[SJackson]

If you’d like to be on or off this Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

I know there will be disagreement, but the author's underlying conclusion is correct. If you're not going to use a weapon, don't carry it. At least a bear won't take it away from you, though that's not much consolation.

[Paladin2]

Use both, early and often.

Practice.

[magslinger]

[Petruchio]

I prefer guns with bullets coated with pepper spray.

Don’t forget to tie little bells on your shoes . . .

LOL!

[sauropod]

I’ll take the gun, thanks.

And I *will* use it!

[rlmorel]

It isn’t less safe if you are shooting a .460 S&W Magnum at the bear instead of a 9mm.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Person to self...”I don’t wanna shoot the poor widdle cuddly bear. Maybe he won’t hurt me.”
Bear to self...”Yum...easy dinner”

[dog breath]

Hesitation is a common problem when stressed and something they try to train out of people in the military. It is easy to stand there too long thinking when a decision needs to be made in a heartbeat. While the premise of the article seems silly at first glance, I found I could see what they were saying about the hesitation.

[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!

[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.

[tacticalogic]

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

[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.

[SubMareener]

There are handguns and then there are handguns.

[caveat emptor]

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.

Depends on whether you kill the bear with the firearm. My son took out a grizzly that was raiding his tree-planting camp kitchen in northern BC with a shotgun. Absolutely no chance of injury or death from that bear attack. I'll go with a firearm 7 days a week.

[Pollster1]

Who wants to deter a bear? With the right weapon, you can eliminate the problem and cook dinner at the same time.

[2harddrive]

One simply cannot derive the conslusion they presented, based upon the facts in evidence!

[RetiredTexasVet]

Another government/environmentalist study that only lacks the stamp of approval by Mann, Hansen, Jones or other self acclaimed and infallible expert!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Spray and pray?

[dfwgator]

Of course with sea bears, you need an anti-sea bear circle.