Caribou hunters need your advise

[Geezer]

With G & F when we had to 'work' a nuisance bear we generally never left the truck without our Rem. 870's.  Spray has its place but when poop hits the deck I'd rather have the 12g. in my hands.

[pow-bow]

You'd be wise to have a firearm with you.  Primarily for hauling meat and around camp.  You don't often need a gun for bear protection but when you need one you need one badly.

[MTArrowLauncher]

I personally dont and wouldnt waste my time with bear spray, it takes a ton of practice or a truckload of luck to successfully stop a charge with a pistol, especially if you didnt even know the bear was there, and your chance of a bear problem is very slim, and a shotgun is tough to carry while bow hunting. BUT with all that said, I personally would bring a shotgun for camp and meat hauling, and if you aims off with the bow and you want some camp meat there are probly ptartmigan around

good luck and happy hunting
Fin

[Tomahawk Hunter]

I was lucky enough to hunt in alaska twice. The first time I had my rifle or a 12 ga.with me all the time. I have a picture of a guy with a big brown spot on his back side, it was made at 3 am. I"ll take a 12 ga. any day. The second trip I camped alone on the penincula.I had a Blond Griz 100 yrds from camp the first day. At about 230 am I could hear somthing heavy moving around outside the tent. The only thing I could see was the night sights on my 44 mag.I do not think a 44 is enough gun for a griz but it"s better than letting him chew on your skull. Ended up being two caribou passing through. I"ll take a 12 ga. any day.

[DWT]

I was fishing in bird creek south of anchorage and after brownie #2 came sliding out of the bushes about 150 yds upstream I reeled up, headed back to anchorage, and went to wallmart and purchased a marlin model 1895 45-70 and some 405 grn softpoints. I felt alot better seeing my next bear with the rifle over my back than the 44mag I was carrying. The moral of this story even though Im a very decent pistol  shot the energy from a large bore rifle or slug is several times more than any hand gun most can shoot accuately. I would really consider a marlin guide gun in 450 marlin. These guns are short, light, and plenty of power along with the accuracy to get the job done. Throw in some ghost ring sights and your all set.

[Kevin Dill]

As this thread has morphed into a 'gun or not' direction, I might also add a few additional thoughts.

You need to understand that your bear risk may be very low...or not. It depends on where you are hunting, and how familiar the bears are with human contact. Bears are curious, but their tendencies are to avoid contact with unfamiliar situations. If they almost never see or smell a human, they are far less likely to present a problem. Bears that are frequently in contact with humans do not always share the avoidance mentality, and may be willing to assert some 'authority' in an encounter. Know your bears and the risks, but also know that nothing is 100%.

If I felt I would be in an area known for risky bear behavior, I wouldn't carry my big pistol...but would opt for a bigger pistol or a stocked gun. No gun being perfect, I'd realize that a stocked gun is harder to carry, slower to access, and more cumbersome in tight quarters. Where I moose hunt, we do see grizzlies but they are extremely wild and not at all habituated to human activities. I feel well-equipped with my laser-gripped Smith & Wesson revolver. Better than spray, but not as potent as some weapons. The statistics favor never getting scratched by a bear. The gun is insurance, and an aid. I selected my specific weapon because I knew I would carry it every single day in the bush. A weapon left in camp is a useless weapon. Your best weapon however? That would be knowledge of bears in the specific area you'll be hunting.

[Tucker]

Advise from a trad perspective?!?!  

Take lot's of wool clothing or fleece and good water proof outer shell. Be ready for really cold and possibly wet weather. Extra wool socks and warm dry foot ware.
The weather will kill you before any bears...

Take an extra tent to store your gear in and use yourself in case something goes wrong with your main tent.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I spent quite a bit of time in Alaska when I was in the Army.   A hot loaded heavy bullet 45 long colt might be enough if your lucky.  A 45 ACP is a bad joke as bear medicine.  Frankly so is a 44 magnum.   If that is what you have get a bigger gun or bear spray!  A 454 Casull would be the minimum pistol I would use, and it would be a back up.  Never bring a pistol to a gunfight!  Or a big bear fight.  You really should check the bear risk for your hunting area.   It may be really low.  I always carried a riot gun with slugs on my personal time.  I carried an M - 60 machine gun while on duty in the field,  which I felt completely safe with by the way.   We saw a lot of bears and never had a problem with them.   If your hunting buddy has a heavy weapon stay together on your hunt and you're covered with one weapon.   Good advice anyways.  Getting lost in the tundra can make you dead real quick.

[Wary Buck]

I've hunted AK twice, the first time without a gun, and we had enough issues with bears I took a gun the second time and would probably not go back without one.  My brother took a short-barreled 12 ga. with slugs; I carried a .44 Magnum.  I admit that it seemed inadequate when standing next to a full-bodied bear mount in a Kodiak, AK motel, but on my first trip I'd had a bear spray can de-pressurize to uselessness.  

Nice thing with a .44 Magnum, you can get acquainted with your gun and work on your marksmanship and handling with the cheaper .44 Special ammo, and save the .44 Magnum rounds for the real deal.  Practicing with the .44 Mag was really not much fun; but shooting the .44 Spcl load was enjoyable.  In the heat of the moment in the field, I don't think the hotter magnum rounds would even be noticed by the shooter.  I also thought that the ball of flames coming out of the barrel might be a deterrent or at least start the bear on fire if he got on me.     :eek:  

I think if I were to return, I'd consider the portable electric fence unit for around the tent to sleep better at night.

[plentycoupe]

It depends on your level of comfort being our there in bear country. I do carry a pistol or bear spray when I bow hunt.
On my last grizz bow hunt I had the pistol drawn and aimed at the boar grizz as my buddy missed it at 35yards. The bear ran like a scared coyote.
Would the pistol have done any good?? I don't know. I shoot it a lot. I am always practicing. I hand load 300grn hard cast flat nose bullets for it.
It did make me feel more comfortable though.
If I were you I would carry it. It isnt going to weigh you down much as hunting that time of year you will have some heavy clothing and gear.
It may make you feel more comfortable and I think that is what you are looking for. The chances of actually having a serious encounter are statistically improbable.
Like others said. The best thing is to keep a clean camp. Be smart and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!!