Thought I should share.

[Gbro]

While shopping for something to put on the grill today my wife called and the tone of her voice stopped me cold.
She had gone out agate picking this afternoon and as she was getting her stuff together I asked her if she wants her gun. She was distracted and never took her gun.
As she searched she said that she could hear something close by and its common to see deer so she didn't pay as much attention as she should, but when she did look up a Bear was less than 20 ft. from her and the car a couple hundred feet away. She started out for the car and the bear kept abreast of her the whole way. She called me right away and all I could do was calm her down. She wanted to run but she also knew that she shouldn't. She is 2 months post op from a spinal fusion surgery and is suffering from Agate DT's.
I wanted to call someone that might be able to respond but didn't want to hang up either. The 3 way call options are something I didn't think about until after.
Well she made it to the car and the bear never came any closer but its actions would have shaken most everyone IMHO.
She is un-winding now, but I expect a couple night time not so sweet dreams.
And she said that's the last time she goes without her gun!

[TheNocturnus]

Whoah! Glad she is ok man. Get that little lady a .500 and a nice holster and send her bear hunting.

[8shot357]

Don't get her pepper spray, it might work to well.

[Sgt.Fathead]

If I Googled correctly, agates are stones? Only part of the story I was unclear on. Wondered if I'd been missing out on some kind of berries!

[Gbro]

Don't get her pepper spray, it might work to well.

She as well as I feel a bullet will buck wind better than aerosol spray.

She was up before me this AM and I asked her why.

Bears were chasing me all night.

I asked her if any caught her and she said

no, I ran, and I didn't yesterday, but I did all night long.

Now this is what I get a kick out of because its so common, She said that she isn't going to go back to that spot alone again.
A nephew had run across a hibernating bear 25 years back. He found while hunting deer (deer drive at age 12 ) a mound of leaves and waded through the pile thereby driving the bear from its bed. he was sobbing when I saw him a while later and said the bear went after him. To this day he will not go back into that 40 acre parcel??
No amount of rationalizing seems to help when the shocking incident gets attached to a parcel of ground. Maybe its a good thing though, as she is still planning on continuing her hobby at another location w/her gun.

[45Gunner]

All's well that end's well. However, there is a lesson to be taken from every life experience. I would think that this lesson would be never leave home without your gun.

For me, not putting my gun on would be the same as go outside without any pants on. I just don't do it. Developing habit patterns prevent distractions that could take you away from the mission. Ever leave the house thinking you were forgetting something?

I'm glad this worked out for your wife. Spinal surgeries are not fun and even the stress of a situation can add a lot of pain.

[olddav]

And thats why I'm carring a gun to Yellowstone!!!

[mete]

"never came any closer" so your wife was NOT attacked and there was no worry. It's sad to see that so many of you are terrified at the sight of a bear.Usually a black bear is no problem unless it's been fed by people .Leave it alone ! Hysteria is not helpful if you have a gun in your hand either.

[MLeake]

mete, not sure if you noticed the part where the bear paced her to the car.

If not, then you have a point - bears normally don't actually come after people. For that matter, neither do sharks.

However, one of the early signs of impending attack is when predators circle, follow, or pace potential prey.

Would I have shot the bear? No... but I'd have had a magnum revolver ready, while I slowly and deliberately walked to the car, keeping the bear in sight.

I imagine that's what Gbro's lady would have done, too.

[JerryM]

Bears do not normally attack, but most people do not attack. Does that mean we should not be prepared and cautious? Is a CHL a waste of time brought on by paranoia?

I spent 3.5 years in Alaska, and every year I was there there were bear attacks and fatalities. Most were black bears.
To write off black bears as not dangerous is in conflict with too many instances of attacks.

Jerry

[Scorpion8]

I spent 3.5 years in Alaska, and every year I was there there were bear attacks and fatalities. Most were black bears.
To write off black bears as not dangerous is in conflict with too many instances of attacks.

Well, I've spent 18+ years in Alaska including today, and the number of bear attacks can easily be counted on, well, less than one finger in my experience. It is rare, and the best advice is to make a lot of noise, talk to the bear in a loud voice (without making eye contact) and don't get excited. I have seen many many black bears in the woods around here and very few of them want anything to do with humans anymore than we do with them.

[Standing Wolf]

I'm glad she's all right. I hope she'll pack iron from now on.

[Gbro]

Hysteria is not helpful if you have a gun in your hand either.

Mete, She was shook and would have felt much more in control had she been carrying. Would she have done anything different had she been carrying. She said she might have fired a shot in the air. I cautioned her again on that as I had in the past.
Reminds me of the time I found that I was straddling a bear den's opening with bear right there while looking for a duck one of the young hunters pass shot.
I walked about 30ft. away from the den watching the bear as it came out and turned towards me. I pumped all three loads into the air and she never moved, and now I am fessing up to being the biggest idiot alive. As I was reloading the cub popped out and both of them were gone in a flash.
Went back to that den after freeze-up and it was still empty.
This thread has a few pictures of a bear den found by my Cabin during deer season a few years back.
Old Thread

I'm glad she's all right. I hope she'll pack iron from now on.

Thanks,
Yes she is all right and this afternoon I dropped her off at another of her favorite Agate sites and gave her my Para LDA. When I got done with my stops I went back to get her. Found her Cell phone before I found her. She had dropped it. I poked around for a while and it started to sprinkle so I told her we should leave. Well I sat in the car while it poured and she finally came out and grumbled that we were missing the best time.
My Para was soaked and so was she.