Black Bears and Fear

[Etter]

I wonder how many people on here are afraid of black bears or feel the need to carry sidearms while black bear hunting?  On the general GA hunting forum, it seems like everybody is quite terrified of bears but still choose to hunt them. Ive been around bears my whole life and have been in close contact with hundreds of them at this point. Of all of those maybe five have acted "agressively". I hate to use that term because the general behavior we see as agression (hoofing, bluff charging, teeth popping) is all show and is an attempt by the bear to completely avoid anything physical. Calmy speaking to them and keeping eye contact has diffused every situation Ive ever been involved in but Im sure a lot of people would have shot these bears or sprayed them, either of which would be completely unnecessary.

What I hate is when I meet people in the woods with a bow and a sidearm (just in case).  I think this shows a lack of knowledge about bears and a tactic that could kill a lot of sows who have cubs and are just asking someone to head somewhere else.

The only serious maulings on people by black bears that I see are typically in parks where they are completely protected. Even if you look at those as examples of danger by black bears, you have to think of the millions of encounters between humans and bears every year that end in nothing. You are in more danger of dying by a falling tree branch than a black bear but we dont wear helmets in the woods.

I urge anybody who loves bears and/or hunts them to read Ben Kilham's books on bear behavior. They are unbelievably enlightening.

Thoughts?

[newhouse114]

On the flip side, I dealt with bears that had never had any human contact. An aggresive bear in that situation (not cub defensive) is planning on eating you so you should be prepared.

[Etter]

Could you explain further?  As I said before, anything short of contact is not actually agression. It is posturing. If a bear planned to eat you, it probably would have.

[Etter]

Nearly every predatory attack on humans by black bears has resulted from attacks from the rear by someone completely unaware.

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by Etter:
Nearly every predatory attack on humans by black bears has resulted from attacks from the rear by someone completely unaware.

Key word there is NEARLY.  I think you just answered your own question.  

I say if they are doing something that is legal, and it gives them comfort, leave them alone.  You never know, so go forth being prepared.

[Gen273]

I say if they are doing something that is legal, and it gives them comfort, leave them alone.  You never know, so go forth being prepared. [/QB][/QUOTE]

X2

[JimB]

Originally posted by Etter:
Nearly every predatory attack on humans by black bears has resulted from attacks from the rear by someone completely unaware.

Sorry but that isn't even close.Read Stephen Herrero's book on bear attacks.I can't remember one situation like you describe.

The bear specialist that studies bears in the Boundary Waters, explains that the only bear that is really dangerous and predatory to humans is the male that has very little to zero contact with humans. He said that they will stalk and use great stealth to sneak up on someone. He also added, and I agree, at close range they are so fast that no one can draw a side arm fast enough to stop them. His advice is to use only use mace on a bear that is mauling someone.  Of the thousands of close encounters that have happened in Boundary Waters, there is only one case, years ago, where a sick female got very persistent and dangerous.  The two escaped to the water with a canoe. Which leaves me doubting much of the story, because of the time that they had to get a canoe to the water and then get in and paddle out.  What I cannot understand is when I am bowhunting I am armed, why would I need to carry a gun for something that virtually never happens. Grizzlies are a different critter and pepper spray may be more important. You have a better chance of getting injured by a falling branch in an Iowa farm grove or lightening or just driving to go hunt.

[Pointer]

Sounds like you are trolling Etter...last year in NJ a college kid was killed and partially eaten by a 300lb boar. Maybe its one encounter in 200 that ends badly...maybe one in a thousand, who knows? Point being doesn't matter if you happen to be that one. Preparedness makes sense whether you are in the deer woods or a national park dealing with protected bears.

[Possum Head]

Very few fall from trees but most take measures to prevent it.

[mangonboat]

I'm of similar mind to Etter. I've walked to or back from  my blind or stand in pitch dark every day of deer hunting life, never worried about what was out there in the dark. I walk down my road in the dark several times a week. I live in an area where black bears are common...I have had surprise encounters with a handful just this year: a big boar, a sow with small cubs and a few 2.5 yo's. I just hold my ground, stand tall and speak in a level voice. The males don't like to adjust their routes and sometimes pee to mark their territory before they move off, and I am very cautious around the sows. Twice I've been surprised by bears that surprised me at close range in the hot tub out behind the house early in the morning; I just stood up and faced them...the sight of a nekkid middle-aged guy with a newspaper freaked them out. So I cant imagine myself packing a sidearm "just in case" I meet a cranky bear.

[Etter]

Im actually following the teachings of the man who has spent more time in close contact with black bears than any man in history. Several of you have quoted extremely random bear dealings. How many people fall on a sidearm and accidentally shoot themselves in the leg?  A LOT more people than are attacked by black bears. I knew a person who was riding a bike on a sidewalk, a car nearby hit a deer and the deer flew into the biker and killed him. Should we no longer ride bikes on sidewalks?  

I honestly thought I would get better reaponses from a group of traditional bowhunters but I see that the same fear of the wild carries over here as well.

Better carry your .44 mags in every state too. A coyote attacked a man in texas three years ago.

[Possum Head]

Sorry we disappointed you.

[Etter]

Originally posted by Possum Head:
Very few fall from trees but most take measures to prevent it.

Actually thousands of people fall from trees. Me and two other friends have had lives saved by safety harnesses.  

Ive never known a single person who was endangered by a black bear.

[Etter]

Originally posted by Possum Head:
Sorry we disappointed you.

No worries

[Mike Vines]

Thats good.  It gives you a reason to get out, meet some people who have, and work on your communication skills at the same time.

[Brock]

tell that to the people eaten by bears that hang around garbage dumps or the old lady in Ouray CO that bears were familiar with and one ended up pulling her by her leg through the fence she constructed to keep her safe and ate her.

If it is legal and gives you comfort...do it.  If you dont feel there is a need, then dont do it.

But dont tell someone else when or how they should find their own comfort and safety while afield.

Just like carrying concealed...you cant say that JUST DONT GO IN DANGEROUS AREAS AND YOU WONT NEED IT....as there are no guarantees in life and like a spare tire...hope you never need it but the one time you do...you are glad you have it and it is operational.

Not sure basis of this post...was it to share info or degrade those that are not as fearless around large predators as yourself?

[Etter]

I was hoping to see that more people are on the same page as me.  I dont wear chain mail when I go to the beach even though my odds of behing attacked by a shark are thousands of times higher than when I am in black bear woods. Perhaps there are risks with any wild animal but they are considerably less when Im in the woods than when Im sitting in my own home behind locked doors.

Enjoy your hunts.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I hunt on the ground in an area that has lots of black bears. I have had many encounters with them, a couple were face to face in the pitch dark. Those two times were a little hair raising. Otherwise, I often have them come by me, some times practically in my lap with no problem. Once they realize I am there, they run away. Overall, I realy don't worry. If I feel threatened, I will use my bow. If they are too fast for me, I guess I'm fighting to the end.
I never thought I would end up as bear scat in the woods.

[boinky]

Why do you constantly let other peoples action get to you so?  I don't carry a pistol, but it does not bother me that others do.  Tons of people carry guns in the woods for protection against snakes......this is funny to me.