On the news: bear attack

In 2012 there were 38 fatal attacks by dogs. In that same year there was only one fatal bear attack. Contrast that with more than 500 people shoot to death each year by police officers.

Bears are the least of my worries. Mosquitoes and ticks represent a far greater threat to health.

No comment.

Just remember, you have to survive the attack in order for any debate to have worhwhile merit. It's pointless to try and figure out ways to do less harm to an animal that's trying to kill you so you can be legally in the right. Don't be too sporting in facilitating your own death. They don't prosecute and imprison dead people, neither from bears or humans. Your goal isn't merely to survive, it's to prevail.

You have to admit you performed an illegal act, then justify why you had to. The bear defense will be no different. Unless it's bear season. There is no human season. Ever.

Bit of a shame really, eh?

I want to see the critters but not too close up.

There is nothing like awakening in your sleeping bag and feeling the press of a cold, wet nose on your cheek, lol. :B

To keep the subject about bears. I have a clipping around here of a cub up a tree, about i mile behind us. My Son saw a large one at the RxR crossing fall before last, and several others have been infrequently sighted withing a mile of here. While hunting in a cove about fifteen miles from here in the seventies and again in the the eighties, perhaps I had a cougar or Whistling Jack or Catamount, trail me out of the cove. I could very clearly hear the beast. I banged my flashlight against my rifle barrel and put it out of commission. Hair stood up all over my body and I was scaredd spitless. A jeek came along that had been somewhere up above me and gave me a ride out. Second time it happened, dogs came out from the fellow that took over the farm when his Father In Law died.They crossed right in front of me and it sounded like war. i haven't been back in years as big money leases the area. i wouldn't go back in there without a gun. there was no posting of the wildlife's history or predeliction, to violence, against humans posted anywhere. I won't let my wife work in the cove here because Coyotes and sometimes have been concerned when they came down within spitting distance of the back porch. I use to be pretty good at guessing Folks intention and the animal or two but danged if I'm going to take a chance on ole Smokey having a good day or not. I want to see the critters but not too close up.

If you are genuinely being attacked by a bear, discussing the legalities of useful defense is ridiculous.

Do you know it's illegal to shoot people? True! There are no circumstances where it magically become legal to shoot anyone. Self defense is an "affirmative defense". You can only ever be found not guilty, never innocent. What you are effectively saying is you were "justified" in using deadly force. That's as good as it ever gets. You have to admit you performed an illegal act, then justify why you had to. The bear defense will be no different. Unless it's bear season. There is no human season. Ever. That's where the similarities end. The two situations are not perfectly analogus.

ksg5000 wrote:

loulou57 wrote:

Do not carry or use bear spray for protection against humans in Canada. You can be charged with carrying a prohibited weapon. Carrying bear spray while hiking, camping in bear area is legal but don't have any just in case someone tries to break into your RV.

Sometimes common sense prevails over bureaucratic nonsense - when your life/property is put in harms way you do what you have to do and deal with the bureaucrats later.

I know that it would make sense to protect yourself but people have been charged using bear spray also anything with the wording pepper spray or mace is illegal.

loulou57 wrote:

Do not carry or use bear spray for protection against humans in Canada. You can be charged with carrying a prohibited weapon. Carrying bear spray while hiking, camping in bear area is legal but don't have any just in case someone tries to break into your RV.

Sometimes common sense prevails over bureaucratic nonsense - when your life/property is put in harms way you do what you have to do and deal with the bureaucrats later.

crazybill wrote:
Absolutely do not use wasp spray as a bear defense. (except as a means of last resort)
It is deadly stuff and can easily injure an animal. Blindness and nasal injury are serious issues for a wild animal. You might very well create a serious danger for people coming in contact with that half blind bear after you are long gone.
Go the extra mile and get a can or two of bear spray. It shoots farther and won't create more problems behind you. It is readily available in most areas and doubles as a human repellant if needed.
-Bill-

Do not carry or use bear spray for protection against humans in Canada. You can be charged with carrying a prohibited weapon. Carrying bear spray while hiking, camping in bear area is legal but don't have any just in case someone tries to break into your RV.

Absolutely do not use wasp spray as a bear defense. (except as a means of last resort)
It is deadly stuff and can easily injure an animal. Blindness and nasal injury are serious issues for a wild animal. You might very well create a serious danger for people coming in contact with that half blind bear after you are long gone.
Go the extra mile and get a can or two of bear spray. It shoots farther and won't create more problems behind you. It is readily available in most areas and doubles as a human repellant if needed.
-Bill-