Bad bear year in Alaska

[unimackpass]

A friend sent me some pictures of a huge bear that was shot after killing two people. I'm not sure of the details but the pictures included the mauled victims which was unbelievably horrid. What a 1500lb animal with claws and teeth can do to a human is truely gruesome. Understandably such pictures would get me booted off this site, must admit I have mixed feelings having them on my phone.
Anyway it's a sober reminder how vulnerable humans are and a person better be paying attention because things can go south really fast in a lot of different ways.
I have a semi auto 12gauge for 3 gun competition that will take seven 3.5" slugs delivering 4,500ft lbs with fast follow up shots in case a person has to walk into a threatening situation.
If hiking in general a pistol is fine because I hate packing extra weight.



https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/wil...nt-daughter-die-in-yukon-grizzly-bear-attack/

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/21/us/bear-kills-man-anchorage-alaska/index.html

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/urgent-hunt-dangerous-bear-alaska-56082938

 

[chubbman]

I would like to see the pictures

 

[Lando]

Ruthless. If you’re packing a pistol I’ve heard it needs to be at least a .357 or something powerful. They apparently charge right through 9mm’s. Crazy to me that people go through cougar or bear infested areas without a piece

 

[unimackpass]

Ruthless. If you’re packing a pistol I’ve heard it needs to be at least a .357 or something powerful. They apparently charge right through 9mm’s. Crazy to me that people go through cougar or bear infested areas without a piece

.357 is minimal, people have gotten lucky with 9mm because the bear turned even though it wasn't a fatal hit, but why be on the lower end of the spectrum?
I know a old timer guide that recently went up in caliber because of a crazy charge they almost didn't survive even though he had a slug gun and his assistant guide a 375 while guiding a bow hunter. He sufferd ptsd for awhile. He was man enough to admit it after a lifetime hunting and guiding in alaska.
I lost a middle toe two years ago when charged by a sow with cubs, last shot I was on my back with my foot between me and her. Fortunately one brained her or she would have ripped my face off before dying from the first shot to the chest. Was a 10mm but a 454 may have stopped her the first shot. That's what I pack now, it's the same weight with more than twice the punch.

 

[unimackpass]

I would like to see the pictures

Really gruesome. Against the rules I think.

 

[bushman505]

I use a 10mm Glock where I’m at.

 

[sverre054]

Bear mace is almost always better. If you stumble upon a thousand pound animal, that charges you at 35mph, good luck hitting it, let alone killing it. Bring a pistol or shot gun, if your hunting or backpacking for an extended time, but still bear mace is still your best fast response defense.

 

[Lando]

.357 is minimal, people have gotten lucky with 9mm because the bear turned even though it wasn't a fatal hit, but why be on the lower end of the spectrum?
I know a old timer guide that recently went up in caliber because of a crazy charge they almost didn't survive even though he had a slug gun and his assistant guide a 375 while guiding a bow hunter. He sufferd ptsd for awhile. He was man enough to admit it after a lifetime hunting and guiding in alaska.
I lost a middle toe two years ago when charged by a sow with cubs, last shot I was on my back with my foot between me and her. Fortunately one brained her or she would have ripped my face off before dying from the first shot to the chest. Was a 10mm but a 454 may have stopped her the first shot. That's what I pack now, it's the same weight with more than twice the punch.

Holy fuck

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

.357 is minimal, people have gotten lucky with 9mm because the bear turned even though it wasn't a fatal hit, but why be on the lower end of the spectrum?
I know a old timer guide that recently went up in caliber because of a crazy charge they almost didn't survive even though he had a slug gun and his assistant guide a 375 while guiding a bow hunter. He sufferd ptsd for awhile. He was man enough to admit it after a lifetime hunting and guiding in alaska.
I lost a middle toe two years ago when charged by a sow with cubs, last shot I was on my back with my foot between me and her. Fortunately one brained her or she would have ripped my face off before dying from the first shot to the chest. Was a 10mm but a 454 may have stopped her the first shot. That's what I pack now, it's the same weight with more than twice the punch.

Best "I shot my own toe off" story ever.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Horrible way to die. Bears are one of the scariest animals, which is a shame because they look like one of the cuddliest.

 

[Super Shotgun]

Kodiak bear?

 

[Super Shotgun]

Horrible way to die. Bears are one of the scariest animals, which is a shame because they look like one of the cuddliest.

 

[unimackpass]

Bear mace is almost always better. If you stumble upon a thousand pound animal, that charges you at 35mph, good luck hitting it, let alone killing it. Bring a pistol or shot gun, if your hunting or backpacking for an extended time, but still bear mace is still your best fast response defense.

What makes you so confident in your opinion, personal experience?

 

[Hoof Hearted]

I don't see that relationship working out.

 

[Fuzzybabyducks]

 

[riitzni]

Bear mace is almost always better. If you stumble upon a thousand pound animal, that charges you at 35mph, good luck hitting it, let alone killing it. Bring a pistol or shot gun, if your hunting or backpacking for an extended time, but still bear mace is still your best fast response defense.

Yeah I'm actually surprised only one person mentioned bear mace. That's what rangers and wildlife conservation people carry.

Horrible way to die. Bears are one of the scariest animals, which is a shame because they look like one of the cuddliest.

They're extremely intelligent and there's many stories of humans raising baby bears, releasing them fully into the wild and still being greeted years later by an otherwise wild bear with a hug. Shit, look at this:

 

[gondo]

They lived and worked off a trap line. They weren’t in any town/village but in the wilderness. Guess what shit happens when you live out there. Obviously sad but they were the ones out of place.

 

[Super Shotgun]

I don't see that relationship working out.

That bear is Jimbo, Jim and Susan (the owners) had him since he was a cub so they imprinted on him from a young age, this is the key to being around these wild animals safely you have to know them since they were cubs, he sadly died earlier this year from liver cancer. RIP Jimbo. They have a bunch of other bears too.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Yeah I'm actually surprised only one person mentioned bear mace. That's what rangers and wildlife conservation people carry.



They're extremely intelligent and there's many stories of humans raising baby bears, releasing them fully into the wild and still being greeted years later by an otherwise wild bear with a hug. Shit, look at this:

Yeah, same with lions. These lions were hand raised -

 

[GergreG]

Surely there is a safer way to see if bears do actually shit in the woods?