Grizzly Attack in Fernie

[IronNoggin]

For those who believe Bear Spray is the way to go...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/07/04/bc-fernie-grizzly-attack.html

And Lesson Two: ALWAYS load the shotgun with SLUGS and/or Triple Odd Buck!!

Cheers,
Nog

 

[GDW]

Yup, a few lucky bears drew human tags in the LEH draws be careful out there boys your not the only ones out hunting.

These guys are lucky to be alive that bear is a real sportsmen only practicing chew and release.

(I know I know bad taste)

 

[Rockfish]

There is that very old joke about distinguishing between Black Bear crap and Grizzly crap.

Pretty easy apparently as the Grizzly crap has bits of blue jeans and buttons in it and smells like pepper.

 

[IronNoggin]

More: http://www.thefreepress.ca/news/214222241.html

 

[Bows Up]

Take out the plug, five is better than three.

Wonder what the guy hit the bear with ?

 

[Cuba Libre]

I spent much of my working time in bear country... I have scary stories of my "incidents" but this list http://www.amazon.com/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America#Brown_bear_5 is a sobering reminded that you cant take these fascinating animals for granted. Included in the list is the name of a co-worker of mine that was killed , along with his hunting partner , near Radium Hot Springs. They were jumped by a mom griz and two almost grown cubs that were resting near an elk kill. They didnt even have time to unshoulder thier guns-- it happened that fast.

 

[IronNoggin]

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/2013/07/04/bc-fernie-grizzly-bear-attack.html

 

[huntinnut]

Sometimes I don't think there is anything anyone can do; gun or spray or anything. I work in forest development and know a few people that have been attacked, and I had my first full on charge by a blackie sow happen last week. My dog charged it, and they tangled for a second while I got my spray out. The sow ran off before I had to go try to spray it and my dog was unhurt. it happened so fast that I might have just had my spray out if my dog wasnt there, and that was from 30m or so. I know I wouldn't have pulled out a defender, chambered a round (because i'm not going to keep one in the chamber for years on end with the barrel pointed at my butt), and then point and shoot....never would have happened in time. I'm not 'hunting' them while at work, so my mind isn't on them all the time. It took me a second to realise that there was a bear running at me, and that I had to get my spray out and yell. It takes longer than one would think to process all that information. I was lucky there was enough distance between us to start with. She may not have touched me anyways, but i'll never know!

 

[Sasquatch]

Glad to hear you and your dog were unhurt.

Question for you - did the dog give any sign at all that there was something in the area? My dog usually growls and makes weird chirping noises when a bear is close by.

I like to think he would give me a few seconds warning if a bear were close - at least enough to get the 12 ready... but I am probably just being hopeful.

I do believe that keeping your cool is probably the most important part of bear defense, no matter if you use spray or a firearm. I've been bluff charged a few times over the years and pretty much froze in my tracks the first couple times. The last time I did a little better, but still was far from "cool calm and collected."

Sometimes I don't think there is anything anyone can do; gun or spray or anything. I work in forest development and know a few people that have been attacked, and I had my first full on charge by a blackie sow happen last week. My dog charged it, and they tangled for a second while I got my spray out. The sow ran off before I had to go try to spray it and my dog was unhurt. it happened so fast that I might have just had my spray out if my dog wasnt there, and that was from 30m or so. I know I wouldn't have pulled out a defender, chambered a round (because i'm not going to keep one in the chamber for years on end with the barrel pointed at my butt), and then point and shoot....never would have happened in time. I'm not 'hunting' them while at work, so my mind isn't on them all the time. It took me a second to realise that there was a bear running at me, and that I had to get my spray out and yell. It takes longer than one would think to process all that information. I was lucky there was enough distance between us to start with. She may not have touched me anyways, but i'll never know!

 

[huntinnut]

Sasquatch, I don't think my dog could smell them as it was mid morning, and the air currents were going uphill, and we were comming up from under them. He heard a cub scratching up a tree and took a couple steps out before I saw it and yelled, but the sow was already comming. Usually he smells them and gets really excited and has a very distinctive bark. He's 8 now and i've had him in the bush since he was 4 months old. He'll chase them out 50m or so and, and when I yell for him to come back he'll always peel off and come back. I'll know it's a bear because you can hear limbs breaking, but no hooves as they run away. We've had many encounters where a bear will stand it's ground, or take a few steps towards us and stand up, but not a full on charge. Sows will often huff and stand infront of the tree where her cubs are, and gnash her teeth at us, but we've always been able to back away without incident. I think I managed to stay fairly calm, but the details are a bit fuzzy since it happened so fast, and was trying to process so much.