[cdestroyer]

okay just to keep this on a sane level I will admit that some people have the calm to pull off killing a mad pissed off griz with a handgun. bison, moose. and I personally have knowledge of a man using the old 45.70 round took the big six in africa.., It can be done...and david slew goliath with a sling and rock.

[Randito]

From a total safety perspective the risk of a fatal bear attack in Washington state is pretty small. One source lists 14 attacks and 1 fatality in Washington state. https://www.goldendalesentinel.com/features/the-washington-outdoors-report-be-bear-aware/article_668f31f0-164d-11ec-ace5-97411b572455.html#:~:text=We%20have%20only%20had%2014,bear%20attacks%20are%20a%20possibility. OTH Suicide by firearm accounts for 75% of all firearm fatalities in Washington taking the lives of 7129 Washingtonians between 2010 and 2019 ( 792 per year) https://crosscut.com/opinion/2021/08/suicide-washington-states-biggest-gun-violence-problem So its an interesting statistics problem whether owning a firearm might actually increase your risk of an early death more than it reduces your chances of being killed by a bear.

[cdestroyer]

sadly I also have personal knowledge of the OTH matter

[schifferj]

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/06/hunters-shoot-kill-grizzly-bear-idaho-fish-and-game-says-it-was-in-self-defense/ I have no idea what weapon these hunters used to defend themselves. It is telling that the Idaho Fish and Game recommended that hunters carry bear spray and keep it handy. Almost all of my hiking and backpacking is in areas where there are Grizzly bears and I encountered one a week ago on the Pacific Northwest Trail just a bit north and east of Upper Priest Lake. A "yo bear" was all it took to send this one down the road but I have to say it went from 0-60mph in a couple steps. I don't know if I could have gotten my "handy" bear spray ready to go had it chosen to come straight at me instead of going the other way.

[Chief Joseph]

That's been my experience with bears too in that they normally just run away or in the case of the ma and cub feasting on berries below Goat Flats, they just ignored us. The main issue is when bears smell or get a hold of food near your camp (in your tent ) or if you are really unlucky, to get caught between a sow and her cub/s.

[Chief Joseph]

Reading a book today, "Ultralight Backpacking Tips" by Mike Clelland made me think of this thread. He likes to eat on the trail, not where he camps for the night. He say's that by eating dinner on the trail, he get's energized allowing him to travel further before setting up camp for the night. He also likes to hit the trail the next day very early, before sunrise, that way you are getting warm by hiking and also when it's still cool, than stop around an hour later and have breakfast. Pretty good and humorous book, well written.

[Malachai Constant]

It also can depend on the area. Eastern Canada seems to have a lot more predatory Bear attacks. I assume because there is little food and humans are a more attractive target. I remember a guy pulled out of an outhouse by a hungry blackie and way more tent attacks. Griz are another story like the 500 lb gorilla.

[cdestroyer]

I just thought I would pop this little vid in here for yalls viewing pleasure....

[RichP]

Saw this in The Times. No bear spray involved.

[Tom]

[zimmertr]

[Bernardo]

I hope that second bear doesn’t run into some random hikers for a while! Thanks for posting. Beautiful animals.

[DadFly]

[timberghost]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/michigan-man-mauled-by-grizzly-bear-with-three-cubs-while-hunting-in-alaska/ar-AA11BtCS?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=934679ef40f14055bd3e9d7d4c63ff95

[gb]