Bear Pepper Spray Repellent?

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:05:27 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:


"rw" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Tom Nakashima wrote:
Anyone ever have to use it? Does it actually work?
Seems to me that would really ****-off a bear.
http://www.tbotech.com/bearspray.htm
-tom

Our Alaska outfitter (Papa Bear out of Bethel) supplies bear spray. If
you
don't use it you don't pay for it. You are not allowed to carry it on an
airplane, even in checked baggage. (You are allowed to carry up to 4oz.
of
pepper spray in checked baggage, but bear spray products are larger than
that.)

Last year I took a hand gun. This year I'm not going to bother. Check on
whether bears are hunted in the area you're visiting. If they are
they'll
probably be afraid of people.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

I'll be using the same outfitter, (Papa Bear Adventures out of
Bethel)...I'll talk to Steve about it.
thanks,
-tom

If this one particular trip is your sole reason for asking, and you
trust the outfitter, I'd say save yourself the time and do/get what they
advise. And based on Steve's info, it seems your question is answered.

TC,
R

Agree, I didn't know Papa Bear Adventures supplied Bear Pepper Spray, at
least
it didn't say in the conformation info pack we got.

I've called Steve twice already, didn't want to wear out my allocated phone
calls, so
I'll speak with him when I arrive there. The last time I called him I
wanted to give him
my flight status so there would be someone to pick me up at the Bethel
Airport.
In conversation, he told me I had to walk to the lodge. Stunned, I got
quiet, then I asked how far is
the lodge? Steve replied: "It's only 3 miles." Then I started to think, I
have luggage with
rollers, but 3-miles??? Then Steve started laughing, it was a joke, but he
sure got me on that one.
-tom

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:11:23 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

Anyone ever have to use it? Does it actually work?
Seems to me that would really ****-off a bear.

If you show up with bear spray on your trip, the guides will chuckle.
The bears in Alaska are used to humans, at least the bears you will
encounter along the river. I've heard that more people are attacked
by wild dogs in Alaska than bears. Bears are NOT a problem.

The guides on one of my trips actually chased a sow and her cubs off
of a little island in the middle of Moraine Creek so we could have our
lunch spot. http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska14-Aug04.html

You will be there during salmon spawn and that means the bears are
well fed. They have no interest in you as a food. Perhaps later or
earlier in the year when they don't have the salmon to fill their
bellies, but while you are there, they will be gorging themselves on
salmon. On several occasions, we walked past bears feeding and got as
close as 15 feet.

Tom, I know you have many concerns about your up-coming trip, but
don't worry about these things (bugs, bears). Rather, concentrate on
your clothing (warm as well as cool, waterproof jacket, a warm hat,
fingerless gloves to help with the cold water *and* the bugs),
equipment (6 to 8 weight with floating and sinking lines). If you are
not being guided by an Orvis endorsed outfit, try to bring your rods
and reels on the plane with you. I invested in 5, 6, 7, and 8 weight
travel rods and bring them aboard with me. Every Orvis lodge/outfit I
have used over the years have their own rods/reels/waders to be used
by sports who don't have their own equipment because the airline lost
it.. You will be fishing beads (salmon spawn), so I doubt you will
use any flies. However, I always bring a 5 weight and some dries
(Adams, Wulfs, Henryville Specials) to amuse myself after dinner
catching nice size grayling who will take a dry even during the spawn.

Bugs? Bring fingerless gloves, turtleneck cotton jersies, watch cap
that you can spray and pull over your ears, and use the bug spray the
guides use on any exposed surfaces.

Bears? Forgetaboutem. They won't bother you if you don't bother
them. Take a camera and get some up-close shots.

And, above all, have fun.

Dave


Thanks Dave,
yea you're probably right, I'm one of those who has to be prepared, my first
time in Alaska,
cover all the bases. I'm taking my 5, 8, 10wt 4pc rods, checking those in.
Carrying on the reels,
fly patterns and tackle. I figure if they lose my luggage, I can always rent
rods.

Yes, have the dry flies, king salmon flies and my mouse patterns.
I guess for some of you, Alaska is a "walk-in-the-park" for me it's pretty
exciting, something new.
-tom

Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'll be using the same outfitter, (Papa Bear Adventures out of
Bethel)...I'll talk to Steve about it.
thanks,
-tom

Good choice. Steve did an excellent job last year, in the face of some
very difficult weather. His Dehavilland Beaver is a very cool airplane.

BTW, Steve carries a .50 caliber handgun when he's in the bush, and he
has some scary bear stories, so don't believe anything that LaCourse
says (like using a camera for closeup bear photos). You'll be on your
own -- not being baby-sat by guides.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote in message
ink.net...
Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'll be using the same outfitter, (Papa Bear Adventures out of
Bethel)...I'll talk to Steve about it.
thanks,
-tom

Good choice. Steve did an excellent job last year, in the face of some
very difficult weather. His Dehavilland Beaver is a very cool airplane.

BTW, Steve carries a .50 caliber handgun when he's in the bush, and he has
some scary bear stories, so don't believe anything that LaCourse says
(like using a camera for closeup bear photos). You'll be on your own --
not being baby-sat by guides.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Well in all, everyone has been a lot of help. I really do enjoy this
newsgroup, loaded with lots of experience.
Can't ask for a better advice,
-tom

rw wrote:

... so don't believe anything that LaCourse
says ...

But Louie gave the exact same advice you did. That is,
don't bother with guns or bear spray. Why is your advice
more believable than Louie's ?

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:


... so don't believe anything that LaCourse says ...


But Louie gave the exact same advice you did. That is,
don't bother with guns or bear spray. Why is your advice
more believable than Louie's ?

Uh, I believe I recommended taking the free bear spray from Papa Bear.

The revolver I took was a 357 mag -- not really adequate for large
bears. If I had a 50 cal I'd take it.

Last year we saw bear sign (tracks, ****, partially consumed salmon
carcasses, mashed-down grass) virtually everywhere we stopped. There
were a lot of bears around. We only saw one, and he skedaddled when
Willi started yelling. I, for one, did not regret missing the
opportunity for a close-up photo.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:52:49 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
wrote:

Yes, have the dry flies, king salmon flies and my mouse patterns.
I guess for some of you, Alaska is a "walk-in-the-park" for me it's pretty
exciting, something new.

It will never be a walk in the park, Tom. Just great fishing under
conditions most of us aren't accustomed to. Every time I go, it is a
new experience, exciting, and I learn more. Fishing from drift boats
(probably pontoonrafts in your case) is always exciting, and a great
way to see the country.

Take pictures, lots of pictures.

Dave

wrote:

Take pictures, lots of pictures.

Make sure you get some real tight closeups of brown bears. :-)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 14:55:58 GMT, rw
wrote:

BTW, Steve carries a .50 caliber handgun when he's in the bush, and he
has some scary bear stories, so don't believe anything that LaCourse
says (like using a camera for closeup bear photos). You'll be on your
own -- not being baby-sat by guides.

Fortenberry is correct, you are a putz.

Do you have any "scary bear stories" to share? No? Gee, I wonder
why. Look at all the photos in magazines that folks have taken over
the years. No bear attacks. They are full of fish brains and skin.
I've been within fifteen feet of many bears without any worry. The
first year we spotted over 100 bears in one week. While most of them
were at a distance, many were close. I was alarmed at first, but
after a few days, they became the norm. I'm not trying to be cavalier
about the bears, only that they are not the concern that most people
think they are.

Now, if you get close enough to spray a bear, I'm betting that he/she
gets *really* ****ed off and has a big "change of attitude". And a
greenhorn shooting one with a pistol is only asking for trouble. Give
them their way - leave them alone and they will leave you alone.

Of course I *have* heard that they have a taste for putzs. d;o)

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 14:55:58 GMT, rw
wrote:


BTW, Steve carries a .50 caliber handgun when he's in the bush, and he
has some scary bear stories, so don't believe anything that LaCourse
says (like using a camera for closeup bear photos). You'll be on your
own -- not being baby-sat by guides.


Fortenberry is correct, you are a putz.

Do you have any "scary bear stories" to share? No? Gee, I wonder
why. Look at all the photos in magazines that folks have taken over
the years. No bear attacks. They are full of fish brains and skin.
I've been within fifteen feet of many bears without any worry. The
first year we spotted over 100 bears in one week. While most of them
were at a distance, many were close. I was alarmed at first, but
after a few days, they became the norm. I'm not trying to be cavalier
about the bears, only that they are not the concern that most people
think they are.

Tom,

When you get to Bethel, ask Steve at Papa Bear to tell you the story
about his brother, the moose in camp, and the bear.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.