Slung Rifle too Slow to Stop Grizzly Attack in Montana

Ammoland ^ | 22 November, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[circlecity]

"and should be removed when conditions exist for a possible confrontation."

I read that to mean anytime you are hunting in Grizzly country, regardless what you are hunting for. "possible" covers a a LOT of ground.

[Charles Martel]

I have hunted heavy thicket many times, never had any problems moving through brush while carrying a rifle. Glad to hear this guy survived, but I suspect that if he ever hunts in bear country again, he'll do things differently.

I like the Safari style sling with the rifle in front. With a rig like that, you'll get off a snap shot, at the very least.

[TexasGator]

“I read that to mean anytime you are hunting in Grizzly country, regardless what you are hunting for. “

I disagree. If that were the case he would have said no slings ... period.

But authors are not always precise with their wording.

[saleman]

Missed a chance at one of the biggest Whitetail bucks I’ve ever seen because of a sling.

Jumped a huge buck on top a ridge. He ran over the top of the ridge. I ran over the top of the ridge. And we very nearly ran into each other. Threw the rifle up and...nothing. WTF???? Sling had wrapped around the scope and obscured the objective.

Vowed to never use a sling again while hunting. And I haven’t.

[Seruzawa]

This is why everyone should carry FN-FALs.

[Baynative]

"Never forget that you are part of the food chain, and not necessarily at the top."

I could see where in the heart of a hunter, becoming the hunted is the ultimate experience. He lived through it and has a story to tell for the rest of his life.

[circlecity]

From the full article “This late in the season, with considerable snow on the ground, most bears have denned up for the winter. Bear behavior is highly individual and unpredictable. There have been several bear attacks in the middle of winter, but it is unusual.” Given this it would seem to me that if you are in Griz country then an attack is always “possible”.

[TexasGator]

Context, please. He was moving through heavy brush using both hands to push through.

[Cuttnhorse]

And the local morons here in Idaho are working hard to re establish grizzly bears in our area.

Open season at my place.

[circlecity]

"Vowed to never use a sling again while hunting. And I haven’t."

I guess it depends on what range you anticipate shooting from. Out to 150 yards, yeah, it really wouldn't matter. From 200 on out having that sling improves my accuracy substantially.

[Billthedrill]

And the local morons here in Idaho are working hard to re establish grizzly bears in our area.

Yep. They should be careful what they wish for. Fish and Game finally did capture THIS ONE about ten miles south of my place last August shortly after the linked article was written. It's a few miles from the Silverwood amusement park. Trapped him and released him in the Cabinet mountains only about 50 miles from here. He'll be baaaack...

[circlecity]

"Context, please. He was moving through heavy brush using both hands to push through."

I understand that and he should have had the gun in the ready position rather than in the sling carry position. My point was you can hold a rifle in the ready position with the sling on and hanging underneath the rifle, so is it really necessary to remove it entirely - would it effect your ability to get the shot off quickly? It's never happened to me but according to at least one person posting here, when you are moving quickly it can flop up and obstruct your ability to shoot. I'll take his word for it and remove the thing entirely if I'm ever in that environment.

[FreedomNotSafety]

Dean has good stories to tell but his grammar and syntax nearly destroy his story telling.
I find some of his articles nearly impossible to decipher.

[butlerweave]

Slung Rifle or listening to music on iPhone ?

[marktwain]

Slung Rifle or listening to music on iPhone ?

Both can be hazardous in grizzly country.

[DesertRhino]

Driving deer through thick alders towards another hunter, in grizzly country, is a good way to avoid growing old. That’s just asking for it.

[TexasGator]

It’s a judgement call. But the worst case is sling over a heavy coat!

[saleman]

I’m not shooting any kind of big game past 150 yards without using a rest of some kind. Tree, shooting sticks, window of a deer blind. Something. Really feel more comfortable inside 100 yards. And if there is any kind of rest available i’ll use it. Even if its only 25 yards.

[Secret Agent Man]

450 feet away, if the bear can hit 30 mph quickly, would take 10-12 seconds on relatively level and clear ground to get there.

[gundog]

He lived through it and has a story to tell for the rest of his life.

Jack O'Conner had a guide named Field Johnson. He was on a hunt in BC or Alaska...O'connor wasn't with him. He was mauled, and left for dead. When he thought the bear was gone, he began to crawl, but the bear wasn't gone. He got mauled again. He lived, but went insane.