We have open access here in BC Canada to ride just about anywhere we want. However this too has its dis-advantages. This time of year the local bear population (grizzly and black bear) all come down to lower elevations to eat all the berries and fatten up for winter. There are more and more incidents in the papers this time of year where people are mauled or killed by bears as they get closer to town.

2 weeks ago I heard a story about a couple of people riding double on an ATV. They crested a hill to find large grizzly bear eating a gut pile that was left behind when a hunter shot a deer or moose. This grizzly immediately charged towards the ATV. They backed up in reverse as fast as they could. The bear was catching them. The grizzly then bolted into the bush away from them. They were able to get turned around and head out of the area. Mean while the bear knew a short cut and came out of the bush right where they were! They were able to get away easier this time as they were going forward.

Scary!

Keep you head up and ride safe. This is one incident where I see that a loud aftermarket exhaust would be beneficial.

 

Bear attacks here in Colorado are very rare. That doesn't stop my wife from packing her 38 colt revolver while on the trail. Anyone have any opinion whether a 38 would stop a bear? It's a good noise maker.

 

Here in Alaska, some folks laugh when I tell them I carry my .357 magnum. They have doubt about that gun. No offense, but if I told them I carried a .38 they wouldn't even think I was serious. Most people here prefer a .44 for bear protection. A .38 might scare them with the noise, but as far as being effective I'd rather not bet my life on it.

 

Agree, a .38 might scare the bear, it is better than nothing. I carry a 9mm & was told by the 'old' timers that its does not have enough knock down to put the bear down. Most of the guys carry .44 or .45 with them for 2 legged & 4 legged protection! I will continue to carry my 9mm, with 15 shots hopefully I can change the bear's mind about being hungry!

 

I was talking to a Ranger in Yellowstone in 1997 and asked him if a 357 mag. would be ok to stop a Griz attack and he said only if you use it on yourself !!!

 

We have some wacko environMENTALists here in our Candian govt. We are not permitted to carry a hand gun at any time as it is a restricted weapon. You may register it and only shoot a hand gun at a firing range. If you are carrying your hand gun to or from the firing range you are not even allowed to stop for fuel! No stops...straight home asap. We are currently fighting mandatory registration of all firearms including all rifles and cross-bows. It is getting to the point where we cannot even carry a fire arm to protect our families from predators. It is a sad state for gun owners here in Canada.

It sure would be a nice piece of mind to have a .44 magnum at my side out ATVing. Especially with the 2 young boys on there with us.

 

I totally agree with you. I don't mind registering my shotgun... but when I had to sell the pistol my dad gave me upon moving up here from the states, I was pi$$ed!

Criminals can buy guns anywhere and honest citizens can not even carry a pistol in the woods for protection. That is why when I am hiking along the river at my camp, I carry my Katana. It may not be much, but it makes me "feel" safer. Even that is illegal...what a crock!

 

Whats a katana? I lived in canada for 21 years guns is one reason that i now live in the USA.

 

Thats almost like bear hunting with a switch.
lol..........


TAZ

 

Dazed,

A Katana is a Japanese sword. While a Katana in the hands of an expert can quickly slice and dice a human, I'm unsure as to it's effectiveness on a bear. I am sure that a .38 will just get any bear even more mad at you. In all honesty, just about every handgun will do that on the larger ones, even the powerful .454.

For our Canadian friends, have you ever heard of Cap-Stun/ pepper spray? It makes great bear repellant. This is, of course, if your government hasn't decided to ban you from using it. Make sure you get a pepper spray specifically designed for bear use. The stuff for human use won't work. It has too little concentration of capsicum and not enough range to work effectively on bears.

I heard a rather amusing story about Cap Stun once. It seems an eco-freak went to Alaska to commune with nature. When the bush pilot set him down in the middle of no where, the pilot asked the eco-freak if he had any protection from bears. The eco-freak held up a can of Cap-Stun bear repellant, and said "this is all I need". The bush pilot reluctantly let him go about his merry way and took off. Luckily for the eco-freak the pilot decided to make a pass over him before he left him alone. It turned out that the eco-freak was writhing on the ground in pain. It seemed that the eco-freak thought the pepper spray worked like mosquito repellant and he sprayed himself with it. Dumb!