Bear spray

[BRONZ]

I'll be elk hunting in the NM Pecos Wilderness area this Sept.  Now that my wife knows there could be a few black bears and cougar where we're going to be, she wants me to carry a bazooka.  I'm looking for a small can of pepper spray.  Cabela's has $14.00 "jogger spray" or $40.00 "bear spray".  Any thoughts there?  This Kansas boy has never hunted in bear country.  I read an article once where a guy basically won a fist fight with a black bear sow.  Maybe I'll just plan on going that direction?  (that's a joke.)

[JoeM]

If your going to get some I would get the bear spray, don't waste your money on the jogger stuff.  I don't believe the jogger stuff has the same potency.  I carried the bear spray in WY but not in NM I wasn't very concerned about blackies but did see them almost everyday.  When I was talking to my guide about mountain lions because we did see a lot of sign, he simply said, "you won't know a lions after you until he's on your back."  If you do decide to fight the bear remember fight dirty there are no rules out there.       Joe

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would not be to worried about black bears or cougars.  I live in Washington and we have lots of both here.  When you see a bear while hiking or hunting and they see you, they always haul tail out of the area.  I always carry bear spray when hunting in grizzly country, and when I am predator calling in bear and cougar.  The cougars tend to be aggressive because they think your stealing their food.  Other wise I don't bother carrying the extra weight when hunting.  when hunting.  

I will say that if a black bear or cougar attacks you the local experts say to fight and fight hard.  Stay on your feet, pull a knife or hatchet and lay into them.  These attacks are very rare, but do occasionally happen.  When black bears and cougars attack, they intend to eat you! Fighting is your best option.  Running is a bad idea!  Stand up to your full height, yell, throw rocks, and if attacked do your best to kill them.  Most predators are not looking for a fight and will break off an attack if you fight back.

Having said the last.  I am going out elk scouting this afternoon and plan to glass for bears in the evening.  I am taking along a folding knife and my long bow with blunts for stump shooting.  I will not have the least bit of worry or need for pepper spray.

[Bill Tell]

I think that is one of those things were if you don't have it and you need it you are really going to wish you had it.  Just my two cents worth.

Saw the funniest sign in Montana by a shop that was selling bear spray.  LIFE TIME GUARANTEE... NO RETURNS

[Ragnarok Forge]

I forgot to add to the last message. If you buy it you can't fly with it in your luggage.  You definitely want the bear spray.  You should call around near where you plan to hunt and then buy it in Arizona when you get there.  That and plan to leave it behind with a buddy or your guide.

I have found that a razor sharp broadhead fired into a predator has a really high probablity of getting them to run away immediately. As in always works!  So I would say your best bet is to keep your eyes open, have a bear tag in your pocket, and if one approaches you fire a sharp piece of steel into the sweet spot and call it a rug.

Let your wife keep the pepper spray and she will feel a lot safer while being in the woods with you.

[saltwatertom]

What Clay said. Up here we have all 3 types of bears and I never carry pepper spray. If a bear wants to get to you it will and some spice will only make the meal tastier. If you truely need to stop a bear carry something that burns powder and delivers a heavy lead projectile.

Take along common sense and "manners" in the woods and the odds of having a bear or cat problem are exteremly small.

Just my $.02  :D

[straitera]

NMF&G just released their recommend for folks participating in wilderness activities. Know your Bears! They highly recommend small bells tied to your clothes and 8 oz. can of jet pepper spray discouraging Grizzlies from your space. Helps to know differences to avoid;
1. Black bears grow to 5' & 500# with small ears & claws. Afraid of & will avoid man. Their scat is smaller round droppings with berries and fur splotches inside the pile. Small disturbed ground around the site.
2. Grizzly bears have longer brown hair & reach 8' & 800# with 4" razor sharp claws. Pads may be 7" across. They are fast as a race horse! Their scat is larger 18" diameter pod including bone shards w/plenty of hair. There will be long claw marks & tree/bush damage around this vicinity. Especially noticeable their scat often smells overwhelmingly of pepper spray with small bells mixed throughout.

[plentycoupe]

I would say that if it makes you feel comfortable carry the bear spray. I carry it in Alaska all the time and through much research am confident it will work if ever needed.
I would not buy the cheap one. It is labeled for jogging for a reason. It is for people.
I would test spray the can I use if you buy one. Just to see how it works, and that it works.

[greenhed]

When you test spray, Dont do it into the wind...lol.  I am in law enforcement and the "jogger" types of spray vary greatly in their potency.  The good stuff is designed for an involuntary reaction of the eyes closing when it hits a mucus membrane.  That being said, I'm not sure the stuff I carry works on animals other than dogs.  I would get the stuff designed for bears.

[homerdave]

i have heard that bear spray is ineffective on black bears, something to do with the mucus response to irritation flooding the spray off, and they're just being less annoyed by it. kinda makes sense for an animal that will rip open a beehive and eat the honey while being stung...

[hunt it]

He who is not afraid of a black bear is not wise as far as I am concerned. Black bears attack more people each year than Grizzlys. Carry the large canister of bear spray - it works on black bears! I have seen it work! Keep it on your belt (buy the holster)not in your pack.

[L82HUNT]

One of my best friends is a guide and rancher in CO he spends more time in the mountains then anyone.  He has told me he seen the effects of bear spray on a large boar in the area of his sheep.
   "A direct shot in the face, the bear backed up a few steps wiped its face for a second and then got pissed."    :eek:  
 
As a rancher we all know what he did.  A decent size handgun is more reliable.

[frassettor]

Funny thing about your post, me and a friend of mine are leasing some land and we know there are bears are on there, so I decided to purchase some myself. Heres what I got, and from what I had read, the spray was more effective then a pistol (in most cases)..Thanks for the post..

   

[Curveman]

Black bear attacks (fatal) are on the increase. One of  the attacks I read about, the pepper spray slowed him down momentarily but they ended up having to shoot it anyway. (Botanists accompanied by a game warden I believe was the story).

The following is an excerpt
by Lynn L. Rogers, PhD - provided by the Wildlife Research Institute:
"Black bears sometimes kill each other by throwing opponents out of trees. The bear below has the advantage because the one above cannot easily hang on and face downward to fight back. The bear below seems so confident of its advantage that mothers have even come up trees after people who thought climbing was prudent.

Offensive attacks include all the killings by black bears. These are generally unprovoked, predatory attacks. Most victims were eaten. Offensive, predatory attacks have almost always been in remote areas where the bears had little or no previous contact with people.  Black bears that raid campgrounds or garbage cans are almost never involved.

Although black bear attacks are rare and most victims come out unscathed, this does not negate the fact that black bear attacks do happen and are sometimes fatal. Since 1900, there have been only 45-recorded deaths that were caused by black bears in the North America. This number is very minimal compared to the over 500 conflicts between black bears and humans from 1960 to 1980. Black bear attacks are much more common in the United States than are grizzly bear attacks. The main reason for the difference is the population size of each species. There are approximately 300,000 black bears in the continental United States, whereas there are only about 2000-3000 grizzlies still remaining in the lower 48 states. The larger population of black bears greatly increases the probability of encountering one in the wild."

I like to hunt them and I confess that I don't carry pepper spray when I do. Treat them with respect that's all. I read where it's the black bear that approaches you calmly, without hesitation from the front, that is the one to worry about. I had one come in like that and he proceeded to chase everything out that tried to come in, including at least one other bear! Needless to say I am glad I made a good shot-he went maybe 10 yards from the shot and now hangs on my den wall!    :D  

Take care.