May the elk gods bless you with no herbicide this year BB.

Damn, I like the way you think.

If I was within 50 yards of said Griz I'd be staring @ it down the tube of a fully stoked 12 gauge autoloader. And quietly backing away......muttering stay put bear, good bear, nice bear.


c/22

No problem Danny, Tye will defend us. Or bring us one of his big furry playmates.

Despite the tragedy of Mr. White's death by a bear, the responses regarding carrying guns in bear country are invariably entertaining. According to ADF&G, the most common result of shooting a grizzly bear in an emergency situation is a wounded bear and an even more dangerous situation. The probability of drawing and aiming a gun and getting off a kill shot at a charging bear is very low. I've read of only one incident where a moose hunter did that.

Since bears are startled by loud noises, I'd vote for the gun that makes the loudest bang, no aiming required.

Sg

A bear may not change course while he is being shot by you pistol experts, but one thing's for sure.....there is more a chance of things working in your favor if you have a gun than if you don't when you are attacked.

Yep.....6-7 slugs would be devastating!

The largest carnivore on the face of the earth. Do want a gun or not?

Had my way too close of a call with one this morning ... thought it was the neighbors dog in my trash ... turned out to be a pretty hefty brownie I stuck my 3/4 naked buns out the door this morning to scold in the dark at 3:30AM. Ended up face to face less than 10 feet away from him.

Tracks were just over 7" inches across which means an 8 foot plus bear. To think while he was chomping on my used egg bags, he was only about 18" from my head on the other side of the RV wall

Glad that turned out OK Bob. Had a similar experience a year or two ago when I heard my smoker tip over.

I love these comments

I spend all summer shaving every last ounce from my backpack that I can so the last thing I'm going to do is carry 7-10 lbs of dead weight that will never be used.

6 miles in and 3000' up, let me know how that works for ya

Thanks Dave!

Unfortunately they are spraying this week That's why I'm spending the first week chasing Muley's!

No way in hell I'd hunt alone for elk. They are simply too damn big

Sounds like you are having a rough week thinking about mortality. I can relate even though I am younger with under fifty grey hairs so far.

On the plus side, I hear you are a legend.

I love these comments

I spend all summer shaving every last ounce from my backpack that I can so the last thing I'm going to do is carry 7-10 lbs of dead weight that will never be used.

6 miles in and 3000' up, let me know how that works for ya
_________________________

Amen! That gravity thingy is dragging my butt just like it does Art's. I do NOT need any extra weight.

BTW my new,very light, 20 gauge made hunting a joy last Sunday.

Christian will gladly carry those extras Dave.

BroodBuster: Ill carry a sidearm on me in bear country no matter how much it weighs. I've seen to many in AK not to. Ive got bluff charged on two occasions and that was scary as [Bleeeeep!], even with a .44 mag! My G20 fully loaded is only 2-2 1/2 pounds though. As for bow hunting; It's 5-15 miles backpacking in and from below 1000 feet to as high as 5000+ feet in for me. (Made the mistake of getting into highcountry hunts)
I am younger than you though...
However, i also have a fcked up gimp leg. If you "really" wanted to carry a sidearm its no big deal. I wouldn't wanna face a charging bear with my bow though. Hell to the no!

Trust me--Anyone that has been charged by a big brown will start carrying a 357 or bigger after that encounter.
That mouth when open and pissed coming at you is something you will never forget and only having your d$%k in your hand is no real weapon!

I have even carried the commercial pepper spray and even that does not feel safe, if there is a potential of bears,,,,carry.

Having a gun is waaaaaay better than not having one bt no guarantee if safety. A friend of a friend survived a very serious mauling when a bear attacked him while he was elk hunting. He had a rifle but was unable to get the gun up to his shoulder before the bear was on him. He survived, but just barely.