The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Hunt

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 20, 2012, 02:05 AM   #1
Irish B
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 359
Was charged by a bear tonight.

Well if any of you know me you know you know I live in a black where bears visit daily. Theres been a new bear coming around lately. Tonight I had the dogs out in the pen when they started barking historically. My GSD barks at everything under the sun but the only time by husky hybrid ever barks or huffs is when a bear is around. So I grab the big flashlight and the .357 and go get them. I looked around and saw nothing so I let the dogs out to come inside. What I didn't know was the bear was on the side of my house and after hearing me decided to walk over to the front of the house behind me to check things out. As soon as I let the dogs out the blast past me and attack the bear. I call them off and put them into the house and start to yell at the bear to chase him off away from my house when he stops, turns around, and charges at me huffing and chomping. I fired a shot into the ground and he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around and ran away. After hearing the shot my wife ran out with the shotgun and dogs. I have never fired my 357 without hearing protection but let me tell you a 180 gr buffalo bore leaves you deaf for five minutes. Very weird behavior for this young bear who was maybe 2 or 3 years old and maybe 200 lbs max. I usually end up with 4 or 5 good bear stories by the end of the summer. This was only just second time ever being full on charged at close range. Really gets the heart pumping.
__________________
If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live
Irish B is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 02:26 AM   #2
mete
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 14, 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,575
Huffing and chomping = full charge or false charge ??
__________________
And Watson , bring your revolver !
mete is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 10:33 AM   #3
fatwhiteboy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 3, 2011
Posts: 317
I liked the part with the wife coming out with a shotgun. Hang on to her. And don't <do anything to make her mad> ...
__________________
Fat White
So Cal

Last edited by JohnKSa; May 20, 2012 at 10:26 PM. Reason: .
fatwhiteboy is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 12:28 PM   #4
Manson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 23, 2012
Posts: 118
Glad you're OK Irish. Glad it didn't turn out ugly. And +1 for the above comment. It's good to have back up with a shotgun.
Manson is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 01:23 PM   #5
CWKahrFan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 3, 2010
Posts: 2,016
Good story. Thanks for telling...
__________________
What did Mrs. Bullet say to Mr. Bullet? ... "We're having a BeeBee!"...
IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT!... IF THE GUN FITS, SHOOT IT!
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."
CWKahrFan is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 01:41 PM   #6
LockedBreech
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 6, 2009
Location: Rocky Mountain West
Posts: 3,395
I'm also going to tip my hat to the lady with a shotgun. It's the right kind of girl that fights beside her guy.

Glad you're alright!
LockedBreech is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 01:42 PM   #7
Edward429451
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
Wow, now you have to take her out for backing you up! That was super cool!
Edward429451 is offline  
Old May 20, 2012, 09:48 PM   #8
Colorado Redneck
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2008
Location: Northeast Colorado
Posts: 1,993
Great read! Maybe the dogs got the bear all adrenalined up and he was a shade on the dumb side. If something gets me wound up my judgement can get fairly dicey too. Most black bears are reported to be chickens and really likely to vamoose if approached.
Colorado Redneck is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 01:57 AM   #9
dabluesguy
Member
 
Join Date: August 3, 2011
Location: Eastern Orygun
Posts: 91
When I was a river guide in the Rogue River wild and scenic section we would have encounters with black bears nearly every night. One night a bear woke me up when he was carrying my 96 quart ice chest away. Our group jumped up and threw rocks at him until he dropped it and swam across the river. Of course most of these black bears were Yogi types. They just want the pic-a-nic basket. We were always armed but never had to fire on one.
dabluesguy is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 02:34 AM   #10
Edward429451
Junior member
 
Join Date: November 12, 2000
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Posts: 9,494
Well then it wasn't Yogi, it was Boo Boo.
Edward429451 is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 08:17 AM   #11
Double Naught Spy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
Posts: 12,715
Quote:
Huffing and chomping = full charge or false charge ??
Apparently such behaviors are not indicative of intent to harm and so would indicate the charge to most likely be a false charge. False bear chages include charging and then reversing direction and also charging past what they were charging and often continuing away.

Huffing and chomping are indicative of the bear being scared.
http://www.bearsmart.com/resources/n.../communication

or is being threatening (and likely scared)
http://www.bearbiology.com/fileadmin...rdan_Vol_3.pdf

...not considered threat behavior...
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pag...s-bluster.html

...used with a false charge to help keep from being attacked...
http://web.mac.com/benjaminkilham/Si..._Behavior.html

...bluffing
http://www.bearstudy.org/website/ind...do_pdf=1&id=54

...more about not being a real threat and/or being scared
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pag...ding-cubs.html
__________________
"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011
My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange
Double Naught Spy is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 10:07 AM   #12
rickyrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,235
If you saw the handles off of the cooler, the bears cant pick them up to carry off.
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!
rickyrick is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 10:37 AM   #13
mete
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 14, 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,575
00 Spy. that's always been my problem , no one believes me !
__________________
And Watson , bring your revolver !
mete is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 10:51 AM   #14
MLeake
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
mete and DNS, I don't think the problem is with people believing you, I think it's simply a matter of "what if?"

As in, if I assume the bear will really try to complete the charge, and I am ready to deal with that prospect, I am probably better off than if I assume (because statistics so indicate) that he is probably bluffing, and he turns out to be in earnest.

It is arguably more dangerous to assume a bluff.
MLeake is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 11:33 AM   #15
Double Naught Spy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
Posts: 12,715
Quote:
mete and DNS, I don't think the problem is with people believing you, I think it's simply a matter of "what if?"

As in, if I assume the bear will really try to complete the charge, and I am ready to deal with that prospect, I am probably better off than if I assume (because statistics so indicate) that he is probably bluffing, and he turns out to be in earnest.

It is arguably more dangerous to assume a bluff.
Trying to clear up what wasn't unclear again?

I made no statements about people believing me and made no statements about the danger level. mete was trying to find out if the charge was real or not and I provided insight into what the behaviors indicate. This was an after-the-fact assessment, not a what-if predictive assessment. If the bear was determined to get Irish B., then the warning shot would not have made any difference and quite possibly, shots in the bear would not have mattered either as the bear would have continued until he dropped. The bear's behaviors and the lack of follow through on the charge indicate that it was a bluff or false charge.

Nobody has suggested not being ready to deal with a problem. Nobody has suggested that the indicated behaviors were absolute for determining what they mean. Nobody has suggested that a bear can't change its mind. It would be stupid to pull a Timothy Treadwell and not exercise appropriate precautions. Irish B obviously didn't pull a Timothy Treadwell, and he did make sure the bear didn't change his mind by firing a warning shot. I have pointed out several times that even brief physical contact with bears can result in serious injury and hospitalization.
__________________
"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011
My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

Last edited by Double Naught Spy; May 22, 2012 at 02:32 AM.
Double Naught Spy is offline  
Old May 21, 2012, 02:47 PM   #16
FrontSight
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 9, 2005
Posts: 1,712
Wow, heck of a story! And a good wife & dogs, too!
__________________
To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw
FrontSight is offline  
Old May 22, 2012, 08:50 AM   #17
mete
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 14, 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,575
Here's a bear attacking my friend !
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Bear 'Hunt' 009.JPG (159.8 KB, 106 views)
__________________
And Watson , bring your revolver !
mete is offline  
Old May 23, 2012, 12:27 PM   #18
amprecon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 5, 1999
Location: TN
Posts: 786
Quote:
I have never fired my 357 without hearing protection but let me tell you a 180 gr buffalo bore leaves you deaf for five minutes.
The very reason I don't own a .357 anymore. Caught a wild pig out in the open once in California, we had shotguns but only had bird shot. I had my GP100 and unloaded on it. Needless to say, my ears rang for a good while after that.

My go to gun for everything handguns is my Glock 21 in .45acp, 13 rounds of that ought to solve most problems, even bears.

The only revolver I own now is a 4" S&W Model 10 with 158gr. LSWC and I feel plenty confident with it.
__________________
"You can't get 'em all Josey."
"That's a fact".
"Well how come you doin' this then?"
"Cause I got nothin' better to do."
amprecon is offline  
Old May 23, 2012, 05:19 PM   #19
hogdogs
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: October 31, 2007
Location: Western Florida panhandle
Posts: 11,069
Here is what I hear 24/7/365...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u_8Qg1npAM

It is loud enuff to drown out baying dogs less than 100 yards into the woods...

It drowns out, nearly completely, the ceiling fan with a wobble and noise I used to rely on to help me fall asleep... Now I have to have the TV on for at least 1.5 hours as I am also insomniac that I may need that much time to finally fall asleep deeply enuff that the ringing don't wake me when the timer cuts off the tv...
Never tried to protect my ears from gunfire, explosives, un-muffled engine noise etc...

Once you damage them... it is too late...


Brent
hogdogs is offline  
Old May 24, 2012, 10:50 AM   #20
FrontSight
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 9, 2005
Posts: 1,712
I fired a few rounds of .460 S&W w/o hearing protection once while hunting...my left ear rang for 7 friggin months. Then one day it just stopped.

I guess the nerve ending (hair?) either died, or it healed. They used to think hearing damage was permanent, but they discovered about a decade or so ago that it actually can heal.

Either way, never...ever...ever...again...ever!!
__________________
To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw
FrontSight is offline  
Old May 24, 2012, 11:32 AM   #21
doofus47
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 9, 2010
Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent
Posts: 2,483
Quote:
Huffing and chomping = full charge or false charge
don't want to make that choice: I'm not good at multiple choice guessing. You're only allowed to make that mistake once.

Glad you're ok, Irish. I think you had a good plan a by taking the .357.

Probably the bear was as jacked up on adrenaline as you were after the dogs took off after it, so who is to say what what going through its head.

Hopefully, he'll just remember that your place is one frightening, dangerous place.
doofus47 is offline  
Old May 24, 2012, 03:30 PM   #22
dwright1951
Member
 
Join Date: May 30, 2011
Location: alabama
Posts: 35
Good for you, hope that taught the bear not to mess with humans or their stuff, thats what they do for habituated bears hope it works. Back when I got out of college no one wore hearing protection, I lived out in the woods (nearest neighbor over 2 miles) so I set up a shooting range off our carport (concrete block house with 2 car stalls open front and back) I had just started to get into large pistols (.357, 41mag, 44mag and 45 long colt, worst was 30 carbine single action) and I shot rain or shine. When it rained I got under the carport. That was 36 years ago and the constant buzzing is still with me. Now I use something whenever I shoot (except when hunting).
dwright1951 is offline  
Old May 24, 2012, 05:03 PM   #23
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
Brent, I know I can rely on you to find the interesting stuff. Yes, that is almost exactly the sound I hear 24/7. It started when I fired my 357 without ear protection. Or was it the 45 ACP? Or the 22-250? Maybe the 7mm or the 8mm. Probably not the 243, I was using ear protection by then. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the 357 Herrett or the 44 Mag, they gave me headaches even with ear protection. Anyway, you get the idea, use ear protection before it's too late.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old May 25, 2012, 12:46 PM   #24
hogdogs
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: October 31, 2007
Location: Western Florida panhandle
Posts: 11,069
Scorch, In my laptop and remote speakers, I tune down volume to about 1/3rd to equal my level in my ears...

I showed it to wifey to give her an idea of what I mean by "ringing ears" as she had no idea... When I got it dialed in, her jaw dropped and she looked at me like I was a sorrowful car hit puppy dog... and said... "You poor thing..."

The first time I really rang them good, it was with grammas .30-06 deer rifle.

I was far shorter than the rifle I remember...

Brent
hogdogs is offline  
Old May 25, 2012, 10:58 PM   #25
BIGR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 13, 2000
Location: Mountains
Posts: 1,385
Glad you are alright and having a good wife that can handle a shotgun is a plus. You think that .357 was loud, you should hear one go off in a small 175 sqaure foot building....
BIGR is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08910 seconds with 11 queries