Father and daughter's hike ended suddenly by grizzly

Seattle Post-intelligencer via HoustonChronicle.com ^ | Sept. 10, 2005 | CAROL SMITH

[Archidamus]

"I'm so lucky," he said."

Everything is relative.

[Spktyr]

Might have been a different story if they had had a gun.

I won't go around in bear country without something whose caliber doesn't start with a number of ".4" or greater.

[dr_who_2]

So, what do you think? Should people be allowed to carry weapons in national parks? Would a pistol have been enough to at least scare a grizzly away?

[Theresawithanh]

I read this in the local rag on Friday, an amazing story! This guy is lucky to be alive!

[Mo1]

OMG .. and he survived this??

WOW!

[canalabamian]

I won't go around in bear country without something whose caliber doesn't start with a number of ".4" or greater.

I've heard 00 buck closely followed by slugs are the best bear repellent. Of course, I wouldn't really care to test the theory myself. ;)

[Wycowboy]

Might have been a different story if they had had a gun. I won't go around in bear country without something whose caliber doesn't start with a number of ".4" or greater.

National Parks in the lower 48 do not allow firearms in the back country except for a very few exceptions. A better choice would be a couple of cans of pepper spray.

[Jack Black]

Thanks to the gun-banning greenies NO GUNS IN NATIONAL PARKS. What a travesty. This is a law all sane people just violate, I'm afraid to say.

[jocon307]

"Would a pistol have been enough to at least scare a grizzly away?"

Well I am just truly a city girl, but my understanding is that you don't want to rely on scaring them.

[spanalot]

"So, what do you think? Should people be allowed to carry weapons in national parks? Would a pistol have been enough to at least scare a grizzly away?"

A very lucky shot with a pistol could do it - otherwise 300 magnum is minimal for reliable short range protection.

[The Grammarian]

In bear country, you're probably better off carrying a Magnum, even if it isn't in a caliber starting with a number of .4 or greater.

A Desert Eagle .50 cal AE would probably be a good bet.

[manwiththehands]

Amen to that. Going into bear country unarmed is dangerous and foolish.

[Spktyr]

IIRC, 12 gauge is something like .68 caliber, so it qualifies. :)

[eddie willers]

Grizzly spoor has little bells and smell like pepper.

[macamadamia]

Go ahead...hehehe...make my day

[Spktyr]

Um... a pistol is not for scaring the bear off. Pissed off bears do not scare.

You use the major caliber pistol to try to STOP the bear (which usually means headshots if you can make them) when it charges you. Bears are faster, stronger, and heavier than man.

[PzLdr]

With cubs present, No. But it might save your life. Ruger makes a model called the ALASKAN. Not lightweight, two inch barrel. But it comes in 454 Casull or 480 Ruger.Close in, it can't hurt.

[Spktyr]

You want to know how to tell that there's a bear in the area?

You see some cans of pepper spray on the ground that look like they passed through a bear's digestive system.

Also, please cite the regs on firearms for the National Park system.

[muir_redwoods]

I hike where there are black bears. They are not grizzlies but they are bear enough for me. I always carry a .357. The bears that have been measured are in the 160-220lb range.

Larger than that, I have available .40 S&W, .44 Spl, .44 mag or .45 ACP but the .357 seems to be the best combination of portability and punch. Any informed opinions as to adequacy of the .357 would be appreciated

[Spktyr]

I've heard of .357 Mag just bouncing off of some bears' skulls. Give me a .44 Mag, .45 ACP, or something bigger.