How To Hunt: Preventing Bear Attacks While Hunting

The recent bear attach on Todd Orr shared on Facebook has kicked off a huge firestorm of discussion around bear spray vs firearms when being attacked by a bear. Steve Rinella of MeatEater fame posted a can of bear spray on Instagram noting that “that 1 in 4 people who discharge a firearm during a bear attack end up hitting another person” which also set off some colorful discussion. In response the MeaterEater team has posted two helpful articles on what the actual data says about encountering and surviving a bear attack.

The first post covers Steve’s follow-up thoughts to the overall discussion some of which are admittedly contradictory:

Scratched: The Great Bear Spray Debate

The second post is a Q&A with Frank van Manen of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team that has some great info:

The Cold Hard Facts of Bear Deterrents: Bear Spray vs Firearms

Both articles have a lot of ideas & data and the takeaway is that bear spray is much more effective in close quarters but preventing the attack by following the 5 steps recommended by the Bear Study Team can be the biggest deterrent:

1) Be highly alert.

2) Make noise and use your voice to warn bears of your presence.

3) Carry bear spray.

4) Avoid hiking alone.

5) Do not run.

Obviously a number of these steps are in direct conflict with what it takes to have a successful hunt in bear territory or anywhere for that matter. Creating a plan that works for your hunt will take some thinking and deciding what risks you are willing to take. I think Steve sums it up best with the idea of doubling up on your protection noting that his brother (an ecologist in Alaska) carries “an 870 or a .44 Mag as well as pepper spray. It’s a redundant system, like the one used by Arnold Schwarzenegger when he stormed that island in the movie Commando with a duffel bag full of guns.”