Tom Smith bear researcher .44 Magnum

Self | February 16,2026 | Marktwain

[marktwain]

Does anyone have a recollection of Tom Smith, the bear researcher, telling of a time when he and another were doing bear research and the companion shot a handgun but missed all the shots at the bear?

I have a vague recollection, but cannot find a source.

I thought it was in an interview by Tom Smith, maybe in a hunting or outdoor publication.

If anyone remembers such a thing, please reply.

[marktwain]

Help with my research is appreciated.

[Zathras]

Mine is accurate to 100yds but probably not when being chased by a bear.

[Deaf Smith]

Doing a quick read of some of Dr Tom Smith's articles, he is not a advocate of shooting bears that want to kill you.

And…”be cautious in Brown Bear country”…what ever that means in regard to personal safety.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Link

A documented anecdote that fits this description involves a 2024 bear attack in Wisconsin, where a man attempting to defend himself against a charging black bear missed with every shot in his magazine. 

The Incident: 

• Location/Date: Wisconsin, September 2024.
• The Story: A man and his 12-year-old son were tracking a wounded bear with a dog. Without warning, the bear charged them from a short distance in thick cover.
• The Action: The man fired his handgun eight times, missing the bear completely due to extreme stress and the speed of the charge.
• The Outcome: The bear mauled the father. The 12-year-old son, however, was able to shoot the bear with a rifle, saving his father. 

Context on "Emptying the Gun":
While this specific instance involved complete misses, other accounts highlight that even when shots are fired, handguns can be ineffective under extreme stress if the shooter does not hit critical areas. For example, in another case, a hunter in the Wyoming wilderness was unable to fire his Glock 10mm because it was not chambered, leading to a fatal encounter. Another incident involved a hiker who emptied a .38 revolver, hitting the bear multiple times, yet the bear still killed them. 

These stories are frequently cited by experts to emphasize that in a bear encounter, adrenaline often leads to poor accuracy, and bear spray is often more effective than handguns. 

[Responsibility2nd]

[Uncle Miltie]

Grok can’t find that.

[Uncle Miltie]

I searched Grizzly, so may have missed the black bear reference above.

[marktwain]

I tried Grok, with the same result.

[Uncle Miltie]

Black bear, per Grok:

“ No, even if the bear in question were a black bear (Ursus americanus) instead of a grizzly/brown bear, the specific anecdote you describe—someone (accompanied by, reported by, or witnessed by Dr. Tom Smith) emptying all six shots from a .44 Magnum revolver and missing every single one—does not appear in Tom Smith’s research, publications, interviews, or any associated accounts.”

[marktwain]

Is there specifics on the .38 special incident? I have not found it. The closest I have is an incident in New Mexico. In that case the hunter emptied his .38, probably never hit the bear, and had relatively minor puncture wounds to his foot.

The Wisconsin incident is quite a bit different than as described. Here is a link:

https://www.ammoland.com/2024/09/son-saves-fathers-life-during-bear-attack-in-wisconsin/

[MCSETots]

“And…”be cautious in Brown Bear country”…what ever that means in regard to personal safety.”

Loosely translated, I think it means “Don’t get kilt” . . .

[MikelTackNailer]

These stories are frequently cited by experts to emphasize that in a bear encounter, adrenaline often leads to poor accuracy, and bear spray is often more effective than handguns.

When it comes to defense against a bear I'll put my trust in something that doesn't have "B S" for initials.

With the exception of a Big Shotgun.

[TexasGator]

AI says he beat the bear off with his heavy pistol.

[Badboo]

The best researcher on this subject Dean Weingarten proves handguns success. Look up his many articles or go here

https://www.google.com/search?q=dean+weingarten+bear+deterrent+findings&client=ms-android-tmus-us-revc&hs=0D29&sca_esv=37a1d56e91fd2a24&sxsrf=ANbL-n7B5SZBM8_xysayx4gYDb6dAwtb9Q%3A1771328903587&udm=50&fbs=ADc_l-bZnt6jMmErT-KRarIgXyuyEbgLVbVrL19D752u5Zq1JxsknUc6k2WnAYdF3IRSWkTH3pdQosATZjd3_wJT0jcnPLAgEgAliPq41MimZlEPuL60319NVet1a-LoIdzsEe9hlVeV01TI_qi4ZnHdhUlKab2m-uClsX2tswqnN5ogcKTT0X5qpTrp2mfYB6t8—hcIAurKDoMtkpCe4-RmpnXFJzL51uP-Uav0L2wtP6Z5ceEtmM&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiApNCwuuCSAxUjK1kFHWSgIPEQ2J8OegQIDhAE&biw=337&bih=643&dpr=2.13&mtid=ilWUacKtGs2i5NoPzJ6-yAc

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Oh, I’m pretty sure that marktwain is quite familiar with Mr. Weingarten’s research.

[Big Red Badger]

Did a search as well and Timothy Treadwell came up.
He certainly missed on Many Levels!

[marktwain]

I re-read the description you posted of the Wisconsin incident.

It is fairly accurate. My mistake for reading too quickly.

I have not found an incident with a .38 caliber handgun which fits the discription given.

[marktwain]

Found it. Obviously Grok has to be checked carefully.

From outdoorlife.com, quoting Tom Smith in 2007:

The biologists darted the grizzly from the helicopter, then landed. Approaching the bear to take blood samples, they sensed something wasn’t right. The bear moved, and moved again. Suddenly, from just 19 feet away, the bear charged the two researchers.

One biologist pulled a .44 and fired four shots at the bear, which quickly beelined for the brush. The pair ran for the safety of the helicopter cab. From the air, they noticed the bear still wandering around, so they darted it again. Upon examining the bear, they found that even at close range not a single bullet had hit the bear.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hunting/2007/09/bear-attacks/

---

In an earlier article in 2003, in Outdoorlife.com, Smith is quoted in context, as he appears to be one of the researchers in the incident. That article has disappeared. Maybe it is in the archives.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/why-bears-target-hunters/

[Uncle Miltie]

“Biologists”.

Probably unfamiliar with handgun use under pressure.

Good find!

[Nathaniel]

The Glock WAS NOT CHAMBERED - stupidity.