Pepper Spray for Bears and Large Kitties??

[BrownA5]

Anyone have recommendations on pepper spray for bears or large kitties?

[BowDiddle]

Forget the pepper spray. Use the long range hornet/wasp spray.

[centaur]

If the wind is wrong, you won't be happy using bear spray. I like the idea of the hornet spray.

[Conner Parry]

I was skeptical about the effectiveness of Bear spray. Here is my brother in-laws first hand experience with it, this just happened last fall (2014) here in Utah. He said he had a feeling that morning that he needed to take the spray along on the hunt. He put it on his belt and off he went in the darkness to a secluded pond to sit and try to shoot an elk with his bow. Just as he tip toed over a small burn below the pond, a sow black bear came out of the bushes and charged him. He reacted and sprayed her just feet before she reached him. The bear turned an immediate 180 degrees and ran as hard and fast as she could back into the pine trees. He could hear her moaning and growling all morning. I went to the nearest sporting goods store and purchased a can, it always goes on my pack. He said that he would have been in real trouble, if not for the spray. It absolutely works!

[bowfanatik]

What is Hornet spray ?
And what is Bear spray ?
Some links please

[Frenchymanny]

I like the idea of not shooting the bears.
Like bowfanatik said: some info would be great

F-Manny

[eidsvolling]

You will rarely see this report (authored by two of the world's leading scientific authorities on bear attacks) discussed by the heavy-caliber handgun crowd, so here are some numbers from the report to keep in mind:

"In 92% (46 of 50; G1 1⁄4 41.4, P , 0.001) of close-range encounters with brown bears, spray stopped undesirable behavior in which the bear was engaged. In 90% (18 of 20; G1 1⁄4 14.7, P 1⁄4 0.001) of close-range encounters with black bears, spray stopped the bear’s undesirable behavior. All bear-inflicted injuries (n 1⁄4 3) involved brown bears and were relatively minor (i.e., no hospitalization required). During 1985–1995, Herrero and Higgins (1998) found bear spray use in Alaska 94% effective overall (30 of 32 incidents; G1 1⁄4 31.3, P , 0.001); we found that in the decade following bear spray, efficacy was 90% (36 of 41 cases; G1 1⁄4 33.4, P , 0.001)."

   Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska  

Ah, but what about the wind, you say?

"Wind can influence bear spray’s accuracy and distance; however, our data show that wind rarely affected the outcome of bear–human interactions involving bear spray, which is likely because many close encounters do not occur in open areas, but rather in dense brush or forests where wind is greatly attenuated (T. Smith, Brigham Young University, unpublished data; S. Herrero, University of Calgary, unpublished data). High exit velocities of spray from cans likely compensates for cross-wind effects and may account for the low incidence of wind-related effects reported in Alaska. Of the 72 incidents we studied, 4 (6%) involved persons that had to leave the area to alleviate burning eyes and coughing. No one reported being incapacitated by spray, although one user said he had to move or he would have been overwhelmed."

[eidsvolling]

For those unfamiliar with bear spray products, here's a handy compilation from the EPA. My choice for many years has been the first one listed here:
   Bear Deterrents

[Cavscout9753]

Bowfanatik; bear spray is like peper-spray/mace for humans except in a larger container and used for bears. While a good side arm or rifle has proven effective for many generations, 1) in the heat of the moment the person can miss 2) the shot may not prove rapidly fatal so you still get mauled, or 3) you kill a bear that could have otherwise been on a bluff charge (least concerning for most people). Bear spray, as stated above, is quick and easy to use, has a wide spray stream, and assaults the sensitive senses of the bear so they turn and bail (most of the time anyhow). Wasp/hornet spray is a cheaper alternative that is used to kill wasps but is pretty painful stuff and has a long effective range since it was designed so that you dont have to get right up on the bugs to kill them.

[Archie]

I would carry spray along with my .44 Super Blackhawk if I had the option.  I believe that the big "studies" (purporting to conclusively prove that bear spray is more effective than handguns) have been shown to have used skewed data, and it was not a true apples-to-apples comparison.

I'm sure the stuff works though, and have a can of my own in my basement as I write this.  We used to carry Counter Assault when I lived in Alaska, but I never knew anyone who had to use it.  As a matter of fact, I lived in Fairbanks for 20+ years, and did a ton of fishing, hunting hiking, camping, off-roading, mountain biking, and running, and I never saw even ONE bear in the wild!  

Maybe I smell worse than I think...?    

I used to carry bear spray on our Canadian and  Boundary Waters canoe trips.  We have crossed paths with quite a few black bears, some within feet of me.  Not once did I really feel that I was in any danger. I quit taking it along, just extra weight. I have been threatened by a couple of mama moosies.  In those cases a 'beam up Scotty' would have been good, but lightening fast legs was just barely good enough.  I was told by a bear biologist if a black bear sow is pulling a hissy fit that they are just asking for space. He had never heard of a hissy fit bear attacking anyone.  We have had them huff and puff, slap at brush, clack their teeth and then go on their way a number of times. The ones to watch out for according to him are the stalkers, but he said that he had never seen one himself.  He handled bear cubs all of the time and the mama would just hang back and watch.  
I will not go out in grizzly country without a fresh can in a quick draw holster, luckily I've never had to draw it.

[Kevin Hansen]

Great thread.
We have always carried bear spray for the past decade or more but never had to use it.
I would like to hear from more members like Conner Parry who have either used bear spray personally, or have a very close second-hand tale to relate from a best friend, family member, etc.
Anyone???

[smokin joe]

About 25 years ago I was in the hospital for some surgery. I met another patient there who had been chewed up by a black bear. His wounds were not a pretty sight. Though black bears have a reputation for being shy, I can tell you from first-hand observation that they can do a lot of ugly damage when they want to mess up a person.

I would not hesitate to use bear spray on a black bear, especially after seeing the damage one can do.

[tim roberts]

If it is a recommendation on a brand, I would strongly suggest UDAP.
Thanks,

[old_goat2]

I carry it, only time I've unholstered it was for a lovesick bull moose! Didn't have to use it but was ready, it was pitch black and so are the Shiras moose. Good thing about bear spray over a side arm is it has a brightly colored stream of fluid when shot so you can see it and correct your aim! With a firearm, you better hit a shoulder bone and break him down, otherwise you are just going to increase his adrenaline flow and tick him off more!

[Pat B]

I remember reading is a similar post a few years ago from a guide in bear country saying that if you carry a side arm for protection in bear country to file off the front sight...it makes it less painful when the bear shoves it up your butt...point being it is very hard to shoot a handgun effectively with a bear charging you.
 Bowfanatik, the wasp/hornet spray(for killing wasps and hornets, stinging insects) is made to shoot at 20' or more a straight stream of the bug juice. I don't know what the effective range of bear spray is.

[Pat B]

I remember reading is a similar post a few years ago from a guide in bear country saying that if you carry a side arm for protection in bear country to file off the front sight...it makes it less painful when the bear shoves it up your butt...point being it is very hard to shoot a handgun effectively with a bear charging you.
 Bowfanatik, the wasp/hornet spray(for killing wasps and hornets, stinging insects) is made to shoot at 20' or more a straight stream of the bug juice. I don't know what the effective range of bear spray is.

[Thumper Dunker]

If kitty is going to get you your not going to see it.  If you see a cat they are fairly easy to chase off. Well the two I had close calls with.
If I'm calling in the mountains I always have my 44 in my lap.

[tim roberts]

Pat,
Range has a lot to do with the manufacture, size of canister, and if I remember correctly temperature can effect it also. For the most part you can expect 25-35'. The advantage bear spray has over bug spray, is the bear spray on esout in a cloud rather than a stream.
Thanks,

[meatCKR]

If I was in Bear Country, I would be sure to have some spray but one thing to keep in mind is I heard the bush pilot's in Alaska won't let you bring that stuff on the plane. This is what I heard. Can anyone confirm this? And if they won't fly with it, what your alternatives? Only thing I can think of is a good sidearm.