What would be an adequate calibre for a handgun in bear country???

everyone is talking what caliber, hit the bear between the eyes, etc. If you think you have enough time to aim between the eyes of a charging bear, then cover yourself with bbq sauce because your dead meat. If the bear is not charging, stand as still as possible ready to fire. Bears usually will walk away if they deem you as not a threat. Otherwise, good luck.
 
This thread has been a thoroughly entertaining read!

A charging bear is something to be feared...a charging grizzly would really be a problem. A griz can do the 100 yard dash in UNDER 6 seconds! I sure can't.

Years ago while on a fly-in fishing trip, I startled a good sized black bear eating blueberries in thick brush. We looked at each other eye to eye at about 25 yards for what seemed like forever....and I got the hell outta there!

My choice (limited to handgun) would be 44Mag with 300gr. and try to avoid contact.
 
The Alaskan guide referred to earlier was Phil Shoemaker & his daughter Tia, she carries a 357 maggie with Norma solids I think. Phil has changed over to a 44 maggie with hard cast.
What ever you carry it has to be on you at all times, also you have to be able to shoot it accurately, heavy recoil won't help because a bear isn't impressed with a shot in the dirt. Shoot for the head if its a charging bear because thats all you will see.
Its always a good idea to draw your gun as soon as you see a bear, they are incredibly fast, figure 40 yds in around 3 seconds. Can you draw & shoot in under 3 seconds?

Dick
 
As told to me by an Alaskan guide:
The Smith and Wesson Survival kit gun with the Orange grips, that way they can find your remains once the Grizzly poops you out.
Joking aside, when I was teaching in Artesia all the Game and Fish/BLM officers swore by a 12 gauge with slugs.
 
Years ago while camping in southern Colorado a griz stuck his head into our tent around 2am, I fired 3 shots from my .357 mag, never hitting him but scaring him back across the small stream, we both ran out of the tent into the truck, looking back on it we escaped because we were running on clean ground,......he had to be slipping and sliding a bit!!!! The next morning we got out of the truck and found our campsite totally destroyed, that dude had an attitude!
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
The record has been changed and now so reflects;)
Know how you can tell the difference between black bear scat and grizzly bear scat???
Black bear scat has berries in it and smell, well, like scat.
Grizzly bear scat has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray. :D
Click to expand...

bearsign.jpg
 
We've had bears

East coast SC. Had about three black bear sightings in the area in the last 30 years. I think the bears were more scared than the people were. Maybe I should carry something heavy.....just in case.
 
That's the main reason I have a handgun now, is to scare or kill black bears coming in on our sheep or house. Preferred method is 12 g shooting slugs but the game warden also said a .357 or a .40 smith and wesson or a 10mm would do it. So I'm carrying a .357 or will be once I practice more. Right now I'm only using .38 special in it. There are already reports of early spring bears coming out and coming around sheep.
 
Questions about the status of Louisiana black bears prompted me to retrieve some records, which confirmed my recollection, which was that: In 1991, Dr. Michael J. Claire, M.D., of West Monroe, Louisiana, was the recipient of the very prestigious Chevron Conservation Award, Citizen Volunteer Category, honoring his efforts as "... instrumental in the protection of the endangered Louisiana Black Bear, which number less than 100 today. He helped to preserve the bear's (sic) habitat --- the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge ---and worked diligently to ensure the bear a place on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife threatened species list."

So, if Dr. Claire's efforts were ultimately successful, there may still be some surviving native bears in the wilds of Louisiana, and I don't mean the French Quarter...
 
From what I can see it took 50 posts to use the words "bear spray", and that is not a good thing. I do a fair amount of bow hunting in bear country, and always carry both bear spray and a .45 colt Blackhawk with Buffalo Bore +P Ammo.

While I cannot claim to be an expert on the issue, most bear will make a false charge or two prior to attacking, thus shooting "the charging bear" is a guarantee of death to the hunter, the bear or both. The spray on the other hand is formulated to take out the eyes and nose of the aggressive Ursus horriblis (great name) giving one time to get the heck out of dodge. While I know park rangers carry .375 H&H or .338 when they are out looking for a problem bear, they normally move around in grizzly country with bear spray and .40 S&W Sig. (side note most of the folks I have spoken with have more concern about big cats than bears)

About 8 or 9 years ago I met a couple in Waterton AB who had, the day before, come across momma griz and cubs lunching on the remains of a elk. They reported two false charges and hit her with the bear spray on the third aggressive move. The fact I was chatting with them over a beer should tell the rest of the story. That said I think if I had to leave one at home It would be the Blackhawk.

Final note I do not think you can transport bear spray via airplane under any conditions. I have made it a habit on my trips to Glacier to purchase spray upon arrival and drop off the can (along with any un opened beers) at a ranger station on the way out of town. They have always been quite thankful for the donation, as I think they give a fair amount of the stuff away to folks heading into the back country with nothing but "bear bells".
 
I live 15 miles west of glacier park. The park service gives nothing away to anyone. They do to thier employees though!!!

You are right Dominus_Lex that bear spray is the first line of defense. But do not run after spraying. When the bear recouperates from the spray, and it doesn't take long, he will give chase. If you hold your ground the bear will see that you are not afraid and will back off unless that is one of the 5% of the bears that is going to get you anyway, then hit him again with the spray and put him down with the gun you are carrying.

One thing I must correct you on it the use of the name "bear bells"! They are not bear bells they are know as "dinner bells" :)

Once again a pic of three of several griz that make my front yard "home". I keep a 12 ga with slugs loaded all the time by my sliding glass door. Even during the winter, then it there when and if I should need it.

John
 

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When in bear country, which for me is often, I carry a bear spray and as a last resort my old Transition 1926 .44 Spl.

I've read a number of studies that indicate that bear spray is as or more effective than a firearm.

Guns not safer than bear spray in grizzly country, study finds

It helps to really be aware of your surroundings and, honestly feel fortunate when you see a bear. I've seen a momma grizzly charge a bore looking to lower the competition by killing a cub. You have no idea how fast a bear can cover 100 plus yards until you see it. Gun or spray if a bear is upset at you you only have split second; so, pay attention to your surroundings when in bear country.

I've only had one bear surprise me, a grizzly in Yellowstone. It was feeding on some elk afterbirth in a slight depression on a sage brush flat. I was amazed that something that big could vanish in the sage brush. He gave me fair warning when I was maybe 50 yards away. Little three step charge with a little jaw popping. I and my camera backed off and he went back to feeding but he checked my distance every few minutes. I took a few pics and then gave him more distance.

thank god for 600mm glass

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don't be this guy.

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my pic taken at a safe distance with big glass

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BTW, in our local wilderness areas we now have something I worry about much more than bears, Mexican cartel pot growers. A much better question is what do you carry in illegal pot farm country. My choice is still the old .44 spl.

Taken last Fall in the canyon behind my home where we hunt grouse.

A abandoned camp...just a guess those pony pack plant holders didn't have tomatoes in them.

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A10 As you will learn from the following, regardless of what you end up it is vital that you have the front sight removed from the pistol..... Several seasons ago I was in Idaho deer hunting when a fellow came into camp with a dandy new .44 Mag., as he spoke about "being ready for anything that came at him" the outfitter told him he needed to take the pistol over to Bob in the work shed... he made clear he was not going to let the guy out of camp until Bob took care of the pistol.... As the new guy headed over to the shed... one grizzled veteran of the camp asked what the outfitter was up to..... the reply was simple... "Bob is going to pull the front sight off so when the bear takes it away and sticks it up his...... it won't hurt as much."
 
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