Posted on 12/03/2007 3:09:30 PM PST by george76
Long ago, grizzly bears thrived in Montana as did tales - some tall, some true - told by frontiersmen of a man-eater even more fearsome than the other two bogeymen of the forest, wolves and mountain lions.
Today, the reputation of Ursus arctos horribilis - along with other major predators ...
Also changed is how people can handle encounters with grizzlies, using a chemical spray rather than guns to improve the odds that both humans and bears will escape the encounters unharmed.
But Workman believes that if a bullet was good enough for his great-grandfather more than a century ago, then it's good enough for him when confronted by a charging grizzly, especially since he's wielding a modern, high-powered rifle.
It's an opinion held by many hunters, but Workman also is a member of Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, the citizen board that oversees the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
And that agency, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, devotes considerable resources each year on bear awareness programs that emphasize chemical spray, not bullets, as the way to keep both people and bears safe in the woods.
Last week, Workman drew widespread criticism from bear biologists, wildlife officials and some hunters when he shot a charging grizzly - and later said bullets are far more effective than bear spray in fending off such an attack.
“These people who think that they're safe with bear spray, I'm here to tell them it's a false sense of security,” he said.
“The spray is better than nothing, but I'll choose a firearm every time.”
Workman...also drew fire for saying grizzlies have become so populous in Montana that they should be taken off the endangered species list and hunted to make them afraid of people.
(Excerpt) Read more at missoulian.com ...
If it's an original Winchester, it will say so on the tang, something like Winchester patent model 1886. Also there will be a Winchester marking on the barrel. If a reproduction, you will probably find the name of the manufacturer, i.e., Browning on the barrel. If an original 1886, you can safely shoot the 400 grain lead bullets from various manufacturers. I'd shy away from the modern jacketed 300 grain 45-70 in an original, unless you had a gunsmith check it out. If it's a reproduction, you can shoot anything the factory turns out for 45-70 ammo. I'd stay away from 500 grain stuff-that will definitely break your shoulder. The 400 grain stuff is bad enough. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen any modern factory 500 grain loads, so don't worry about it.
They are trying to Kalifornicate the great state of Montana.
Part of their design is to have enough predators on public lands that it frightens people from using those lands.
This is part of the reason why biologists were caught planting grizzly and lynx fur in the Cascades. They’d already proposed roping off 1.3 million acres before their scheme was revealed. Oh, by the way, they weren’t fired, just reassigned.
Don't even need to hit the bear. Anything close from a 50 might knock it over.
Heck, bears is smart. Just seeing a Barrett might scare it away. ;)
Make it two Ann's, and the bear might have an appetizer.
The girl needs a sammich.
Are you trying to turn this into another Larry Craig thread?
I would never venture into bear country without a high power semi-auto rifle and the biggest magazine I could jam into it, legally or illegally. I might miss 20 times, but the bear WOULD at least be deaf.
Great information. Thank you...
The USGS is required by politics to train its people for protection against 4-legged threats--not 2-legged.
8-)
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The liberals would have you pepper spray and taser a charging bear instead of allowing you to use what works.
Oh, by the way, they weren’t fired, just reassigned.
> As long as you have both the nerve and the skill to hit the bear in the right spot. Especially if it’s moving. Most especially if it’s moving at you, as in this case you may not get a 2nd shot.
When did the second or third shot ever do any good if you missed with the first? After the first shot everything else is a desperation activity.
Following the tragic death of a Colorado Geological Survey researcher, programs nationwide are considering new safety guidelines for the outdoor industry.
Police arrested Robert R. Amos, also known as Dennis Cook, after finding the body of 24-year-old Alyssa Heberton-Morimoto on Tuesday. Her body was found roughly 15 miles south of Fairplay in a remote part of the San Isabel National Forest.
Vince Matthews, the director of the CGS says he has received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls from organizations ranging from the U.S. Forest Service to the Division of Wildlife with condolences and questions on what they need to do for improved safety of their employees in America’s forests.
“Everyone who has people who go out alone is concerned about this and re-examining their safety procedures,”
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=72784
The session was dedicated to Mrs. Heberton-Morimoto.
Thanks.
What will happen now ?
Train and arm some of the staff ?
Spraying ‘em with hot lead might be the path to compromise... ;’)
Always a favorite!
Glad you mentioned the bells...
What’s your opinion of the .450 Marlin?
My advice is a good pair of running shoes and a fat, out of shape hiking companion.......
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