First, the Reversal
In a somewhat rare reversal of opinion by a journalist these days, Wes Siler writing at Outside Online (image from their article above) penned last month an updated set of recommendations regarding bear safety, specifically related to being attacked for whatever reason by a bear, which now includes carrying an effective sidearm into the backcountry (Montana out of Bozeman in the author’s case).
He admits he loathes the gun culture, and typical of his magazine takes more than a few pokes at hunters, hunting, and gun enthusiasts, but he now carries when in bear country, representing a major reversal from his (less informed) opinion written two years earlier here. Funny how actually living and playing in bear country changes the behavior of even an ‘investigative journalist’, as opposed to opining from afar about how we fly-over country folks have been doing it for decades.
Some Interesting Research/Reporting on the Efficacy of Firearms for Bear Defense
Every few years, for the decades we’ve been active in the Northern Rockies, there seems to be a rekindling of the “guns bad, bear spray good” meme, often with requisite bashing of those who choose or have chosen to utilize firearms for bear attack defense. My family and I have been berated vigorously in Bozeman area fly shops over the years discussing the issue, usually along the lines that bear spray is more efficacious in stopping an attack than a firearm, with the consistent opinion expressed that firearm failures are much higher in an attack scenario than bear spray failures.
A friend recently sent over a link to this – Pistols or Handguns 95% Effective When Used to Defend Against Bear Attacks, 63 Cases – perhaps the most well-documented collection of firearm use in bear attack events published in print or online thus far, with links out to the specific individual incident or news reports. This collection of data appears to be much more comprehensive than the oft-cited 2012 study by Herrero.
Interestingly, firearms are reported to have a higher effectiveness against attack than spray as reported in the oft-cited Smith, et al study from 2008, though statistically it’s probably pretty much a dead heat.
Headed into bear country this year? Choose your protection, deterrents, and defense wisely.
