Travelling with Bear Spray

[rwbradley]

I am heading out on a trip where we will be camping with our new Hybrid TT in the Adirondack and Laurentian Mountains. Normally when we tent camped or hiked in Central and Northern Ontario I would always carry Bear Spray, just in case. On this trip we will be crossing the Border between Canada/US and have never travelled out of province with Bear Spray. I spoke to the US Border Service and they said that as long as the Capsicum is 5% or lower we should be good crossing the border.

I understand the weapon laws are more lenient than in Canada, where Bear Spray's use and transportation is restricted to activities and places where a bear could be a threat (ie not the mall) and can only be used to defend against a bear (ie not a mugger). But am unsure if the US laws regarding use, storage and transportation vary from state to state and if so, if there are things I need to know when travelling in the North East with Bear Spray ie does it need to be locked up when not in use, should it be visible (not concealed) when hiking, do you have to notify someone if you use it in defense against a bear???

Obviously common sense is key and only using it as a last resort, but I prefer to not spend an extended vacation behind bars in another country because of some rule I was unaware of.
Thanks

[RoyB]

I also carry good old large can of long distance WASP SPRAY in addition to my UDAP BEAR SPRAY holtster pack.... WASP SPRAY and heavy duty AX handle is available for me to use at my trailer door.

My concern with the UDAP BEAR SPRAY cans is I am not 100% sure they will work everytime. They are so expensive I am hesitant of testing them to see if they work. My luck once they started spraying the canister would keep going until the can is dry...

I have seen the UDAP Bear Spray canisters being used by the Rangers up on SKYLINE DRIVE local to us here in Virginia. The black bears turned and ran everytime...

This is what I carry when camping in the Natl Forest areas.


Roy Ken

[TucsonJim]

For the most part, bear spray is 100% legal across the U.S. (Even in Hawaii where there are no bears). See the attached article for more information.

I only carry it if I'm going to an area with a history of bear attacks. I'd really recommend it if you're going to locations that have grizzly bears.

As for carrying it concealed or in the open, there are no rules about it, but just make sure you can access it very quickly if you encounter an aggressive bear.

If I actually had to use it to deter an overly aggressive bear, I'd notify game and fish department of the state I was located in. The only exception would be if I was in a national park, I'd notify the park rangers.

Bear spray info