Posted on 11/11/2017 3:29:21 AM PST by marktwain
An off duty Wyoming Game Warden, Chris Queen, was hunting elk in the Little Sunlight Basin north of Cody, Wyoming, not far from the Wyoming border.
He was returning to his horses late in the day, about 6:30 in the evening. The sun had set 15 minutes earlier, but there was still considerable light. A grizzly sow bluff charged Chris, then charged him full out.
Queen told investigators he slowly backed away believing the sow would return to her cubs and move on.
But, after returning to her cubs, the sow exhibited even more aggressive behavior.
Suddenly, the animal lowered its head and fully charged.
Queen said he fired his rifle at the charging grizzly, killing it just a few feet from where he stood.
It is not unusual for an agency with concurrent jurisdiction, to be asked to assume investigative responsibility for an incident when a member of a law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction is involved,” said Steward. “This maintains the integrity of the investigation and eliminates even the perception of impropriety,”
The off duty Game Warden, Chris Queen appears to be following the best available advise. Tom Smith, Professor at BYU, one of the most quoted proponents of bear spray, said as much in a Sports Afield article in 2012. He said that it would be foolish to drop a rifle to attempt to obtain pepper spray, while being charged.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
A 30-30 in the hand is worth two bear sprays in the pocket. :-)
Not mine! But I also advocate a wild life.
Do you know what the rifle was?
The native Indians say bears were created to keep fear in man and keep their egos in check.
“They don’t pay you to bring ammo back” ~ Tom Clancy
Ursus arctos horribilis would be a good political mascot. Better than a jackass, or a pachyderm.
As a bonus it would drive California liberal nuts, they’d have to change their flag!
Treadwells’ movie...
Grizzlyman.
It should be
Grizzly Poop.
With all due respect to Fred Bear, my money's on the guy with the rifle to stop any charge.
When something big and angry is charging, there is a lot more accuracy and margin for error with a .458 Win Mag rifle than there is with a .44 mag pistol. Just need a competent rifleman because rifle will do its part in stopping instantly any animal on the plant.
In watching Grizzly Man,
A sane person just wants to scream out
Hey Dude ...
That bear Wants to Eat You!
So. what happens to the orphaned. Cubs?
-x-x-x-x-x-
Particularly tender meat......
Both were "A" students just getting their lives straightened out.
First year might not make it. They will be come prey for other bears or mountain lions.
If they were two year cubs they will be just fine as they would have been leaving her in the spring anyway.
to think there existed people like Winston Churchill and Audie Murphy and our fathers for the most part, to end this country with pansies like Treadwell....insanity displayed...
I hope we learn to grow men again...
Also, while your article correctly addresses selection bias, it's the media's selection, not the bears. Most charges are bluffs and will stop at 20 (too close) to 30 years. If I spray a bear at 30 yards, and he stops, the overwhelming likelihood is that it was a bluff, the bears selection. Though chalked up as a successful spray. In my unprofessional opinion, which a few experienced with bears have agreed, if it's a true charge, the bear is coming through the spray. 30 yards, that's 3 seconds. Or less. If you're not ready to shoot, it's too late.
It has lower oleoresin capsicum content than human spray. I’d guess that’s offset to a large extent by the far greater quantity and greater range. And the fact that you’re firing a bear or man encompassing cloud, not trying to his a forehead. And marking your assailant orange. But the canisters are big, and could be more difficult to deploy in close contact. You’d be in the cloud as well. Don’t know about wasp or oven spray, I can see where that could be a problem. Fortunately when traveling where all these things are illegal, I usually carry my wife’s hair spray for her. Again unprofessionally, intent can be anything. If you are carrying bear spray for defensive use on humans, that could be a problem. I only carry it for bears.
The CNS advice is correct. Not easy on a charging bear, recall how their head swings right to left. It's a deadly situation to be in at close range.
Anecdotal, and I've no way of knowing if true, but I was told of a fishing guide who was attacked and put 4 rounds of .44 mag in the body with no immediate effect. The attack was halted by another guide who sprayed the bear. Who ran off and died. Would he have stopped if sprayed first, who knows. I prefer to avoid bears.
“Real question, though: how effective is bear spray on humans? “
Just use a dog spray. Halt is one brand. It’s what mail carriers are issued.
“Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.”
When a Grizzly charges me, I belt out “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees.
They stop and I usually get applause when I’m done.
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