If it walks like a hunter and stalks like a hunter, its a hunter

Semantics...

I've decided that I was unnecessarily grumpy in my last post. The guy was taking a calculated risk, sure, but had taken steps to manage that risk. That's all I would ask of anybody.

I'm going to the mountains in a few days, walking solo in bear country. Just as I have done for the last quarter century.

I will walk with great awareness, I will watch for sign, I will make noise where visibility is limited, and I will keep a meticulously clean camp. Standard operating procedure. I will give myself permission to change routes or turn around if something doesn't feel right. I will leave word of my plans. I will also have a fresh cannister of bear spray ready for immediate use, just in case.

Some people might perceive this as a risky business. But I don't. I will manage as much of the risk as I can, make some allowance for surprises, and go. The game is worth the candle; I know I will be much more "alive" on the trail than I could ever be at the mall.

It reminds me of a quote from Colin Fletcher:
"But you know, if you stop to think, that at any moment, just when you least expect it, a lily or a thunderstorm or a moose, or just more sunlight slanting through different junipers, will tingle you into goose pimples. Or a rockface or river, a snake or sudden snowstorm will up and scare the arse off you -- to the immense benefit of your little universe."

On every gun site I've visited, people concur that a Grizzly wouldn't even hear a warning shot and that a warning shot would just tick off a Grizzly. I need to start taking online forums with a grain of salt. This Grizzly was clearly ticked. Further, the Grizzly appeared to be protecting a cub and territory. That's the perfect storm. Perhaps if the man had shot the bear, then the Grizzly would have gotten even more ticked. How many people can say they've been charged by a Grizzly? To date, here's the only person I've seen with proof.

I did not read anywhere that said "small firearm". I did see "handgun" though. There are some pretty monster handguns that would not be classified as small firearms. A handgun may have been more practical for him if he was lugging lots of other equipment.

I don't know about you, but I'm not qualified to criticize this guy's tactics. This guy regularly films bears, and he's still alive, enough said. Sometimes theory must take a backseat to experience. I'd prefer to take advice from the guy in the video, rather than masters of theory on the Internet. I mean no offense to you personally because you may very well have experience with a Grizzly charging you.

Ireckon, would you go hunting grizzly with a handgun of ANY size?

Sue

What got me was how the bear seemed to run around a lot instead of directly at him.

As I said in a previous post, the bear had the scent but probably could not fully determine where the man was which accounts for the bear not running in a straight line. Had the bear charged in a straight line, we could of been reading a totally different news story. If you have never actually seen in real life, a bear in the midst of a full speed run, it is very difficult to comprehend how fast they really are.

Many hunting/fishing/outdoors guides and bush pilots up here in northern BC carry 45-70 caliber rifles for backup big bear protection. At close range (when you need it the most) these rifles will drop any bear.

That said, there are hunters in Alaska who hunt with big caliber handguns...Not something I would want to take a chance at though.

Sounds like you have all proper precautions in place for a great time in the mountains. I take it you are either going to be in the Alberta or BC Rockies?