Effective weapon to carry to use in case of bear attack?

Question

What is an effective weapon I can carry on my person to use in case if a bear attack? A knife, pepper spray, big stick, spiked flail? No guns- I don't have a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

Answer 1

Here is the problem, no gun means that you will have to be close enough to the bear to hurt him with a hand weapon. Once you are that close then you are in big trouble. If you are worried about this I would just get a permit, unless you are a felon (not that you are). Otherwise I would pick up some of that bear spray, I think it's talked about in a early post. But hand to hand with a bear is a bad place to put yourself, even if you have a chainsaw.

Answer 2

Prevention sounds best. Once the bear is danger close or on you, there wont be any drawing a weapon from a holster...

As soon as you see him yell "GET THE F___ OUT OF HERE!!!

Answer 3

All the guys in Alaska that I've seen have used shot guns with buckshot or slugs (I've even heard them referred to as Bear Swatters) or big bore handguns.

I don't know where you are from but If you are in the woods with a shotgun that isn't concealed or you can open carry a hand gun you might not need to worry about a CCW permit.

Answer 4

bear spray, but I'd personally would take a 12 gauge with slugs and 000 buck shots

Answer 5

The best weapon is a .357 or bigger handgun.  Most parks do not allow weapons, but if you are going to be in an area where you think bears will be a problem it is best to protect yourself and not worry about a fine.  Sprays work if the bear is not seriously wanting to harm you.  Otherwise, no spray is going to deter the bear.  Camp away from used bear trails and food sources.  Hide your food or hang it in a tree.  Stay away from cubs.  Do not run.  Running triggers a chase instinct and you will not out run a bear.  If you are not an experienced shooter, leave the gun at home.  A wounded bear will certainly kill.  Play dead and be absolutely quiet.  You may get bit or scratched, but once the bear realizes you are not food and not a threat he will most likely leave you alone.  However, if hurt or protecting cubs, the bear will kill you.  There is always the possibility of a rogue bear that is sick or just plain mean.  In that case, you are just bear p**p.  You are more likely to be struck by lightening then attacked by a bear.  However, you do not play golf in a thunderstorm.  This being said, don't take unnecessary chances in bear territory.

Answer 6

I would choose a gun.  I would hate to kill an animal like that even if they were a threat but... regular ol' people will still fight after being stabbed so I wouldn't risk my life with a knife.  With bear spray you have to get close enough to spray it and that  is scary.  Get a gun, htats my opinion.

Answer 7

Bear spray works most of the time and is used by many people in Alaska. Other than a gun its the best way to go.

I will glady pay to see some one take on a bear with a knife! lol That is pure Darwin award stuff!

Answer 8

pepper spray a sharpened spear a blank gun to possibly scare it off (no license needed) a large knife fashioned on a stick a large knife a surefire flashlight to possibly blind it temporarily stink bombs smoke bombs and flares to scare him off a flaming torch or flaming piece of wood a potato gun(i shot a bear with mine and scared it off but i was off my porch next to my house) and similar items

Answer 9

They do make this mace type stuff that is made for bears,I seen it for sell at a gun show,but I'm not sure how well it works.I know one thing if I was going into bear country,I would have my S&W 29 44 mag with me.

Answer 10

A Spiked Flail???!!!!!???? HAHaHahahahaha......

Get a $25 dollar Black carbon 22-23" machete at Wal-Mart. That willl be fine..

Answer 11

Most states don't require a CCW permit when you are hiking and have the firearm in open sight. Although state parks prohibit them. In my humble opinion, having shot a lot of bears in my lifetime,and having had a LOT of run ins with them, if you carry a LARGE canister of bear spray, it might work, it might not. If it doesn't, now what? The number one deterrent is a short barreled 12 gauge shotgun with slugs. My next choice would be a large caliber handgun, for me, minimum caliber of .44 magnum, although I have taken them with a .357 magnum (it's not for the faint of heart!!)

If you are going to be in bear country, you need to plan ahead. Put a bell on your walking stick, blow a whistle at regular intervals, carry bear spray, and a firearm. Or, you can either avoid bear country, or bring salt, pepper and ketchup cuz you might find a bear that prefers his dinner spicy.

Shoot safe

Answer 12

Get REAL bear spray - not a small spritzer of pepper spray but a big cannister of high-powered concentrated chemicals, like the products offerred by UDAP.  http://www.udap.com/.  I know many people in Alaska who carry bear spray even though they could alos carry a gun since the spray can be more effective at stopping an attack.

Answer 13

The most effective weapon against bear attack it PREVENTION.

MAKE NOISE  while in the woods. If you accidentally walk up and scare the bear it could attack. This gets on my nerves but putting bells on my kids shoes.

Answer 14

Forget any; knife, stick etc. If one slashed a bear with a knife as C George advised it would only anger the bear further. One *might* be able to fight off a black bear with a big club (doubtful but some have done it) but it would not work with a grizzly or brown bear. These animals are fast and deadly. I have seen a black bear kill a small deer in a few seconds. And I have seen a griz kill a black bear in short order.

The answer for you is bear spray. Understand bear spray is not the personal protection spray grandma carries in her purse, its far more powerful. How powerful? A can of bear spray went off in a small aircraft in Alaska and all died when no one could see or breathe in the small cabin and the plane crashed.

Here is a link for bear spray as an example;

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0...

By 2 cans and practice with one, yes I know its spendy to waste a can, but it may save your life knowing how to use it. Spray at the bear’s eyes/face when it’s close; beware of wind blowing it back at you. Heavy rain and snow can limit the distance of its spray, most reach about 30 feet max, some less.

Being able to stand your ground to a charging bear takes courage, but if you run you’re done.

If it’s a black bear fight for your life with anything handy. One guy beat off a black bear with a large piece of firewood.

Brown bears and Grizzlies are not usually detoured by fighting them; one swipe of its paw and your face is shredded and your neck may be snapped.

So that’s where curling up in a ball with hands over back of neck *may* save you. He will still most likely bite you and chew on you, but if you remain quiet you are no longer a threat to it and he will stop *maybe*.

Bears also make false charges to make you run, if you run……….. Here is a video of a false charge, the man did well and kept his cool. Talking to a bear does actually work some times.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DZSn1Jl7eKo&f...

Learn the rules of bear country;

http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm...

http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/ca...

http://www.bouldercounty.org/openspace/r...

Note; Mongo is right when he said “The most effective weapon against bear attack is PREVENTION.” He gave a good answer.

NOTE; I am sorry this is so long but I do want you to be safe. I didn’t advise a gun because you requested as such. The wife and I do carry bear spray but we also carry 44 magnum revolvers and a 12 ga shotgun with slugs or a 338 magnum rifle with us here in Alaska. Bear spray has been proven to work here is a link explaining that;

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/brownb...

In fact bear spray is what Alaska fish and game advise people to use. I know the people here mean well and they are right about big guns for big bears. But why kill it if you don’t have to? I have been charged by bears many times and have yet to have to kill one. Usually all it took was a warning shot in front of it or bear spray.

If you kill a bear that attacked you, you will be fined in Montana, that’s right even if it attacks you. Alaska requires you turn in the hide, claws and skull and answer lots of questions to LEO as well as showing them the kill. All that gets to be a big pain. Much better to use non-lethal means to defend you.

I take clients hunting and I do not want a client hurt or a bear hurt, it makes for bad business. So the best way for you to go is bear spray and maybe an airhorn for noise. But if you don’t feel comfortable with a gun then forget the gun. Besides you have to be a darn good shot because if you wound it that bear will either run off and die or attack with more gusto. And I have seen big bears take many rounds from a high powered rifle before they went down.

I hope glacierwolf answers this question for he has much experience with bears.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_o...

Answer 15

Anything that will make it go away. Bear spray, a big knife, or a rifle or slug gun (not a concealed firearm).

Answer 16

A big bowie knife plus a big can of pepper spray can help to deter a bear. Use the can of pepper of spray when the bear gets within its spraying range, but if it gets too close I would slash at it with the bowie knife. If a bear tries to attack you, if it gets within 10 feet of you and you are certain that it will attack, spray the pepper spray into its eyes and mouth while retreating from the bear at the same time. That way you can keep spraying at the bear while keeping a safe distance away from him.

But honestly, I would rather apply for a concealed handgun license and buy a nice .44 magnum revolver or a .45 acp compact handgun. It may cost me more, but its more effective. I would only try to fight a bear with a can of pepper of spray and a bowie knife, if that is all I have left.