Re: [Paddlewise] Guns and Polar Bears

Rev. Bob,

That is the soundest and most succinct advice I have read on bears in SE
AK.  I really enjoy reading about your experiences and always learn from
you.  Thanks for the posts.


> [Original Message]
> From: Rev. Bob Carter <revkayak_at_aptalaska.net>
> To: paddlewise <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
 > Date: 11/05/2003 5:16:29 PM
> Subject: 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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