You're far more likely to be killed driving to your hunting spot.
Bear spray is proven effective. And no problems with the regs.
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You're far more likely to be killed driving to your hunting spot.
Bear spray is proven effective. And no problems with the regs.
Chris I know it happens, and Im not trying to ooze testosterone. First time I went bear hunting with my bow. The first evening in the stand I was all pumped up. Then last light came and the lightbulb went off in my brain. The reason Im sitting in the bush with nothing but an arrow 15 yards from some sweet smelling bait.....is because Im hoping the bait will draw a large, hungry bear who sits in the weeds just out of sight until last light...But guess what bright guy....now you need to get down out of your tree and walk right past that bait barrel and big hungry bruin...and all the way out of the woods to...Not so smart Im thinking as I climb down and out..
And every time since, it's a little unnerving. But as a good friend once said to me. What are bears really but overgrown raccoons.
Bear Bangers, or shots fired into the air the work....obviously...And that should only be needed in very rare circumstances.
Bear Spray is a proven thing to....( problem I have with it, if fired into wind you will end up on the ground in the fetal position mewling like a tasty treat)
So,
1) Its extremely rare
2) Loud noises often work, like clapping your hands works. But if that fails
3) Louder noises, like a SG with bird shot being fired into the air...works....but if that also fails
4) Bear Spray will likely do it to...Theres a vid out there of a photographer hitting a bear with it who's face was inches from his.
And if that also fails, well your number was just up. Fate decided your time on earth was over, and nothing was/is going to change that.
As Welsh said, your more likely to die or get mauled in a car accident on the way up there.
How much do worry about that?
I lady on my lake in Haliburton was walking her dogs down a trail and the dogs startled a bear and it attacked one of the dogs then it attacked her, the second dog pestered the bear enough that it got off her to go after him and she could get away.
I was talking with her the day after and saw the scratches on her and the stitches on the dog.
Pretty surreal when it's that close to you.
I would think most bear attacks in Ontario are from startling the bear or getting between her and the Cubs.
Less about the bear being hungry.
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Yep. More often or not it's something we do, that triggers it. Like maybe shooting a bear and wounding it, and now you have one pissed off bear, rather than a shot in the air.
or dogs (been there done that personally. Thankful our dog didn't trigger an attack), or food around campsites, or Sows with cubs. See bear hunting. See guys using bait to draw them in, see how bears will sit and wait, approach cautiously, wait for last light just like you are........And how hundreds of guys get down out of stands, walk right past the barrels and out, even with Sows and Cubs right there.
Did an assignment for OOD with Dale Hainer years ago at Golden Eagle. Day 2 he's in a ground blind...A cub charges the blind and starts barking at it/him...Momma was nearby...Its all on vid.
I know this woman/quasi friend, acquaintance.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/officials-nab-...woman-1.537204
Lightning or shift happens. Sometimes your number is just up, sometimes its not. After punching and screaming it let her go......the next guy a few tents away....well Im pretty sure he kicked, punched and screamed to...Sometimes people get T-Boned and theres nothing they can do......
if 2 3 and 4 don't work...
I think close calls happen more often than bears people realise when you're in bear country. I had a nephew have to fire a few rounds into the ground in front of a bear (less than 15 yards) when he was moose hunting. I shot a bear that had stalked me to my stand (following my scent trail) and was less than 10 feet away while deer hunting.
If they recognize you as a human and don't run away - you have a problem.
Hopefully with a spring bear hunt we can weed out the aggressive bears a bit.
Hunting grouse with a .22 is fun and my favorite way when I'm way up north but if bears are a real concern for you I would change to a shotgun and carry regular old bird shot. A load of 5,6 or 7.5 will be devastating to a bear inside of 5 yards , if you want to stick to the 22 I would just carry bear spray.
Bear Spray takes a cool head to use which would be next to impossible for an attack victim in full panic mode. Just be sure that your back is to the wind before you release the contents of the can into the air at the Bear lest it comes back at you,making you a blind,well-seasoned dinner for Mr.Bruin.
No wonder some of us feel the need to use a flash light in the dark to get in and out of their spot, especially on public land....
Bear spray is all you need and if you can't use it because you're in panic mode, forget about using a gun!
I friend of my works for a bear outfitter and the rules are that only he is allowed to track. Numerous times people have been shot tracking bears. When we bear bait all we bring in is bear spray. I think the chances of you been attacking are pretty small. Bear spray or bear bells are used frequently and are less likely of you injuring someone. My friend baits in thunder bay which is pretty thick and nevers brings a gun with him. You can get hit outside driving or get hit by lighting. Bear spray is effective and if it works for outfitters pretty sure it will work for you. Most bears fear you and the aggressive boars or a mother and cub can be issues. My friend has been charged by a mommy bear and ran like hell once he saw a small cub at the bait.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
I'm not saying that it's not effective. I'm just saying to pay attention if you need to use it. So,how do numerous people get shot tracking Bears,anyway?Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonura