Bear Pepper Spray Repellent?

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

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

I sprayed a big black bear with a whole can I smuggled
into Canada. She shook her head, glanced at me, then
went right on to the food pack where she plucked Kipper's
dog food off the top and proceeded to chow down.

This was at a campsite in the Quetico near an entry point
so it's likely she'd been sprayed more than once before
and just considered it part of the pre-meal routine.

The Park Service recommends you carry bear spray in
Yellowstone grizzly country but I don't bother. Vigilance
and common sense are better than bear spray in my opinion.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"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


There is an awful lot of discussion bear spray on the backpacker.com
forums. Some conversations more useful than others:

http://tinyurl.com/gfxjv

Less anecdotal, perhaps more accurate info:

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/br...epperspray.htm

The general consensus seems to be that it works (*). Dunno. Never owned any,
let alone used any.

Dan

(*) In perfect conditions, anyway. Wind is a major factor.

use bear spray because that is the way they like their meat flavored






On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:28:41 GMT, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:

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

I sprayed a big black bear with a whole can I smuggled
into Canada. She shook her head, glanced at me, then
went right on to the food pack where she plucked Kipper's
dog food off the top and proceeded to chow down.

This was at a campsite in the Quetico near an entry point
so it's likely she'd been sprayed more than once before
and just considered it part of the pre-meal routine.

The Park Service recommends you carry bear spray in
Yellowstone grizzly country but I don't bother. Vigilance
and common sense are better than bear spray in my opinion.

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've talked to several folks who have either used it or know folks that
have. The consensus is that it does the job. One park ranger says he
carries two velcroed to his chest where he can get to them NOW, he has had
occasion to use both cans on a bear. He also said you'd pretty much have to
be an idiot not to have them in bear country.

john

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
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

"rw" wrote in message
ink.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

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.
http://www.tbotech.com/bearspray.htm
-tom


ROFF has been this way before. Google it up, or simply know that "bear
spray" covers a lot of ground. You'll have to do some research and if
you decide to carry it without some real in-depth research, get as high
a percentage as you can find.

TC,
R

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


"rw" wrote in message
link.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

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