Having lived on Kodiak Island for two years let me say this: The advice of talking/shouting is a good idea, sometimes it works. I'll have to say in two years I never saw a bear, and I did go out fishing on the rivers a little (and camping). On the gun issue: When I got to Alaska I was like everyone else, I wanted to go buy a semi-auto handgun. Wrong idea for a couple reasons! First and foremost, a 9MM won't even phase a bear, you really need something like a .44 or .357 (although all the young people want a sexy 9MM). The best weapon I was told is a shotgun loaded with shot/slug/slug/shot/???, this will distract the bear with the shot and hopefully break it's shoulder with the slug. Having said that brings me to my other point about any weapon. Imagine you are getting charged by a 1500# Kodiak Brown Bear, are you going to be calm/cool enough to pull your weapon, aim it and actually hit the bear? I don't think I could. I've been told that to drop a bear charging you you either have to hit it between the eyes or take out one of it's shoulders, are you that good of a shot? The best advice I was given is carry bells on your person, shout, talk and use bear spray. If you do get attacked, lay on your stomach with your hands around the back of your head/neck and play dead. I guess eventually the bear will get tired of you and go away. This is from a guy who was attacked while hunting dear and lived to tell about it! Just a few observations from a former Alaskan! Chris *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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