm capable of stopping and killing a bear, but a aerosol herb spray would make them more in control of their bowel movements and able to defend against an attack? Bullets do not get blown off course in 20 feet in a strong wind. Bullets do not get blown back in your face dropping you to the ground defenseless and blind.
"People who know the least always argue the most."
"You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right, you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong."
All I will say is IF a hunter doesn't have the calm to aim and fire coolly at a charging bear at 25 yds, they sure as heck aren't going to have the nerve to effectively(if that is even a thing with pepper spray) discharge pepper spray at a charging bear at 15 ft.
"BORN TO HUNT"
Foxton's Cuervo Gold "KEELA" Oct. 2004-June 2017. Always in my blind and my heart.
Totally agree! Also many don't realize unless they've actually witnessed it, is just how fast
a bear, black or grizzly, can run at full charge. Even if the victim accurately hits a charging
bear full in the face with bear spray beginning at the spray's maximum range, the bear will
be on them well before the spray has any effect, if it has some at all.
Crazy thread. a lot of good stories . I got a 45-70 just for bears but I also got pepper spray (strongest capsicum percentage ) just incase. Grabbed it from Cabelas. 45-70 from Wanstalls
Hopefully if I ever have to use the spray its just for flavoring the meat lol
My spray saved my butt when a mtn lion came at me . No, I wasnt carrying a gun that day, was reteiving tree stands after the hunting season. To be honest I never would of gotten the gun off my shoulder. It all happened that close, that fast and I dischaged my spray from the hip . Luckily you dont have to be pinpoint accurate and a good portion of the spray stream nailed it in the face.
Unfortunately, I also wore some of it because the wind blew some back in my face.
Now replace the cat with a charging bear, would it have worked? In not sure, but at about 10 feet, Im skeptical.
I could care less about stats, or anyond elses opinion, I still carry my spray even when rifle hunting. If I think my life is in danger from an animal and I can shoot, I will. But it doesnt always work that way and its good to have options
Last edited by Ron.C; 09-06-2019 at 06:02 PM.
Bear spray recalled by Health Canada.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/bear-s...tion-1.5483690
Health Canada issued a product safety warning Wednesday for four different bear deterrent products.
Health Canada-canisters do not function properly and the product will not spray.
https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recal...75891r-eng.php
“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.” -Otto von Bismarck
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.-Albert Einstein