Do people worry about black bear? I’ve hiked many miles in black bear territory and never even thought twice about them. I mean, I’m not slathering myself with honey and trying to steal cubs…

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
Do people worry about black bear? I’ve hiked many miles in black bear territory and never even thought twice about them. I mean, I’m not slathering myself with honey and trying to steal cubs…

Grizzlies will kill you. Black bears will eat you.

A BB attack is a lot less likely but not unheard of. Not common, but I have seen some huge black bear. A 400-500lb or bigger black bear will get your attention.

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Originally posted by tatortodd:
In Alaska, if you shoot a bear you are financially responsible to fund the AK F&G's carcasses recovery and the brain biopsy ...

Only if they know about it.

"It's also why I like the 1 person with bear spray and 1 person with firearm"

Plus, you can split the carcass recovery cost 50:50.

Give 'em the jelly donut

My 3 choices in no particular order:Glock 20 Gen 5 MOS 10mm
Kimber K6s 3” 357 magnum
Don't hike.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
In Alaska, if you shoot a bear you are financially responsible to fund the AK F&G's carcasses recovery and the brain biopsy ...

Only if they know about it.

Exactly. Besides, I doubt anyone is going to worry about what some pencil neck bureaucrat is going to do to him IF he survives that encounter.

Simples.

Just wait for the bear to finish with the Charmin in the woods before continuing on your way.

I chose my buddy, you just gotta be faster then him. This is us in 94, great smokey mountains on a college road trip. My guy loves animals but when this dude snorted we all had the smallest drip in our panties.

Bring a SBS with rifled slugs

quote:

Originally posted by Nickelsig229:
I chose my buddy, you just gotta be faster then him. This is us in 94, great smokey mountains on a college road trip. My guy loves animals but when this dude snorted we all had the smallest drip in our panties.

I know this was 32 years ago when you were just a college student, but that wasn't a smart move for y'all or the bear. Every park ranger and resident in bear country would look at that video and call it a textbook negative encounter. You essentially taught that bear that it’s perfectly fine to walk right up to people and sniff them.

What do you think happened the next time that bear tried to sniff a human? Behaviors like that are exactly what get bears labeled as public safety threats. You could have easily set that bear up to be shot and killed down the road by either an armed hiker or wildlife officials. For an example of how this exact scenario plays out in real life, look at this incident in Connecticut where two bears were euthanized after approaching a hiker to sniff her.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by Nickelsig229:
I chose my buddy, you just gotta be faster then him. This is us in 94, great smokey mountains on a college road trip. My guy loves animals but when this dude snorted we all had the smallest drip in our panties.

I know this was 32 years ago when you were just a college student, but that wasn't a smart move for y'all or the bear. Every park ranger and resident in bear country would look at that video and call it a textbook negative encounter. You essentially taught that bear that it’s perfectly fine to walk right up to people and sniff them.

What do you think happened the next time that bear tried to sniff a human? Behaviors like that are exactly what get bears labeled as public safety threats. You could have easily set that bear up to be shot and killed down the road by either an armed hiker or wildlife officials. For an example of how this exact scenario plays out in real life, look at this incident in Connecticut where two bears were euthanized after approaching a hiker to sniff her.

No doubt you are right, but we were 20 and it is no excuse but the bear was tagged and accustomed to humans as you can see the road going through the park with tons of cars parked.

We all grew up watching Yogi Bear on TV where Bear and human encounters were “normalized”. Many people in the 60’s and 70’s did the same thing in places like Yellowstone NP and the rangers had a tough time educating the public on the results of this stupid behavior leading many times to the bear either being removed from the area ($$) of being shot.

As to the best way to hike in BB country as was said above most BB’s are shy and will actively avoid humans IF they know they are there so make noise and be obvious. Secondly, if legally allowed carry bear spray and a weapon. In reality a Glock 20 is overkill for a black bear in the Appalachian mountain’s as most are in the 150 to 300 pound range. Yes I know that they can get larger (The NC state record of just over 600#’s was shot about 10 miles from my vacation home) but in areas where bears are hunted they have evolved to avoid humans for the most part.

The largest BB encounter I ever had was in British Columbia where a 400# BB came into our camp through some thick brush and was about 15 feet away from me before I noticed him. A quick shot of bear spray sent him snorting off into the brush only to return about 5 minutes later when he received a huge dose of spray and we never saw him again. My wife was standing in the door of the camper with our 12 gauge at the ready with Buffalo Bore Black Magic slugs but fortunately it didn’t come to that.

On the East Coast I carry my 365 with Buffalo Bore bullets…

quote:

Originally posted by techguy:
Which would you choose for black bear?

Glock 20 Gen 5 MOS 10mm
Kimber K6s 3” 357 magnum

This needs a study. First, take the Kimber out for the encounter. If you survive, then go out the second time but with the Glock. If you don't, then we will know what the answer is: Do not take the Kimber, when out in the woods.

I pull out my silver bell on the neckchain, and tinkle.

Its worked. So far.

While canoeing in the Boundary Waters with a church group in the mid-80s, we stopped at an island we were supposed to stay for the night only to find the campsite occupied by a black bear. About 10 of us chased it off the island by running straight at it, yelling, flailing our arms, and banging pots with spoons.

Have you considered what spoon and a pot for black bear?

I use my Glock 20 with Buffalo bore hard cast loads. You def. Want more rounds and the G20 is a very popular bear gun in Alaska for a reason.
What sold me was that there’s a video of a dude on a snow mobile dropping a charging moose with one very quickly/easily

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Originally posted by RichardC:

I pull out my silver bell

When you find bear poop in the woods, if it has partially digested nuts and berries, it was a black bear. If it has a silver bell, it was a grizzly.

What’s the thinking on .357 Sig? I camp in the western NC area. Not that I need a reason to get a 10mm, but I have several Sigs and Glocks in .357 already.

Entemann's, Krispy Kreme, what have ya.