Activities in grizzly country

[ruggyh]

The most important thing to have in big bear country is a understanding of bear behavior and respect. These will reduce of a brown bear encounter that is likely to result in conflict dramatically.

For any firearm rifle or handgun, if it is not in your hand it won't matter much.

Most common handgun calibers with the right bullet in combination with proper shoot placement can kill a big bear.

If you feel the need to have a side arm choose one you can shoot accurately and quickly on a moving target and use bullets of sturdy construction.

Again the most important thing you can take into big bear country is understanding of bear behavior.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[Echo40]

I've never been in grizzly country and probably never will be, but if I was for whatever reason headed into grizzly country then I would pack my Mossberg 590 Shockwave 12 Gauge loaded with Brenneke Black Magic Magnum Slugs.

It's small enough to carry with ease, can be quickly deployed, and weighs just slightly more than a Smith & Wesson Model 500, yet is much easier to control.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

This works for me.

I don't but if I did, it would be a model 329 with Buffalo Bore 300 gr hard cast SWC.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

And it carries well all day long in an El Paso Saddlery tanker rig.

 

[Rev 19:11]

10mm for me.

 

[Jessie]

Myself and 4 friends made yearly week long float trips on various rivers in Alaska. We saw bears on every trip that I can remember, one trip we counted 23.
I carried a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70 on the raft and a 4" 629 in a Bianchi on my belt.
In over 10 years of trips we only pulled the guns out one time that I remember. Rounded a tight shallow bend in the Kanektok river and ran up on a sow with 2 cubs. Had a nervous stand off ( she was standing UP) for a few seconds before they disappeared in the brush.
Never fired a shot in all those years but wouldn't think of going unarmed.
3 of us carried .44s and we had two 12 ga. plus my Marlin spread between two rafts.
I forgot to mention that I used Garrett super hard cast loads in both my .44 and .45-70

 

[Buick]

Choice of ammo in the slug guns should be paramount. I wouldnt be a fan of old school lead "pumpkin balls, for example, having experienced them stopping in smallish whitetail deer. Now a well constructed all copper solid projectile is probably a better offering. Personally id take a stout rifle like a .45-70 or up.

 

[steelslaver]

While I agree that slug guns and big bore rifles are more effective, my choice has always been a big bore revolver loaded with heavy slugs. It is on my hip when ever I am awake and on top the tote by my cot when I am sleeping. Doing stuff like setting up camp, cutting and hauling wood, cooking, casting a line and the rest of outdoor life would be a lot more difficult with a carbine or shot shotgun strapped to me. Plus, I believe I could be out of the holster quicker than any reasonable sling that l kept the gun out of my way. Walking around hunting I am carrying either my 338WM or my 350 Remington mag.

You have to have the gun on you and ready to deploy quickly.

Its my daily carry gun is a 325. Ya, a short barrelled 300Blackout with a couple 30 round mags would be better,, but I just don't see me caring one around all day. I spend lots of time in bear country. I believe I am more apt to have people problems than bear problem sand I live in a real low crime area.

Certain places I might step it up. Last year over between the Gravelly and the Snowcrests they seem to have had more problems than normal. I would still carry my 4" 45colt, but the 350m or 338 would stay real handy. But, hey if I was going into a Chicago slum I would not be caring my 325. Yellowstone and Glacier have so many tourist running around being idiots that I don't worry much inside the boundries. Plenty of bear bait to reduce the odds of one picking me. LOL

 

[LCC]

Some years back, during a meandering road trip we spent ten fall days in the Bob Marshall Wildnerness Area camping alongside a river we flyfished.
Second day there we hear a heavy crashing coming from the high hill across the river, the noise getting louder and louder until a big grizzly comes strolling out of the deadwood he had been bashing on his way downhill...crosses the river 75 yards downriver from our camp and dissapears. By then the Mossberg Mariner 12 guage, loaded with 00, has been pulled from the truck and is firmly in my sweaty hands.
On alert rest of the morning into early afternoon, looking downriver see the bear suddenly appear, grab my bino's and watch him, very big bear with thick golden pelt and big hump between his shoulders, cross the river and begin crashing his way back upslope until all sound of it stops.
Wanting to know what's going on, wife and I walk downstream, follow the bears tracks into a big thicket of ripe Loganberries the size of my thumb, berry smears everywhere, obvous the bear had been gorging.
This went on every day, got to where we enjoyed watching the bears arrival and departure...with the 12 gauge never far away.

 

[Paul105]

Last year over between the Gravelly and the Snowcrests they seem to have had more problems than normal.

My son and a group of friends bow hunt elk in the Gravelly's every fall. Two years ago, they saw 8 individual grizzlys within 100 yard. The bears were very interested in the elk calls. They all carry handguns and always hunt in pairs.

Last year there were a couple of griz maulings in the area. Friend of mine's cousin or nephew (can't remember which) had another guy accompany him with a shotgun while bow hunting elk in the same area.

This is a higher risk activity (vs hiking, fishing or recreating) in large predator (bear, wolf, cougar) country.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[steelslaver]

My son and a group of friends bow hunt elk in the Gravelly's every fall. Two years ago, they saw 8 individual grizzlys within 100 yard. The bears were very interested in the elk calls. They all carry handguns and always hunt in pairs.

Last year there were a couple of griz maulings in the area. Friend of mine's cousin or nephew (can't remember which) had another guy accompany him with a shotgun while bow hunting elk in the same area.

This is a higher risk activity (vs hiking, fishing or recreating) in large predator (bear, wolf, cougar) country.

FWIW,

Paul

Ya, but there are a lot of elk in that area. I used to hunt there up on the Ruby river and got one almost every year. I suspect the have gotten a taste for gut piles.

 

[Erocksmash]

Haven't made it to Grizzlie country yet. Spend plenty of time in black bear/hog country from my trips to the mountains(smokies) and my house being backed up to a state reserve.

On my hip will always be the 1026 loaded with Underwoods 200gr hard cast and over the shoulder an 1895sbl in .45-70gov with Underwoods 430grn +p gas check hard cast

 

[Neal]

Back in the day when I lived and sometimes slept out in grizzly country...



A 44 Mag sidearm with some serious loads. ( I like the 265 gr bullet over a case full of 2400)

.

Is that a converted model 58?

 

[Mehutch]

I've been in Grizzly country and seen heaps of them, and I carry my 5" S&W 629 44 Mag with Federal Hammerhead 310gr Hard Cast bullets. And I always bring a slow running friend with me.

 

[Imissedagain]

What reading, videos etc etc are helpful in learning about bear behavior?
Thx

Experimenting with carbon fiber, in the Winter of '77-'78, on City Island NYC building rudder posts for racing sailing vessels, when asked after the Fastnet '79 race at the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami boat shows, about making oars and fishing rods, I stated that the only thing I was interested in making were boots and flippers that would protect my feet underwater and a crush proof glove that might save my hand, if in a Grizzly's mouth, while I pulled the trigger.
A bite proof fishing kayak has merit as well.

 

[FlyTyinFool]

I'm more likely to see black bears than grizzlies.

As others have pointed out, I don't want to carry two long guns when I'm wandering the woods.
And a slung rifle cannot (realistically) be deployed fast enough.
I realize someone is going to argue that point, but I'm not super-human and bears move fast!

I'm right-handed.
I carry bear spray on my right hip and a .357 Taurus 627 Tracker (I'd carry a S&W if I had one) with heavy loads in a cross-draw holster on my left hip.
I practice with both.
That leaves hands free for fishing, hunting rabbit/squirrel with a .22 or .410 shotgun, and camp chores.
(Since I know some will critique cross-draw carry, let's just stop that thread-drift right now... I'm not worried about "sweeping" unintended targets when I draw, because I'm alone in the woods)

If there's an unplanned meeting, my goal is to avoid conflict and walk away with no harm to either of us.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but neither bear spray or a gun is going to stop a bear in it's tracks.
But, bear spray has more chance to slow a bear quicker than a bullet.
Bullets make bears mad, but don't necessarily stop them quickly.
I think it's a pipe-dream to think you're going to put multiple rounds on-target (2-4?), while in a panic situation, fast enough to stop a bear.

I've had 7 encounters with black bears, and every one of them ended without incident.
All were sows with cubs nearby.
They were just protecting the kids.

No... I didn't take any pictures! (everyone asks)

 

[vipermd]

Bare facts

As others have pointed out, I don't want to carry two long guns when I'm wandering the woods.
And a slung rifle cannot (realistically) be deployed fast enough.
I realize someone is going to argue that point, but I'm not super-human and bears move fast!

Bear spray can and does SOMETIMES deter a bear enough to go away, Ibut there are many cases where it did not. Firearms are great, my wife carried the 4" 500 SW last time fishing in AK. Slugs, buckshot, hand cannons, all can be effective, IF you can make the shot. Brown or Black, both can move very quickly and present a difficult shot. If you carry a firearm, practice till your fingers bleed, then practice some more. The same with bear spray. Too many people go on the street or in the woods with weapons they are not proficient with and seem satisfied? If you have to fight for your life, it will not be pretty or fun. So practice as your life depended on it, because it does. Be Safe,

 

[scooter123]

I would prefer an RPG and Launcher.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Before I owned any firearms, I'd camped in Griz country, including two months in AK, with only a handheld flare launcher for protection. Never needed it, thank God. This guy approached us on the trail in Denali, then went around us when he realized we were there. Avoiding us seemed it's preference.

A 44 with Swift A-frames would be a good choice I think.

 

[Tom S.]

Before I owned any firearms, I'd camped in Griz country, including two months in AK, with only a handheld flare launcher for protection. Never needed it, thank God. This guy approached us on the trail in Denali, then went around us when he realized we were there. Avoiding us seemed it's preference.

A 44 with Swift A-frames would be a good choice I think.

LOL - was your plan to cook him and eat some bear steaks?

 

[keith44spl]

.

Is that a converted model 58?

Neal,
That one start out a 520.
Dave