Study: Guns no more effective than pepper spray in bear encounters

Star-Tribune ^ | March 25, 2012 | KELSEY DAYTON

[SJackson]

LANDER — As bears begin to emerge from dens in the greater Yellowstone National Park ecosystem, a new study says carrying a gun into bear country doesn’t make you any safer.

Tom Smith, a professor of wildlife conservation at Brigham Young University, and fellow scientists studied 269 bear-human conflicts in Alaska for a paper appearing in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Those incidents involved 444 people and 357 bears, 300 of which were brown bears.

The team found firing a gun is no more effective in keeping people from injury or death during bear attacks than not using a firearm. Research didn’t find a statistical difference in outcome — injury, fatality or noninjury — when they compared those who used their gun in an aggressive encounter (229 instances) to those who had guns but did not use them (40 instances).

Smith found many people didn’t want to shoot a bear and often went through a decision-making process that took too long when a bear charged, Smith said.

“That reluctance is a built-in problem for this deterrent,” he said.

In his study, 24 percent of people who used guns were injured and of that group, 17 people were killed.

In a paper he wrote in 2007, after analyzing the use of bear spray as a deterrent, Smith found only three of 156 people involved in bear encounters who used spray were injured (less than 2 percent). And all of the injuries were minor, he said.

[SJackson]

I don’t know how effective Bear pepper spray is, but it’s got to be better than a holstered pistol.

It's effective, and many times not, but better than a holstered pistol. Handgun not being my first choice.

[Okieshooter]

I carry my .500 Linebaugh revolver when in bear country. I practice often and compete in cowboy action shooting and will not hesitate.

[rlmorel]

By all accounts, they are scary fast. I chuckle when I see a man being chased by a bear in a movie...I always think “No Way.”

[paratrooper82]

Wiping your ass with toilet paper has no effect on wiping your ass either!

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! What these stupid anti-gun zealots won't come up with to stop people from carrying a firearm!

These same idiots who conducted the study have never encountered a bear in their stupid lives! I personally chased a black bear with cups from our back porch, she did not stand her ground until she reached the edge of the woods, this is when I knew she would would not budge no further and left her alone!

Most bears are more afraid of you than you are of them, if you respect most animals they will respect you. Having a firearm with you is always excellent insurance inspite of some liberal crap trap study that suggests other wise!

[Calvin Locke]

...bear standing on its hind legs ...

Reminds me of an article in which the author recounts his family's trip to Yellowstone.

His father stood underneath a bear, holding up an open jar of honey, while the bear steadied himself with his forepaws on the father's shoulders to get at the jar.

[Paladin2]

The L&C Party ate dogs.

[yarddog]

I think pepper spray is more effective than most people think.

Still I think I would prefer a hot loaded S&W model 29 (hard cast Keith style 240 grain bullet) with a 5 inch barrel.

I would rather have an even more powerful handgun but then you start talking about so much weight, one might not carry it.

[TYVets]

"He who hestistates has lost."

My Dad.

[Chainmail]

You can carry your pistols - if I’m in bear country, it’s my 7.62mm M1A/M-14 with 20-round magazine or nothing!

[tacticalogic]

Pepper spray is more effecitive on bear than a gun....after the bear is shot, dressed and cooked.

[ASA Vet]

What kind of cups? Tea, measuring, sports?

[MamaDearest]

When you're in the woods and you hear the leaves rustle and nearby branches cracking, you best be ready with whatever you have. It could be deer, elk, moose, bear, mountain lion, coyotes or wolves; ANY of which can cause you serious harm.

A local person wrote recently of his and his wife's experience falling when about five miles down the trail and breaking bones and ribs in the process. It's not an easy trek back to the vehicle in that event (they had bicycles they could not ride because of their injuries) and iffy if any cellphone coverage. Two-way radios are a good back-up plan for such woodsy excursions.

Those who have bear spray should note the cannisters have expiration dates. I wouldn't want to "test" the efficiency of this product when it is most needed.

[magslinger]

You will notice the warning didn’t say anything about brass or weapons in the grizz scat.

[yarddog]

If I knew I was going to run into a dangerous brown bear, I would carry nothing less than rifle in .375 H&H. I might take one of those Marlin Guide Guns in 45-70 if I had tested it enough to know it was reliable.

[JSteff]

but it’s got to be better than a holstered pistol

It is, and works on human threats too... and very effectively.

Temporarily blinded, respiratory system burning, chocking, possibly vomiting, most end up on the ground and can be of no threat to you or yours. Better yet, close in most cases is more than accurate enough to stop anyone.... not always the case with a firearm.

Seems to work on alligators too. My mom used it down in FLA (or Louisiana) when she was walking their greyhound at a camp ground. A very large alligator popped on the walking tail one evening. She bear sprayed it and it backed off real quick.

It is now one of the Christmas gifts I give them. A large can of bear spray each. Only about $30 so it is cheap too.

No target practice either. It a user can spray a garden hose or Pam they can use bear spray reasonably well. Seems to hold up in the can well too. My wife tried a 3 year old can in the basement. It still worked... and if you only spray a 3 second blast that is all you will have used... and still have plenty left for the next target... or the first it he/she has any fight left in them.
But they won't.
Once they are down if you feel you still need to shoot them they are an easier target when they are blinded and laying on the ground and can't see you any more.

The basement test showed though, that be sure you know where your exits are when you spray in the home. :-)
No worry though, it is just pepper elements and it non poisonous. It will not affect your genes or DNA nor have any other long term effect a human.

[heartwood]

There should be a shell with pepper spray and buckshot.

[MasterGunner01]

Ah, Herr Professor, if you don't think guns aren't any more effective than pepper spray, how about walking around in bear country without any?

Personally, I want the biggest and baddest cannon I can carry: .44 or .50 S&W Magnum, or a self-loading rifle with a magazine full of .308 Win. 180-grain or 220-grain .30-06 jacketed hollow points, or a Saiga shotgun with a 12 round magazine loaded with Brenneke slugs. If you're going to a bear confrontation, bring a gun. Better, bring two guns. Better still, bring all your friends with guns.

[JSteff]

I would feel better with that gun in my hand rather than the can of pepper spray as the charging, bouncing bear advances!!!

You may be a better shot than most, and cooler when being charged by a large fast Giizz... most are not even good on a target, let alone in a stress situation.
With the pepper spray close is usually good enough... not the case with a gun.

[JSteff]

I would feel better with that gun in my hand rather than the can of pepper spray as the charging, bouncing bear advances!!!

You may be a better shot than most, and cooler when being charged by a large fast Griz... most are not even good on a target, let alone in a stress situation.
With the pepper spray close is usually good enough... not the case with a gun.

[SubMareener]

There are handguns and then there are handguns.