BlueBear
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@GoBlueHiker
Posts: 3,224
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 26, 2016 19:31:10 GMT -8
BB, received the Bear Book I ordered as a result of this thread. Let me know how the book is when you read it. Post up in the Book Reports forum, or similar, if you don't mind. Heck, I may ask to borrow the book at some point. I'm certainly open to picking up a few extra nuggets of knowledge from the folks who study it.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 26, 2016 19:41:59 GMT -8
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Post by Lonewolf on Feb 26, 2016 20:26:37 GMT -8
That's Herrero's "Bear Attacks, Their Causes and Avoidance"? I I think I still have an original copy somewhere. Arguably the single best book for bear country travel.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on Feb 26, 2016 21:10:46 GMT -8
Herrero's "Bear Attacks, Their Causes and Avoidance"? That paper is a major identified reference source for the book. The education enhancement continues!
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jj
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Post by jj on Feb 26, 2016 21:16:32 GMT -8
I've also spent plenty enough time alone in cougar country (fresh track filling with water and all) and do not see the need for a firearm for me. As Lonewolf said: wary, yes; scared, no. I've laid awake at night hearing a brown bear splash in the creek a few dozen yards from my tarp on Alaska too. Laid under the stars, with a broken foot no less, while a pack of wolves howled on the shoreline a few dozen feet away in British Columbia. Have met well over a hundred black bears in the woods and mountains. I still don't feel the need, and don't go out of my way to exaggerate the utility of a handgun against those animals. Spare the "anyone who goes here" arguments. You'll find there's a lot more collective experience on these forums than you might initially guess. Pardon me, to each their own. You choose not to, I choose to. I carry as more for protection from 2 legged critters than 4. I have a friend who was raped hiking at staircase. Also, I will not go into the woods where cougars are without my 45. It is an inanimate object and it won't hurt you unless you actively try to harm me. My bear spray will go first. I am a darn good shot, been shooting competitively since I was a child. Ultimately, I will protect myself and those with me.
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BlueBear
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@GoBlueHiker
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 26, 2016 21:47:12 GMT -8
Pardon me, to each their own. You choose not to, I choose to. I carry as more for protection from 2 legged critters than 4. I have a friend who was raped hiking at staircase. Also, I will not go into the woods where cougars are without my 45. It is an inanimate object and it won't hurt you unless you actively try to harm me. My bear spray will go first. I am a darn good shot, been shooting competitively since I was a child. Ultimately, I will protect myself and those with me. Yes, of course, to each their own. I was referring to this little line of yours: I was simply pointing out, that's not true at all. Not even a little bit true. Plenty of folks with plenty of experience are generally unimpressed by such chest-thumping bravado statements. If it were actually the best tool for the job, I'd have no trouble with the extra two pounds, for what it's worth.
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jj
Trail Wise!
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Post by jj on Feb 26, 2016 21:58:07 GMT -8
I really wasn't trying to impress anyone. Just saying my opinion from my point of view. Gee people are so sensitive now days so I apologize, a better phrase is some of us or all of us who were out that night will never go out unarmed.
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Post by Lonewolf on Feb 27, 2016 4:24:01 GMT -8
It is an inanimate object and it won't hurt you unless you actively try to harm me. I'm well aware of that, as is everyone else here. I was a Gunner's Mate (armorer) in the service, a range officer and firearms instructor. I have several firearms and sometimes carry in the front country and I've used guns for self defense. I've been stalked/followed by wild predators in the woods. I chased a mountain lion out of the horse pasture one night without a gun, have a black bear that moves in and lives 50' behind my house every summer and have found wolf tracks along the river near the guest cabin. I still don't feel the need for a firearm in the wilderness.
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snappypepper
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www.alltheadventures.com
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Post by snappypepper on Feb 27, 2016 7:51:44 GMT -8
not to hijack, but has anyone found a whistle to be helpful at all in warding off curious/hungry animals? I always carry an emergency whistle and wonder if it would be useful as a last resort in scaring off a seemingly aggressive animal.
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jj
Trail Wise!
Posts: 50
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Post by jj on Feb 27, 2016 8:21:53 GMT -8
It is an inanimate object and it won't hurt you unless you actively try to harm me. I'm well aware of that, as is everyone else here. I was a Gunner's Mate (armorer) in the service, a range officer and firearms instructor. I have several firearms and sometimes carry in the front country and I've used guns for self defense. I've been stalked/followed by wild predators in the woods. I chased a mountain lion out of the horse pasture one night without a gun, have a black bear that moves in and lives 50' behind my house every summer and have found wolf tracks along the river near the guest cabin. I still don't feel the need for a firearm in the wilderness. As I said before, to each their own. You chose not to. I do. End of story.
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pollock
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www.alltheadventures.com
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Post by pollock on Feb 27, 2016 8:22:27 GMT -8
I tackled this subject on our blog at www.alltheadventures.com and it generated discussion on there and IG. I cite in the blog that I choose not to, but if you do familiarize yourself w/ all the local/state/fed laws where you are going, get training beyond hunter safety/NRA basics and get your mind right that you are now a "responsible armed citizen." And for everyone's sake do not carry "open carry" - you are asking for someone to take it away from you and use it for nefarious purpose (again, training in weapons manipulation, retention and combatives - every fight you are in when carrying is a "gunfight"). Better to train on situational awareness and understand the wildlife population/behavior (to incl the 2 legged kind) in the area you select. Stay safe
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Feb 27, 2016 8:23:58 GMT -8
Gee people are so sensitive now days so I apologize It's a sensitive subject around here, especially given the evidence that guns aren't much use against bears (people, as you noted, are a whole 'nuther kettle o' fish), but I don't see a need to apologize. HYOH, as we say. (Hike Your Own Hike)
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Post by hikerjer on Feb 27, 2016 8:25:21 GMT -8
You know, the most interesting thing to me on this thread, is that the folks who seem to have the most experience hiking and have spent the most time in really wild country seem to be the ones who see no need for carrying a firearm. Make what you will of that.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 27, 2016 12:02:08 GMT -8
Gee people are so sensitive now days so I apologize It's a sensitive subject around here, especially given the evidence that guns aren't much use against bears (people, as you noted, are a whole 'nuther kettle o' fish), but I don't see a need to apologize. HYOH, as we say. (Hike Your Own Hike) Oh he/she isn't: that's passive aggressive 101: all people did was respond with backpacking logic analyzing what safety items make the most sense given anticipated conditions alongside the familiar (to backpackers anyway) compromise between weight and utility.
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Post by Lonewolf on Feb 27, 2016 17:58:22 GMT -8
the most interesting thing Is also that virtually all of the solo hikers who spend time solo in grizzly country don't carry a firearm but many of those who tend to hike in groups not in grizzly country do.
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