The Armory - Guns, Knives, and Axes

[Smitty-48]

Just curious, how do grizzlies react to people standing their ground and making themselves as big, loud, and scary as possible?

It usually works against brown bears around here.

Usually.

Might work, might not. Depends on the bear and what season. First thing in spring, hungry bear, watch out.

[Smitty-48]

Once a bear gets used to people and has a taste for the delights of people-ville, then you're in trouble, he's not scared of you, he is there to eat you.

You pretty much have to shoot a townie bear, because they are not going to stop.

[Otern]

You can try that but if you pissed off mama for some reason you are basically ground beef. Better off playing dead.

However, if you know the secret bear song like the indians do you can probably get away from any bear. They won't teach you the bear song though. Fuckers.

So they're not fake charging?
At least brown bears pose quite the dilemma when it comes to bringing guns, vs not bringing guns. They usually bluff charge, and can be scared off by people making lots of noise and generally not showing any fear or retreat. Pointing a gun at them at that point, makes the man somewhat smaller, as he can't spread out and look big and scary to the bear. And if you shoot, and don't kill it with the first shot, the bluff charge will turn into a real one.

Polar bears are a whole other matter though. Wouldn't feel safe around them unarmed.

[TheReal_ND]

It'll probably work.

[Otern]

Once a bear gets used to people and has a taste for the delights of people-ville, then you're in trouble, he's not scared of you, he is there to eat you.

You pretty much have to shoot a townie bear, because they are not going to stop.

That makes sense. Think we do that with bears getting a bit too comfortable near people here too. Should do it a lot more with wolves though. But the urbanites will learn once the first kid going home from school is eaten.

[Smitty-48]

I prefer to be armed even around Ontario black bears, never mind Grizzly, a black bear makes a pit bull look like a gerbil. If he wants your snacks, and he used to people, which he will be in Ontario, may have to shoot him indeed.

[Smitty-48]

Moreover, I don't want the bear killing my dogs, they are scared of dogs, but if the dogs corner them, they will come out swinging.

[Smitty-48]

That actually happened to my buddy up north, the dog chased the bear up a tree, he thought it was under control, turned away for a moment, and the bear had changed its mind and came back down the tree, tore the dogs head clean off.

[C-Mag]

+1
On the bear discussion.
No magic formula for getting a bear to stand down. Sometimes they just feel the need to treat you like Hugh Glass.

[Smitty-48]

Exactly, some bears are killers, you don't know which one you are facing, but if he's the king bear, he is not afraid.