Re: [Paddlewise] Guns and Polar Bears

Melissa wrote:
but with my dream to someday live in Alaska,
 with lots of wilderness paddling and hiking in mind, I'm wondering
 what advice the more experienced "bear country people" here would have
for a person like myself


    Having lived among the Tlingits for many years here in Alaska their
advice is simple.
"Talk to the bear and let the bear know you are human"
In other words talk and sing as you go through forest and woods letting the
bear know you are coming. If you encounter a bear talk to it and let him
have his trail.
This might seem too simple and dangerous but remember the Tlingit have lived
among the bear for  thousands of years before guns and lived surrounded by
bears quite well.
      I usually carry pepper spray only, but on my long trips, I carry a gun
(a .357 mag. handgun) mostly for the noise effect. My main reason for
carring one is to protect my food supply from hungry black bears. I would if
need shoot over their heads or at their feet but not at them. A wounded bear
is the most dangerous.
    If you are uncomfortable with guns then don't carry one.
     The problem I see with guns and some people is the bigger the gun the
more macho the attitude and the more likely they will be to use it. I have
seen bears shot when it was totally unnecessary. A tragedy to say the least.
    By the way I have been charged twice, once by a brown bear and once by a
polar bear, an have survived. Also I have had numerous bears in camp you
have lived to tell the tale.
    Above all keep your camp clean
    cook away from you sleeping area
    keep food out of the tent
    and keep talking to the bears

Bob
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