Do you carry bear spray when you hike?

[cantdrv55]

Going hiking over the holidays. Nothing crazy but we’ll be in the woods for a few hours. The trails are going to be pretty empty because of the shutdown so less traffic to scare the wildlife away. I’m wondering if I should carry spray just in case. We’ll be in Sierra National Forest land south of Yosemite.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

If you already have some- sure, why not?

If you need some, get a larger can. Nice for camping, and I keep this next to bed at home. Where I live, I'm more concerned about a bear getting into my kitchen than a burglar, but, nice to have various options in a response.

[ckissick]

No, but bears aren't dangerous in the Sierra. I've seen many but they've never been very interested in me. Mountain lions might be more dangerous.

[Z-man]

Yup. Sometimes when I’m working in my yard. My property backs up to 5000 acres of State Forest that straddles the NJ / NY State border, and we have some guys that wander through our neighborhood.

They are black bears - mostly harmless - just don’t startle them, don’t corner them, and don’t get between a momma and her cubs.

[LWJ]

One of my favorites:



A group of hikers is heading up a remote trail in Yellowstone. They pass a Ranger. Ranger says "You know that this is bear country?"

Yes - they say.

You prepared for bears? Ranger asks?

Yes - they say, and show him some bear bells, that jingle when they walk.

Good, says Ranger. This country has both Black Bears and Grizzlies.

Got it, say the hikers.

Do you know what Black Bear scat looks like? Asks Ranger? It is like dog poop but bigger and has a lot of berries in it.

Great, say the hikers. That is useful!

Hikers walk down the trail a few yards.

Wait, asks a hiker, what does Grizzly scat look like?

Exactly like Black Bear scat, says Ranger. Except there are bells in it.

[varmint]

[look 171]

Not really needed for black bear. Chance of see one will be rare. They are more afraid fo you then you are of them. If you have it, why not? I did lots of back packing near those areas. Never come across a bear unless we were car camping where bears know there's food and come for it at night.

[Nostril Cheese]

Gal I hiked with once in the far Great White North had Moose/Elk spray.

Figured wed be dead far before we get to spray it.

[Evans, Marv]

I've had several (many ?) encounters with bears in the Sierras while working there. I never felt I needed bear spray. Like Jeff said, about the only place they're persistent is around campgrounds where they've learned they can steal food from coolers, trash cans, cars, etc. I was sleeping once at night going up to Taboose Pass (from the east side), when I was awakened by twigs snapping from a bear walking on them hearby. I couldn't see it, so I sat up and made a "ruff" sound like a disaproving bear. I heard footsteps running away. I also found out trying to make a sound mimicing a rattlesnake would cause them leave.

[Z-man]

Last month, a momma and most likely her two cubs (one from a year prior) just meandering through...

[HardDrive]

I have very rarely carried while hiking, and it was always a small 9mm.

Shooting a bear with a pistol is a fool's errand.

I'm more worried about meth heads than bears.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I'm more worried about meth heads than bears.

Oh , yes...

At least bears have brains and exercise restraint, have a degree of rationality about them.

[sc_rufctr]

Bear Spray???

If I lived in the land of the free I'd be carrying this. "Magnum Research BFR".

[p911dad]

I encountered a black bear once in the forests of Northern PA, black bear country. I was on a trail with our 1 year old in a back pack harness thing and walking up the trail (near Inez, PA) and met the bear coming the other way down the trail. It was an Oh Crap moment and I stopped. He kept coming, looked up and saw me, made a quick right turn into the woods and then came out on the same trail a little way below me and kept going to wherever bears like to go. I headed back to camp with my big story.

[wdfifteen]

I wear a mask!

One morning last week I was heading into WalMart and there were a couple of barefaces hanging out by the entrance watching people as they masked-up to go in and commenting. I got near the door and started putting my face covering on and Mr. Bareface approached me. I though, "Uh Oh."
He walked up to me and asked, "Excuse me sir," and he pointed at my mask. "What are you afraid of?"
"Bears," I told him.
He just looked at me kind of slack-jawed.
I said, "I'm afraid of bears. Aren't you?"
Mrs Bareface decided to chime in.
"There ain't no bears around here."
"See," I said. I pointed at my mask and said, "It works."

[flatbutt]

I do but hanging a few bells from my pack straps helps more. We have alot of black bears here and I see them in the woods frequently. The bells keep you from surprising them.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wear a mask!

One morning last week I was heading into WalMart and there were a couple of barefaces hanging out by the entrance watching people as they masked-up to go in and commenting. I got near the door and started putting my face covering on and Mr. Bareface approached me. I though, "Uh Oh."
He walked up to me and asked, "Excuse me sir," and he pointed at my mask. "What are you afraid of?"
"Bears," I told him.
He just looked at me kind of slack-jawed.
I said, "I'm afraid of bears. Aren't you?"
Mrs Bareface decided to chime in.
"There ain't no bears around here."
"See," I said. I pointed at my mask and said, "It works."

lol!

[Superman]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I have very rarely carried while hiking, and it was always a small 9mm.

Shooting a bear with a pistol is a fool's errand.

I'm more worried about meth heads than bears.

I have seen a great many bears while hiking/backpacking. Lots. They have never presented any danger. I would agree with HardDrive that two-legged critters present considerably more danger. But we might have different perspectives on the efficacy of pistols against bears. A 9mm is not the right tool, I would agree. Bears in my area are not particularly big. Typically around 400#. There are pistols which would work.

I think it's just personal preference. In the very unlikely event that one would need to protect oneself from an attack, then what would be your preference? There will not be time for a two-pronged approach. With bear spray, the shot would need to be at closer range but the spray might eliminate the bear's ability to see or smell. Two or three well placed lead balls would cause the bear to stop moving altogether. Or one. Personal preference, I say. And again, a bear attack is darned unlikely, at least in my area.

Now....with grizzly bears, that's a whole different ballgame.

[cantdrv55]

I don’t have a concealed carry license yet. The spray would work against a meth head too, correct?

[gary1101]

Bear spray in the Sierra national parks is prohibited. If you are backpacking a bear canister is required in specific areas. Regardless of the area, a canister is always the easiest and most effective way to protect bears from getting your food. Check out the following link.

https://www.myyosemitepark.com/things-to-do/no-bear-spray-allowed