Handgun or Pistol Defense Against Bear Attack

[ChickNorris]

Rye don't we get back to the bears now.

[Gman]

Berry good idea.

[Bailey Guns]

That's nacho best effort.

[Bullythekid]

I have had a bear encounter before while hunting for deer and elk, but the bear had no idea I was there and walked past at about 26 yards. I wasn't in a ground blind or a stand, just sitting in a small chair. It walked the direct path I was hoping the deer would so I could get a shot off. The bear had no idea I was there and just passed right by, one of the most beautiful sightings, but I will also be the first to admit it did get my blood pumping pretty quick.

If I were attacked by a bear while out hunting I would hope to get some shots off, let alone some accurate shots after being dumped with an insane amount of adrenaline. I would hope that in a situation where I was hunting with a buddy and I was being attacked my hunting buddy would start shooting. I would much rather take a bullet via collateral damage and try to fix my wounds up by throwing a tourniquet on or packing some gauze than trying to maintain ripped flesh and limbs that would be flopping around. I would image the survival percentages are much higher taking a bullet.

[ray1970]

I think people who get overly concerned about bear attacks in Colorado probably should find something better to worry about. I think there have been maybe three people killed by bears in Colorado in the last hundred years or so.

In the last fifty years or so there have been over 300 people killed by lightning in Colorado. You are 100 times more likely to be killed by lightning in this state than a bear but almost nobody dives into protection from lightning strikes like they do from bears.

[Irving]

Part of gun culture seems to be constantly making up reasons why you need one at all times. If it wasn't bears, it'd be mountain lions, or coyotes, or Rainbow Family people, or cartel grows, or people with green cards, etc.

[Jer]

I think people who get overly concerned about bear attacks in Colorado probably should find something better to worry about. I think there have been maybe three people killed by bears in Colorado in the last hundred years or so.

In the last fifty years or so there have been over 300 people killed by lightning in Colorado. You are 100 times more likely to be killed by lightning in this state than a bear but almost nobody dives into protection from lightning strikes like they do from bears.

I suspect that three number to be a bit on the light side. Also, dying isn't the only thing that can result from a bear attack. The alternatives can also screw up your day to say the least. There was a little kid nearby that was recently attacked by a black bear as he was running to the neighbor's house. Last I heard he was pretty messed up.

[FoxtArt]

Part of gun culture seems to be constantly making up reasons why you need one at all times. If it wasn't bears, it'd be mountain lions, or coyotes, or Rainbow Family people, or cartel grows, or people with green cards, etc.

Don't forget zombies. For most of us, it's a joke, but some people don't take it so jokingly.

All the scenario stuff is way overplayed. I mean, it's not like I have a "break glass in case of zombies" emergency kit or anything. *looks around nervously*.

But seriously, it's about 10,000 times more likely you have to deal with a serious medical for you or someone else out in the boonies than anything else. Nobody practices those scenarios in their head, though.

ETA: I would feel differently if we lived in Grizzly country.

Colorado bears...
...are as dangerous as a 12 year old girl. Pretty sure the later has killed more people than the bears here have.

[Gman]

Part of gun culture seems to be constantly making up reasons why you need one at all times. If it wasn't bears, it'd be mountain lions, or coyotes, or Rainbow Family people, or cartel grows, or people with green cards, etc.

Guns just happen to be the best tool we have right now for self-defense. Doesn't matter the threat.

[MED]

I thought I would relay an incident that just happened over the weekend. My manager, who is an extremely experienced hunter and woodsman, was out bow hunting Elk. He used his pack to take out an animal the day before with his hunting partner. It guess a 400-500lbs boar black bear stalked him likely because he smelled the recent elk kill on him. The bear came out and confronted him closing to about a distance of 4-5 feet away; crazy, he was holding out his bow to maintain separation, while the bear was trying to circle around him. My manager left his sidearm and only had bear spray that he couldn't deploy without it coming back from the wind, and he had a hard time reaching for it where he had it located on his belt. Fortunately, another pair of hunters saw it going down and raced to his aid with their UTV and chased off the bear.

Edit: I should probably note the UTV was OK because he was hunting on private property with owner permission.