Grizzly Bear Risk in Wind River Range and other Wyoming Areas

John Barritt wrote: taurususa.com/product-detai… ... JB

What are the odds of successfully stopping a charging grizzly by shooting it with a pistol?

mike gibson wrote: Has anyone ever successfully stopped a charging grizzly by shooting it with a pistol?

I don't know, I'll do some research.

I watched the whole video about bear behavior above. Tom mentions bear spray or a gun at the start then focusses on the spray. In his description of bear behavior he talks about a bear "sizing you up" during an encounter. At this point you get your spray or your gun in hand.

I personally would shoot (or spray) the bear before it charges. Tom also says that charging bears that are sprayed do not stop but usually "roll through" and keep going. So one would assume a charging bear hit with a 454 would do the same. A bear shot with a 454 struck in the spine would drop in it's tracks however.

I'm not arguing the gun is better, but I learned from the video that a lot of people are killed with unused bear spray. The Taurus does not have a safety or shrink wrap on it so if you get it in your hand it will work.

Another thing I got from the video about people killed with spray on them was that the bear got the drop on them, the gun would be the same. JB

1:15 is where the action starts
youtube.com/watch?v=C7JZzY3…

safe a life (or lung) in bear country, make noise...give these to your SO's "just in case"....

walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Ma…

bonus...works if you get one sniffing in camp when you are inside your tent (no good sightline)

s.price wrote:You cannot really back up your statement that the pistol will work if you can get it in your hand. The gun only works if the operator keeps their shit together while facing a charging grizzly. Most people would not be able to do so. Even if they do the ability to place the shot just right would still be very hard. You know how to piss off an aggressive grizzly? Shoot it.

I was editing while you typed Price. I meant the gun would function if the trigger was squeezed. No safety or wrapper. Probably didn't articulate that well.

I have a can of bear spray, it has a plastic "pin" you pull like a hand grenade, then you can stick your finger in the trigger to spray. I was pointing out that if a bear gets the drop on you like all the people Tom was saying were killed with bear spray on them at least it will shoot.

Not the "charging bear" scenario everybody keeps going to where you have to keep cool and be accurate under pressure, but the "oh crap a bear is on me" scenario.

If a bear is on you you're probably done for anyway. Edit: unless you're this guy ifish.net/board/showthread.…

yukonjack wrote:1:15 is where the action starts youtube.com/watch?v=C7JZzY3… safe a life (or lung) in bear country, make noise...give these to your SO's "just in case".... walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Ma… bonus...works if you get one sniffing in camp when you are inside your tent (no good sightline)

This shit's good man...it's really good.

hahahaha

You will be a million times more afraid of the mosquitoes than a grizzly bear, trust me!

mike gibson wrote: What are the odds of successfully stopping a charging grizzly by shooting it with a pistol?

http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=hWJFRbJw&id=E268B8BE29F6891440070F22C305A4CB5BC679F9&q=man+kills+charging+bear+with+454+casull&simid=608029360294399630&selectedIndex=8&qpvt=man+kills+charging+bear+with+454+casull

There are several photos of (big) dead bears, and some articles as well.

ifish.net/board/showthread.…

We had one surprise us in our camp in the Tetons (camped at the platforms) last year. Looked up and realized he was grubbing in a tree about 15 feet from our tent. He did his thing, looked at us, and walk to the creek and headed up stream. Really wasnt a big deal but we always carry spray in the backcountry

TKlein wrote:We had one surprise us in our camp in the Tetons (camped at the platforms) last year. Looked up and realized he was grubbing in a tree about 15 feet from our tent. He did his thing, looked at us, and walk to the creek and headed up stream. Really wasnt a big deal but we always carry spray in the backcountry

A grizzly in Garnet Canyon? Are you sure? That would be extreamly unusual.

Andy Novak wrote: A grizzly in Garnet Canyon? Are you sure? That would be extreamly unusual.

Sorry I should have clarified. I believe it was a brown bear

you mean black bear :) More interested in grizzly bear encounters but I know black bears are more problematic in most areas.

Thanks for the responses and discussion.

Yes, I've heard about the mosquitos and bugs. :)

So it sounds like (in all likelihood) you probably won't see a bear, and you have several good options for safe guards.

Has your wife's position changed any? JB

Back to pepper spray and being ready to use it: if I'm in thick brush where the bear and I won't see each other until the last minute*, there are blind corners, or it's low light-- in other words, conditions ripe for startling a bear, I hold the canister in my hand, finger close to the trigger, and remove the safety catch.

• This actually did happen to me once in Montana despite all the noise crashing through brush makes. My brother and I were taking an "adventure" route down a peak that turned out to be more suffering than adventure, and as I crashed into a small clearing, I startled a young griz no more than 20' away. It looked at me for a second and then bolted, but had it come for me, there was no way I'd have had my spray ready in time. After that, I started doing what I described in the preceding paragraph.

Hey John - I haven't showed her this thread yet, but will when the time is right.

We are discussing it. What is funny, or not so funny, is she seems more worried about my behavior and actions because I tend to be nonchalant about bears. I think it is because I'm used to them from doing a lot of field/forestry work.

She likes to bring up the time 15 years ago when I kept food in the tent. Whoops. ;)

We have had several black bear encounters, but they were just sightings. We have seen a griz in Yellowstone when we were in the truck and we camped at a campground near Lamar Valley where just the night before we arrived a griz came into camp, chewed on someone's propane canister and freaked everyone out. That story along with an article in the local paper about a cyclist getting attacked has made her pretty fearful of them.

During that trip we aborted an overnight backpack trip in Lamar Valley after someone mentioned seeing a fresh kill out there. Heck, that was enough for me to not want to go out there too.

s.price wrote: I'm with John here. Any progress? On a side note: John, I may be in your area soon. Maybe we could climb?

Sounds good. I'm going out with my son and his fiance this weekend. They are saying 80 degrees Sat. Drop me a line and we'll see if it will work out. Weather has been crazy this year. We have bitter cold then 70s snow then 70s freezing rain 70s. JB

well, the wife has read this thread.  She has come around and we're planning a trip to the Winds!!!  We will get bear spray, bring bear canisters and keep everything away from the marmots.

thanks everyone for the comments and private messages as well.  

Tyler Metheney wrote:

Although they are my favorite animal in NA grizzlies put the fear in me as wel..they are perfectly crafted murder machines lol

I can understand your wife's anxiety. I won't venture to Grizz country cause I know paranoia will make it a lousy time. But chances  of seeing one are really rare.

I think that your chances of seeing one and having a problem are very rare.  But I have seen quite a few and I've never really had an issue.  Most of the time they are as scared of you as you are of them.  As long as they are not with cubs and you keep your distance you shouldn't have too many problems...  Although as everyone has noted it is best to try to avoid any kind of encounter, so carry spray just in case and practice good camp hygiene.

Hi

I was up there in July this year and didn't see any bears or any signs of bears. We were in the middle of the range and camped near Elklund Lake. There was actually 3G coverage at our campsite which was so odd. I was able to call my wife and talk with crystal clear audio. The reception was spotty, but cool nonetheless. We hiked past photographer's point and eventually down to Pole Creek Lake to meet some family/friends. My brother saw a coyote along the path to Pole Creek Lake that ran off the moment it saw him. That's about it. I brought bear spray and bear bag. Seemed really safe. 

NOTE: There were a TON of mosquitoes in July. We left early because our bug spray ran out and it was THAT annoying.

Christopher Ballif wrote:

Hi

I was up there in July this year and didn't see any bears or any signs of bears. We were in the middle of the range and camped near Elklund Lake. There was actually 3G coverage at our campsite which was so odd. I was able to call my wife and talk with crystal clear audio. The reception was spotty, but cool nonetheless. We hiked past photographer's point and eventually down to Pole Creek Lake to meet some family/friends. My brother saw a coyote along the path to Pole Creek Lake that ran off the moment it saw him. That's about it. I brought bear spray and bear bag. Seemed really safe. 

NOTE: There were a TON of mosquitoes in July. We left early because our bug spray ran out and it was THAT annoying.

The trail into Titcomb Basin tends to be crawling with people, which would keep the grizzlies away. When we were in the Cirque in late July, we met a couple who had a grizzly on the trail ~60 yards from them, north of Texas Pass. By and large, the grizzlies hang out north and east of the continental divide, but you should be prepared for an interaction everywhere.

Petsfed wrote:

but you should be prepared for an interaction everywhere.

Fucking this. I am constantly floored by tourists/backpackers/climbers that come into the shop that don't get the fact that the entire Wind River Range is grizz country. The funniest interactions are with the bubbas who think that their .44 mag is gonna be enough. Must be so cool to be packing heat in the middle of nowhere. In my mind, $39.95 is the cheapest possible insurance policy you can buy, and that it is absolutely idiotic to go anywhere in grizz country without it.