I used to tote a Garand in bear country. I could put a clip of 200 grain bullets into a paper plate at 100 feet in about 8 seconds, time after time.

Before that, I was trapping in Cold Bay, and I carried a Savage Model 24, 22LR above 20 gauge. I carried a load of number 8 shot in the shotgun barrel, and a 20 gauge slug in my pocket. I figured that I'd blast an aggressive bear in the face with the shot, then try to finish him with the slugs. That worked as well as the Garand: I bumped into bears, but never had to shoot at them, with both guns.

Bears usually aren't interested in killing you, but if they smack you around like a cub or a rival bear, you're dead, how ever harmless their actual intention. You need to be prepared for that rare bear who decides to go through you rather than around you, because you probably won't survive that sort of encounter if it all goes the bear's way.

I wouldn't recommend any handgun if I thought I would actually have to shoot at a bear. I believe that you mentioned a 45? If you're talking about the 45 ACP, I'd advise against that. A 454 Casul might have some potential.

What I would recommend is that Garand, or a 12 gauge loaded with slugs.

Nels

Well, my vote goes for Bear Spray. I spent a bit of time talking with various "Woods Folks" in many bear areas (Maine, Canada, Calif etc) and they mostly say they are carrying spray.

Yes, they know all the arguments, but slowly they seem to be leaving the heavy iron at home and packing a $30 can of spray.

It seems to be a statistics game. Factor in the very remote likelyhood of a bear attack with the skills of the (even trained) shooter, and the actual effectivness of the weapon or spray, the spray seems to be gaining supporters.

Gloria and I switched to spray several years ago and have been carefully watching the discussion and results. Take a look at the following URL. On the left there is a question about carrying a rifle.

http://www.alaskanha.org/bears.cfm

I did a google search and found strong proponents of both firearms and spray. But neither is 100% effective.

Next summer, Gloria and I will be taking our RV into a remote unoccupied part of Maine. We will stay on a "Blueberry Barren". She grew up in a near by town. Family goes back many generations in the backwoods of Maine. Lots of bear there. They like the blueberries (so does Gloria).

Bear are becoming a problem there. Bear encounters are increasing as humans enter bear areas and bears enter human areas. Even in the remote parts of Maine, bear are loosing their fear of humans.

In the RV we will have a short barrel 12 ga and a .223 Kel-tec. But We will EDC spray.

I believe there is a huge difference between preparing to go into Black Bear, Kodiak, or Grizzly country. Correct?

I know female bears of all species can be protective of cubs but I've always thought the Grizzly had the potential of being much more dangerous in general. Is this correct?

Anyone care to guess what animal in Alaska statistically is the most dangerous? Hemingway never had to go mano a mano with a bull moose in rut trying to charge a Coast Guard helicopter- BTDT. Try it sometime with the other deadly creatures; mosquitos and no -see- um blackflies doing kamikaze runs at your eyes while lining up express sights on a .375 <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />. A Kodiak is merely a Mc Donalds supersized mainland brownie which in turn is a extra large grizz. Statistically, black bears are far more dangerous. Grizz will stop attacks( usually) if you play dead. Sometimes by the time they do you nearly are. An aggressive black bear will continue. The standard advise it to hold your ground. Running initiates the prey response. Try it with my pet cat sometime <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />Most attacks are from suprise encounters, a mother and cubs or old, young or injured individuals suffering malnutrition. Bears, like another predatory mammal are highly individual in personality. It's that adapatbility that insures the specie survival. Bart was a very socialised and just plain neat bear with highly skilled people in the Suesse family.

What year was it when rangers were issued .32 cal. pistols?

Wrong....A Walther P99 is a S&W .40. I would never recommend this or a .357 or a .45 or a .44.
IMHO this is not good advice Izzy.

Well, can't say I've been to Alaska, although I'd love to go sometime.

A relative of mine used to work there in the summers, and still goes back to hunt every year with friends. He made sure to take a shotgun (Remington 870) for "bears", in addition to whatever rifle choice for hunting moose.

Never heard him talk about carrying a pistol for bears!

I've also heard him mention how black bears are more predatory and dangerous. The USFS here rents out portable electric fences for folks rafting the various rivers. The black bears apparently have a thing for coolers full of wine and cheese. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Portable Electric Fence!! Great idea. I think I will string one around my RV when we get back to Maine. Hope it does not just get 'em mad. We worry a lot when we leave the RV in remote areas. Especially after spending a bit of time at Yosemite. A ranger there showed me a bunch of photos of Bear damage to vehicles. Trunks ripped open, doors peeled back like tinfoil..

I forgot to mention another reason for carrying spray over a heavy cal weapon. We are more likely to have the spray with us. I carried a Colt 1911 while working for my uncle Sam and it is much more likely to be left at home "just this once" than a light can of spray. I eventually was able to trade the 1911 in for a much lighter Colt Agent 38 spl. revolver which I still EDC.

However when Gloria and I were on our first camping trip together in bear country, she asked what I carried. I replied that I had the 38. She just laughed and told me to get a 12 ga.

Actually I think I am much more likely to have a problem with feral dogs. People bring dogs to Maine for the summer then abandon them. They are not aftaid of people and run in packs. I heard from a Game Warden that this is beginning to be a real problem.

Thanks for the electric fence idea.

How does the saying go? "You don't have to out run the bear. You just have to out run your buddy." <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

A quick Google search turned up a link to the "UDAP Industries" web page and their "Bear Shock" product:

http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm

I'm not sure which brand or model they're using on the river trips and campgrounds around here. Whoever came up with the idea is pretty sharp!