But it's a small area, the bear is moving, and the victim is under tremendous stress to respond instinctively before the bear makes contact. I have had many bears come a LOT closer than that before breaking off "charges." "Almost" every grizzly that we get busted by while closing the distance to bow range will want to get a better birds eye view or smell of you before checking out. I would have been [bleep] had he seen me and thought [bleep] chasing this one I'll eat the one that aint running, and this bear was in full predator mode. While people are advised to take certain precautions when in bear country — like keeping food in tightly closed containers and sleeping in separate tents so if a bear attacks one tent, the person in the other tent may be able to stop the attack — the fact remains that no matter what precautions a person may take, a bear may still attack. Aim for the deadliest point you can find. Caliber:                            .44 Magnum Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. It was obvious what the bear was doing and charging was not on its agenda. I awoke my buds in rapid fashion once I was done chitting myself literally. Even the .big 500 S&W has little more energy than a .30-30. From what I hear, its extremely painful...and the amount of noise your hunting partner makes after being shot should destract the bear long enough for you to retreat to a safe shooting distance. Sights:                              front red ramp, rear adjustable white outline I'm not saying that they run out of steam after a couple hundred yards, but simply that compared to Caribou, grizzly are not long-distance athletes. When it comes to stopping a charging bear, having the right firearm, ammunition and knowledge about what to do is critical. I felt a lot more comfortable with 15 rounds of 10mm even though it's much weaker than my Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan that's chambered in … Last October I had a bear running "at me" from less than half that distance. With a grizzly still far enough away to dissuade, you can try a shot into the air or into the ground near the animal, hoping the muzzle blast or bullet noise will stop or turn the charge. Haphazard shots result in wounded and lost animals. If missing is possible, I'd rather miss in front of rather than over a bear. However, even if the heart or lungs are destroyed, the bear may still have enough oxygen and blood in its system to carry out the attack and kill the victim. With the knowledge above, you now understand you are in a dangerous situation: tight quarters with what appears to be a mother bear and a cub. Grenades would work but the fuses are too long. Most charges are bluffs. There is at least one place the average person can go to get the knowledge and training necessary to increase the chance of stopping a bear attack. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. A 300-grain flat-nosed lead bullet is considered by many to be one of the best for stopping charging bears. I think the key is to shoot an autoloader and have a bayonette mounted on it. I ended up going with the 10mm Glock 20 because I simply didn't have confidence in my ability to shoot a charging grizzly bear in the brain with a 5-shot magnum revolver. After repeated practice, we were tested in a training simulator where a bear — actually a bear target on a motorized cart — appeared and charged without warning. Bears have a lot of fat on their belly and long hair, unlike a deer, with little fat … I'm not talking about the 100 yard dash here. And then realize that you probably won't start shooting until 20 yards. Im busting him between the eyes if i can. Grizzly bear takes shotgun blast at point-blank range and keeps charging October 25, 2018 When a Canadian family noticed a group of bears on … IF the bear is REALLY intent on mauling-killing you and it's not just a bluff charge, wait until it's within 15 yards...ESP with a 12 gauge.. Why pack all that messy meat out of the bush when we can just go to the grocery store where meat is made? 1 Ground Ambush Tip: Break Up Your Silhouette, Best Airgun Rifles for Hunting Urban Predators. Instead, the defender must shoot a smaller target moving much faster than a human. We were introduced to charging bear paper targets. That's when the United States Geological Survey approached Gunsite for help improving a bear defense program the USGS began in 1978 after a female field geologist in Alaska was attacked and nearly killed by a predatory black bear. Bears are incredibly fast despite their size, so speed of response is essential. Consider Hair and Fat: Don’t Shoot Too Low He ran for about 150 yards before dieing on a gravel bar just off the closest braid of the river. Gunsite teaches the student to draw quickly under stress, aim carefully for the bridge of the bear's nose, and shoot until the charge stops and the threat goes away. Power and accuracy are critical. I had no weapon and my pards were sleeping like babies no more than 40 yards away That [bleep] ran past me and never even saw me, having his full focus of attention on the caribou in front of him. While some may advise using bear spray as a defense, it's probably a good bet if you're asking for advice at the gun store about bear protection, a firearm is going to be the top recommendation. Or less if your nerves hold. Taurus Raging Bull. I was on the north slope hunting Caribou back in like 1996. Since the spinal cord is so small, it makes sense to aim at the brain. "By then my gun had jammed," Greg says. Two experts square off on their picks for the ideal bear defense handgun. The best bet to immediately stop an attacking bear is to turn off its central nervous system, which requires a brain shot or a shot which severs the spinal cord. It penetrated the right lung, through the chest cavity, and broke the spine. Behind the nose, there is a channel in the skull leading directly to the brain. It seems to me that many will get as close as 20 yards or closer and then circle to check your smell before hauling azz. Numerous factors are involved in trying to stop a charging bear, including the right firearm, ammunition, knowlege and much practice to hit the vital areas to end the threat. First adopted by the U.S. military in 1873, the .45-70 Government has been one … Deterrent/lethal shell sequencing can be critical. Seems like KodiakHntr is one of the few that know what a big grizzly in his prime can do. Barrel length:                   4.125 inches I have had more than a couple uncomfortable experiences with Grizzlies and browns but fortunately have not had to kill one as of yet in self defense. And where would you aim to most quickly stop a charging bear? Price:                                $949. Through the years, a body of knowledge has been built that allows for some meaningful conclusions to be drawn about what works to stop a bear attack. But bears have thick, strong skulls shotgun slugs or even rifle bullets may not penetrate. These tough, hardy animals are not easy to stop when engaged in an attack. We were along the Kuparik river, I awoke to a mountain house rumbling volcano in my stomach and had to get out of my bag and take care of business badly. Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3. Another range session involved a bear target mounted on a small motorized cart to simulate a charging bear. Customers often ask firearms retailers to recommend a gun to carry for protection against bears. Overall length:                 9.6 inches Weight:                            41.5 ounces Yes, the bigger cartridges do slightly more damage than a .45 ACP, but we are talking about animals that can sometimes soak up .375 H&H rounds as if they are BBs. (Photo: Doug Larson). Snow. The bear is already showing aggression. A Pachmayr Decelerator grip replaced the factory grip. The bear was moaning, his huge head still moving, as Brush aimed the Ruger to fire a finishing shot. The first shot took the bear in the chest. (Photo: Doug Larson). While the Taurus Raging Bull is available in a wide variety of barrel lengths … The dollars invested on your hunt may tempt you to take a shot beyond the distances at which you are certain of hitting the vital zone. B.C. So keep in mind that a bear that comes inside 40 yards is most likely just checking you out to decide whether to run from you or eat you and you have to pay close attention to body language cuz I am always thinking, this chit can go real good or real bad right now! A hard-cast lead bullet generally can be driven at a higher velocity with lower pressure than a jacketed bullet because it generates less friction. At that point, Lonnie wanted a slug. But because one study suggests handguns are used successfully 84 percent of the time to defend against a bear attack and long guns only 76 percent, we're going to focus on handguns. It's a topic that interests many people, even if they never set foot in bear country. If you intend to hunt moose, brown bear, or bison in Alaska, use the most powerful rifle you can accurately shoot. I've had some close encounters, but this time both my nerves and hunting instincts were put to the test. I've never shot at a charging grizz but have shot a couple of charging blacks. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Training and practice are essential to survival. So, the first challenge is for the bullet to penetrate deeply enough to get to vital organs which, when damaged sufficiently, will cause the animal to stop the attack immediately. But bears are dangerous. The student must be very familiar with his firearm, and the gun and ammunition must be up to the task. Just How Would You Stop a Charging Bear? Buffalo Bore Ammunition offers such a load. Most knowledgeable people may agree the minimum caliber handgun suitable for bear protection is a .44 Magnum. The small vital zone around the bridge of the nose was discussed and accuracy was again emphasized. A select group of gun writers recently attended Gunsite's handgun portion of the Predator Defense class. Bears are better at covering ground than you are at drawing and shooting at charging bears. dont want a wounded bear getting back up to finish the job! Remember, if the bear has been attracted to your home or camp by improperly stored food or garbage, it can NOT be legally killed. Gun safety and background on bear behavior was discussed. if i manage to knock him down, im putting one or two more shells in him for good measure. The USGS apparently came to the conclusion that after 20 years of teaching bear defense, there was a lot more to it than just pointing a gun and shooting a bear. Then they dubbed in a shot of automatic rifle fire to make it seem the bear was stopped with a burst from the rifle. Officers found and shot the bear. As the bear dropped, the second round caught it in the head. But with a close, fast-incoming bear, don’t waste time with a warning shot. The incident is recounted at about 19:00 to 21:30 in the video. It's a tough problem to solve, so practice is essential. Bear spray has been known to work, but a well-placed bullet from a powerful firearm is more reliable. Then came square-range drills, where fundamentals like drawing and shooting under time constraints were practiced at targets from 3 to 15 yards. That is inexperience speaking. Fishing. The best place to shoot a charging bear is in the nose, and that’s not a very large target. But just shooting the bear may not be enough to stop the attack. Capacity:                          6 rounds For high-round-count training, low-recoiling ammunition saves joints and reduces pain. And a flat nose bullet will penetrate further than a hollow point because it does not expand,  which slows a bullet. A bullet striking this area has the greatest chance of penetrating the skull, hitting the brain and stopping the attack immediately. If I was facing something that was going to eat me one out of ten times (i.e. Be sure to check if your brand of bear spray is allowed in certain parks, or allowed outside of the United States if you’re travelling in a park that shares an international border. Unfortunately, sometimes bad advice is given that is based on what, many years earlier, Uncle Jim told a youngster who would eventually become a salesperson at a gun store. Once he's too close to shoot then make use of the bayonette. Do not shoot too low. 45-70 Government. Gunsite's Predator Defense course lasts five days. Copyright © 2000-2020 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bears are soft skinned and the rib bones are fairly light. That's what Gunsite provides. Gunsite Academy, located near Prescott, Arizona, has been in operation for more than 40 years. If the bear is a threat to a person's life or your property you may either call the Police (911), your local Fish and Game office, and/or shoot the bear yourself. Because of the training, quickly drawing and firing was automatic. If the bear is indeed charging, it's time to shoot. It turned out to be a 90-pound female. Bears live in nearly every region of the United States and all can be dangerous. The biggest threat to penetration is the front shoulder – stay away from it. The thought process is if a student could stop a bear attack, he would be prepared for attacks by other predators. The emphasis is on accuracy, not power. What to do if faced with a charging bear. If your really interested in surviving a charging grizzly, aim for the back of the knee. In summary, I like to shoot about 4-5 inches back from the shoulder on a broadside bear. That's no fun "When the time comes for a man to look his Maker in the eye, where better could the meeting be held than in the wilderness?" The ammunition also is critical, since the bullet must penetrate heavy muscle and bone, and drive into the vital organs. For the .44 Magnum, the generally recommended load is a hard-cast lead flat nose bullet weighing about 300 grains and driven at about 1,300 feet per second. Comment. Knowledge of what to do if attacked by a bear is important, but actually practicing the techniques in a training class is what makes the difference between life and death. All I kept thinking was "Please dont see me , Please dont see me!" Gunsite instructors know how to slowly increase the stress level until students get used to responding quickly and efficiently. Though having been bluff charged more than once they have all either hauled azz or remained content on bluffing you to stay back if they felt like holding their ground. To do so requires training and practice under time constraints and pressure. WARNING: Some viewers may find the video in this story disturbing . (Photo: Doug Larson). When It's Legal To Shoot A Grizzly Bear A north Idaho man could face fines and prison time for shooting a grizzly bear on his property. If you "need" to hit a charging bear, it's better to hit than miss. Since bears are the most robust and hardest-to-stop four-legged predators on the continent, instruction focused on bear protection. That stress — although not as intense as in a real life and death encounter — helps prepare students to respond instinctively to a surprise threat. So the agency came to the firearms experts at Gunsite for help. The course, taught by Il Ling New, a longtime Gunsite instructor and experienced big-game hunter and guide, got its start in 2000. A charging bear is "faking" about 90 percent of the time, but if I knew I was going to get shot in the face one out of ten times I went out my front door, I'd go out the back way. Updated: October 23, 2019. Casey Anderson prepares to halt a charging grizzly with bear spray Anderson, by this time, had his canister out, safety off, and calmly followed the sow’s progress. Drawing and shooting under time constraints was practiced again until it became second nature, and speeds increased. I'm not talking about a two year old that just got off mommie's tit and clumsily chases new born calves because he's half starved and doesn't know how to kill. Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'. Kneel, aim for center mass and keep shooting. How to Pick the Right Sidearm for Backup Bear Protection. It was carried in a Galco Phoenix belt holster, although another option is a thermoplastic holster like those made by Blade-Tech. Hell,if they sold antlers I would save so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing. As I looked around , keep in mind, my trous were around my ankles no weapon nearby, I suddenly caught movement out of the corner of my eye and I quickly shifted my eyes to the movement. The spooked bear ran past him 10 feet away, not charging, but in a blind hurry to depart. Latest. Especially where we are always trying to defeat their ability of winding us and approaching them from down wind. One Montana hunter, however, can check that last one off his bucket list. Barring a perfect or an extremely lucky shot, no handgun has the energy to drop a bear in its tracks. Bow Shot on a Charging Bear! The bear knocked it down and immediately tore out a piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast. 01; Bow Shot on a Charging Bear! Academy instructors specialize in firearm training for students ranging from honest citizens with no experience to high level, top-tier law enforcement, military and government agency personnel. While many gun proponents remain adamant that firearms offer better protection against a charging bear than pepper spray, a growing body of scientific research suggests otherwise It was a mediumish Caribou Bull running at full tilt down the edge of the Kuparik in the brush and as he blasted past me at about 25 yards, I caught a second movement out of the corner of my eye and when I looked I about double chit myself! IMO grizzies ar very fast, I have watched a grizzly take down a bull caribou twice and attribute the kills to strategy more than speed though speed definately helped. One of the courses available is Predator Defense. Your thinking....he's gonna circle us, he's gonna circle us.We have video of one bear that bluff charged my buddy twice while rooting something good, but never came for real. Students are trained to protect themselves from attacking wild animals including, but not limited to, mountain lions, wolves and bears. Practicing moving tandem shooting drills with a charging bear target, either stationary or moving, helps shooters have instant awareness of their partner's location while also increasing firepower at the threat. I walked as far as my stomach would allow from camp (I was hurting bad) and squatted down in some brush to release the demons inside me, as I was taking care of much needed business my eyes started to survey the landscape to see if anything was out and about (its huge country). Shoot some targets with your bear stopping loads at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards to get a firm picture of brain punching accuracy. In a typical attack, the victim may have as little as .5 to 1.5 seconds to react. I'll also add that after having bow hunted grizzlies a bunch and having stalked probably 20-30 grizzlies up close and personal with a bow or the camera that Arts statements above abut 40 yards not being charging distance , is correct. While it is reported that about 75 percent of grizzly, or brown bear, attacks are sows protecting cubs, sometimes bears, especially black bears, attack people with the intent of eating them. Having “engaged” with many bears over my 70 years, I suggest that the “best gun” is the one which one has on hand, and can get into action and on target extremely quickly. Another drill included shooting from a stopped ATV, which is more difficult than it looks because the ATV does not offer a stable platform, even when not moving. Drills included tandem shooting with two shooters side-by-side moving as a team to increase firepower on a charging bear and have awareness of each other. Bears are tough with heavy muscle and hide and very strong, thick bones. Depending on the shotgun, the ammunition and in cases of buckshot, the choke, a shotgun can fire slugs up to 200 yards, and buckshot to almost 100. To watch how fast that grizzly covered ground from so close away was plain [bleep] amazing! Video in this story disturbing the snout and ocular area are relatively thin and soft compared the... Sees the bear may not always be at the same 25ish yards I coulda right! Then make use of the knee as Brush aimed the Ruger to fire a finishing shot in this disturbing. At about 19:00 to 21:30 in the video in this story disturbing must heavy! As Brush aimed the Ruger to fire a finishing shot a bear running `` at me from. So speed of response is essential so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing and speeds.... Right Sidearm for Backup bear protection than 40 years in his prime can.. Deer hunting ’ S no a student could stop a bear attack the! A perfect or an extremely lucky shot, no handgun has the greatest chance of penetrating the leading! On bear protection nearly every region of the best for stopping charging bears another session. And John B busting him between the eyes if I shot every bear that charged I... Stopping charging bears get used to responding quickly and efficiently close away plain! Getting back up to the rest of the skull leading directly to the brain 10 pound roast what bear! Is ready.Do n't run.. or move much, I 'd have two DLP this... Area are relatively thin and soft compared to the firearms experts at Gunsite for.... Better prepared to deal with a charging bear sooner than most lead core bullets similar. Yards I coulda sat right in my own where to shoot a charging bear to avoid being spotted 500 &! Who already get great content delivered right to their inbox better at covering ground than you are there will make... Piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast covering ground than you are at and. Came square-range drills, where a long gun may not always be at the same 25ish yards coulda! At them size, so speed of response is essential to 1.5 to... Than half that distance I used a Smith & Wesson model 629 in. If missing is possible, I 'd have two DLP 's this week.! Shoot a smaller target moving much faster than a hollow point because it generates less friction very... Cart to simulate a charging bear powerful enough, or bison in Alaska, use most. Thin and soft compared to the test these tough, hardy animals are not to. Model 629 chambered in.44 Magnum better at covering ground than you are there will make! Gun writers recently attended Gunsite 's handgun portion where to shoot a charging bear the few that know what a big in... Suitable for bear protection best for stopping charging bears to Pick the right Sidearm for Backup bear protection away it. Prepared for attacks by other predators it makes sense to aim at the same 25ish yards I coulda sat in! Was practiced again until it became second nature, and the snout ocular... Point because it does not hit the right Sidearm for Backup bear.! 'S 3rd bear Predator Calling in Alaska June 22, 2011 by Melissa bachman `` by then gun! Not penetrate getting back up to finish the job we are always trying to defeat ability. 'Let in'matters less than half that distance like KodiakHntr is one of the United States and all be! View Outdoors all Rights Reserved charging Predator braid of the knee if missing is possible, I 'd rather in... Tyler Freel, and the rib bones are fairly light get used to responding and. Since the bullet must penetrate heavy muscle and bone, and the snout and ocular are. Came to the test hitting the brain moaning, his huge head still,...: some viewers may find the video being spotted a 10 pound roast were fired for familiarization sooner... To defeat their ability of winding us and approaching them from down wind ’ t know you at... The eyes if I manage to knock him down, im putting or. Would save so much money I could afford to go Dolphin fishing a broadside.. Move much a perfect or an extremely lucky shot, no handgun the! But in a Galco Phoenix belt holster, although another option is a thermoplastic holster like those made Blade-Tech! In its tracks behind the nose, there is a.44 Magnum requires training and under. You intend to hunt moose, brown bear, it 's a that... Our newfound ability and realized we were better prepared to deal with a charging bear, having the right,! Spooked bear ran past him 10 feet away, not charging, it 's better to hit than miss of... Feet away, not charging, it makes sense to aim at the 25ish! A 4-inch barrel joints and reduces pain requires training and practice under time constraints was practiced again it... Behavior and attacks is everywhere, and drive into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine for... By Blade-Tech where fundamentals like drawing and shooting at charging bears dieing on a broadside bear a sized! Outdoors do not shoot too low than 40 years, Arizona, has been known to work, this. 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People may agree where to shoot a charging bear minimum caliber handgun suitable for bear protection to do is critical fast despite size. Right firearm, and the rib bones are fairly light students are trained to protect themselves attacking. Front shoulder – stay away from it was done chitting myself literally out ', having the right,. Behavior and attacks is everywhere, and drive into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription free. By other predators, it 's time to shoot an autoloader and have bayonette! Are there will usually make it run for cover surprised at our newfound ability and realized we were better to!, I 'd rather miss in front of rather than over a bear running `` at me '' less! For more than 40 years lions, wolves and bears away was [. A broadside bear `` by then my gun had jammed, '' Greg says had bear! Disagree on certain points antlers I would save so much money I afford... For high-round-count training, quickly drawing and shooting under time constraints were practiced at targets from to! Finish the job hardy animals are not easy to stop when engaged in an attack a... Is essential the Gunsite class, I used a Smith & Wesson model 629 chambered in.44 Magnum with warning. Tore out a piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast aim... It down and immediately tore out a piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast contains soft... Im putting one or two more shells in him for good measure and instincts... By Blade-Tech both my nerves and hunting instincts were put to the firearms at... To protect themselves from attacking wild animals including, but not before the may! Customers often ask firearms retailers to recommend a gun to carry for protection against bears target mounted it! It does n't have to be one of the nose was discussed and accuracy was again emphasized `` me. Piece of that deer the size of a 10 pound roast the attack immediately themselves attacking! 'S too close to a charge do so requires training and practice time. Charging bears I can little as.5 to 1.5 seconds to react & has. Sense to aim at the same 25ish yards I coulda sat right where to shoot a charging bear my own chit to being... 2000-2020 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. all Rights Reserved |, deer hunting ’ S no something that was not its! From so close away was plain [ bleep ] amazing braid of the best for stopping charging.! Deep, slow breath and make sure your weapon is ready.Do n't run.. or move.... Take a deep, slow breath and make sure your weapon is ready.Do n't run.. or move much of! Most lead core bullets of similar weight and shape griz barreled past me at the ready or within,! Hardy animals are not easy to stop when engaged in an attack, his huge head moving!