A handgun has one hell of a percussive effect as well.
If you pull it, empty that baby
I've seen several youtubes now where the grizz diverts it's charge after the muzzleblast.

Thanks, Solus. Appreciate the original reference - I hate having to rely on second-hand media reports of studies' supposed conclusions when half the time the statistics gets totally misrepresented.

I haven't heard any comments from campers who take their dog along on trips.  Do the bears come into camp when a dog is there?

RE: Bear mortality/mentality after the Pagami fire...I have no idea, but agree that they do frequent the burns the next summer to forage.
When the bear population dropped off, 10-15 years ago, some researchers said it was due to a couple extra long winters which kept the bears in the dens so long that they starved to death.

When you talk about bear attacks you need to consider that the greatest percentage of them are just after your food, not you.
Same with Grizzly/Brown bear charges. Some are just bluffs. From what I understand in Alaska, you can't just kill a bear unless its within a certain distance and attack seems certain.
Bluff charges and bears looking for a easy meal can the majority of the time be discouraged by rocks/sticks/spray/loud noises etc.
However a small percentage of bears, usually young males are what they call " Rogue" bears.
Their very territorial and see YOU as the meal, not your food pack. They'll stalk and attack looking for a easy meal (you)
If that's what's after you, you need to have the means to kill it or disorientate it enough you can make your escape. It becomes a case of you or them. I prefer it be them.

What does a " Rogue Bear" call a bald 270lb fat guy on a girls bike pedaling like the dickens?

A MEAL ON WHEELS

intrepid_camper wrote on Nov 9^th, 2011 at 2:26pm:


I've had three different dogs over the years that I would take on canoe trips. I've had bears in camp with one of them and as I chased the bear she would be there right with me... but never got ahead of me. The other two which includes my current dog, have never had to deal with camp bears and all three of them were with when I saw Moose and other wildlife. I've seen them all chase bears off at home too. I know there is always the risk of losing a dog out there, but the risk is there at home too... and not just to a wild animal. And btw, my dogs all never chased animals just to chase them... just away from our yard or space.