I agree with the shotgun. That is what a grizzly bear biologist I know carries for protection -- in case a bear that he has tranquilized comes too a little unexpectedly.
However, if you respect the bears and give them their distance -- let them have the riverbank or the fish if they decide they want it -- there is no need to be paranoid about bears. What is more important -- the 15 pound salmon on the end of your line -- or your life? There are lots of fish in the river. I have fished and canoed in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska for the past 12 years and have never had a problem with a bear -- although I've seen lots of bears and lots of bear signs. Sure people do have problems, but often it is because they don't show the bears the respect they deserve. Be especially way of sows with cubs or young male bears -- they are the ones that often have encounters with people. Two of my friends had to bail out of their fishing spot on the Chilkoot River in Haines last week because a big ole grizzly decided he wanted to fish where they were fishing -- they didn't argue with the bear. I never carried a gun in the bush -- I always carried pepper spray -- its very easy to strap to your waist. Keep your eyes open to bear signs, keep in close contact with the other members of your party, make noise when walking through high grass or bush or if you are fishing a river with bush at your back. If there are salmon or berries there will likely be bears around. Know your escape route before hand -- in case you are approached by a bear. If you are driving through Canada to get to Alaska -- you better check with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Canada Customs and Immigration Service before trying to bring your gun across the border -- after 9/11 they don't fool around. Be prepared -- don't be paranoid -- or you won't have much fun. Hope this helps. Ken MacGillivray Vancouver ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rix Benson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 1:29 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Texans > Good point. A shotgun would be fantastic. The only > reason I said rifle is because I'm from Wyoming where > we can't use shotguns to hunt big game and I didn't > even think about it. But, one thing to keep in mind > is that it all depends on what you're comfortable > with. Myself, I'm more comfortable with my accuracy > with a rifle...but I can't dispute the stopping power > of .00 buckshot or a rifled slug coming out of a 12 > guage barrel. The only advantage a rifle might give > is accuracy. But, the shotgun would certainly be > faster in a charging bear situation. > > --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > The scoped 7mm is a good idea but think about it > > when a bear is charging you > > are you going to be able to throw up the rifle and > > squeeze off a shot? I > > dont' know about you but i think i would be a little > > scared. If you were > > looking for the maximum stoping power i would go > > with a sawed off 12 gauge > > shotgun with 3 1/2 in. buckshot and the second round > > should be a slug this > > way when u see the bear u can shoot off the > > buckshoot long enough to stun him > > hopefully then take a quick second to fire off the > > slug which if it hits the > > bear should very easily kill a bear. Yes this may > > be a little more extreme > > than a can of pepper spray but this is my opinon. > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better > http://health.yahoo.com
