Posted on 03/08/2012 10:58:38 PM PST by Zakeet
Conventional wisdom isn't always based on common sense, and sometimes isn't even based on real data, especially when it comes to animals of mythological proportions like bears.
BYU wildlife biologist Tom Smith wants to change that.
A new study suggests that one of the most commonly suggested deterrents against bears in the wild — guns — actually won't protect people any better than not using a gun.
"It really isn't about the kind of gun you carry,” he said. “It's about how you carry yourself. We need to respect an animal that could potentially take our lives."
[Snip]
This isn't the first time Smith has had a study showing that guns aren't as effective against bears as generally believed. In 2008, Smith released a study saying that bear spray is more effective than guns.
Part of the problem is that shooting accurately is very difficult in a terrifying situation like having a giant animal charging at you. Even if you do kill the bear, that's still a problem, given declining populations and the the loss of what a bear can contribute both economically and ecologically.
"It's a conservation issue in that we'll see needless bear mortalities," Smith said.
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
Pepper spray on bears is more of what I’d think of as a recipe for dinner, not survival.
Bears do business, and pay taxes too!
Well they do their business anyway!
thanks for the reply. Interesting
What’s the minimum needed to kill a bear and not just piss it off?
I was just going to say “Sometimes a knife and a dog work pretty well”.
Yes, they are indeed powerful creatures!
At first blush, it sounds like this researcher knew what his result was before he started his research.
As a practical matter, killing a bear with a gun before he can kill you is a very tricky proposition. A head shot will just piss him off.
In any case, this is not the “bear” mentioned in the Second Amendment.
There is no problem even driving a 357 mag and above bullet through a bears skull. I have done it several times.
This guy is a pro bear anti who is more concerned about the bears then people.
If guns aren’t effective against bears why do people in Alaska and in the Arctic carry them?
Declining polar bear numbers? Why has the number been going up since 1950 from 5,000 to 25,000? Could you show me the decline?
I think this guy disagrees:
Guns don't give people advantage during a bear encounter.It also makes for a much more enjoyable meal.
Thank you Lord, for what we are about to receive...
“You really don’t come here for the hunting; do you?”
These BYU folks 'believe' a LOT of stuff that the rest of us; well; just find hard to accept.
Conventional wisdom isn't always based on common sense, and sometimes isn't even based on real data, especially when it comes to a religion of mythological proportions like MORMONism.
That why you also carry a .22 pistol so you can shoot you friend in the knee to slow him down. /s :>)
You drop somebody into the woods who knows little about bears and guns with his 9mm in front of an angry bear, I'm betting on the bear.
Of course, if the guy did not have a 9mm, the odds are stacked even more in the bear's favor.
If you were to sit down with God and design a critter to resist gunfire while coming at you to kill you quick, you would come up with something that looks a lot like a bear. Not that it's impossible, but I'd rather be in Philadelphia.
But all of this is irrelevant when it comes to the right to keep and "bear" arms. Most guns are designed to be effective against humans, and that is why the right is guaranteed. Using a gun designed to be effective against humans against bears is selecting the wrong tool for the job.
The old joke is that the word "ducks" does not appear in the Constitution. Of course, the word "bear" does, but not in that context.
**It's about how you carry yourself**
I carry a .357 because I can't carry a conservation officer carrying a can of bear spray.
NOT still a problem. The only population I'd worry about declining is ME. Kill bear, problem solved. The only contribution to the world that I'm responsible for is mine. Kill bear, problem solved.
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