Bow Hunting in Bear Country

[Riffer]

So when you guys are bow hunting in bear country do you you carry bear spray or anything, I'll possibly be hunting in an area with bear and cougers in september (first season with bow:D) and it's not like what I'm used to with a rifle, where you have that sense of protection when your holding a gun.

[Captainkip]

I try to carry the bear spray, and I also carry bangers on my pen launcher. The bangers are always there as I also keep some flares with me for emergency.

I think the best remedy would be a handgun on a shoulder harness if ti were legal.

You really dont need to carry anything.....remember their more scared of you than you are of them...:lol:

[scooter]

I'll be carrying my new H & R survivor gun with me this year. Shoots 255 grain Colt 45 ammo...

And it's light and compact.

http://www.hr1871.com/images/zoom_survivorb.jpg

Survivor® | .410/45 Colt


Model Survivor®
Ammo .410/45 Colt (Blued-SB1-41C and Nickel-SB1-41N)
Stock High-density polymer, black matte finish, thumbhole design, butt stock storage compartment, sling swivel studs and sling.
Barrel 20"
Chamber Up to 3"
Sights Bead front
Choke Screw-in
Length 34-1/2"
Length of Pull 13-1/2"
Drop at Comb 1-5/8"
Drop at Heel 2-1/8"
Weight 7 lbs.

[pupper]

I used to carry a defender shotgun, but after many trips with no encounters and the tiresome inconvenience I got sick of carrying the extra weight and I just use bear spray now. I figure if I cant get em with a bow and arrow, knife or bear spray, than I am not worth living.:super_hap

[Captainkip]

I used to carry a defender shotgun, but after many trips with no encounters and the tiresome inconvenience I got sick of carrying the extra weight and I just use bear spray now. I figure if I cant get em with a bow and arrow, knife or bear spray, than I am not worth living.:super_hap


:cheers: HAHAHA thats awesome. Thems some words to live by right there.

[timba]

I used to carry a sks with the folding stock.it was small and light to carry to it got to be a pain when hiking so I quit carring anything.I did once scare out a cougar while bow hunting on the side of a mountian,that made me pretty nervous.

[efford1]

depends on what i'm after. if its bears , i'll not take a gun, i've shot a lot of bears with boww, don't go far, dead.huntihg other game ith bow, again don't carry backup. weighs too much, hard to carry conveniently, difficult to produce in a hurry. most times we panic at the sight of a bear, nateral phobia guess, an alaskan guide i'm aquainted with had this recommendation for a backup gun, something of a large enough caliber to put down a bear instantly with one well placed shot. as far as handguns go? best file the front sight off it won't hurt somuch when he catches you to shove it up your a$$.bears usually telegraph intent pretty early in confrontations. they will run or stand.stand, be prepared to shoot.:lol:

[wndsurfr]

always take something with you for protection, I always take my pistolgrip 12 gauge with me, my buddies would always have a joke at my expence when we would get our pic's from our trail cams, there was always a pic of me walking into the bait site with my gun, until the day i was attacked by a black bear and was able to shoot it at 6 yards when it charged me, the very next week most of my mates were carrying guns. just remember IT'S BEST TO HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT.

[dropzone]

I'm with wndsurfr on this. I like to be prepared for the worst case senario.

[scooter]

always take something with you for protection, I always take my pistolgrip 12 gauge with me, my buddies would always have a joke at my expence when we would get our pic's from our trail cams, there was always a pic of me walking into the bait site with my gun, until the day i was attacked by a black bear and was able to shoot it at 6 yards when it charged me, the very next week most of my mates were carrying guns. just remember IT'S BEST TO HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT, THAN TO NEED IT AND NOT HAVE IT.
Agreed!

[Dillershortbow]

I walk for miles looking at timber packing nothing. So hunting with just a bow is no big deal.

[Canuck2]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I walk for miles looking at timber packing nothing. So hunting with just a bow is no big deal.

X2.

I've done mining exploration work for most of 40 years and seldom carried anything for bear/cougar protection. Just isn't necessary, imo. The rare exception was in some nasty griz country one time where there had been problems. Besides, packing anything extra with all them rocks I was bound to pick up just made me tired thinking about it.:cheers:

[acearchery]

I simply would not be here if I did not.....

I have a 12 gauge Remington marine magnum witha choate folding stock from when I worked Forestry..... It was always a comfortable weight....

I also used to have a permit to carry a Smith and Wesson in a 44 magnum... anything smaller I think is a waste of time!....

But again with either you have to practice being able to get in action quickly and be able to place an accurate shot. Shotgun worked best for this loaded with SSG or 000...

It would turn a bear into a big pile of steaming bleeding meat....

In many times I would be in an area where the bears had no contact with man and I found black bears to be the worst... a grizzly either leaves you alone and takes off or else charges you.... Black's are more un-predictable.... In my experience anyways.....

When pepper spray came out I thought it would be the best option because I do not want to shoot them but could protect myself... until i used it....

That being said the one grizz I sprayed took off like his tail was on fire......

The four black bears I sprayed were another story.... while I was able to get away they still followed me and bluff charged etc..... One of them actually blind charged me the next day when I was packing my SG.....No warning... If I would not have saw him and practiced instead of him being a big pile of bleeding steaming meat i would have been a big pile of processed bear doo doo.... since then i only carry spray just in case I am attacked and knocked down before gun comes into play.... also reason i carry a bowie knife in wilderness.... I am going down fighting!....

[pupper]

good post acarcher, very insightful.

[HOYTarcher]

I have worked considerably in bear country conducting fisheries work and encounter bears all the time. I have had to use bear spray on three occasions, once in the Yukon on a grizzly and it has worked well for me. I always carry it bear hunting now. New unused can every year, the old one goes in the garbage used or not.

[Bow Walker]

Two things you should do when hunting, hiking, or fishing in known bear country...

1. Always - and I mean always use the buddy system. Just make sure that you can outrun your buddy on any terrain.

2. Always wipe your butt very clean - cause that's the last thing you're going to smell when you bend over to kiss your arse goodbye.

[Ron.C]

I don't carry a backup gun while bowhuning in bear country, I do always carry spray though, and luckily never needed to use it. But after having to gut, quarter and pack an elk out with a buddy after sunset, the thought of having a shotgun makes real sence to me. I still don't think I would carry it at all times, but when returning for hanging quarters, It would definitely be a good idea.

[toxic111]

Last year while rebaiting I had my shotgun with me loaded with #00 & slugs (alternating in the tube), I also had pepper spray on the hip.

In the stand, I only had the spray.. but by the end of the season I had the SG up with me as well.

As for the bears being afraid of me.. I don't know about that, I had several come right up to the tree I was in & look up. Nearly every bear looked up at the stand, including the one I finally got. We only had a couple that left spooked, and that was not from us, but other bears..

Next year, the SG will always be with me in the tree.

[KNOTTER]

I carry spray on a lanyard that hangs out of my pocket on my free hand side. I figure the quick access factor is key. It's just a matter of confidence in bear country. I use this config when rifle hunting too. All that said - If I ever hunted over bait I'd probably have a slug up the pipe with my thumb on the safety while moving to and from the stand.

Great post BTW. I'm very surprised by the number of folks relying on shotguns for bear defense (and the number of encounters/close calls).