Posted on 07/25/2011 4:55:29 PM PDT by Titus-Maximus
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - As the grizzly furiously thrashed him about in the Alaska wilderness, all Sam Gottsegen could think about was what he would miss: college, traveling, life.
"I thought: `I'm going to die,'" the 17-year-old Denver resident said. "I thought, `This just can't be happening to me.'"
Then the bear left, only to return a moment later to continue mailing him and his other teenage friends. When the minute-long attack ended, four teens, including Gottsegen, were injured. Three others were unhurt.
The attack Saturday night in the Talkeetna Mountains north of Anchorage came as the group was nearing the end of a 30-day course to learn how to survive in the backcountry. The teens were at the stage of the course where they could try out their skills without adults around.
Authorities believe the bear was aggressive because it was with its cub. Gottsegen said no one ever saw a cub.
The group was hiking through bushes that got so thick they decided to wade through a river, walking in single file. Around a bend in the river, Joshua Berg, 17, of New City, N.Y., began yelling "Bear! Bear!"
The bear took him down first. The animal made angry, snarling noises as it attacked, Gottsegen told The Associated Press from his hospital bed in Anchorage, recounting the attack.
It was so sudden. There was no time to pull out their bear deterrent spray and no one had a gun. Berg, badly wounded, called for someone to set off the personal locator beacon they carried for emergencies.
Gottsegen said everyone scattered and he ran, even though the students had been told to play dead.
His instincts wouldn't let him, though.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Pepper spray will work, unless the bear is really pissed off or otherwise highly motivated. Then its just extra flavoring.
I don't think it will piss them off, but they may charge through it. I've never actually used it, but from folk who have, I'm told the probablility is it will work. But not the only option you want with you.
Hell no. That will __iss them off and cause them to charge. Twelve gauge slugs with a bird barrel for range is optimal.
take piano wire and slice a slug into quarters, then reload it. Works a lot quicker. Alternate with full slugs.
With a grizzly? If you want to tickle him... In the Alaska backwoods you carry a 45-70 lever or a 12GA with slugs; if it HAS to be a pistol nothing less than a 460 or S&W 500. Twelve Hundred Pounds of muscle and death and anger doesn't go down lightly...
Although probably not powerful enough to stop a grizzly bear, a .45 auto or a .44 magnum would likely be your best choice for a handgun.
When tested on gelatin used to represent human flesh, the 9mm outperformed the .45--so the 9mm would be your best bet if you expect to be attacked by space aliens made out of Jello.
You must be a city boy with no clue about the wild.
Please put me on your Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting ping list.
Thanks!
Final Exam.
Prayers up for the youngsters, they got more than they bargained for.
You think being mauled by a grizzly is bad? Wait until the Postal Workers get their hands on you!
Apparently, it is just enough. Perhaps two 10-round magazines of 9mm would also work if the bear gives you time to use them.
Bear deterrent spray? Jeesh!
The correct strategy is to say three loud and senseless rhymes and give him all your saved-up dimes.
Or you just have Bear Grylls with you.
They were irresponsible bringing those kids into that environment without firearms.
I would have called Dick Cheney to take care of the bear.
It seems that I recently read an article about bear attacks that said you should NEVER play dead. Always fight back.
I think I'd fight anyway possible.
Minimum, several of them should have been armed and trained with 30-06 with heavy, premium bullets. I say minimum. 338 Win Mag is better, but that kind of monster recoil is a lot to expect from a bunch of kids.
“I’m gonna have a bear bell and bear spray with me just in case.”
We’ll be looking for pepper-scented bear scat mixed with bells.
Its black bear country, not too worried about them. Will observe proper discipline with edibles and walk big.
Also the .357 should be a nice backup.
Pulling a gun would have been faster?
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