Bear Pepper Spray Repellent?

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:42:15 GMT, rw
wrote:


Considering the condition of your feet and your maximum ground speed,
I'd be delighted to have you around in camp in bear country, if only you
weren't such an obnoxious asshole.


Yeah, it's tough walking. It's even tougher to grow old. But, I've
spent many days on the banks of Alaskan rivers, within sight of brown
bears, and, whatyaknow, here I am! d;o) I have never heard of a fly
fisherman having a bad encounter with bears.

http://www.sportfishingkenai.com/con...D=37&CAT_ID=72

Now you have heard of one.

I have seen about 100
bears each week I have spent in Alaska, and there was never even a
"close encounter." They are too busy feeding on the salmon to care
about humans.

Here's an apropos quote from the link above:

Larry Lewis, a Wildlife Technician, who among other duties teaches bear
safety for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, would agree. He
maintains that too often people get in trouble because they lose contact
with their surroundings, becoming totally engrossed in their fishing,
for instance. The other problem, he says, is complacency or a cavalier
attitude, believing that “it couldn’t happen to me,” or that because I
know all the “rules” for being in bear country I’ll be alright.


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

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:18:58 GMT, rw
wrote:


Guides don't like the sports to see that stuff. It makes them nervous.


You really are a piece of work, Barnard. How the hell is a guide
going to hide a shotgun? The guides had nothing more than
warm/waterproof clothes, and a landyard containing tippet material,
tools, etc. They had NO guns, believe me. Oh, wait a minute......
they could have been hiding the "stuff" under their hats.

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska18-Aug04.html

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska19-Aug04.html

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska8-Aug04.html

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska21-Aug04.html

to name a few.....

You were staying in a lodge, right? You weren't camping out on gravel
bars, pitching your tent and storing and cooking your food virtually
right on top of bear sign, right?

Tom, one of the first things Steve at Papa Bear will tell you is not to
store your food in the rafts. If a bear gets into the food you sure
don't want it to wreck the raft. Then you would be really screwed.

Another thing to be careful about is securing your raft when you beach
it. That may seem obvious, and the raft might seem securely beached, but
if the wind comes up or the water rises overnight you could lose it.
Last year one of Steve's parties called in on the sat phone that they'd
lost both of their rafts. Steve's response was, "You mean that you lost
both of MY rafts."

In the meantime they were stranded in the wilderness. I don't know how
it played out. I'm going to ask Steve in August.

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

rw wrote:

... You weren't camping out on gravel
bars, pitching your tent and storing and cooking your food virtually
right on top of bear sign, right? ...

That's a very important distinction. I said I don't bother
to carry bear spray in Yellowstone grizzly country but that
is in reference to fishing day trips.

When I had to camp underneath the food supply, (it was in a
tower), in an Absaroka-Beartooth outfitter camp I had both
bear spray and a 12 gauge close to hand. No handguns for me,
if I have to shoot something I want it to be good and shot.

--
Ken Fortenberry

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:


... You weren't camping out on gravel bars, pitching your tent and
storing and cooking your food virtually right on top of bear sign,
right? ...


That's a very important distinction. I said I don't bother
to carry bear spray in Yellowstone grizzly country but that
is in reference to fishing day trips.

When I had to camp underneath the food supply, (it was in a
tower), in an Absaroka-Beartooth outfitter camp I had both
bear spray and a 12 gauge close to hand. No handguns for me,
if I have to shoot something I want it to be good and shot.

One problem with the Bristol Bay area, or at least on the Kanektok (and
I suspect on all the other rivers in the area), is that it's impossible
to secure your food. There aren't any substantial trees to speak of. All
you can do is keep the food well away from the rafts and the tents, and
if you get hit hope that you can catch a lot of fish, which should be no
problem.

Also, when you clean and fillet fish, cut the carcasses into small
pieces before tossing them into the river. In all likelihood there will
be plenty of other fish for the bears, but don't take unnecessary chances.

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

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:03:44 GMT, rw
wrote:

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:42:15 GMT, rw
wrote:


Considering the condition of your feet and your maximum ground speed,
I'd be delighted to have you around in camp in bear country, if only you
weren't such an obnoxious asshole.


Yeah, it's tough walking. It's even tougher to grow old. But, I've
spent many days on the banks of Alaskan rivers, within sight of brown
bears, and, whatyaknow, here I am! d;o) I have never heard of a fly
fisherman having a bad encounter with bears.

http://www.sportfishingkenai.com/con...D=37&CAT_ID=72

Now you have heard of one.


He seems to have been fishing at night. Bears are most active in the
evening and early morning. It doesn't say, however, if he took the
necessary precautions - making noise, allowing the bear to not be
surprised by his presence. My guess is that he startled a bear. That
ain't whatcha wanna do. Also, the encounter was in the Russian River
area, which is in the center of bear attack country, the Kenai
Peninsula.

I have seen about 100
bears each week I have spent in Alaska, and there was never even a
"close encounter." They are too busy feeding on the salmon to care
about humans.

Here's an apropos quote from the link above:

Larry Lewis, a Wildlife Technician, who among other duties teaches bear
safety for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, would agree. He
maintains that too often people get in trouble because they lose contact
with their surroundings, becoming totally engrossed in their fishing,
for instance. The other problem, he says, is complacency or a cavalier
attitude, believing that “it couldn’t happen to me,” or that because I
know all the “rules” for being in bear country I’ll be alright.

Golly. It's deja vu all over again. I have said I am not being
cavalier about it. Simply be aware of your surroundings and act
accordingly. Talk to any bear you may see. Never startle one. Never
run - you become prey if you run. Make noise, lotsa noise and make
yourself big by waving your arms if one comes too close. All of this
info is given to the sports before they ever see a fly rod. If you go
to Woods River, you have to take a "bear class" before they let you in
the park. Again, they give the same advice. If you think I was being
cavalier or compacent, you are dead wrong. Witness my remarks with:
http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska9-Aug04.html

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:03:44 GMT, rw
wrote:


Here's an apropos quote from the link above:

Larry Lewis, a Wildlife Technician, who among other duties teaches bear
safety for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, would agree. He
maintains that too often people get in trouble because they lose contact
with their surroundings, becoming totally engrossed in their fishing,
for instance. The other problem, he says, is complacency or a cavalier
attitude, believing that “it couldn’t happen to me,” or that because I
know all the “rules” for being in bear country I’ll be alright.


Golly. It's deja vu all over again. I have said I am not being
cavalier about it.

Gosh. I could have swore that you just wrote, "They are too busy feeding
on the salmon to care about humans."

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

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:32:28 GMT, rw
wrote:

You were staying in a lodge, right? You weren't camping out on gravel
bars, pitching your tent and storing and cooking your food virtually
right on top of bear sign, right?

Yep. Sportsmens Lodge on the Kvichak. However, we did lots of
bushwacking, going through brush and tundra to the rivers. Trips to
Moraine Creek, Margot Creek, and the Kamashak required walking, some
of it through the bush. In fact ALL of the fishing on Margot Creek
required going through woods/brush. I did not go on the Little Ku
trip because the walk was 3 miles from the aircraft landing. Those
that did go encountered lots of bears without any troubles. They made
noise, especially when they got near the river and there was woods and
bushes they had to walk through.

We did have several meals within sight of bears, and, in fact, kicked
a sow and her three cubs off of a small island so that we could have a
hot lunch cooked over a smal wood fire. Ref my pix already posted.

On my last trip, the guides were warned by a park ranger about not
having a bear proof food container when we fished the Kamashak which
empties into Cook Inlet and has lots of bear. That same trip we
cooked a delicious 16 pound silver salmon that I caught, pan fried
with potatoes and onions over hot coals on a gravel bar within sight
of a couple of immature bears, washed down, I might add, with lots off
Budweiser.

If Tom and his party know the rules, act accordingly, I doubt they
will have any problems. I would be surprised if they do. I would
worry more about my equipment getting to Bethel.

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:41:24 GMT, rw
wrote:

Gosh. I could have swore that you just wrote, "They are too busy feeding
on the salmon to care about humans."

What about this don't you understand, Barnard. I am not cavalier
about bears. Period. And, they *are* too busy feeding on salmon
skin/brains. Next time you go to Alaska, catch a couple of big fish,
hang them around your neck and approach a bear. Get real close. Trust
me, don't be afraid. When you get close enough, throw the salmon.
Betcha the bear goes for the salmon and not you. You like experiments
(ha!). This would be a neat one, ey? Hey, ya always got that great
big gun to protect you. d;o)

"rw" wrote in message
ink.net...

You were staying in a lodge, right? You weren't camping out on gravel
bars, pitching your tent and storing and cooking your food virtually right
on top of bear sign, right?

Tom, one of the first things Steve at Papa Bear will tell you is not to
store your food in the rafts. If a bear gets into the food you sure don't
want it to wreck the raft. Then you would be really screwed.

Another thing to be careful about is securing your raft when you beach it.
That may seem obvious, and the raft might seem securely beached, but if
the wind comes up or the water rises overnight you could lose it. Last
year one of Steve's parties called in on the sat phone that they'd lost
both of their rafts. Steve's response was, "You mean that you lost both of
MY rafts."

In the meantime they were stranded in the wilderness. I don't know how it
played out. I'm going to ask Steve in August.

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

I'll fly up on July 1st from San Jose, CA, and stay at Steve's lodge, then
fly out to the Arolik River on the 2nd.
I'm going with a person who's been there last year at this time. We'll be
on the river till the 10th.
There are many thing I'll be learning, as I plan to get educated in the
aquatics department as well
as part of the Alaska territory. I was told there are many species to fish
for. We'll try to make smart decisions and not abuse or trash the
surroundings. I'm also looking forward to just getting away from the city
life.

I guess for me I don't like to get into arguments with people, I try to
avoid it. I also like to
feel good about using this newsgroup because the people here are well
educated in fly-fishing and
have a lot of experience. I'm always game for learning, one of the few good
traits I have.
-tom

Thank you for keeping me busy and amused this afternoon. I am fasting
for a medical procedure (we all know what) in the a.m., and getting my
mind off of food by having a ****ing contest with you has helped.
However, talk of fillet of salmon and fried potatoes and beer has not
helped.

I hope the doc tells me I am a "perfect" asshole in the morning.

d;o)