Hunting In Grizzly Country
 

Hey all,

fairly new at hunting overall, been doing lots of scouting this summer, but had a few questions pop up in my mind over the last two trips that I've had.

I'm scouting in country that has lots of grizzly and black bears, and I always have bear spray and my 12ga with me, loaded with steel bird shot (for warning/deterrent), a slug, and a single buckshot round.

My 12-gauge can hold more than that, but it has a plug in it. Is it legal for me to take the plug out? I thought that it was, since I wasn't hunting. I've had the plug in every time I've gone out and it limits me to three rounds (2+1), but I've wondered if there was any reason for me to keep it in there for scouting purposes?

I've been doing some searching on the forum and don't believe that this came up...

Thanks!

The 3 shell law is only if hunting birds. If you're hunting big game you can fill'er up if you like.

Honestly, the very first step is to cure the unhealthy fear of bears.

And if, 1 in a billion chance, you're attacked by a bear, you'll never gonna have the time to shoot more than 2 rounds.

You noyl need it plugged to 3 for bird hunting. if you were to hunt deer or use it for bear protection you can have the plug out.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

What st99 said.

But yes, you can remove the plug.

Thanks for the info.

To some of the comments above, it's not an unhealthy fear, but rather a healthy respect for the animals. I have had close run-ins with them in K-Country as a kid and made it out OK... :)

But these days I'm responsible for my wife and our leashed dog while we're out hiking and scouting, so don't want to have the "what if" in my mind if bear spray isn't enough to deter an attack, god-forbid.

From the info I have seen, bear spray is more effective than other methods. If you have bear spray, and need to use it, I don't think you'd have much of an opportunity to use a shotgun if you decided the spray wasn't working. Not sure how you would have both in your hands and make that decision. I think bear spray alone is your most effective method.

Skip any shot in your ammo selection and go straight to slugs. If all tou have time for is one shot youbwill regret it.

Brenneke slugs, brenneke slugs, brenneke slugs.

Your spray is a deterrent. Your gun is there to smash threat down.

I carry the shotgun, she carries the spray, is usually how it goes...

Perfect. And yes to slug slug slug.

It wouldn't hurt to keep a can of bear spray on you also. The shotgun is fine and dandy if you see the bear coming but if hes already on you the shotgun wont help you.

Carrying a shotgun and a rifle during hunting season is a PITA also. You have to respect bears but don't fear them to the point of making irrational decisions.

If a bear is on top of you spray will help way less. What path of logic brought you to your conclusion.

I thought if I covered myself with cans of bear spray then there would be a good chance she would bite into one.

Just reading lots on bear behaviour and testimonials from people who got mauled by bears. Common saying is they didn't have much time to react. I would say its easier to reach for a spray can strapped to you chest vs handing a shotgun in that situation. Also see the links below:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...pray-1.2653704

Also scientific data on use of bear spray vs bullets:

http://www.themeateater.com/2016/the...ay-or-bullets/

http://www.themeateater.com/2016/scr...-spray-debate/

Anyway this debate has been going on forever on this board so the OP and anyone else can search hundreds of threads on it.

^^ This .

What if its a bear that identifies as mexican?

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Yes, pull velcro, get spray, take safety off, use spray at close range and get dosed yourself. Then hope.

Or rack, point, pull and cause significant injury.

Option B please.

Funny thing is all of the bear guides I've chatted with dont carry spray if they can carry a gun.

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The two retired game wardens teaching a pal course laughed when asked what they preferred. Both said they trust lead not food for fighting bears.

If a bear is in top of you it's going to get real hard to use a gun.

Spray works and it's easy.

My advice to the OP is to carry spray and just stay alert in bear country. They usually make the right decision but once in a few thousand times they don't.

Youve survived a bear attack using spray?!!!
Good for you bud thats amazing!

So, did the spray or the bear hurt more?

Spray isnt magic and doesnt flick a switch. Hitting it in the head with a rock is probably a better bet if its already on you.

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Yep. Two friends ,who are bear guides, laugh when bear spray is brought up. One guy`s comment was "Isn`t it amazing what anti-gun propaganda zealots will come up with to eliminate a gun in a bear defence situation ?":thinking-006:

:happy0034:

You get the same answers from the already hundreds of threads on this lol I pack spray never going to haul extra unnecessary weight

Chances of anything happening or slim, but one up the spout and safety on, if the situation looks like it could be dicy.

Grizz

Choot Em. :character0110:

Last bears that raided out tent ate the bear spray, even drank our whiskey.

Ah...... firewater.... mmmmmm



People should stay out of grizz country. There's no critters worth hunting there.

Grizz ate em all... they'll eat you too.

It's very very dangerous out there. It's best if everyone stay away.

Hunt the farmlands.... way safer.

I'm not particularly concerned about bears. I usually carry bear spray. I'll carry a gun if I'm hunting, but not if I'm not. And I believe the studies done, especially in Alaska, that highlight the superiority of bear spray.

But one thing still puzzles me... IF bear spray is effective because it makes the bear extremely uncomfortable, wouldn't a load of bird shot in the face produce the same result???

Maybe the survival results for bear spray are better primarily because once the bear is on you, you can forget about your rifle for help, but perhaps some folks are still able to reach their spray and get the bear off. And I guess some folks with rifles might miss as the charge takes place.

if you believe the studies...
 

Most of "the studies" do say that bear spray is more effective in warding off an attack. Probably because it is really just an annoyance, bird shot in the face or a bad shot with a slug is pain...and that just ****es them off, hence why you still get attacked.

The interesting thing about most of those studies, is that if you go on to read them in detail, they also state that the severity of the attacks is much less if bear spray is used, where as if a gun is used the severity is much worse...like I said, you just ****ed him off and now you are the focus of his anger...good luck with what ever you chose. Shoot, sometimes I carry both:)