RE: [Paddlewise] Guns and Polar Bears

I like this approach and plan to use it whenever we get around to a trip to
"big bear" country. It has the potential of defusing the situation before it
becomes fatal to either bear or human. One additional benefit is that it
effectively creates a "back-up" system which is a good thing for any
emergency procedure.
We use this for dealing threatening dogs while running and walking. Pepper
spray to ward of the non-serious aggression and to "train" threatening dogs.
It works very nicely because dogs are relatively smart. Seems like bears
fall into the same category.
We carry lock blade folding knives as back-ups for serious problems. I
haven't had to stick a dog yet, but have had several occasions (especially
where there are two dogs) where I was spraying in one hand and had the open
knife in the other just in case.
A very important note:
THE SPRAY DOES NOT "STOP" THE DOG"
It takes a few seconds for the spray to have effect. Once it does the dog
losses interest in the attack within seconds, but does not immobilize it.
Before it does I am keeping the dog at bay with yelling and "looking big".
The first time they seem surprised and confused, but still somehow know that
I am the source of their pain. Some dogs are more docile and give me a wide
birth after that. Some still threaten, but at a more respectful distance
(out of spray reach). All of them learn what the spray can means after the
first dousing.
I haven't been pepper sprayed, but did go through tear gas training in the
USMC. It was seriously distracting, but not immobilizing. Irritation to the
eyes made seeing difficult-to-impossible, but everything else worked fine.
It's painful, but the pain can be ignored if necessary. Maybe someone else
has had pepper spray experience to share???
My opinion (having only used spray on animals much smaller than big bears):
If a bear was seriously attacking and could get a hold of you before the
spray took effect, you would be in serious trouble. I don't believe spray
would stop a true (opposed to bluff) charge of an angry bear, or an angry
dog for that matter. On the other hand if there was something to deter the
bear from getting hold of you before it took effect, or if it was just
considering eating or attacking you, it would likely work as accounts seem
to indicate.
As I've said on previous posts Vickie and I haven't been in big bear country
yet, so all these opinions I have are very safe from my desk in southern
CA:-) 
One thing I do know about first hand is shotgun shot sizes. I use #6-to-#8
shot on ducks and doves. It usually stops them on the first shot. For any
bear I would start with 00 Buck shot. I have heard of using #8 as the last
round in the magazine to blind the bear from close range if all else fails.
I don't know if there are any living persons who have actually tried that
though.

Steve Brown
 

-----Original Message-----
 paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of Matt Broze

..........................................maybe I'm anthropomorphizing but
I like the idea of bear spray. The bears can survive and train their cubs to
respect humans much like we teach our children to respect skunks by giving
them a wide berth should we see one......................even though every
Alaskan I talked to
said a .338--a very powerful rifle--was the minimum one should have) but if
I was going to be solo in Polar Bear country I'd take a 12 Gauge (6 to 8
shot) short barreled pump shotgun and back that up with a can or two of bear
spray. I'd carry the bear spray at all times and keep the gun ready and
nearby..............................................................

Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com
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