What to take in smokey mountain bear country?

[Watchdog]

That one's almost as old as the "shoot your buddy in the leg"!

That "shoot your buddy in the leg" thing comes up all the time in alligator threads, too.

 

[1morethan8]

I've never had to shoot a bear.. I have pulled my gun a few times just to be safe when things got real close.
You would not believe the number of pot fields I've run into in the mountains! Oh.. Tennessee is only second to California in marijuana production... being 1/3 the size of California, we have more plants per square mile than they do!
If you run across a pot field or still, you keep walking and act like you don't even see it, because you may already be in somebody's sights.
It's good to make a little noise to let a bear know you're there... the bear can see good up close.. but not past 30 yards or so. And you will not outrun one, unless you can run better than 30mph. Climbing a tree? Might work if you're a squirrel?
The number one animal that I watch for the most is the wild black boar.. even the bears don't bother them. In the mountains around Tellico Plains, one is liable to still have Russian blood.. this type is called the "Devil's Pet".. for a good reason!

 

[Robspeire]

I have spent quite a few days in the Smokies hunting ginseng & mountain biking. I have only seen 2 bears. I would be more concerned about Copperheads & Timber Rattlers.
S&W mod 17 loaded with rat shot & solids.

 

[Erocksmash]

Thanks fellas I think I'll leave the lever behind and take the 1076 just in case. Good for any 2 legged vermin 4 legged vermin and or any knees that need be take out hahahah

 

[Lt JL]

I was just keepin' the tradition alive.

 

[Watchdog]

The number one animal that I watch for the most is the wild black boar.. even the bears don't bother them. In the mountains around Tellico Plains, one is liable to still have Russian blood.. this type is called the "Devil's Pet".. for a good reason!

In the early seventies, I had a friend and hunting buddy who lived in a small town in the North Carolina foothills.

He was raising these boar (he swore they were "Russian" boars). They were so dark, you'd have said they were black. I don't often refer to animals in human terms, but these boar were simply evil looking with their tiny eyes, long snouts, developing tusks, bristly bristles, and their little, almost dainty looking, hooves.

Anyway, once he got several that had matured enough, he'd pack 'em into an old livestock trailer and haul 'em up into the mountains and just turn 'em loose. After marking the spot, he'd leave. He'd give 'em a month or two to acclimate themselves, then he'd return with his pack of six to eight dogs...Redbones and Plott Hounds...and hunt them.

The boar bred like rabbits, of course. Pisgah was excellent cover for them and forage was abundant. They'd eat anything, including small mammals. Heaven only knows how many of those boars' progeny are still roaming around up there.

You're right...you definitely wouldn't want one of those boar charging you. Or even worse, catching you.

 

[black1970]

Go to Smoky Mountain Knife works and take in the nice high-priced knives. Then go to the Peddler in G'burg and eat a good steak with a good looking woman. Then go to the motel and forget about roaming around in the woods loaded down with hardware.

 

[1morethan8]

Watchdog...

I was on the Cherohala Skyway early last Tuesday morning before daylight heading to Calderwood Lake to do some trout fishing. A solid black hog crossed from my left to right. I didn't see him until my headlights showed him, to close to even hit the breaks! I think I even clipped him? I thought with a grin... you better get your black *** out of the road! He had all the traits of a Russian... I was crossing Hopper Bald, the birthplace of the Tellico Russian Boars!
Also saw a bear..but no cougars this time.

 

[rubiranch]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWq2QvvPw68[/ame]

 

[CH4]

Of those three, l'd take the one that weighs the least.

 

[BigBill]

Handgun? 357mag, 41mag, 44mag,

Rifle marlin 444/300gr lc bullets.

 

[e3mrk]

Whenever we go camping where large predators are known to be I take my Smith and Wesson model 29-3 44 magnum for them and my Ruger 357 magnum just in case some two legged varmint wants to be a nuisance.

 

[johngalt]

Someone slower than me.

 

[BigBoy99]

Since you ae already taking a .45-70 rifle, why not take a .45-70 revolver? Common ammo so no need for different caliber.

 

[Smoke]

Oh joy! Another bear thread full of misinformation

I live in bear country (as in they wander through town and end up in people's garages and back yards and Pizza restaurants frequently) and I carry a Glock 19

Lots of good information about bear spray in this thread

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/576598-bear-spray-released-amazon.html?highlight=Bear+spray

Also a lot of BS about bear spray in that thread.

Stephen Herrero, author of Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Lyons Press 2002) is The recognized expert on bears and bear attacks on the North American continent and if he says you're better off using bear spray than a gun on a wild bear, I'm going to pay attention.

 

[joeintexas]

I'm thinking a nice pair of Nike's and someone slower than me.

 

[Breaker]

I think the 10mm would be the best choice for bear/criminal protection. I would just carry the 10mm, a good compact high output flashlight and a few extra magazines with a small lube/cleaning rod in case the gun ends up in the water/muck.

 

[Watchdog]

Stephen Herrero, author of Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Lyons Press 2002) is The recognized expert on bears and bear attacks on the North American continent and if he says you're better off using bear spray than a gun on a wild bear, I'm going to pay attention.

I'd tend to agree with Herrero.

Thing is, carrying around a spray can, or actually using some sort of chemical spray on a bear doesn't sound macho enough when you're bragging to your drinkin' buddies about how you bravely fought off a bear or survived a bear attack.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Just got back from Alaska. Did some spring trout fishing.

The area we fished is known for a high concentration of brown bear. Hey, they fish too.

For the first time we carried bear spray. But we were also armed.

I don't have complete faith in either spray or gun. But I'm willing to try the spray first. After having had run ins with bear many times, I know that if either fails, I wont have time for the second option.

 

[wetdog1911]

What to take into Smoky Mountain bear country? Barbecue sauce (for the bear when it eats you).

That, and someone who can't run as fast as you.

Make them carry the BBQ sauce.

Wet