Activities in grizzly country

LOL - was your plan to cook him and eat some bear steaks?
Flares were for signaling on backcountry hikes, though in Denali, we'd met the last ranger on his way out for the Winter. He offered us a ride out, then said the park would be unstaffed until Spring, so there, those flares had limited usefulness, except perhaps to make a Bear think twice.
Did eat some Bear, as well as Moose, and Caribou, that was offered in meals that locals invited us to. The Bear was my least favorite.

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12 gauge mossburg with slug bbl is in camp. I have been carrying a 5 1/2" Redhawk on my hip but will replace it this summer with a 4" model 69 just because of weight.
 
Firearm: S&W 629-5, 4" barrel.

Holster: GunfightersINC Kenai Chest holster.

Ammo: Carbon 305 grain penetrator.

There are several handguns that are appropriate and for me the real issue was the holster and carry position. A hip holster is okay for most hunting situations but, not for fishing when wearing chest waders.

A friend of mine was looking for a shoulder holster for his S&W Mod. 66, 6" to carry deer hunting and "discovered" the Kenai Chest rig. I was so impressed with it that I ordered one after seeing and trying his. The holster has positive retention in the kydex shell and the gun literally snaps into it for a positive and very secure fit. Drawing the gun from the holster presents no problems.

I read the reviews, including one from an Alaskan Wildlife Officer. He essentially said that it was the best chest rig that he had found for the AK environment.

I have worn this one with several of my N frames and have nothing but praise for the comfort and ease of use it provides. I received a couple of Visa gift cards as a present and used them to buy one for my 1911's. Couldn't be more pleased!
 

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Remington 673 Guide Rifle in .350 Remington Magnum loaded with 250 grain Nosler Partitions at roughly 2,500 FPS.

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Bingo! We have a winner!

Actually I prefer a repeater like Remington pump in '06, but like your Guide gun for sure. Not for me to wander around in Griz or Brownie country with only a handgun. Been there, done that, Never again without a long gun.
 
From what I've been told, you might only get to pull the trigger/s once :eek:
A short barreled double, in 12 gauge or 458 Win Mag with two triggers, is on my list. :D

Once again, any leads on reading/video material would be helpful.
Thx

The COP in Walla Walla, when I asked him decades ago, who stands guard while we fish, replied, don't you carry a gun boy?
Glad the X frames arrived. :cool:
A proper double in 460 S&W Magnum would be nice as well.
 
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What reading, videos etc etc are helpful in learning about bear behavior?
Thx....)

Numerous books on all aspects of bears

here are a few I found that read well.

Bears -- Ormond
Of Bears and Man -- Cramond
On Bears and Bear Hunting -- Gilchrist
The Grizzly Book-- Samson
The Outdoor Life Bear Book

If want to know mauling then attacks then

Alaskan Bear Tales --Larry Kaniut
More Alaskan Bear Tales-- Larry Kaniut

If you are real interested in scientific papers check out URSUS magazine published by the IBA (International Bear Association)

be safe
Ruggy
 
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Books on the way:
1. The Outdoor Life Bear Book
2. The Grizzly Book
3. Of Bears and Men
4. Bear.

The Gilchrist book at $800+ was more than a buddy wanted for his freshly skinned/zero timed engine/'47 Aeronca back in '69.
He said... damm the FAA, Ain't gonna pay some mechanic to do something I've been doing since I was a kid!!!
My money, Buck Sergeants pay, was in a '54 K/KH Harley with a '61 XLCH engine that I was building.

Thx
RT
 
Numerous books on all aspects of bears

here are a few I found that read well.

Bears -- Ormond
Of Bears and Man -- Cramond
On Bears and Bear Hunting -- Gilchrist
The Grizzly Book-- Samson
The Outdoor Life Bear Book

If want to know mauling then attacks then

Alaskan Bear Tales --Larry Kaniut
More Alaskan Bear Tales-- Larry Kaniut

If you are real interested in scientific papers check out URSUS magazine published by the IBA (International Bear Association)

be safe
Ruggy


A pretty good list, you have there. I've got many of those! I had my wife read some of them, before her first bear hunting season.... she didn't find it humorous! :) memtb
 
First book arrived.
Dogs, people and Bears is something that I need to study.

Living down the block from Yosemite, Castle AFB for three years ('67-'70), I was always armed once I turned 21 and bought a pistol.
I have no interest in hunting Bears, just don't want it the other way around. :eek: :rolleyes:
 

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For those of you who partake in activities in grizzly country, what gun do you carry, what ammo is in it and how do you carry it?

It used to be that we were not in Griz country except when we'd horse-pack into the Bob Marshall or fish the headwaters of the Teton. Now the Griz also live where I live, on the plains. We see Bears and/or sign every Spring and Summer. They walk thru our yard.

My Griz gun is a 5" 629-4 with 285 grain hard casts @ 1250 fps. I carry it in a Safariland strong side holster. I replaced the fancy, combat style grips with rubber.

At times when I'm on the 4 wheeler or tractor, I wear a Ruger single action in .44 Special with 255 grain hard casts @ 1075 fps.

Although we've had Griz in horse camp, we have never really had a problem (except for scaring the devil out of the horses) but Black Bears have given us fits.
 
Ruger Redhawk 2 3/4" with Buffalo Bore 340gr hard cast flat nose. Riding in a Diamond D chest rig. Harsh and expensive to practice with, but imparts a warm feeling knowing you have a fighting chance if/when the times comes.

This--- 3 hunters survive grizzly bear attacks in Southwest Montana happened 4 days after and about 10 miles from where I had been fishing last fall. You can read more by doing a simple google search. I poured over the data but was never able to find anything on how many shots fired, how many hits, or anything about caliber.

 
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I have never encountered a grizzly but back when I was healthy enough for camping, I always figured on feeding him my Marlin 1895 45/70. Years ago there were some Marlin rifle only loads that are pretty memorable.
 
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