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Dan193 · 31-35, M
I thought that you're not alowed to hike without a gun in areas where bears have been spotted.
Ynotisay · M
@Dan193 There's a few reasons. And just to toss it out there, I've had dozens of black bear encounters as a backpacker. The first is that guns are heavy. The second is that guns can accidentally discharge. But the big reason is because they're not effective. You don't need either a gun OR bear spray around black bears. They want to nothing to do with people. If you follow the basic rules around food, and what to do if you see one, you're safe.
Brown bears are a little different. And in that case bear spray is the call. There's never been a human fatality when bear spray has been used during an attack. Can't say the same about guns. Dead bears and dead people.
If you've built a cabin in the Alaskan tundra? Yeah. A gun makes sense. If you're hiking on any trail in the Lower 48? A gun just means you're carrying your unfounded fear.
Brown bears are a little different. And in that case bear spray is the call. There's never been a human fatality when bear spray has been used during an attack. Can't say the same about guns. Dead bears and dead people.
If you've built a cabin in the Alaskan tundra? Yeah. A gun makes sense. If you're hiking on any trail in the Lower 48? A gun just means you're carrying your unfounded fear.