[JTO]

I lived for a couple of years one ridge over from the Eagle River Valley in Southcentral Alaska. The bear population density was estimated at four to five grizzlies per square mile. I always hiked with my 454 Casull as a minimum. Having a 38 Special on your hip is just plain stupid.

That bear density is only matched by Admiralty Island in Southeast AK. The native name for Admiralty was "Kootznawoo" (sp?) which translates as "fortress of the bear". My cousin is a manager for the Fish and Game Dept. and often visits egg-taking operations (for the hatchery program). Egg-taking of course takes place during the salmon runs. There are obviously a lot of "conflicts" between the bears and humans at these times. Usually the bears amble down stream and avoid the workers. Well, one time, my cousin was charged by a bruin. When cousin decided it wasn't a bluff-charge, he fired a round from his 338 Win Mag at the bear's head at about ten feet. The bear went down in a heap. Five minutes later, the bear got up and charged again. This time cousin fired three more shots (emptied the rifle magazine) into the bear in the proper location (if the bear is charging, head is down, so fire into the grizzlies hump) and killed the bear. Upon skinning the bear, cousin found that the first head shot had not penetrated the bears skull but instead had coursed just under the skin and exited near the ear. He had "knocked" the bear out! That gives you an idea how tough these SOBs are.

Troy