How to stop a charging Alaskan animal

[Superscribe]

I have an opportunity to go out to the hinterlands of Alaska in the springtime (few weeks in Denali). I might take it. I'm told that there is the off chance that I run into a large animal that gets frustrated easily, and i end up mauled as a result of my poor animal communication skills. I would like that not to happen.

This might be an odd question to pose, but i realize that there are some grizzly men in our fencing community, and even more notable... Canadians.

Because of my boyish desires and my overly optimistic ablility to wield firearms, I'm thinking this is a good excuse for me to get a magnum revolver (I will never have another excuse living in an relatively safe urban enviornment). I'm competent in throwing .464 Casull down the line, but I have no idea how it behaves against thick animal hide. I feel like it'd be enough, but i get some interesting opinions from the guys on gun forums, so i'd like to get an opinion from people who dont suffer from testosterone poisioning.

Is that type of magnum round excessive? At the bar, do the locals in Alaska feel like .45 is enough?

On the extreme other hand, have you any anecdotes about effective bear repellent is?

[PretAllez]

Hire a really good guide and avoid the problem altogether.

[telkanuru]

Apparently the best response to a polar bear is to take off your clothes and run away while it smells them. Dead serious.

There's a story in Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods' about a man who shot a grizzly in the head with a .454 rifle. Afterwards, he said, "I never should have put the gun down after shootin' that bear." Actually, what he said was, "Mffff murff muffffffffffff muff muf" because the bear got up and tore his face off before expiring.

Basically, if you have to do anything, you're already in a pretty bad place.

[migopod]

Best way to stop an Alaskan animal from charging is to offer it a book deal and a reality TV show.


Or maybe that's how you get them to stop being governor, I forget.

[Fencergrl]

Hire a really good guide and avoid the problem altogether.

QFT... seriously. I spend a lot of time in the bush. If you use common sense most encounters are easily avoided. If you don't know your way around the bush go with competent people, stay home or stay in a national park or something... no one wants to see some city boy shooting up the bush because a he "thought he heard something".

If you absolutely MUST go please notify me so I can stay well out of range..... although at this point I'm rather grateful for Canada's firearm regulations at this point as it reduces the likelihood of our paths crossing.

*Although I too, am armed, quiet and know lots of quiet out of the way places where your body will never be found.

[Allen Evans]

A Casull? I think you need to settle down a little, Mr Cheechako.

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[crquack]

The standard advice in such places used to be that if you carry a handgun to defend against a grizzly, make sure it does not have a front sight. Then it does not hurt so much when the bear shoves it...well, you know.

To be serious for a moment, I have encoutered several bears and generally they were more interested in departing in the opposite direction than in attacking. However, there will always be an exception. I never carried anything less than a .308. Some say though, that a bear spray is more reliable in stopping a bear attack than a firearm. The percentages (do *not* quote me - this is from a distant memory) were that 95%+ bears will break off the attack if they smell the spray. 25-30% of bears even if hit with a large calibre will still proceed to impart serious damage.

[Wizardly]

Take away its credit card.

[Inquartata]

No gun, no spray, just take this.

[sabreur]

Take away its credit card.

Beat me to it....

[migopod]

No gun, no spray, just take this.

In related news, Alice Shirrell Kaswell dramatically changes the definition of "sleek" to include sumo wrestlers.

[Superscribe]

I tend to forget that there's no context on the internet. Pretending to be incompetent is actually not funny if people don't know who you really are in reality for the sake of contrast.

I like guns. I like to be safe around them, I fire them in stressful situations a lot(competition). I've also been in a forest before without adult supervision. I say that so you don't think i'm going to go all yosemite sam in a preserve.

Apparently the best response to a polar bear is to take off your clothes and run away while it smells them. Dead serious.

There's a story in Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods' about a man who shot a grizzly in the head with a .454 rifle. Afterwards, he said, "I never should have put the gun down after shootin' that bear." Actually, what he said was, "Mffff murff muffffffffffff muff muf" because the bear got up and tore his face off before expiring.

Basically, if you have to do anything, you're already in a pretty bad place.

I think the first thing i should do if i saw a polar bear is ... check my compass.

I'm familiar with stories of how "tough" bears are, but i'm not trying to hunt one and skin it. I'm asking if an Alaskan were to run into an animal that didn't like him/her, and that animal reacted before the poor sap had time to backtrack, and a gun was drawn, what kind of caliber would it likely to be? Likely being the important word there. Obviously there are different types of animals, but i feel like there's a generally accepted minimum for walking in the woods. Then there's over kill. I think there's variance in "generally accepted" by gun nuts versus, say, an Alaskan local. I was trying to get a feel for that.

QFT... seriously. I spend a lot of time in the bush. If you use common sense most encounters are easily avoided. If you don't know your way around the bush go with competent people, stay home or stay in a national park or something... no one wants to see some city boy shooting up the bush because a he "thought he heard something".

If you absolutely MUST go please notify me so I can stay well out of range..... although at this point I'm rather grateful for Canada's firearm regulations at this point as it reduces the likelihood of our paths crossing.

*Although I too, am armed, quiet and know lots of quiet out of the way places where your body will never be found.

It's important to point out that you've spent a lot of time in the bush, but you still carry a gun in the wild. Are you worried more about people or paws? What do you carry?

Also, if our paths ever crossed, be assured that I'd treat you like any other woman your age: I'd make sure you got across the street safely.

The standard advice in such places used to be that if you carry a handgun to defend against a grizzly, make sure it does not have a front sight. Then it does not hurt so much when the bear shoves it...well, you know.

To be serious for a moment, I have encoutered several bears and generally they were more interested in departing in the opposite direction than in attacking. However, there will always be an exception. I never carried anything less than a .308. Some say though, that a bear spray is more reliable in stopping a bear attack than a firearm. The percentages (do *not* quote me - this is from a distant memory) were that 95%+ bears will break off the attack if they smell the spray. 25-30% of bears even if hit with a large calibre will still proceed to impart serious damage.

I appreciate the comments. I might just get some spray in case and call it a day. I was just looking for an excuse to get this sweet freedom arms six shooter, but i'll guess it'll have to wait.

I think it's important to note that i used the term "grizzly" to describe the men on this forum, and a large animal doesn't have to be a bear... though from the comments above, it seems that those are the only things worthy of concern there. I agree though, if i knew that I was walking in the woods looking for a bear that I could get close to and then goad into charging me I'd take something bolt action as well. Luckily I don't want to do that.

[Fencergrl]

It's important to point out that you've spent a lot of time in the bush, but you still carry a gun in the wild. Are you worried more about people or paws?

We stay long enough that we like to supplement with some fresh fish & game. So yes... I'm also armed with a fishing rod too!

I found this book to have some useful information. The author talked to the people who survived looked at those that didn't and try and come up with some good guidelines for survivial. http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Attacks-J...ref=pd_sim_b_5

Personally I think people spend too much time worrying about bears and not enough about the things that are likely to kill or injure you in the woods. One of the things that most people neglect to realize is that help is a long ways a way and cell phones often don't work in the mountains. You need to be independent & capable or with someone who is or stay in places where others are such as Parks and campsites.

[Fencergrl]

I think it's important to note that i used the term "grizzly" to describe the men on this forum, and a large animal doesn't have to be a bear...

While I agree that man is one of the most dangerous animals out there, your choice seems overkill. Plus most of Alaska is pretty remote, and the locals friendly. Very little gangland violence in Denali these days...

If you're going in springtime the bears may just be waking up. Keep your food in a cache away from where you sleep and keep your camp clean (no dirty pots & pans). Also, watch the amount of food you carry with you if you go backpacking somewhere. If you don't read the book I recommended in my previous post, keep in mind that bear spray is most effective at close range & that bears can run faster than you think they can.

[Allen Evans]

Personally I think people spend too much time worrying about bears and not enough about the things that are likely to kill or injure you in the woods. One of the things that most people neglect to realize is that help is a long ways a way and cell phones often don't work in the mountains. You need to be independent & capable or with someone who is or stay in places where others are such as Parks and campsites.

This is excellant advice. I spent a fair (though not an over whelming) amount of time in the bush in Alaska, and my close calls were always weather related. I had one or two small confrontations with bears, both solved by leaving the area while making sure the bear knew I was there.

Plus most of Alaska is pretty remote, and the locals friendly. <snip>

If you're going in springtime the bears may just be waking up. Keep your food in a cache away from where you sleep and keep your camp clean (no dirty pots & pans). Also, watch the amount of food you carry with you if you go backpacking somewhere. If you don't read the book I recommended in my previous post, keep in mind that bear spray is most effective at close range & that bears can run faster than you think they can.

Again, good advice, though I'll add that MOST Alaskans are pretty friendly, though there are a minority who moved to AK so that they didn't have to put up with a lot of folks. and take their privacy very seriously.

Most of the people who carry pistols for bear protection in Alaska do so because they anticipate doing an activity that would make carrying a long gun inconvienent, such as picking berrys, fishing (esp fly fishing) or gold panning. The choice of a pistol in these cases was -- during my youth -- a .357 (often with custom hot loads) or later, a .44 magnum. At least one friend of mine brought down a bear (not charging, but threatening) with multiple, well-aimed shots from a .357 at close range. He, however, is an excellant shot, and very cool in that sort of situation. the problem with very large handguns (like the Casull) is that you have to be strong enough and accurate enough to get off multiple shots in a situation in which your motor control is going to be hampered by adreniline and an accelerated heart beat. With a large recoil hand gun, that can be difficult.

IGiven a preference, my own choice for carrying a weapon in the bush is pretty standard: a 12 ga shotgun with alternating 00 buck and slugs. This combination increases the chance of a first round hit, allowing the user to "break down" the animal if the first shot doesn't stop the bear (and in most cases I've heard about, it doesn't). I believe that you can also buy "firecracker" rounds for a shotgun that detonate with a large noise, but those came out after I stopped spending a lot of time in the woods.Some people swear by pepper spray, but I don't know anyone who has actually used it The book recommended by Fencergrl might have some anecdotal evidence.

A

[Fencergrl]

Some people swear by pepper spray, but I don't know anyone who has actually used it The book recommended by Fencergrl might have some anecdotal evidence.

A

It does, but I seem to recall that it is best used at very close range (such as 3'-0") and sprayed directly in it's face.

The problem with shooting Grizzlies is they take a death charge, so even after you fire a lethal shot they're going to make a last ditch effort to take you out with them.

[Fencergrl]

This is excellant advice. I spent a fair (though not an over whelming) amount of time in the bush in Alaska, and my close calls were always weather related. I had one or two small confrontations with bears, both solved by leaving the area while making sure the bear knew I was there.

Bear deaths are uncommon. However getting lost, injuring yourself, drowning, weather issues and other such ways one can hurt themselves are much more likely and common. You're much more likely to have something damage your vehicle in such a way that can leave a person who is unprepared or unresourceful stranded, than having problems with a bear.

[I_luv_saber]

Take away its credit card.

Dammit!

I saw the thread title and hoped beyond hope no one had yet posted it. In this crowd, I should have known it was a fool's hope...

[parrythis]

I have been thinking of picking up a thirty-aught-six so I have something to defend against any black bear that occasionally wander into my back yard if one of them happens to be attacking family or animals on the farm.

[migopod]

I have been thinking of picking up a thirty-aught-six so I have something to defend against any black bear that occasionally wander into my back yard if one of them happens to be attacking family or animals on the farm.

Racist!