Posted on 05/18/2023 3:36:14 AM PDT by marktwain
Arey Island is a seven-mile-long barrier island in the Southern Beaufort Sea off the coast of the north slope of Alaska. It is a flat, barren island that is mostly privately owned.
During August of 2014 two United States Fish and Wildlife personnel were on duty on the west end of Arey Island, recorded as off the mouth of the Hula Hula and Okpilak Rivers, 8.5 miles WSW of Kaktovik. 70 deg 05’23.67″ N, 144 deg. 00’43.12″W. One of them defended themselves against a polar bear on August 16, at about 9 a.m. The incident was recorded as number 549 in the Freedom of information act (FOIA) response AmmoLand received.
The Fish and Wildlife personnel did not have any dogs with them. Their food was in a bear-resistant container outside of the tent. The Fish and Wildlife pair did not have bear spray with them. In Kaktovik, the temperature was recorded as 39 degrees F, with a 20 mph wind from the East. Earlier, at 5 am, the wind had been 30 mph. For those of you who have not slept in a tent, 20 to 30 mph winds are significant. A tent has to be strong and well anchored to remain in place with a 30 mph wind. If the wind was averaging 20 mph, there were almost certainly gusts to 30 mph. When the wind was averaging 30 mph, there were almost certainly gusts to 45 mph.
One of the Fish and Wildlife personnel was sleeping in a tent. They had a .44 magnum. A fat and healthy boar polar bear arrived on the scene and attempted to enter the tent. The sleeper woke up, detected the polar bear, and shot and
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
True. The if you hit something is the critical part. Ever seen a griz charge? It’s lightning fast, a few second at best and they’re on you. Unless you train for it routinely, you’re not likely to hit anything with your 1, maybe 2, shots from a .44 wheel gun. Especially the old men I see carrying them around here (SW Montana). Mag dumping a 15+1 10mm if the best way to save your hide.
Pull your panties up! I go fishing, hunting or camping in griz country WEEKLY (SW Montana). Is there a hint of danger… sure. That’s what makes it fun.
Man has a responsibility to make room for the animals of this Earth. Did you see the picture of the island? Barren, nothing can grow on it that far north. It’s likely a resting ground for a polar bear, where else can the polar bear go? Why should the polar bear make way for man who cannot survive such desolation without bringing provisions? The polar bear can survive it all on its own, that place is his habitat, not for Man.
SUre, we all love meat and have learned to cull and maintain breeding stock for our circular food supply, because we are intelligent in our peculiar way. But, did Noah save 2 of every animal so we could eventually just shoot them? God giving man dominion has been interpreted by trigger happy idiots as shoot everything for fun and kill all the animals wherever we go.
Based on real world attacks, the loud noise and sudden pain from a handgun is enough to break off most grizzly attacks. Including 9mm handguns. Doesn’t kill them, but makes them change their mind.
If you meet a really determined grizzly or polar bear, a 375 H&H Magnum is about the smallest thing that counts.
“But, did Noah save 2 of every animal so we could eventually just shoot them?”
Noah knew that the 2 would reproduce and create plenty of targets.
Very good.
I hunt and eat what I shoot. A barren island is a staging ground for fat bears to hunt seals. Seals don’t eat what’s on the island either. They eat sea food.
BTW. The whole gore-bull warming joke about polar bears dying out is another leftist myth. There are more than ever
White bear supremacist?
Carrying a 9mm here for bears is ill-advised. You are right regarding a determined griz but a 10mm CAN put a a griz down (happens several times a year here) whereas 9 just can’t penetrate, especially late in year when they’re in hyperphagia (getting fat) and can be super aggressive. If the noise doesn’t break the charge you F’d…. A 10mm can actually stop them (mag dumps). My EDC is a 9mm, but not for the backcountry and don’t know anyone of us who carry less than 10mm. Ideally I’d walk around with 12 gauge slugs but that’s not realistic for what I’m doing out there.
Going fishing on the Gallatin later today… let’s change the convo 😂😂
A friend worked for the Forest service years ago, crawling around in the Alaska brush where the Brown Bears would leave half a salmon with the blood still squirting out and my friend having no idea where the bear was. They were required to carry 375 H&H Magnums suspended at waist level. Qualification was hitting a pie plate at 15 feet while shooting from the hip.
greater yellowstone griz are significantly smaller than Alaskan brown due to diet.
A .44 magnum in 20 mph winds works just fine. 😏
Well we have a seasoned bear man here
He certainly convinced me and should be pinged to all “bar thrayeds”
Riverruner
My goodness - nobody parroted the tired old trite “File off the front sight” BS.
“Screw bear spray. Its not reliable.”
With 30 mph winds, you risk the spray being blown right back at you.
Did he fire all 6 or just 5???
Talk to the federal government. They weren’t there for fun, they were there on duty.
I was a housemate with a Coasty many years ago. His previous duty station was Kodiak Island. He packed heat if he left the base/town. Not sure how that works these days...
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