READERS COMMENTS

Just hike in peace and be ready to die.
Posted: Dec 08, 2011 Anonymous

I carry a S&W 500 in bear country... works like a charm.
Posted: Nov 13, 2011 Northwoodsguide

That was cute, and memorable.
Posted: Nov 10, 2011 Hobie

guns can be a bit heavy for a long hike. i do carry one in the winters here in wisconsin because of the wolves, but for bears, a bell is just fine. they hear ya coming and they split. Most of the time.
Posted: Jul 14, 2011 Jesse

Look, if I'm in a National Park and my life is in danger, I'd rather face paying fines are jail time than be a meal for a Grizzly. Even firing rounds in the air might work.
Of course this would be a last resort and the odds are in both the bear's and my favor this would not escalate to that point. Does anyone really think it's worth taking a chance like this and not having some real firepower if needed? don't know what the fines are and I would imagine they're pretty steep.
Posted: Jun 25, 2011 Mark

How about keeping hippies off the trails? That seems like a good way to fend off bear attacks lol.
Posted: Jun 19, 2011 Mr. Emery

I carry a Taurus "Judge" .45/.410 5 shot revolver and loade it with mixed rounds.
http://www.taurususa.com/video-theJudge.cfm
If you are a poor shot or get too frightened to aim well...
Always remember to count your shots and save the last round for yourself.
"It is not nature we must control, but ourselves"!
Posted: Jun 09, 2011 Rick

You can't carry a firearm in Canadian parks, so you need to have other strategies. After 40+ years of backpacking and lots of bears (no attacks), I find the video really good but not adequate. The more you know about bears, the safer you are. What do they eat, what signs do they leave, what attracts them, where is a surprise encounter more likely, what does their body language tell you? And yes, there are places outside the parks where I would carry a firearm because bears, like us, are predators and they are stronger than we are.
Posted: Jun 09, 2011 Jo Ann

You can't carry a firearm in Canadian parks, so you need to have other strategies. After 40+ years of backpacking and lots of bears (no attacks), I find the video really good but not adequate. The more you know about bears, the safer you are. What do they eat, what signs do they leave, what attracts them, where is a surprise encounter more likely, what does their body language tell you? And yes, there are places outside the parks where I would carry a firearm because bears, like us, are predators and they are stronger than we are.
Posted: Jun 09, 2011 Jo Ann

Apparently the advice isn't so bad. At least, the National Parks Service thinks it's all right on the money; they have the same advice scattered throughout their parks' pages (go ahead, look it up). Kudos to Backpacker for putting it all together and making it accessible!
Posted: Jun 09, 2011 Anonymous

Good video, and thank god no interns were injured in its making. The advice given is right on the mark and straight forward. As far as the negative comments, I can not imagine where they are coming from. As far as the comment about the 3-inch claws, what are you supposed to do? Bear spray is a great option and should be the first before stepping it up. On the firearms front, a gun is just another tool for someone who is well trained in its. If I encounter an aggressive bear that can not be driven off by any other means, and I'm armed, then I amp it up and use the next tool available and he becomes a rug.
Posted: May 31, 2011 Lawrence DiVizio

I love this video! It made it really easy to remember what to do. Thank you!
Posted: Mar 17, 2011 susieq

the real trick to avoiding bear attacks is being the cameraman, clearly the bear didnt even notice him!!
Posted: Jan 26, 2011 Dave

Explosives
Posted: Jan 10, 2011 biff

thanks for providing my surviving spouse's lawyer a deep pocket for replacing my income.Make noise and rocks ok. poke his eye!? The bear already has his 3 inch claws cleaving my shoulder and he is now biting my exposed neck. game over.
good intent, but you went too far w/o explaining better tactics to novices.
Posted: Dec 21, 2010 urkidding me

GO BEAR GO BEAR HA HA HA I WAS LOLROF
Posted: Nov 14, 2010 heather

"Hell yeah!"
Posted: Nov 05, 2010 Don

If you don't feel like carrying a gun or bear spray, another popular alternative is a Perma-Boot device ... www.permabootstore.com
Posted: Oct 12, 2010 brian

I encourage all you Dirty Harry's to read "Mark of the Grizzly" and see how many hunters have been attacked despite packing "serious heat." Bear spray has a lot more room for error than a handgun while still producing the desired result - both of you walking away alive.
Posted: Sep 07, 2010 BL

If you have a CCW which is required in some states, a .44 is a great tool for protection.
Posted: Aug 29, 2010 Ron

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