Anyone Carry Bear Spray?
Just curious....a little more weight but a piece of mind.
Friends carry it in griz country. I don't, but it's probably a good idea in places like Glacier and Banff.
"It's fun to have fun, but you have to know how." ---Dr. Seuss
If it makes you more comfortable carry it.
I intend on carrying it when I go with my son.
Same reason as you, cheap insurance.
Originally Posted by Feral Bill
Also known to some bruins as a condament .
I always thought that stuff would anger a bear more than anything else, giving it more incentive to do you in. More likely to need bear spray for use on a trail psycho or hitchhike gone wrong.
only for entertainment purposes
Not needed on the AT.
You'll have to chase the bears on the AT to spray the stuff at them. : - )
thats funny, i don't care who you are!
I think I should have asked how to fend off a Hillbilly.
Does Deliverence come to mind?
Exactly...
Have you not read some of the threads on here about problem bears in N Ga and the Smokies (for examples)? Where bears are the problem, pepper spray is the cure.
Can you tell me about bear etiquite. Many people when I mention the AT. say I'll turn up a bear food. So when was the last time there was a bear attack in the East and the West. My quess common sense goes a long way. More dangerous crossing the street in town.
Is my newbie showing?
I don't know where you would find a list of non-fatal bear attacks, but this seems to be fairly accurate listing of fatal attacks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._North_America
Yeah, that or be murdered by hillbillies. These are the most common responses from people who have no idea what they are talking about, and have never spent a night in the woods.
You will see bears, if you are lucky. Mostly the back end as they go running off into the woods. The chances of ending up bear food are minuscule -- you are FAR more likely to die of hypothermia, or have a heart attack, or get hit crossing a road, than to be attacked by a bear. Or hillbillies, for that matter.
In any case, none of these things is likely. If the person telling you this is someone whose opinion you value, you can explain the reality of the trail. If not, you can have some fun with them. ("Yep, a lot of hikers get eaten by bears, or sometimes wolverines. The really unlucky ones are ravaged by bull moose. I hope I make it back alive.")
I carry just enough to spray myself with it so I won't taste as good.
I carry it after getting a can to appease my wife when she went with me. It does offer some comfort to have something "in case you need it". I tried it at home one day to see how effective it was. I sprayed it in my back yard on a very still day. A huge cloud of reddish mist came out and quickly faded to nothing. I waited a few seconds and then walked in the direction of the spray. It hit me after about 5 steps and I could not go any further. Very powerful. If a bear (or human) wants me enough to come through that stuff, more power to them.
I do ! A Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special !
a gun is better
S&W .357 Mag, 26 ounces loaded with 5
Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.
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