[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***A 9mm is much better than a can of spray; and any fool knows this.***

Fred Bear, the famous big game BOW HUNTER, carried a .44 mag S&W under his jacket when he hunted grizley and other dangerous game. It was backup for his bow hunting skills.

I read that he did have to pull it on a bear but his guide stopped him from shooting as his arrow was already bleeding out the record sized bear.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

All of Fred Bear’s bear bow hunts were backed up by a .458 Win Mag. with 500 Grain SPRN. I know one of his Kodiak guides very well. Used to partner with his son. (Marlin Grasser.)

[Hodar]

Fred Bear, the famous big game BOW HUNTER, carried a .44 mag S&W under his jacket when he hunted grizley and other dangerous game. It was backup for his bow hunting skills.

And, on the plus side for Fred; most bow hunters have a stand up in a tree - not down on the ground with the bear. Given a choice between drawing a bead on a bear on the ground - I'll take a rifle over a bow anytime. I might be persuaded to put aside the rifle, if I had a bigger weapon .... oh, say a chain gun...

[Hodar]

Fred Bear, the famous big game BOW HUNTER, carried a .44 mag S&W under his jacket when he hunted grizley and other dangerous game. It was backup for his bow hunting skills.

And, on the plus side for Fred; most bow hunters have a stand up in a tree - not down on the ground with the bear. Given a choice between drawing a bead on a bear on the ground - I'll take a rifle over a bow anytime. I might be persuaded to put aside the rifle, if I had a bigger weapon .... oh, say a chain gun...

[diogenes ghost]

"I read that he did have to pull it on a bear...."

I believe the story is that his first two attempts at polar bears ended with the guide having to shoot the arrowed bears with a rifle to avoid a mauling.

On his third try, the bear was charging after being arrowed & Fred hollered "shoot", but the guide held off and the bear dropped before reaching him. Fred had mixed feelings about the experience.

[Stonewall Jackson]

A couple of years ago, the husband and son of one of my aunt's friends were bow hunting for elk up near Cody, Wyoming when a grizzly attacked. The dad shot at the bear as it rushed past him, chasing the son, but the hit hardly slowed the bear.

It knocked the son to the ground and slashed him across the face, so he punched it in the nose (like all of the "experts" recommend) and it responded by biting his hand. He then threw his other arm across his neck to protect his throat and the bear bit that arm as well.

All this time, the father is beating on the bear with his bow, but to little effect. Suddenly the bear stops its attack, turns toward the father, takes two steps, and falls over dead.

The arrow had hit it straight through the heart. It managed to inflict all of that damage after taking a direct hit from a broadhead.

Three days after the attack, the Wyoming State Legislature passed an emergency bill allowing bow hunters to carry handguns for self defense.