Gun Rack???

[handirifle]

There is no way I would ever shoot at a bear with a shotgun unless it had a slug in the chamber, a regular shot shell is just going to make one angry bear!! With all of my encounters with bears, they all ran from me, although my buddy usually gets treed by one every archery season, last year his dad had to drive the truck to his tree and blow the horn and yell to get it to leave his tree.....

Actually it has been proven that 00 buck shot can completely penetrate an average black bear, when shot at reasonable ranges, of 40yds or less. There is a LOT of energy in those nine pellets (or 15 if using 3" shells) at over 1300fps.

If the bear is over 40 yds away he's most likely not a threat anyway. If he's 40yds away and charging, it would be easier to hit him with buckshot than a slug, of course you could always alternate them in the magazine.

If the gun is for self defense from bears or any other critter, be it 2 legged OR 4, a shotgun is hard to beat. An actually, bears have been killed a number of recorded times with bird shot, usually 2 shots up close. Definately NOT a first choice load, but better than nothing. There's a LOT of energy in a 3/4 or 1oz load of shot at close range. Point at his face and shoot and he will not keep coming.

 

[dstig1]

I looked up endangered animals after reading those responses. There is a black bear that lives down in LA and TX that is endangered, but it does not range up here. I guess the ones up here are a different species (and likely very, very common) so there appear to be no endangered regs on them. I checked the Wisc DNR site also. No mention there either. Now mind you, my first intent is not to go shooting crazy, and most of the times bears run away when they spot a person, but in the event I find myself in a pickle out there, I don't want to be second guessing or unprotected. It's a just in case sort of thing.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Actually it has been proven that 00 buck shot can completely penetrate an average black bear, when shot at reasonable ranges, of 40yds or less. There is a LOT of energy in those nine pellets (or 15 if using 3" shells) at over 1300fps.

If the bear is over 40 yds away he's most likely not a threat anyway. If he's 40yds away and charging, it would be easier to hit him with buckshot than a slug, of course you could always alternate them in the magazine.

If the gun is for self defense from bears or any other critter, be it 2 legged OR 4, a shotgun is hard to beat. An actually, bears have been killed a number of recorded times with bird shot, usually 2 shots up close. Definately NOT a first choice load, but better than nothing. There's a LOT of energy in a 3/4 or 1oz load of shot at close range. Point at his face and shoot and he will not keep coming.

I would rather not try it at all!!!! I would hate to make a 400# bear mad by shooting him with something like that..... You could blind him but bears don't see that well anyway, most of it is scent. My experience with them is they will run from humans, one time I was turkey hunting in the mountains walked into this field without a light and a bear ran past me so fast I could feel the wind from him, that day I almost needed a change of underwear!!!!!!:ashamed:

 

[handirifle]

Shooting a bear in the face with a shotgun would do WAY more than blind him. Those pellets will penetrate the skull, no doubt, like I said it wouldn't be my first choice, but if he was charging, and it's all I had....

And as for it being endangered, well just look into when grizzleys are killed in self defense in AK, or any state,you'll find they do a very thorough investigation, and in cases of self defense there can be no charges.

Here in the goofy state of CA even the protected mountain lion is killed in self defense, or in defense of livestock, and people are not charged. If your life's in danger, do what you must, then worry about the rest later.

If one charged me, from 40yds, the first shot would be in the dirt in front of him, the second aimed at his head.

 

[retiredmgn]

Wow Bears! never thought about them as a threat. We don't have many down in South Louisiana and what we do have, are highly protected. (along with cougars) . If you want to stay out of jail and keep your money you better leave both those animals alone.

Below are the penalities

Cougars located in Louisiana are protected under state and federal law and penalties for killing one may include up to one year in jail along with a possible $100,000 fine.
Black Bears carry with them a maximum fine of $950 along with the possibility of imprisonment of no more than 120 days.
Because the black bear is recognized as the official state animal of Louisiana, the killing of this animal will also involve civil restitution to the state of Louisiana of at least $10,000.
The black bear is categorized as a species of special concern.

I'm thinkin' if the critter is chewing on one of your limbs, most likely your primary concern would not be, 'gee, if I shoot this animal how much is it going to cost me in fines?'
The general gist of this conversation is 'defence' not hunting. I think any fines would be waived. But you never know.

Game Warden: "You shot a protected species".
Mauling victim: Hopping around on one leg, "He ripped my leg off idiot"
Game Warden: "Sir, we will have to perform DNA testing to be sure it's your leg'. 'In the meantime you are under arrest'.

true story

 

[retiredmgn]

ran into a guide from Alaska once when I was down in Florida. This guy was the real deal. Lots of stories. One story - he was guiding a sport and they were after a grizzly on the mountains of Alaska. They rounded a crest and saw a grizzly feeding on a fresh kill and at the same time the bear saw them. The bear headed for them at a dead sprint. As the bear closed in the guide put six rounds from a 45-70 in the head and chest and it kept coming. He said the bear was already dead but just didn't know it yet. It finally collapsed only several feet away. The sport just stood there frozen. Most likely soiled his ditties. The guide said he sat down and smoked a pack of cigarettes, butchered the bear and headed for camp. The guide said he never said anther word to the sport. Freezing up while a man eater charged was not a suitable behavior in the wilderness.

I haven't been in the company of bears but people I've known who have, often tell the same story. If all you have is a handgun, don't use it. It will only piss off a creature of that size. Even this mention of shotguns with anything but a slug is suspect.
The story, if a bear is chasing you, head downhill. The thought is bear have short front legs and can't make good time downhill. Wrong. The guide said they just roll and tumble and make damm good time. I have since see footage on tv with this very activity. A human is just no match.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't think I would want to push my luck here in PA either with them.. Although there has been some bad bears running around lately.... It would be a flip of a coin wether they would fine you or not and you better have a dang good reason!!!!

If you recall, Pennsylvania has a black bear season...no fines unless you shoot one out of season (and that has nothing to do with the endangered species aspect).
I really doubt anyone would be charged for shooting a bear if it was threatening humans or livestock.

 

[texasjohn]

I saw that photo of a rattle snake quite some time ago.... i believe, strongly, that it has been photoshopped....

I carry a 9mm KelTec in my front pants pocket all the time... very small, very deadly.

Shot a skunk (too near house to let it continue to mess around there) and a rattlesnake last Friday. Still had ammo left in gun. Snake was 1 head shot. Skunk was 5 moving at quite some distance, then he circled back around and came back right to me for last shot at 12 feet or so.

KelTec PM9...don't leave home without it!

 

[Bdavis]

I looked up endangered animals after reading those responses. There is a black bear that lives down in LA and TX that is endangered, but it does not range up here. I guess the ones up here are a different species (and likely very, very common) so there appear to be no endangered regs on them. I checked the Wisc DNR site also. No mention there either. Now mind you, my first intent is not to go shooting crazy, and most of the times bears run away when they spot a person, but in the event I find myself in a pickle out there, I don't want to be second guessing or unprotected. It's a just in case sort of thing.

Thanks for the tips.

I couldn't agree more. It is just a lot more unlikely to have a bear attack down here because they are so scarce. I am much more likely to be bitten by an alligator than a bear. I am guessing that being bitten by an alligator while bushhogging is not a big concern where you live.

 

[TripleR]

ran into a guide from Alaska once when I was down in Florida. This guy was the real deal. Lots of stories. One story - he was guiding a sport and they were after a grizzly on the mountains of Alaska. They rounded a crest and saw a grizzly feeding on a fresh kill and at the same time the bear saw them. The bear headed for them at a dead sprint. As the bear closed in the guide put six rounds from a 45-70 in the head and chest and it kept coming. He said the bear was already dead but just didn't know it yet. It finally collapsed only several feet away. The sport just stood there frozen. Most likely soiled his ditties. The guide said he sat down and smoked a pack of cigarettes, butchered the bear and headed for camp. The guide said he never said anther word to the sport. Freezing up while a man eater charged was not a suitable behavior in the wilderness.

I haven't been in the company of bears but people I've known who have, often tell the same story. If all you have is a handgun, don't use it. It will only piss off a creature of that size. Even this mention of shotguns with anything but a slug is suspect.
The story, if a bear is chasing you, head downhill. The thought is bear have short front legs and can't make good time downhill. Wrong. The guide said they just roll and tumble and make damm good time. I have since see footage on tv with this very activity. A human is just no match.

Depends on the handgun and your skill level.