Pepper Spray for Bears and Large Kitties??

[Jakeemt]

I would much prefer the spray to a handgun. I shoot pistols a fair bit, but I seriously don't I could get off a stopping shot on a charging bear at close range. I have had no combat training or anything and I think most people seriously underestimate their nerves. As for cats they are actually the stuff off my nightmares when roaming the woods at night. Beautiful creatures but, what's really scary is that you would simply never know. One minute you'd be walking along and the next you'd have a giant cat with a matching pair of fangs buried in your neck! Man that gives me the heebie Jeebies!

[4dogs]

I have a crazy paranoid friend that is so scared of cats that he wears a hard plastic neck brace if he is walking out after dark. Comforts him I guess.    

[Montanawidower]

Cats seem scary... But by the numbers, they just don't attack armed men.   I believe we have many more cat encounters then we know.

But because they keep their distance,  we are blissfully unaware.

Bears,  on the other hand,  kill or attack people regularly around here.

[Archie]

I was going to carry bear spray on my Alaska hunt a couple of years ago, but it was a hassle getting it on the plane, and I just carried a borrowed .44 Super Blackhawk.

I did not feel confident AT ALL in that sidearm, as I hadn't shot it and gotten comfortable with it beforehand.  A few months ago, I picked up one of Ruger's new 3 3/4" Bisley Lipsey .44 Super Blackhawks, and I think it's going to be the perfect sidearm for me as a bowhunter.  Depending on the situation, spray will always be considered as well, but I just feel better with a good, loud, and capable pistol on me.  It will handle the 340 grain Buffalo Bore cartridges well.  I'll shoot that gun a lot in the field before relying on it, too.

I saw a big blacky male bluff charge a canoeist once. He did exactly the right thing, raised his hands in the the air and bellowed like a bull getting castrated.  When I told him that he did exactly the right thing, he said, "I did what?" He also wet his pants, that may have helped.  Black bears appear to be able to be at top speed in two steps, I imagine grizzlies are just as fast.  One thing a gun can do is make a lot of noise, regardless how bad of shot someone is.

[Kevin Dill]

I'm serious about this:

I have often wondered why somebody doesn't invent the 'ultimate' bear defender. That would be a flare-gun type device which puts out a huge flash-bang while simultaneously blasting a pepper charge for 20'.

Kimber (Firearms) sells a 'Pepper Blaster' which is designed for personal defense (not from bears) and works like a handgun. Two trigger pulls will get you 2 blasts (by actual propellant) of potent capsicum spray. I carry one in my truck all the time. I can't see a reason why this concept couldn't be advanced into a larger and louder device suitable for bear defense.

[kevsuperg]

Kevin,
 You may be on to something, better patent that idea.

Perhaps I should have more fear of black bears than I do, but considering how many interactions between humans and black bears happen every year that never amount to anything, attacks from them are still relatively a very low percentage.  While I hate the idea of pepper spraying anything, I think all to often people are too quick to react through fear, the noise factor as a deterrent is something to consider.  A loud bang or blast can change a pesky animals intent very quickly without causing harm.  If one had a choice between loud blast and then able to use pepper spray as a final deterrent, all in one quick to use tool could be a good and practical thing.

[JohnV]

I am a big supporter of bear spray and don't even own a handgun.  Once during a very close encounter with two bedded mountain lions, I got out the pepper spray and started reading instructions.  Surprised to find out that in less than 10 seconds the can would be emptied.  Better make sure of your shot as you will only get 2-3 shots out of the can at best before empty.

[catman1]

A Remington 12gage shotgun with a slugs will work, I know it's something else to carry, but I would rather carry that than be carried by 6 friends at my funeral. That's what the guides and pilot's carry in the Alaska bush plus the 44 mag.