At 02:41 PM 2/21/98 EST, Critterfro at aol.com wrote:

>We spent the second day at the firing range trying out the various
>deterrents and qualifying with the shotgun. The targets were life size
>posters of LBO's (large brown objects or brown bears; the government has to
>give an acronym to everything) which were set-up on rolling carts. Your
>partner would run behind you with the rope attached to the cart so the bear
>would charge you from fifty meters. You would then place three large
holes in
>the chest of the charging poster to qualify as a gun "carrier".

This is how Herrero describes taking a bear down, too, with the shotgun+solid
slug being one of a couple of recommended tools. The chest shot placed
correctly
breaks the clavicle, which brings the bear down during its next pace.
Apparently
griz shot in the heart have been known to last long enough to get in some
hairy
swipes, and to have run for a bit afterwards. The shot described breaks the
bear's wheels immediately, even if it might not die immediately (though that
12 guage slug's going to do a LOT of other damage).

His disdain for firearms comes about because most outdoors types don't really
know how to use them effectively against bears and of course don't get
detailed
training. And he argues that with many it seems to lead to silly
overconfidence.
He makes it clear that properly used, firearms can protect you against griz.

Of course, your chances of getting three shots in if a griz charges from 50
meters isn't very high! They run just a wee bit faster than your partner
hauling a cart with a bear target on it! Herrero emphasizes the need to hit
the bear, properly, on the first shot. Which is why he packs a Mountie, not
a gun :)

He points out that he hasn't uncovered any documented case of someone
on horseback being killed by a grizzly. Again, impractical in much of Alaska.

And risks go down substantially in groups of four or more. If nothing else,
you're noiser. He mentions air horns, too. Thinks bells are usually too
quiet.

> Learning the prevention was most important.

You mean I shouldn't eat in my tent??? Darn... :) (no, I'm not trivializing
this training, it is unreal, though, what people will do in bear country!)




- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net