I was talking with a neighbor who recently went to stay at a cabin for a week in the Smokey Mountains and the owner recommend that if he and his wife were going to hike, they should consider getting a couple of cans of Bear Spray Repellant, so they did.

They did not have to discharge either can so his question to me was - Can he and his wife legally carry and if necessary use the bear spray like he or his wife would in a situation where pepper spray was needed?

My reply was - “I am not sure but my first thought would be NO, you should not” - but I also told him I would ask a group of knowledgable people I speak with on a forum who could better provide a more concrete/appropriate answer to his question.

Thoughts/Comments please from anyone who can provide more insight to my neighbors question please.

Just did a search on Bear Spray and Mississippi and several sellers popped up and they say it's fully legal in your state.
It is a non-lethal tool so I can't see why it wouldn't be in anywhere that isn't a deep Blue state.
I'd check online for where you live otherwise.

It depends on state law. In Texas you could carry it, but I'm not familiar with MS laws.

Even if legal, I'm not sure I'd want to except in limited circumstances:

The bear spray I had when I lived in Alaska was [hyperbole] fire extinguisher sized [/hyperbole]. I'm assuming this is the size the OP's neighbors have. Bear spray isn't some magical strength of OC, it's just a very large quantity to put out a 7 to 9 second cloud to deter a bear.

The only time I'd carry fire extinguisher sized OC is hiking in bear country. I also carried a 454 Casull, and I haven't had the urge to carry something that large since moving away from Alaska. My threats are 9mm sized which means they're also 1.5 ounce container of Sabre Red sized.

The rest of the time, carrying fire extinguisher sized OC is as tactically unsound as open carrying a firearm. I'd rather conceal carry.

USPS Mail Carriers don't carry fire extinguisher sized OC for dogs on their routes and I wouldn't want to carry it when out for a walk. It'd work on a dog but so would a 1.5 ounce container of Sabre Red which is a heck of a lot easier to carry.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Thanks guys for your replies. I should have stated earlier to confirm - He would be carrying it in his vehicles in Mississippi.

Tatertodd - I just called my neighbor and he said they purchased the two pack from Cabelas/Bass Pro of the 7.9oz canisters. He said they came with a belt carry case also. Below is the link of what he ordered. Not small but not as large as a small fire extinguisher. Again I appreciate your detailed reply. Many things to consider.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/e...u_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

^^^ That will put out a 5 second cloud of OC that will travel approx 30 feet.

I carried a different brand called Counterassault. I also had their 3 in 1 holster so I could wear as a chest holster, clip on a backpack strap, or wear as a belt holster.

BTW, "fire extinguisher sized" is hyperbole. I can't remember if I carried the 10.2 ounce or 8.1 ounce counterassault.

If your neighbor is determined to carry it, they should spend the $22 and buy the inert training version of it to practice with. I bought the training version of Counterassault and practiced with it before carrying into bear country. Similarly, my last 3 girlfriends I've bought both a keychain size Sabre Red and the identical sized inert training unit as it really helps build both competence and confidence.

I've heard that it depends on the State, with the difference being (essentially) the same ingredients, except one labelled for bears and the other labeled for humans. When I bought my big ass can of bear spray, the REI counter lady said she carries bear spray while hiking and backpacking in non-bear country, and I said it may be out of line with local law depending on the route. She said fine, she still preferred using bear spray compared to being raped or murdered. I told here that was an excellent point and I stood corrected. She was an experienced distance backpacker and I wasn't about to argue with her in her own area of expertise. It's next to impossible arguing against common sense.

Everything that follows is purely my personal opinion and doesn't reflect the opinion or policy of any agency I may or may not be affiliated with. It's also not legal advice. Take it for what it's worth, which may well be nothing.

I've sprayed a ton of folks with OC over the last 25 years, and been sprayed a ton of times myself. I wouldn't carry bear spray for people (or bears actually).

I'd be concerned with the bear spray not only putting out more product, but putting it out at a substantially higher pressure to give it greater range.

We train a minimum of 3 feet for the small cans and 6 feet for the larger riot control units to reduce the chance of damaging someone's eyes with the hydraulic needle effect.

Blind a guy at point blank range with something with a picture of a bear on the front of the can and you might have some civil issues to deal with later. Sure, it's an accident and the other guy started it, but...

Plus that bear fogger is going to put a lot of agent in the air. The odds of some of that coming back your way are very high. OC is shockingly unpleasant the first time you get a lungful of it.

Get a mid-size can of something like Fox or Sabre Red. Get it in a stream. Not a fogger or cone. One second burst in a Z shape starting over the eyes, covering the eyes, and ending around the mouth. Pretend you are an especially spicy version of Zorro. Anything bigger than one of the useless little keychain sprayers will give you 6-8 feet of accurate range and 10 or more seconds of spray.

More OC isn't actually better. You want it in their eyes, nose, and mouth so it shuts their eyes and affects their breathing. it's as hot as it is. More doesn't make it hotter, it just burns longer.

My advice to private citizens using OC is always the same. Spray the assailant and then run away as fast as you can, preferably upwind. OC works really well on most people, but when it doesn't work, it doesn't work at all. I've seen plenty of folks take a face full of really potent OC, finish the fight, and then double over gasping for air with their eyes squeezed shut. I've been that guy.

Get two cans. Take the first one somewhere away from people. Put up a target of some sort and practice deploying the spray. Do it downwind. You don't want the first time you ever try to use that can to be under stress.

After you've got an idea how the spray works, take a step forward. Don't spray yourself, but see just how much of it still lingers in the air , You don't want the first time you get a hint of OC on you to be when you have to use it for real.

Dispose of that can. Carry the one that you haven't sprayed. Once you use that can the first time and the seal is broken it can leak propellent or even OC. Propellent is bad because it will decrease the range of the spray when you need it. OC is bad, because getting a pocket full of spicy hate is a horrible experience. I've been there. There are places OC should never be.

If you ever accidentally get a face full of the stuff, air and clean water are your friend. If it's an oil-based spray, don't dunk your head in a bucket. The oil will float and every time you dunk your face you will recontaminate yourself. If you have baby shampoo, it helps a lot. If not, use a hose. If you don't have a hose, put your face in the breeze and try to think about something else for the next 20 or 30 minutes.

Finally, if you carry a can in the car, DON'T LEAVE IT IN THE CAR. Cars get shockingly hot in the summer sun. I've seen a can of OC burst like a shaken soda can. It wasn't my car, so it was hilarious. It was not funny at all for the officer assigned that car.

OC is a great tool, but it has its limitations.

I wouldn't store a can in your vehicle during the summer. I know someone who did...once. Then she bought a new car.

Everything copaup said. With an emphasis on, if you're going to carry it for people instead of bears, get yourself something designed for use on people. It'll be equally effective (or ineffective ), but help protect you from liability. The "people spray" canisters are also far more portable and convenient.

^^^^ Good advice. Make sure you know how a dose of it affects YOU. I have sprayed a number of folks and its effects may vary, given the individual. My worst experience was when an idiot I was working with sprayed a dude we were fighting with and we were in.... a crapper stall! And dont leave it in a hot car either.
Interesting alternative uses used on me by my "friends":
Apply to toilet seat. Spray on doorknobs. Spray under patrol car door handles, on steering wheel and into the heater / AC vents.
As a condiment on take out food.
Consider pepper spray as an option, not a be all, end all solution.

Since there are experts here, would OC be what Postal workers carry for dogs? I will be riding a pedal tadpole recumbent trike this coming Summer and am somewhat concerned due to the low position that the seat places me in relation to a larger dog. I don't want to do any harm to an animal but would prefer to not be a chew toy for one either. Recommendations appreciated.

My USPS person used to carry a dog repellant spray called "Halt". I cant vouch for how effective it may be.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
^ And dont leave it in a hot car either.
Interesting alternative uses used on me by my "friends":
Apply to toilet seat. Spray on doorknobs. Spray under patrol car door handles, on steering wheel and into the heater / AC vents.

You speak as if you know of the great pepper spray war of 2005. Dark days. Dark day indeed where a man feared to touch his face after entering his car and the AC could not be trusted. It escalated all the way to The Great Live Chicken Incident before a truce was declared for fear of ever larger and more destructive live stock being smuggled into back seats. We barely pulled back from the brink of madness.

Or so at least the legends say. The truth is forever lost to the mist of time.

Quick true story though that goes back to the original post. I’ve been sprayed at least a dozen times, not counting incidental backwash or secondary contamination. You really do build up something of a tolerance. It’s never fun, but you can deal with it. The only times I’ve ever been completely shut down were the very first time I got sprayed in the Academy (OC is 100% effective on police recruits) and when I accidentally caught a face full of Fox.

Fox is next level. It is hotter than all hell and that heat is instant and unrelenting. It’s also the only spray that ever took my breath away. I will let you tase me five times before I let you near me with a can of that stuff ever again. We don’t issue it, but it is what I keep at the house and give my wife to keep on hand. Sabre Red is also pretty brutal, but doesn’t have that instant onset Fox does. Nasty nasty stuff.

OC is hit or miss on dogs. If the dog is generally aggressive and thinking about coming after you, OC on the snout may well convince it otherwise. If the dog is committed to taking a piece out of you the OC will just annoy it until after it’s done chewing on you. Then it will drag its face in the dirt for a bit.

Seeing OC used on dogs is one of the reasons I don’t trust it for bears. If the OC works on the bear it probably wasn’t really coming for you anyway. I figure bears are just really big really tough dogs, and I’ve not been particularly impressed with OC on normal dogs.

Guys - Thank you for these detailed replies. I have printed these responses and will provide it to my neighbor. With that said there are a lot of GREAT reasons for he and his wife to NOT plan on using these canisters for self defense and NOT carry these canisters in their vehicles in MS (possible canister rupture).

Thanks again also for the recommendations to get the required training and purchase what fits their situation.

A lot of great information here and I learned a lot myself.

I deny any knowledge of Chickens and their law enforcement usage. There was a regrettable incident involving a dead skunk and a dispatchers car. Maybe I still need a Union Rep!

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
My USPS person used to carry a dog repellant spray called "Halt". I cant vouch for how effective it may be.

They're up to Halt II. I carry this jogging, love the sturdy clip.

https://www.amazon.com/REPELLE...ICYCLE/dp/B01NA6E0HO

I've carried it 30 years now, used it once on an aggressive though not vicious dog. From the label, active ingredients: capasacin and capasacinoids, 1%. Other ingredients, 99%.

There may be better sprays for two legged varmints, but I run in safe neighborhoods with (mostly) responsible dog owners, Halt II works for me.

Was going to order couple cans Fox OC spray.

Scroll down to bottom of web page, there is a link for Military Veteran discount. Click on that link and receive error message: 404 Page Not Found.

Working as an ER nurse in Alaska, I have dealt with several people who have been bear sprayed. Usually a less than desirable member of the populace who said the wrong thing to the wrong person. One of the more memorable was one who took a dose to the crotch. Brought in by paramedics screaming and moaning, taken to the decon shower and resumed screaming and moaning shorty afterwards when he put his bear spray soaked jeans back on.

My experience has shown it to be effective. That said, the ones have seen have usually been drunk, high, homeless or some combination, more obnoxious than a determined attacker. It's also Alaska, almost everyone has a can of bear spray in their vehicle.

Then there was the group of Japanese tourists who went out for a morning hike and thought bear spray was like mosquito repellent and should be used as such...

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
My experience has shown it to be effective.

My experience has shown it to be VERY effective. Some years ago, when Counter Assault first came out, I picked up a can. I went out huckleberry picking one day and brought it along. Thinking that it was dyed somehow (I was thinking orange for some reason) I thought that I'd do a quick spray just to see the pattern as I was walking along an old skid trail. Well, shortly after the spray (that wasn't dyed so I had no idea where it went), a little breeze came up and dispersed it pretty much everywhere. My airway immediately slammed shut and my eyes were essentially blinded while I was trying to run away. Thankfully I was able to blindly stay on the trail without running into or off of anything and get far enough away to where I could once again see and breathe. The shit works! Problem is, with that brand anyway, you can't see where it goes. If someone makes a dyed spray I wouldn't hesitate to use it.