Posted on 07/14/2023 5:30:12 AM PDT by marktwain
A plausible fourth failure of a defensive firing of a handgun against a bear has been discovered. The fourth incident was found in the incidents discovered in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for a polar bear and human conflict database. The incident occurred near Churchill, Canada, as part of two incidents from October 19 to October 26, 1986. Bear spray had recently become available. There are two separate incidents. The first involves bear spray, which marked the bear. The second involved “cracker shells” and a .44 caliber handgun, probably a .44 magnum. From the FOIA, incident 41:
Oct 19-26, 1986, PII,t Churchill. Tourists In temporary camp were observed hand feeding bears for several weeks. Sardines and lard had been put in the willows surrounding camp. During the 6 days researchers were in the camp, 9 bears approached. At the sound of movement within the camp, one bear repeatedly charged the structures and pounded the walls. In the 6 days, 7 charges were initiated by 2 bears. The charges appeared to be directed at the people in the camp. One bear almost entered the stationary vehicles. It was deterred with a broom and bear spray in the face. Four days later and 4 km SW, a bear with a red stain on its forehead, which may have been the bear spray, charged a group of 12 people. The bear ignored both “cracker shells” and shots from a .44 calibre handgun. The people involved were forced to climb a nearby tower or enter an adjacent building. This is probably the first account of bear spray being non-experimentally used under field conditions on a polar bear.
The objective definition of a failure when a handgun is fired in defense against a bear
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Yeah. Let’s hand feed the cute white bear. A recipe for disaster
Yaa, I am thinking people who hand feed Polar Bears and leave food around to encourage more to forage near the camp are not likely to be proficient with a hand gun for self defense.
They are even less likely to actually shoot the bear, and if so, with any accuracy and likely way to late to pull the trigger.
“Yaa, I am thinking people who hand feed Polar Bears and leave food around to encourage more to forage near the camp are not likely to be proficient with a hand gun for self defense.”
They apparently used the gun as a noisemaker rather than a weapon. They did not shoot AT the bear. As the song says, “There’s your trouble”.
I don’t understand (only seeing excerpt): tourists, yet researchers were in the camp? Was this an experiment or not?
They fired to scare bears.
It didn’t work.
I can understand that. Many large predators are not impressed too much by loud noises. Note they were scared of active visuals of people swinging brooms. It’s interesting, because indeed firearms are not real active weapons. You can’t even really see the projectile.
So for scaring, not so good. Possibly stopping them, good.
I dunno. Polar Bears are TOUGH. Not sure a .44 even a magnum would take one down unless you hit a vital organ. Got a hunch anyone dumb enough to hand feed a polar bear isn’t exactly the best shot. Then again, such an idiot is also likely to be dumb enough to think warning shots would work. So you may be correct.
Never mind my previous comment. Another Freeper posted they were warning shots. Morons (but that was well established by the hand feeding freaking polar bears thing).
Pooh knows how to protect his House, he is always srapped.
I shoot, reload, have four different presses, etc. But I’ve never heard of a “cracker load.” Is that a bullet for shooting white people?
Geez, why would people feed bears? I won’t even feed the smallest of animals around my house.
I will feed some very small animals around my house. In fact, I’ll go feed them some ant poison right now, since you reminded me. Amdro is great stuff.
their heart only pumps ~12 times a minute so a heart shot doesn’t stop them dead in their tracks
articles i’ve read say try for their shoulders to stop them from grabbing you and running
I recall reading about an experiment someone did with opening an umbrella at a charging bear, and the sudden large object materializing in front of the bear scared it off. I imagine if there was a large predatory face picture on the umbrella (maybe bigger bear face with gaping fangs) that would cause it to pause the attack.
Hiking ‘Copper Basin Rd.’ Lately and felt comfortable with my “Bear Repellent”.
Yup they be Brown Bears and situational awareness is Surviving And Living the Life
The trick is to feed them enough hands to fill them up.
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