Posted on 10/03/2019 5:34:43 AM PDT by marktwain
Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- Two pairs of archery hunters were attacked by a grizzly bear or bears in Montana, in the Gravelly Mountains. The attacks occurred within 11 hours and one mile from each other. Because of the proximity, it is suspected the same bear was involved in both attacks.
The attacks are remarkably similar with an interesting difference. In one, the hunters used bear spray. In the other, they used 9 mm handguns. From mt.gov:
The first attack happened about 7:30 a.m. when two archery hunters from New Mexico were following elk tracks south of Cottonwood Creek, west of Black Butte. The two men said they were walking single file up a hill when they heard a noise. They both turned to see a bear charging toward them. The bear struck one of the men as the other was reaching for his bear spray. The man fell to his hands and knees, then the bear grabbed onto his backpack.
The other man deployed bear spray at the bear. When the spray reached the bears face, the bear let go of the first hunter and attacked the other hunter. The man continued spraying the bears face, and the bear eventually let go and left.
Both New Mexico hunters were injured, but they were able to walk back to their vehicle and make it to the hospital. According to Terri James of Shedhorn Sports, in Ennis,
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
These guys now have a great story from their hunting trip they can tell for the rest of their lives.
If your going to pack a hand gun in bear country while hunting or hiking it is smart to have a 44 mag. I pack a Taurus, stainless steel “Tracker” in 44 mag. I revolver makes more sense than a 9 mm semi that is subject to jam. There is no room for error when in a bear fight.
Perhaps something a little bigger than 9mm is called for in these situations.
L
The Tracker is a good gun.
Semi-autos are more popular. The 10 mm is being carried by more and more for defensive use in the back country.
Bow hunters. When did “Archery Hunters” become a thing?
Predators generally attack without warning. The Grizz is something else, maybe they were generally meaner in those days, but Lewis and Clark reported that grizzly bears often simply charged and attacked at full speed as soon as they had a clear line of sight. And they are fast.
They had under-estimated the grizzly bear, the Indians had been regaling them with accounts of these gentlemen all the way up the Missouri in their journey, and Lewis figured it was exaggeration. They soon found out that wasn’t the case.
Hard to argue with success.
However, the hunter who fired the 9 mm, purchased a 10 mm when he got back to Washington State.
I carry a .44 mag but I put the bear spray on the bullets. It gets to the bear faster that way.
Precisely. We have known for 200 years that grizzly bears are aggressive and extremely dangerous.
That is why we got rid of them in most places.
Then people forgot; the Mediacracy insisted all the old knowledge was wrong; they were just big fuzzy gentle humans, but morally superior to us.
Now neo-pagans are insisting on re-inserting them into our society because of Gaia worship.
We are learning the old knowledge was correct.
The same is true with wolves.
I purchased this model 29 for bear country. It should be carried at all times. It can be drawn from strong side carry quickly.
240gr HP or FP projectiles at 1250fps beat the anemic 9mm
I prefer the stainless models myself but there is no flies on the 29.
In before the first idiot posts the Griz poop/pepper meme.
I’ll bet that cute snub nose .45 revolver is on nasty thing to shoot.
I love the 629. By the time I got around to larger caliber S&W revolvers, this was the only model available a Dirty Harry inspired issue.
Since then I have acquired a couple/three earlier model S&W revolvers in 357mag. The lock work is so sweet.
There might be a kick...
You need some advance warning, no matter what defensive methods you're using. A good dog might do the trick. When I'm out walking with my Sheltie he senses anything that comes within a hundred feet.
A buddy of mine just got back from an elk hunt (rifle hunt) and he and his guide were charged by a grizzly that was approaching their horses, which were tied to trees. They saw the bear at 35-40 yards (way too close) before it charged them and managed to hit it three times - the guide with a .44 and my buddy with a .300 Win. Mag. - before it ran off. They followed it down hill to an area of thick brush and decided (thankfully) not to pursue it further.
My buddy said that the outfitter told them that, because of a rapidly growing bear population and increasingly common bear incidents, the state has been trying to institute a hunting season for bears, but every time it passes, “environmentalists” get an injunction from a federal judge. Comforting, huh?
Bear hunter no.2: "I know that but all I have to do is outrun you!"
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