Bear Advice With A Master Alaskan Guide
BY Herschel Smith
6 months, 3 weeks ago
This is certainly an interesting interview by Ron Spomer.
I found it insightful that Phil says that the sound of the spray leaving the nozzle is what scares a bear when using bear spray. But he also says that if a charge is legitimate and not a bluff charge, he’s shooting.
I’m not sure how it became conventional wisdom that one has to decide to use either bear spray or firearms, rather setting the context as a both-and query.
I’ve never carried bear spray and I’m not sure that I ever would. If a bear is charging me, I will assume that it’s not a bluff charge. This is especially true given that a hiker is interested in shaving grams of weight off of his load (not just ounces or pounds or kilograms).
But then, I’m not a professional bear hunting guide who gets charged multiple times every season and has a license to maintain either.
I’d be interested in your thoughts on his experience using 9mm against the brown bear. As to his advice to carry what you’re comfortable shooting, I am comfortable shooting .45 ACP and 450 SMC, so I’d rather have either of those two rounds than 9mm.
If you do a search on Phil Shoemaker, they don’t even advertise their rates. I’m sure it’s rather expensive to go on a hunting trip with Phil. I’d like to, but I know I can’t afford it.
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On April 29, 2024 at 7:29 am, Don't mind me. said:
The brown bears in Alaska have entirely different attack habits than the grizzlies in the rockies.
On April 29, 2024 at 8:51 am, george 1 said:
9mm for brown bear? That is interesting. I am not an Alaskan guide but I don’t think I would gamble on that. If weight is the overriding concern then a Model 29 Glock 10mm would be much better.
I remember a few years ago a fellow in Alaska was attacked near his house by a Grizzly and he was able to stop the attack and kill the bear with his 10mm Glock. Unfortunately he fell backwards during his draw stroke and while shooting the bear on his back he shot his own foot in the process. An injured foot is better that death by grizzly to be sure.
On May 3, 2024 at 10:03 am, TheAlaskan said:
@ don’t mind me,
“The brown bears in Alaska have entirely different attack habits than the grizzlies in the rockies. ”
Really? How so?
On May 17, 2024 at 1:31 am, TheAlaskan said:
Yeah, I thought so.