DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
Even though I don't hunt anymore, I would be with the 10%, er... I would have shot if I had had a gun. Two black bear attack deaths in Alaska in the last couple of weeks, and 2 grizzly attacks, with the grizzly's probably protecting young. Better them than me, or you!
With the Trump Administration removing protections for grizzlies in the area (I presume hunting is prohibited in the Park), we are going to see more grizzlies killed in the coming years. Damned shame!
dickwilber wrote:
With the Trump Administration removing protections for grizzlies in the area (I presume hunting is prohibited in the Park), we are going to see more grizzlies killed in the coming years. Damned shame!
I'm sure you are an expert on this with your experience with all the Grizzly bears in Indiana.
National Parks do not allow hunting. National forests do. Grizzlies are not confined in National Parks. They wander around and kill people outside the parks also.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
I might add that having been to Alaska and western Canada, and saw both grizzly and black bears. Never felt threatened by either, especially the grizzly's. The first we saw was on the Alcan highway, it probably brushed our van as it walked along, eating flowers. The next we saw were in Katmai NP. Before going there, you are given a short course in grizzly 'etiquette'. Saw numerous black bear's from the van. Black bear can be more dangerous/aggressive than grizzly's! The rule's are: with grizzly's, you drop and protect your head and stomach. With black bear's, you fight with everything you got, and then some! First thing though, is BEAR SPRAY! Funny thing is I have never took mine out of the package, lol.
I think the video was after the first time, he was trying to hike out after that and she got him for a second time. Still hiked out and then drove himself to a hospital 20 miles away.
You know what they say about telling the difference between brown bear scat and black bear scat?
The brown bear scat is the one with bear spray and a whistle...
How could anyone shoot something with such a cute face?
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Wrong Apaflo... big bears DO own the trail. Yes, I'm preaching to the choir... you know these things. I have some experience with bears- you probably do too, but those with none cannot appreciate the strength, speed and resolve of an inconvenienced bear. I've never hunted bear...(long mythological story here) but I have defended from and killed bear. It is a mistake to anthropomorphize animals- that doesn't mean to fear or disrespect animals, but one must acknowledge the potential suddenness, violence and lethality to which animals are accustomed. Without weapons, most humans will fair badly in hand-to-hand discussion with anything larger than a raccoon. If you're in a big bear's territory, and the bear objects- and objection is demonstrated by approach- you're about to get a lesson in animal etiquette. I have photos of half-eaten folk that didn't grasp that lesson...
Apaflo wrote:
The story actually makes sense. What do you think you would do with a big Grizzly ten feet away? A practiced hunter will shoot, but most tourist will freeze and maybe be attacked. An old large Brown bear thinks it owns the trail...
fuminous wrote:
Wrong Apaflo... big bears DO own the trail. Yes, I'm preaching to the choir... you know these things. ...
Where is the "wrong" part? That is exactly what I said!
I have NEVER needed to kill a bear in defense! That is more than just luck, it is knowing how to avoid confrontation.
I spent over 30 years living with brown bears and occassional black bears, but for the past 20 years exclusively with Polar bears. Note that pretty much anywhere in Alaska is bear country. This year there were two people killed by brown bears in Anchorage on recreation trails.
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