Carry shotgun while filling feeders?

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I think that is the point guys are missing...were discussing a self defense situation and having to shot a charging bear with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.

and the answer is yes...It will STOP the bear...it won't 'devastate' it like a slug will...but it will STOP the bear.

Especially if you shot it in the face and blind it or better yet shot it in mouth and sever the spine at the back of the throat.

It's about breaking off the attack...not necessarily about killing the bear with a well placed shot to the vitals.

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Good Luck With That? So you end up with one pissed off bear, that has already proven to be aggressive, and is now half blind and infuriated. It runs into someone else a quarter mile away, possibly a late season cottager cleaning up around his cottage, who is entirely caught off guard as the bear burst out of the woods and comes at him. Build whatever scenario you like. If you shoot, you do so to kill. You don't leave a mess for some else to clean up. And bird-shot is one poor substitute for a slug.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you give up hunting.
- Gun Nut

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Originally Posted by Gun Nut

Did you notice the phrase referring to the rifle does not state "a rifle capable of greater muzzle energy than 400 ft-lbs. I've been trying for sometime to have the MNRF change the regulation to insert the word 'capable' otherwise any firearm that you can load down to below 400 ft-lbs should be legal to carry. In using the 400 ft-lb criteria they were attempting to include all rim-fire rifles up to and including the 5 mm RRFM. However any person that reloads can easily load a 30-30 Win, 303 British, 308 Win, 30-06 Sprg, or even a 45 calibers down to under 400 ft-lbs. I have a cast bullet for a 32 caliber pistol, which I load in front of 6 grains of Unique which can be loaded for most .30 caliber firearms, which falls with the guideline. Failing that you can load a number 1 buckshot pellet in front of a simpler charge, and have some great small game shooting. I queried this regulation with one of the heads of enforcement for the MNRF, and when he sent the 400 ft-lb statement back to me, in his mind he inserted the word 'capable' in spite of the fact it is not there in print. He chooses to rely on industrial standard to eliminate firearms. However, when you reload ammunition there is no requirements that you adhere to industrial standards. So its a flawed piece of legislation that needs to be re-evaluated and amended. Another suggestion that would work is limit the use of firearms, that can be used for small game, during the open big game seasons, to rim-fire firearms only. This was apparently what they were attempting to do but they overlooked the versatility of center-fire firearms when it comes to people reloading. In my mind the way that the regulation is currently written could use a court challenge.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

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I didn't notice that. The only reason I can think of why it wasn't worded like that is so that every charge laid under that scenario would require scientific technical evaluation by engineering experts in every case to prove the rifle,shot size fell within the criteria. That would cost a small fortune every time. The government would never want to spend that kind of money just to prosecute a charge. Of course,this is only conjecture on my part.

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Originally Posted by Gun Nut

Good Luck With That? So you end up with one pissed off bear, that has already proven to be aggressive, and is now half blind and infuriated. It runs into someone else a quarter mile away, possibly a late season cottager cleaning up around his cottage, who is entirely caught off guard as the bear burst out of the woods and comes at him. Build whatever scenario you like. If you shoot, you do so to kill. You don't leave a mess for some else to clean up. And bird-shot is one poor substitute for a slug.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you give up hunting.
- Gun Nut

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Oh yeah,this would be a really bad scene without doubt. Wounded Bears should be avoided at all costs. If one needs to shoot,kill it. Let the chips fall where they may. Like I and someone else posted,it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

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Originally Posted by Greenhorn

Lol,you can hunt on Sunday's during deer season,no other time. carry a whistle around your neck. Drive to the baits and most times the Bears will leave. really worried carry. Bear spray. mine probably won't work it's about 20 years old,lol. I had Bears refuse to leave, but they were never aggressive and just waited for me to leave. I do have an axe in the side x side for imergency.

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A friend of mind, thought his bear spray probably wouldn't work either. He decide to see if it would. It worked just fine. He found after the fact, that bear spray has a considerably long shelf life.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

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Originally Posted by Gun Nut

Good Luck With That? So you end up with one pissed off bear, that has already proven to be aggressive, and is now half blind and infuriated. It runs into someone else a quarter mile away, possibly a late season cottager cleaning up around his cottage, who is entirely caught off guard as the bear burst out of the woods and comes at him. Build whatever scenario you like. If you shoot, you do so to kill. You don't leave a mess for some else to clean up. And bird-shot is one poor substitute for a slug.

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So what's the difference if you douse his eyes with Bear Spray or fill them with Birdshot ? You still have a pissed off bear.

If all you have in the chamber is birdshot...you shot it in the face or in the mouth if it's open.

It's about STOPing the attack..who cares what the bear does when it pissed off and running away. It's your survival that is the priority. Once your clear of the area, then if necessary, you call the MNR...or go back in after the wounded bear when you have some help, the right equipment and ammo.

It's not a Hunting scenario...it's about Survival...it's bad enough few people will even know how to respond if it was happening to them, but to hesitate because you might wound the bear, may cost you your life.

Besides as was shown, at 7' the pattern from birdshot is not much bigger than a slug so it will go straight thru the eye sockets and into the brain.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

So what's the difference if you douse his eyes with Bear Spray or fill them with Birdshot ? You still have a pissed off bear.
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It's about STOPing the attack
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that's exactly what bear spray often does, according to the study referred to earlier in this tread.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

So what's the difference if you douse his eyes with Bear Spray or fill them with Birdshot ? You still have a pissed off bear.

If all you have in the chamber is birdshot...you shot it in the face or in the mouth if it's open.

It's about STOPing the attack..who cares what the bear does when it pissed off and running away. It's your survival that is the priority. Once your clear of the area, then if necessary, you call the MNR...or go back in after the wounded bear when you have some help, the right equipment and ammo.

It's not a Hunting scenario...it's about Survival...it's bad enough few people will even know how to respond if it was happening to them, but to hesitate because you might wound the bear, may cost you your life.

Besides as was shown, at 7' the pattern from birdshot is not much bigger than a slug so it will go straight thru the eye sockets and into the brain.

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Some might argue you're is his territory and it's his safety that is paramount:)

Out of season of course:)

just carry the gun, you are legally able to carry one with your firearms license, google RCMP using a firearm for wilderness protection.
you don't need a small games licence to carry your gun for protection. if you are hunting small game at the same time that's where your gun regs come in (cant carry a rifle blah blah). bear hunters get charged all the time heading into "bait" it usually is just a bluff charge, but get in between the sow and her cub and it will be a very serious charge, and its even worse when your hands are full with buckets of bait!

I have a friend who has been baiting and hunting bears for years and even works as a professional guide for dogwood adventures and he recommends bear spray. It is what we use baiting. Once the season opens September 8 carry a gun and wear a vest and you are legal. Only a week away.

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Originally Posted by revr

j....get in between the sow and her cub and it will be a very serious charge, and its even worse when your hands are full with buckets of bait!

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not necessarily. I was there only once (couldn't say it was comfy without spray nor firearm), but the sow was used to "check out" people for food. stood my ground with as much huffing and puffing as humanly possible. she just figured that's not worth it. next day same sow with cubs got chased by dogs. sow sends cubs up the tree. guy calls dogs back, sow and cubs move casually on (way more comfy watching from a distance others problems)
the point is that the sow was not surprised by all of it one bit; she was the one controlling both situations