Will bear spray stop a charging bear or at that point are you basically fucked?

In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field.

They advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them.

They also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear.
It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung.

Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper."

 

I haven't read this entire thread, but to answer the original question I'd say, yes it works... I've never had to spray a bear, but I've come close. My buddy fired a couple of 10mm warning shots once at a curious brown bear in AK that was getting too close to us. Spray isn't fool proof but it does work, and there are loads of folks out there who have sprayed bears and lived to tell the story. Firearms aren't fool proof either. When I fish salmon in AK we typically have one or two guns in our group and everyone has spray. When I fish steelhead in BC I only bring spray because it's a pain in the ass taking a firearm over the border. Put it this way, I've had bush pilots in AK who won't even let you on the plane if you don't have spray. It's better than nothing and has stopped many bears around the world.

 

My hand and ears hurt already....lol

 

There are no guarantees, as each situation is different, and learning the behaviours of different bear species is an important thing.
When I’m hiking/backpacking I have bear spray, an air horn, and a combo kit with bear bangers, whistlers and flares.
If I’m truck camping I have all that plus my Remington 12 gauge Marine Magnum loaded with #00 buckshot and slugs alternating.

Some points:
-Bear spray is useless in the wind, and can spray back in your face.
-You need to have the bear spray ready to quick draw, and practice getting it ready.
-Bear spray is not much good in a tent! (Unless you can spray it out the open door) The air horn is likely better as a deterrent in a tent...if you have time.
-Bear spray is no good at a distance! It’s a last resort! (actually, hitting the bear across the nose with the expended can is maybe the last resort, happened to a young tree planter in B.C.).
-At a distance, if you have time, the bear bangers or whistlers are likely the better deterrent. BUT you don’t want the bear banger to travel beyond the bear and scare it towards you! It’s happened!

The old timers have a saying up here, that if you are going to carry a handgun for defence against a grizzly, make sure to file the front sight off.
It will hurt way less when the bear stuffs it where the sun don’t shine.

 

I definitely wouldn't gamble my life with bear spray, 12 gauge with slugs maybe, or take someone with you that you can out run.

 

A .22 pistol might do it, judging from this story I read on the Internet...
(So it must be true!)

“I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta. Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man, was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs. Anyway, if I had not had my little .22 pistol I'd sure not be here today. Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace!”

 

https://youtu.be/MOhblijwjmU

 

The chances of encountering a bear are incredibly small. Being bear smart is your greatest benefit while in bear country. Lots of noise, no leaving food in or around camp, keep your distance and DO NOT appear to be a threat. Bear spray has been proven more effective than using a fire arm, easier to operate and hit the target. When i lived in Alaska, everyone had bear spray, EVERYONE. If we had one large group we would usually have only one or two guys packing a gun (usually a shotgun). if we were to split into sub groups of two or three people, each sub group would have one firearm with them. Whenever im in bear country alone i always will have both spray and a handgun on me(Glock 20) and if i can pack it ill carry a shotgun with buckshot/slugs in an alternating pattern in the tube.

 

Im not sure about western bears but I can attest that spray will make a black bear tuck tell and haul like a scalded dog.

Plus I love dogs and in my business bear spray takes them out of the picture and doesn't permanently harm them.

Oh and bear spray works wonders on the two legged variety as well.

 

Better than nothing I'll say

 

Holy shit the bear should have ate her

 

I have had five bear encounters with in the last nine years here in New Mexico. They are everywhere it seems. They were all black bears and the encounters happened at less than 50 feet with one at spitting distance when I rounded a corner and he had stopped to smell the ground where I walked.
Did not need the bear spray, just a lot of yelling did the job.
My Tacoma gets me into some pretty remote areas.

 

New Mexico has a huge population of bears.

That being said, they’re all pussies, from my experience

 

I would carry a .22 revolver with me.................and shoot the person next to me in the knee and then I would run like hell just sayin.

 

We have black bears here in NH all over the place as well. They are pretty much as skittish as cats.

 

A very LONG time ago I was in north western Colorado and while standing next to a tree I noticed a scrape several feet above me and Im 6'7" it looked like bear claws. If it was a bear that thing could have had my black azz for dinner. Buddy of mine in elmendorf AFB had a rug made out of a brown bear and it was an incredible size boar. Black bears are skittish by nature I think. People love to hunt them though, I don't think they taste all that good. Put a crazy white dude in a tree with a bow and he'll shoot/eat ANYTHING!

Rhines I know you be reading this !

 

It’s more fun to put them in a tree

 

Alaskan’s often joke... there are tourists that taste like meat and those that taste like peppered meat. GUNS! BIG ONES!

 

Never had a problem with black bear. However I think bear spray is a waste. If a bear is going to charge you half the time it’s a fake charge anyways. You’d be better off not pissing it off more with some bullshit pepper spray, because it even a little black bear no bigger than Tom Cruise will shred you up.

That being said carry a 10mm.

Bears that you SHOULD be respectful of are brown bears/grizzlies. They will fuck you up for: being on their territory, being to close to a mamas young, because they’re hungry, and just because they want to they are much less skittish of people. Solution- Carry a 45-70 with hard cast bullets. Bear spray will get you killed.

 

Todd Orr's story of being attacked twice despite spraying the grizzly in the face:
https://www.skybladeknives.com/bear-attack-story