upcoming bear hunt would like input

[jrchambers]

Ill be headed to the woods for a week in may, Ill be hunting the east side of prince william sound for brown bears,  my question is, does anyone know of or has made a scabard for a short barrelled shot gun that alowes the weapon to be drawn with ease off of a back pack, this is so it can be a close second choice to my bow.  I know this is about a gun option but when bowhunting brown bears it is all part of the package.  Im looking for something light weight but still stiff enough that wont colapse or be pinched restricting acsess,
I was thinking some thiner leather and soak forming it but something synthetic might be lighter and slicker.

[ishiwannabe]

I wouldnt trust anything I made in that situation, then again, my leatherwork is terrible. LOL. I would go sythetic...just my .02.

[Slim Buttes]

Leave the firearm for the guy backing you up. I don't think they make a short enough shotgun to do the job of ending your misery before the bear mauled you. I don't think there is a "close second choice" it this situation. Choose your "first" and go for it.  Packing a bow/shotgun and reaching for the shottygun if things don't go as planned sounds like a bad time waiting to happen.

But then again, according to some, "I'm an accident waiting to happen."

[ozy clint]

are you hunting on your lonesome?? if not, your buddy should be saving your life.

[Rick P]

jrchambers

I'm having a hard time picturing a "fast draw" Type scabbard for a legal length shot gun. I'd experiment with different envelope type holsters first but that's allot of arm swing in a SHORT amount of time. I like a 44mag with really heavy loads. Much quicker to draw, lots of holsters available and proven performance. Soldotna ammo has several great bear rounds.

I do almost all my hunting solo and especially Bear. For me Bear hunting is so wrapped up in my religious beliefs that it would be difficult for a person of a different faith to tolerate. I also refuse to diminish my own experience of the hunt. Lets face it folks Bears are a totally different hunt and not for every one. I also don't know anyone I trust enough to put in the "back up" slot.

[Orion]

For my Alaska hunting with grizzlies around,(hunting moose not grizzlies) I used an 870 with the barrel cut to 18 inches and a pistol grip.  Attached sling swivels and a nylon sling.  Very easy to have the gun slung over your shoulder (over a small pack, or under a large one) pointed down.It rides quite comfortably there, and you can grab it and pull it under your arm and forward, putting it into action without removing the sling from your shoulder.  Of course, if one has time, would probably remove the sling from the shoulder for a little more freedom of movement.  My next trip, I'll probably use my 44, as long as I know my buddy isn't too far away with his shotgun.

[roper]

Rick.....contact Steve Catts who is listed as the
hidehandler (makes great back quivers) he can build you any kind of holster you need....He is
very good! I think he may be a sponser on this site. good luck allen

[Fletcher]

I've only been to Alaska once, but I put my faith in a good can of bear spray.  It was always with me and I could get it out quicker than the 44 or 12 ga.  There were two of us and we had Shelley (the 870), the cousins (S&W) and Dr. Pepper; we never saw a bear.    

[jrchambers]

as far as the gun itself, i would never consider a pistol or even a pistol grip, i have had a half dozen bad encounters where i fired my weapon only one actualy intending on hitting all others were just to throw up some sand in thier face and that right there has worked every time,  the one time i shot one was with a pistol grip 12 ga it droped with a slug in head, hate to say it pure luck as that kind of percision i cant consistantly achive from the hip,  a shoulder stock and with in 50 yards i hit my mark.  im justlooking for some material ideas, im planing for the scabard to come just to the trigger gaurd so it would be like drawing a pistol grip.  i plan on mounting it on my pack at a angle like a back quiver and i can easly pull out 33 inch arows out of a quiver.  in all honesty i plan on having the gun in my right hand and bow in left during a stalk or wait, i dont care if it might slow down my arow shot.  also if im in bow range and it sees me down goes the bow up with the gun and hope he makes the smart move.

[Rick P]

Really respect your decision to go with a weapon your more comfortable with. I was thinking a tactical sling might also work well, at least for times when your not wearing a pack. Check out Rocky woods fabrics on line. They have every weight canvas, gore tex, pack cloth and nylon you can think of in tons of colors and patterns. I got some 60 denier nylon for the sheep pack I made from them.(60 denier is a bit heavy for a sheep pack but this years pack will have all the wrinkles worked out and the one I have now is wonderful for packing meat on flat terrain)They also have all the web straping and hardware you might need.

2 things about bear spray.

1) A Bear with an arrow in it isn't going to care about it, he'll simply thank you for seasoning his last meal.

2)A few years back when I was guiding for sea kayaking out of Seward one of my guides had to be air lifted out when she tried to spray a Bear that was up wind of her. She is a life long Alaskan with lots of bear experience who switched to spray because she never wanted to kill a bear. She got a full hit of the spray and it triggered an asthma attack. The bear sniffed her foot as she was writhing in breathless agony and walked on past her and our camp up the beach.

Think I'll stick with something that goes bang.

PS I know 3 guys who ended up having to use a gun while on hunts this past year. 2 Are tradgangers.

[jrchambers]

that canvas is a good idea maybe sew it around a stiff form of some sort, some thin plastic sheeting?  I also need to think about my front sight not hanging up.

[Rick P]

They make stuff for awnings and gear bags that's stiff enough you may not need an inside form. Pack cloth and saddle cloth imeadiately come to mind. Try giving the folks at Rockywoods a call or email, they would probably have some great ideas.

[Brian Krebs]

a bear can cover 40 yards in seconds. Better practice with whatever you carry. What I do with black bears- when blood trailing- is have the person doing the tracking be expected to hit the ground tight in the case of a bear attack. "bear!" and hit the ground - allowing the best chance at a shot from the back-up guy at the bear.
  I would hope that would be your plan in stalking a brown bear and arrowing it...

[jrchambers]

I dont generaly pack a firearm when blackie hunting, unless in heavy brownbear woods, but thats not all that often. not shure id trust to many people to shoot over me and stop a bear after me, that just makes it a posible loose loose, im the closest im the one shooting if someone is behind me he had better NOT shoot untill im being chewed.
   Rockywoods, ill call them they must be in anchorage,

[jrchambers]

have put together a rough plan,  i plan on a firm form the entire scabard will come just past the triger gaurd for safety .  the top ridge where the most drag will ocur will have a v shaped plastic ridge to keep the sight free of hang ups,  also i will end the top ridge about six inches from the full length of the scabard alowing the last bit of barrel and magazine to come out on a piviot, some what like a partial envelope.   as for mounting on a pack i will have to fasten some straps or loops so it sits secue and in position, havnt got that far yet.    when finished ill take some pics.  might be a while though

[rappstar]

eberlestock makes a "sort of quick draw" gun scabbard that can be mounted to their packs.  you might want to call them to see if their scabbard could be installed they way you want on your pack.....

[jrchambers]

yeah i checked them out thier are a few other makers of similar products, it looks like it would work, my pack has too many straps so im shure i could put it ust where i want.