Carry shotgun while filling feeders?

For me I wouldn't be hunting out of season, as fix and coyote are open year round.
My question was more can I carry for protection rather then for hunting.

I used to guide bear hunting for a few years and had dozens of active baits going. I never carried anything for protection and felt fine.


I'd wonder what the opinions of other hunting guides would be on this. Grandman also said he didn't carry anything.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

I'm with Greenhorn on this one. All you need is bear spray. Studies have actually shown that it is more effective, with less injuries per encounter, than wounding a bear and getting it mad. Or even worse, have to shoot a cub and and get mom real mad at you. Ouch!

Now once the season is open, hell yea, carry a rifle and be silent going in. Not likely to happen with a midday feeding anyway, but you never know how your tag might get filled.:cool:

Cheers

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Hey i'm not picking, but genuinely curious how did certain deterrents pan out. Could you link me to the said study?

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Originally Posted by x_xeon_x

I used to guide bear hunting for a few years and had dozens of active baits going. I never carried anything for protection and felt fine.


I'd wonder what the opinions of other hunting guides would be on this. Grandman also said he didn't carry anything.

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We bait upwards of 50 stands.Very active baits and never carried anything.Were bears on the bait we I got there.Yes sometimes.I gave them a yell and they ran.I baited the stand and left.Be safe and observant and your good to go.I guess if you really feel the need bear spray would be your best bet.

Wear BELLS on your shoe laces,lol.

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Originally Posted by nomad

Hey i'm not picking, but genuinely curious how did certain deterrents pan out. Could you link me to the said study?

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No prob nomad. I saw it on a tv program and also read a magazine article that I recall, so I don't have any links, but you could try a search. It was based on injury stats from encounters, and the deterrents were bear spray or firearms. Obviously used as a last resort. There were more injuries involving people with firearms.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by smitty55

No prob nomad. I saw it on a tv program and also read a magazine article that I recall, so I don't have any links, but you could try a search. It was based on injury stats from encounters, and the deterrents were bear spray or firearms. Obviously used as a last resort. There were more injuries involving people with firearms.

Cheers

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Good post smitty! why guys think they're safer with a gun as opposed to bear spray baffles me??? sure a gun has range but a bear out there is not a threat! I would feel awful if someone in our group got shot because of a shooting accident. In thick cover making snap decisions with adrenalin flowin - stuff can happen. You can't call the bullet back and a hospital is a long way away. If someone got sprayed accidently we'd both laugh about it later. Well the sprayer would laugh. not so sure about the sprayee!.. point is you wouldn't be looking at your best friends kids at his funeral!

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

Good post smitty! why guys think they're safer with a gun as opposed to bear spray baffles me??? sure a gun has range but a bear out there is not a threat! I would feel awful if someone in our group got shot because of a shooting accident. In thick cover making snap decisions with adrenalin flowin - stuff can happen. You can't call the bullet back and a hospital is a long way away. If someone got sprayed accidently we'd both laugh about it later. Well the sprayer would laugh. not so sure about the sprayee!.. point is you wouldn't be looking at your best friends kids at his funeral!

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Great Post

Can anyone post a bear spray test reports that were not done by a anti hunting or anti gun organization?

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Can anyone post a bear spray test reports that were not done by a anti hunting or anti gun organization?

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Interesting report out of the University of Calgary on this topic GW....

http://www.bearsmart.com/wp-content/...ro-Higgins.pdf