Posted on 01/04/2022 4:17:02 AM PST by marktwain
On April 15, 2021, Carl Mock was attacked by a grizzly bear, just outside of Yellowstone Park. Mock was an accomplished woodsman and guide. He did not have a firearm with him. He had bear spray. He used the bear spray but was fatally injured.irected to Montana Fish and Wildlife Morgan Jacobsen, was able to determine bear spray had been used in the incident. Initially, the use of bear spray was reported as unknown by ktla.com:
Mock when attacked had bear spray — a Mace-like deterrent meant to protect against attacks — but officials said they did not know if he managed to use it. Bear spray canisters have safety tabs to prevent them from going off accidentally and the safety tab on Mock’s bear spray was off, Jacobsen said.
Ktvh.com reports the investigation confirms bear spray was used. Although the attack was fatal, the lead investigator, Hillary Cooley, is reported as characterizing the use of bear spray as helpful. From ktvh.com:
Cooley says the incident again shows the need for safety precautions, even close to town. While bear spray helped curtail this attack, carcasses can present a real hazard in grizzly country.
Another report indicates the full can of bear spray was discharged in the incident. From gohunt.com:
Investigators say he had brought fishing gear and a camera to the closed campground and likely the surprised the grizzly bear around 3:30 p.m. He was able to discharge a full can of bear spray during the attack and call 911 to report where he was.
The full investigative report makes clear the bear spray was deployed against the grizzly bear during the attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Hangry bear vs bear spray? You gonna lose.
I’m carrying both gun and spray!
Not my idea of helpful. Hillary is the a grizzly coordinator, so the question of helpful to who enters my mind. A more detailed discussion of the aftermath below. The attack was ruled defensive, the bear acting in defense of a moose carcass. He was killed a few days later when he attacked a team trying to scare him from the area.
This also shows why “less lethal” self defense measures (electronic & chemical restraints, impact weapons) are a lesser option to unabashedly lethal weapons. Because some attackers won’t be deterred by anything short of death.
Don’t need or want running shoes.
No running!!!
Just back away.....slowly.
The bear will go toward the writhing, screaming and scent of blood.
See my #67
You want a wing-dog for bear country, look up “Aksaray malaklisi”
Same idiotic logic leftists use over vax
These people are truly deranged
Bear spray was helpful....
My ass
As one who used to hike without a firearm in grizzly country .....I feel fortunate...I was quite close to a fatal bear attack in east glacier area in 78
Beautiful dog, but the Karelian is faster than a griz and fearless.
Especially, the new honey flavored spray!
“It’s a Floor Wax AND a Bear Spray!”
Thanks for that informative link!
What a terrible way to go.
Just like the vax then.
He should have had a pocket knife.
I one time asked the brother of a friend when I was but a Yute why he carried a little .25 acp instead of something larger, saying that wouldn’t kill anyone.
His reply was something I never forgot. “I know it won’t kill them, but it sure as hell gives you the advantage in the fist fight that follows.”
I don’t get in to Bear country but if I did it would be with a Semiauto 12gage slug shotgun.
I believe most outdoorsmen do not buy the idea that bear spray is more effective than firearms. Some might buy into the idea that bear spray has sufficient effectiveness in deterring bear attacks. This might be the opinion that this guy once held. If you can ask him now, I bet he would say he is convinced of bear spray's relative ineffectiveness.
Caliber is far less important than most think.
I was watching a documentary on polar bears and some group was going into a polar bear hotspot. The Canadian government required an armed First Nation's guide to accompany every group. As the group prepared to leave their boat and go ashore, the video showed the guide loading the rifle and you could see the ammo box - it was a .243 Winchester! In the right hands, it will get the job done but there sure is no margin for error. Personally, I'd want something with a lot more power, like a .300 magnum minimum, for something as big and predatorial as polar bears can be.
There have been several accounts where the bear is wounded and then runs off.
I suspect most polar bear attacks are predatory rather than territorial.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.