[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I've done more research in any year than you will ever do.

Bullshyte. Sheer and utter bullshyte. You have no idea what my background is.

This has been a lifetime passion of mine, Randy. I would put my knowledge of North American game species up against yours any farkin' day of the week. And I have been out there with them, hunting them and observing them for damn near 40 years, first hand, up close and personal. Get off your high horse. You are flat ass wrong.

Originally Posted by RWebb

Also, try not to be so confused when comparing a species with a high popn that lives in and around humans with an Endangered species.

In my very first post on this matter, I was careful to say the superior number of black bear attacks on humans over those from grizzly bears may be due to proximity.

And no, Mr. "Research", grizzlies are no longer listed as "endangered" in the vast majority of their range. Not even "threatened" in most of it, as a matter of fact. Internationally, they aren't even on the watch list anymore. Their recovery in the late 20th / early 21st centuries has been astonishing. You must have missed that in your "research".

So, no, no confusion here, Randy. Not on my side. You, however, have clearly been confused not only with the bears' status, but also with what I have been saying and who I have been saying it to.

Originally Posted by RWebb

don't know that ball bearings from a sling shot is bad advice, assuming he is somewhere the bear cannot get to if it decides the annoyance is worth attacking or investigating. I agree it is not likely to be particularly effective.

Your confusion continues. It's not a matter of the bear pressing an immediate attack when the ball bearings hit him (although he might), it's more a matter of reinforcing for him that the man cannot hurt him.

Originally Posted by RWebb

would be more likely to load the sling shot with M-80s...

That might actually work, assuming he doesn't blow his own hand off.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Again, George presented the clearest, most realistic view and advice on this entire thread. These kinds of bears almost always wind up dead. The sooner that is accepted, the better it is for everyone involved (except the bear). No good ever comes of protracted efforts to "scare one off", or "discourage" one, or any of that nonsense. Relocating him only makes him someone else's problem - they will travel great distances to renew old habits. There isn't enough remote wilderness in the United States to get him out of everyone's way. By the time he is in the garbage cans or chicken coop, it's simply time to deal forcefully with the situation. Get a depredation permit if you are able, or have a fish cop (not Randy) come out and kill it and be done with it.