Top Tips on Bear Safety While Hunting

Right now bear attack risk is higher than normal as resources become scarce, bears are trying to lay on calories for hibernation and hunters are afield. Trust me, I know this first hand. I’m up in Alaska with CBEO member Dave Leonard who is good old friend and owner of Mountain Monarchs of Alaska.

‍Read on to see a real Bear Attack video.

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Are Guns Right for a Bear Attack?

Obviously, I’m a gun guy. But here are three things to consider when taking the position that guns are the right medicine to cure a bear attack: 

1. If the bear is on your friend or family member are you sending a bullet into the melee? Pepper spray hurts but it will wash off. If I see a bear tangled up with someone I care about, I’ll spray bear spray and hope I hit the bear more than my friend, wife or child.
2. There is solid research of incidents in Alaska by Dr. Thomas S. Smith of BYU that bear spray is more effective. Click here to Read Smith’s research.
3. If you’re in a place like Montana where Federal Law protects grizzly bears, shooting one means you get to be part of an investigation that may or may not go your way. This isn’t the case with bear spray.

Here are a few suggestions to stay safer this fall: 

• Practice using and then carry bear spray.
• Make sure everyone is carrying bear spray. If the bear spray is on your belt and you’re the one currently wrestling the bear (and losing), wouldn’t it be nice if your partner also had bear spray?
• Keep camp clean. Eliminate attractants and use bear proof coolers.
• Keep your food and your sleep separate unless you’re in a hard sided camper or a cabin.
• Field dress animals with at least one helper to look out for bears that may be attracted to the shot or the smell of the carcass
• Get the carcass out of the field as quickly as possible
• If there is a grizzly on your carcass, do not attempt to haze it away.

Video of a Real Bear Attack: 

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We were just talking with a friend that hunted sheep in Montana. He saw plenty of grizzly bears. Click here for an in depth look at bear safety from the State of Montana: 

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Now I’ve heard the joke about “I don’t need to outrun the bear, I just need to outrun you!” But really, hunting with people you don’t like isn’t much fun.

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We Want to Hear From You! 

‍The question posed would be “What would you add to the lists above? What are your thoughts on bear spray vs. firearms to prevent bear attacks?”

Watch a Real Bear Attack: 

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