what to do if im in this situation again?
- Thread starter Jswiney9
- Start date
Sorry, but that's not completely true.
A bear will run you off until he is certain you are no longer a threat. A bear that persues you beyond that is trying to find an easy meal.
As far as bear pepper spray, mace, or tasers, don't count on them to work every time. There have been cases in Alaska where they haven't.
In my experience the only guarantee is a well placed 12 ga slug.
BlindJustice
Member
Cowboy up, & Bring a bigger gun, say a MOdel 29 MG
R-
R-
Andy Griffith
Member
Pumpkin balls are for bears. 
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
"Before i say this next part i just want to say that ive NEVER had the desire to shoot an animal I didnt plan on eating..."
That is generally an admirable position, but I would make an exception for any animal that appeared to be planning on EATING ME!!!
That is generally an admirable position, but I would make an exception for any animal that appeared to be planning on EATING ME!!!
the reason i carry the little 9mm isnt for black bears. its pretty rare to actually have one get close enough up there to be a problem. usually the noise runs them off. and id rather drop a 160 dollar gun out of my treestand than a 500+ gun. i carry it as a noise maker not as a means of protection. I never expected to have to shoot that bear and if clipping him with it didnt run him off then my bow would have dropped him dead. Thats a reason i carry the 115gr round nose too, probably not going to hurt something. I guess all things considered i would be just as good carrying firecrackers. 
I should probably buy a bigger gun.
I should probably buy a bigger gun.
venomballistics
Member
probably not the case ... most other bears rough you up and leave you to get yourself out of its turf ... black bears do not approach anything they don't intend to eat.
Maybe the bear was trying to run him off, but being immobile in a tree stand wasn't far enough away to satisfy him. But yes, such aggression would indicate that he has become accustomed to humans being around, no longer fears them, and knows that they are slow and edible (or at least have some delicious snacky-cakes in their possession).
Well, I didn't expect that the bear would pick you up by the scruff of your neck and escort you to the boundary of his territory. My point was that the hunter was on the bear's turf, and the bear was acting in accordance with his biology, whether he wanted to eat or merely frighten is beside the point.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Snapping Twig
Member
A messed up quote from Jaws - "We're gonna need a bigger boat." You're gonna need a bigger pistol.
You can make noise with a .44 as well as a 9mm, probably better.
A 4" .44 is easy enough to pack and when the ball drops, it's a lot more useful than a 9. Loaded with heavy cast bullets, you can pick any spot and shoot it and be assured of penetration - and you have 5 more waiting behind to do it again as needed.
All here admire your ethics, but remember - it's better to be around to face the music than to follow "what's right" and die for it.
You can make noise with a .44 as well as a 9mm, probably better.
A 4" .44 is easy enough to pack and when the ball drops, it's a lot more useful than a 9. Loaded with heavy cast bullets, you can pick any spot and shoot it and be assured of penetration - and you have 5 more waiting behind to do it again as needed.
All here admire your ethics, but remember - it's better to be around to face the music than to follow "what's right" and die for it.
The title of your post asks what to do if you're in that situation again. The answer is, you kill that bear; don't wound him and let him go on his way to endanger someone else. You seem to feel angst over having shot the bear at all. Suppose he'd happened on a Cub Scout troop later and taken out his pain and anger on them. He seems to be a threat to the community. I don't understand why no one has killed him yet.
There is no community where i hunt. There are 3 maybe 4people that actually hunt there and the occasional logging crew or fourwheeler rider goes through there, maybe a core drill group every now and then. He would have to travel a LONG LONG way to get to any civilization.
Jst1mr
Member
I've had bears come partway up to my treestand on multiple occasions. They don't see well and often are just trying to get a better look at something that is out of place. However, your bear sounds extra aggressive. Given the remoteness of the area you are in, just take care of business and eliminate him. If you shoot and then involve the wildlife folks around here, you'll get your butt in a wringer for a long time - what proof do you have of threat, etc. Just don't do the job halfway and make a bad situation worse. Oh, and if you want a noisemaker, carry an air horn - or upgrade to a capable handgun.
ogilvyspecial
Member
Because I used to take canoe trips in Northern Ontario quite often (not in Govt. Parks) and wasn't allowed any type of Firearm for defense I studied Bears just to learn all I could so I would at least be armed with knowledge.
I read every book and article I could get my hands on for years and talked to Wildlife Biologists as well as quite a few trappers, usually while I was on Bear hunting trips, to get their take on things.
I eventually came to one solid conclusion about Bear behavior, and that is, the only thing we can predict about a Bear is that they are totally unpredictable..........
sipowicz
Member
If the bear left that bottle, can't you shoot him for littering?
Only if it has a 5 cents deposit.
My opinion for what it is worth:
Handle such a situation as described in the same manner if it were a human.
The idea is to stop aggression. A bear can kill you just as dead as a human. I feel taking the life of a bear is far better than taking the life of a person.
Personally I would not hesitate to kill any aggressive animal and have done so on a Doberman dog. I would also not carry a 9mm into an area known to have bear, wolves, coyotes, cougars or any of several other potentially dangerous animals. A .357 or .44 mag, .45acp or .50 cal would be warranted.
Handle such a situation as described in the same manner if it were a human.
The idea is to stop aggression. A bear can kill you just as dead as a human. I feel taking the life of a bear is far better than taking the life of a person.
Personally I would not hesitate to kill any aggressive animal and have done so on a Doberman dog. I would also not carry a 9mm into an area known to have bear, wolves, coyotes, cougars or any of several other potentially dangerous animals. A .357 or .44 mag, .45acp or .50 cal would be warranted.
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the reason i carry the little 9mm isnt for black bears. its pretty rare to actually have one get close enough up there to be a problem. usually the noise runs them off. and id rather drop a 160 dollar gun out of my treestand than a 500+ gun. i carry it as a noise maker not as a means of protection. I never expected to have to shoot that bear and if clipping him with it didnt run him off then my bow would have dropped him dead. Thats a reason i carry the 115gr round nose too, probably not going to hurt something. I guess all things considered i would be just as good carrying firecrackers.
what part of virginia are we talking about that this critter inhabits?
sipowicz
Member
All this bear killing talk on Yogi's opening weekend...how insensitive.
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