45acp for black bear protection
#13
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 90
C-Rad,
I have killed 5 black bears with my bow and have hunted Elk and Deer where were lots of Black bears. Like you I never had any fear of them. Well last year I formed a differnt opinion. While walking through a large patch of scrub oak on my way to my stand I must have somehow got between a sow and her cub. It was dark and I was walking with a small head lamp for light. She charged me and stoped 10 yards away poping her teeth and was making very loud huffing sounds. Let me tell you I now have a whole new opinion and this year I am carrying a side arm while bowhunting in bear country.
I have killed 5 black bears with my bow and have hunted Elk and Deer where were lots of Black bears. Like you I never had any fear of them. Well last year I formed a differnt opinion. While walking through a large patch of scrub oak on my way to my stand I must have somehow got between a sow and her cub. It was dark and I was walking with a small head lamp for light. She charged me and stoped 10 yards away poping her teeth and was making very loud huffing sounds. Let me tell you I now have a whole new opinion and this year I am carrying a side arm while bowhunting in bear country.
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: WY
Posts: 2,056
So, yes - carrying a firearm CAN get you into more trouble than it can get you out of if you invite or are too unaware of or detached from your surroundings to avoid a confrontation.
Most of the time, my threat is a cat. I'm perfectly happy with a .45. If I'm in black bear country, I'm probably going to carry a .44. In any case, I'm going to be paying pretty close attention to things in order that I not find the need to draw and fire.
#15
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South East Pa.
Posts: 526
Well stated, Homers Brother. I am not anti gun, however I am against belligerent people owning guns. You shoot a black bear in the state of Pennsylvania and there better be claw marks on you. Just this last deer season a girl hunting deer was attacked by a bear in PA. One can never get an accurate story from a newspaper, but allegedly she was attacked. Two of her family followed it and shot it. Last report I heard, the shooters were in trouble.
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Eastern wv
Posts: 3,650
C-Rad,
I have killed 5 black bears with my bow and have hunted Elk and Deer where were lots of Black bears. Like you I never had any fear of them. Well last year I formed a differnt opinion. While walking through a large patch of scrub oak on my way to my stand I must have somehow got between a sow and her cub. It was dark and I was walking with a small head lamp for light. She charged me and stoped 10 yards away poping her teeth and was making very loud huffing sounds. Let me tell you I now have a whole new opinion and this year I am carrying a side arm while bowhunting in bear country.
I have killed 5 black bears with my bow and have hunted Elk and Deer where were lots of Black bears. Like you I never had any fear of them. Well last year I formed a differnt opinion. While walking through a large patch of scrub oak on my way to my stand I must have somehow got between a sow and her cub. It was dark and I was walking with a small head lamp for light. She charged me and stoped 10 yards away poping her teeth and was making very loud huffing sounds. Let me tell you I now have a whole new opinion and this year I am carrying a side arm while bowhunting in bear country.
an adult male bear with no fear of humans is a bad situation.
RR
#17
General stats show that 99 out of 100 blackies will run from a person. Problem is you may be the unlucky one that meets that 1 out of 100 the very first time you see one. Like most have said the 45 acp would not be my first choice to defend myself against a charging black bear. FBI has proven that a person within 21' and average can be on you before you can draw a holstered sidearm and fire. And a bear is a lot faster than a human.