Yellowstone-area bear attack underscores guns-in-parks effort

[Ashrak]

Yellowstone-area bear attack underscores guns-in-parks effort

 

The controversy over guns in parks centered on crime, while essentially ignoring the potential that an animal attack could be the prime reason for packing. Opponents of the change have distorted what it would do for months, which we discussed here. Even KING 5 News sort of fell into that morass. Earlier this year, a hiker armed with a .45-caliber pistol fatally shot a bear that attacked him and his female companion in Alaska’s Denali National Park.

 

Around here, about the biggest worry one would have out in the woods is a coon or maybe some coyotes and I am not all that comfortable being there unarmed. Who the heck would want to go camping in bear country without the ability to defend themselves from something that can tear them limb from limb?

[SirMatthew]

Yellowstone-area bear attack underscores guns-in-parks effort

 

The controversy over guns in parks centered on crime, while essentially ignoring the potential that an animal attack could be the prime reason for packing. Opponents of the change have distorted what it would do for months, which we discussed here. Even KING 5 News sort of fell into that morass. Earlier this year, a hiker armed with a .45-caliber pistol fatally shot a bear that attacked him and his female companion in Alaska’s Denali National Park.

 

Around here, about the biggest worry one would have out in the woods is a coon or maybe some coyotes and I am not all that comfortable being there unarmed. Who the heck would want to go camping in bear country without the ability to defend themselves from something that can tear them limb from limb?

 

We don't even have poisonous snakes to worry about here, but rabies can bring out the worst in any animal. We also have to keep in mind almost all animals are defensive when it comes to their young. Being in remote areas where screams and yells don't reach the ears of help, it's a perfect location for a human animal to strike as well. For all of these reasons I refuse to camp without a means of defense. These reasons are only amplified all the more when we're talking about deep areas of the wild in which there are mountain lions, bears, rattlesnakes, etc. All in all, it's really kind of unbelievable that some would reject a firearm as a standard piece of camping equipment.

[BigJim]

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!!! (sorry) No way would I go into bear country with just a can of pepper spray.

[Xwing]

I read to a few links that were posted in the story. Evidently environmentalists are upset about anyone who shoots a bear in self defense. They view animals’ lives above humans’.

[Bud]

Headed to Grand Teton and Yellowstate the second week in September.

 

Speaking of coyotes, there was a farmer attacked by three coyotes near Streator this past spring. I believe his horses defended him.

Horses save man from coyote attack

[Max Liberty]

BudMan5,

 

Thanks for posting that link -- what an amazing story. I forwarded to a horse-loving pro-gun friend of mine. Whether coyotes or feral dogs, I believe in his situation I'd get my .223 sighted in (backed up by a 1911 just in case.)

 

Certainly in a national park (where one's permits are valid), carry a .357 or .45 ACP... at the very least.

 

-Max

 

Headed to Grand Teton and Yellowstate the second week in September.

 

Speaking of coyotes, there was a farmer attacked by three coyotes near Streator this past spring. I believe his horses defended him.

Horses save man from coyote attack

[Sigma]

I wouldnt feel safe with pepper spray on a bear. I seen a man get sprayed and acted like it was water.

Up in ALaska they carry 50 cal while fishing to wart of bears.

of course you can alwasy tie bells to your shoes so that the bear wont be startled

[Bud]

I wouldnt feel safe with pepper spray on a bear. I seen a man get sprayed and acted like it was water.

Up in ALaska they carry 50 cal while fishing to wart of bears.

of course you can alwasy tie bells to your shoes so that the bear wont be startled

 

This is my pepper spray for bears at Yellowstone in two weeks:

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_06koBwqKr2w/TGnumX0_niI/AAAAAAAAQXI/Z8Ax8fHlgmw/s800/pix2764964953.jpg

 

 

00 buck then five straight slugs

[Jeff Johnson]

I wouldnt feel safe with pepper spray on a bear. I seen a man get sprayed and acted like it was water.

Up in ALaska they carry 50 cal while fishing to wart of bears.

of course you can alwasy tie bells to your shoes so that the bear wont be startled

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know that old line about how to tell if the scat is black bear or grizzly? Black bear droppings have nuts, berries, and bits of animal fur. Grizzly droppings have little bells and smell like pepper spray.