@@fredbmurphy No joke this guy was at a "nature conservation day" that I went to 5th - 8th grade in the mountains outside of Race Track Montana, near Deer Lodge. Pretty weird seeing him on this video with 200,000 views. He used those same decoys, and I remember he was partially deaf, so he would have to see lips to understand people.
Be aware that bears sometimes circle around you so don't put the spray away & search your surroundings for that bear until you are safely out of that area.
I have spent over 40 years in bear country of Wyoming and Montana and some time in Alaska. One point I would make is this: If seconds count, you do not need to remove your spray from the holster, you can fire from the hip. Just practice. You don't want to be in a position where the two seconds it takes to get the can out of the holster means the difference between being able to spray the bear from your hip or having the bear on you.
I've seen quite a few bear spray videos, and this is by far the best. Especially the caution at 7:56 about a bear not being able to hear you near fast-moving water.
That is exactly what happened to Justin hiking on his 36 day hike on the great divide trail. At around 2 hours and a few min he got charged by a Grizzly. He was with the wind and near a small river
This is a very important and valuable video. He's right on. I'm a forest dweller so I usually have my 12 gauge shot gun for safety. But for those who are not armed, this spray, used as he instructed, can save your ass.
I have spent a few decades in the Canadian bush, have an entire book shelf dedicated to bears, their behaviour and their documented attacks. I view myself as well informed. I always carry a heavy calibre rifle or slug gun in the bush but I also always carry bear spray. I found this video very informative.
I’m not a fan, personally. I have seen bear bangers used on a black bear with no effect. There is also a chance that it will explode behind the bear, driving it in your direction. And they present a fire hazard. It also requires fine motor skills to load and operate a bear banger, which isn’t going to work when you are under the influence of adrenaline in a charge scenario.
What if the randomly roam your yard and even cross over your deck like the do here. If out gardening etc. it not l8kely one will remember their Rambo kit, lol. I was wondering,though, if air horns really works or not…some say it angers them; any input or experience with that?
@@etal843 well shit bro if they were in my front yard I'd stay strapped or get clapped man. If someone calls the cops tell them their is bears all the time and to stay strapped or get clapped eyes open at all times brother. I don't trust bear spray. "if it runs into the cloud it will divert it's charge" yeah no thanks. I'll take the full auto high caliber rifle with a large ammunition capacity. Cops probably gonna pull their gun out too if their is bears walking around your front yard looking for something to eat man 😂
This, from a respected study: "reviewed 83 close bear encounters involving 156 people. The conclusions were startling: In all of the incidents involving spray, there were only three injuries, and none of them fatal-a 98-percent success rate."
I read a similar study but they found something quite different. They found the bear spray to only be between like 33 to 45% effective depending on what you consider to be effective. If you're trying to stop an attack they were not very effective. The bear sprays were mostly effective for curious bears that did not attack. When the bears were charging or acting aggressively they spray was dramatically less effective.
I guess then every brown not thwarted by spray that mauled or killed the person is now broadcast on CZcams because this app is loaded with bear spray fails. The purpose is to try to spare the bear. One has to have lethal defensive capability as well....unless they are a Treadwell. This notion humans should sacrifice themselves to save a bear is insanity. Literally. We have woke folks who think we deserve this for invading their habitat.
I've heard some critics of this study, I believe the results were circumstantial. Regardless, I have seen stats that have shown significant success with ending the threat from aggressive grizzlies with several shots from several firearm calibers including .45, 10mm auto and .44 magnum.
Agreed! Just seems ignorant to me to go where they are! I will keep my butt at home, or better yet totally away from where bears live! That is their home, not mine.
Living in fear is no way to live. Everything comes with a risk. You could have a brain aneurism on the couch. You gonna just stop sitting on your couch? Probably not.
We love this video! Clear, concise information, and no bullcrap like other youtubers trying to sell a brand or their personality with dramatic music and quick cut editing. Just the voice of knowledge and experience. Thank you!
Not mentioned in this video is you can also use "bear spray" on other aggressive animals that mean you harm such as cougars and mountain lions. Bear spray can lose it's effectiveness (distance) depending on wind speed and direction. I totally agree with practice to the point where it becomes "muscle memory" and you react without thinking about it. For most people, a charging wild animal sets you in "fight or flight" mode instantly, but some people will freeze. This is where practice really pays off. I've had two bear enconters in Alaska and trust me when I say, you never know until it happens. One encounter was in the Aleutian Islands at a distance of ~50 yards along a river in an open space, giving us and the bear plenty of time to react. Once the bear got our scent, it turned and fled in the opposite direction, which was lucky for us and the bear. The other was on a remote river in Bristol Bay. This encounter was much closer in time and space with a bear that was full of salmon and just curious about my presence in "HIS" territory. It could have easily attacked me and I would not be here to tell the tale given the remoteness of the encounter. In summary, exercise situational awareness and know what to do and not do at all times and in all places. My wife and I witnessed the entire Las Vegas shooting, so now we must all be prepared for that too. You'd be suprised how the innate survival instinct can go dormate in "modern" humans until you need it the most.
Sounds like good advice. I have read bear spray is probably more effective than a shotgun since even a shot bear can kill you. The 2017 Las Vegas shooting must be what the author is referring to, though there are so many it's hard to tell. I would take my chances vs a bear than a US mass murderer with firearms.
Totally agree with you that you don’t know until you are in the situation. We were hiking and a bear came without a 100 ft of us. My adrenaline started and I was scared, but I didn’t freak out and run away. I slowly started to back away while my husband stood there saying, “hey bear….that’s a good bear…” things like that. It ended up coming a little more towards us and then turning around and walking away. We didn’t have bear spray, but we sure as heck went straight to bass pro shops and got some right after.
It’s very important if you are not familiar with using the bear spray to practice spraying. I used pepper spray in law enforcement. You should know how much pressure it takes to use the spray. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to discover how to get it to work.
Critique: The Bear Spray SHOULD be made with a PISTOL GRIP handle !!! This will both facilitate a quick draw, a better grip and a more positive hold on the weapon ! But to each his own. The can I carry has about 3 times what the displayed can has and was designed for riot control. The only difference between it and “bear spray” is the lack of ammonia, but the % of Oleoresin Capsicum is equal or higher and the volume is higher. TIP FOR USING ANY OC SPRAY: - #1. When you take your OC can out of your car or home ALWAYS hold it up side down and shake it vigorously for 5 to 8 seconds! The capsicum micro solids will tend to gather in the bottom. If you are like most people your can sits up right for weeks or months on a shelf or in your car. Giving a shake every time you go out with it mixes it good and will give you the MAXIMUM power of the chemicals. - #2. CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION DATE: I have seen people carrying cans that expired 8 years ago!! Usually the OC will still be OK, but the mechanical bits, the seals and the propellant, may be gone and useless! - #3 Check for crude build up in the nozzle and finally - #4 When you buy your spray buy at least 2 cans of inert practice spray (unless you are a veteran LEO) and PRACTICE!! The life you save may be your own.
Yeah that kind of grip seems pretty shitty. A pistol grip on the other hand doesn't need to be explained. It's very hard to hold a gun in the wrong way unless you try to :P
Same applies for Mama Moose with young or young Bulls with attitude. They will charge right in, up close, stamping front hoofs. Always carried Bear Spray on my mountain bike in a water bottle holder. Saved me or other hikers more than once! Alaskan for over 6 decades-LJH
@@Mickieshelton Decades of experience with Moose & Bears. Have no idea on the Tiger, and it is my understanding that cougars or mountain lions attack humans from behind(?). Thank goodness I have zero experience with either one. But, the short answer is “yes” if it was all I had available.
Glad to hear that. My friends and I were charged by a mama moose with a very young calf in Wyoming about a month ago, and at the time we didn’t have bear spray or a firearm on us so all we could do was run and try to hide behind things and create distance. She charged multiple times but had we of had bear spray I think it would have greatly reduced the danger we were in and stopped the attack sooner.
@@GreatOutdoorsDetecting Has worked for my family, and Alaska Moose are a bit larger than those in Lower 48. When our boys were young we had them practice up at our cabin. The “advance” practice we turned into a fun game; teens and pre-teens love it!
Thanks for this video! Watched this before a backpacking trip in Banff, Alberta last week. A huge grizzly followed my girlfriend and me back down a trail for about 70 feet after we startled it. We had come around a bend and it was only 30ft away. It got to about 25 feet away before I yelled as loud as I could and scared it off. I was about to use my spray and was remembering everything you'd said. Had it out quick too because you said to practice it beforehand. I'm glad for your advice even if it was just a close call! All the best EDIT: There is a lot of potentially harmful confusion in these comments; certain people are saying you should spray a bear if it gets within 30ft, regardless of whether it is charging or acting aggressively. This is terrible, dangerous advice that can get someone killed. You should not spray a grizzly bear preemptively for non aggressive behaviour in its own territory. The above video is referring to CHARGING bears. That's it. Please Google what to do in both grizzly and black bear encounters before going into the bear country. This video is specifically catered towards the mechanics of using bear spray once the decision to spray has been made. This decision is far more situationally dependant than some people seem to think. Please do additional research if this is your first video about bear encounters!
Wow!! So close I’m sure remembering it was both terrifying and amazing to see a grizzly in nature so close. Beautiful scary animals :) glad you both were ok and the bear wasn’t aggressive!!
that's the unfortunate part of hiking the rocky mountains compared to anywhere in europe. You are always at risk of being killed once you are off the beaten path. In Europe you can hike 500 km from civilization alone, and you will always be the apex. It just makes me sad since it would be nice to explore non-touristy parts of the Canadian bush by myself
@@rebeccasager8212 Yes, it was surreal! My gf and I are both very glad to have had the experience but I wouldn't want a bear to get that close again :)
Thanks for video, I will be on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route starting July. I met a wildlife biologist that was charged by a Grizzly in MT and had to use his spray. the bear stopped just 10 feet from him on the second charge. First time was a "bluff charge" and huffing, then one of the three people moved a little and the bear got irritated enough to charge again. The second charge at full speed, so he laid a thick cloud and the bear took off.
I feel a bit more confident about taking a deeper dive into nature because of this video! I REALLY want to camp and hike up to those beautiful waterfalls and lakes I see on Facebook. Thanks so much guys! This was a very helpful and informative production.
Bear spray is a great tool, but have a firearm as well. Multiple cases, including a couple and their dog being killed in Montana this past week, have been found next to multiple empty cans of fully utilized bear spray which didn't work.
I've never used the spray on a bear but I used it to reeducate 2 aggressive racoons in my yard one evening. They were growling and showing their teeth and approaching. I have also used it on some aggressive dogs when I was walking on a dirt farm road. It worked extremely well in all cases. I accidentally deployed it in my pickup one day briefly. Some of it ran down and dripped into the center console jocky box. Two years later I still cough a little when I open the jockey box. I washed it out with paper towells and spray cleaner and everything. This stuff hangs in there. Also if you use it do not rub your eyes or use the bathroom until you have thoroughly washed your hands, and I mean thoroughly.
Counter Attack (a popular bear spray manufacturer) makes a secure screw-top foam-lined container for storing and transporting the bear spray canister, called the ‘Kozee-Tote’. The foam absorbs the contents if they leak. Remove from protective container and put in holster when you reach the trailhead. I bought one when I bought the bear spray because I was afraid of contaminating my car in exactly that type of scenario! What a disaster! Thanks for warning others!
watch for signs of "scat" avoid area. The difference between black bear scat and grizzly scat is; Black bear scat has berries and seeds.Grizzly bear "scat" has little silver bells, running shoes and smells like bear spray... If you camp in bear country do not cook near camp secure food away from camp and do the same with your garbage. Make loud sounds when hiking and stay away from rivers that are loud the bear will not hear you..
funny. Black bear scat reminds me of charcoal briquettes. I think this advice is for Grizzly bears. I saw scat on a trail, looked up and froze. Because there was a black bear on the trail in front of me. Water to my right down hill, perhaps covering the sound of hikers. But the other 9 people in my group, including my son and other children were all resting behind me around a bend in the trail behind a boulder and a tree.I tried to assess the situation and then witnessed a little cub come onto the trail also. OK, so now I know it's a mamma bear and the most dangerous kind. Okay then....keep eyes peeled for more cubs, make sure i'm not between mom and cub. I didn't' see any other cubs but doesn't mean there weren't any. They went down to the water, I'm guessing. I was most afraid when I could not see them. This park did not allow any firearms OR bear spray, only bells. So I got out my camera and when they came back to the trail, I took photos. Laying on the ground for a black bear just invites them to eat you, from what I've been told. Luckily it ended well, the bears continued on the trail walking away from me. Whew. I rejoined the folks in my group and told them they missed the excitement. The dads got all protective of the boys at that point, but they were fine when I wandered ahead alone, the only woman. As we all hiked forward with our eyes peeled, we came upon them again off the trail this time, they were jumping on a fallen tree looking for food there. I got better pictures than anyone else. Sure gets the adrenaline going.
When you said, "You need to know what bears want most of all..." I thought to myself, "is to be loved. And when they sense your rejection, it hurts their feelings, and they become angry and want to hurt you back." But that's not what you continued to say. :) Great video with visual examples!
So many good tips here, and especially the bit about spraying even if you aren't sure if the bear is bluff-charging or actually charging. It trains a bear to avoid charging humans in the future, and prevents conflicts that could result in serious injury to a person or a bear. Also, people need to practice! Both with their firearms and their bear spray; simply having those tools isn't enough if you aren't comfortable with them. There are inexpensive and even free classes for practicing drawing your firearm or spray safely, how to use them at 15, 30, and 60 foot ranges with a "pressure" timer set at 2.5 seconds, and even moving targets. It is that muscle memory that will give you confidence in a potentially life-threatening situation, and can save the lives of both people and bears.
Thank you for this valuable information. I hike several times per week year-round here in Southern British Columbia and there are bears and cougars everywhere. I carry bear spray.
@@bakedbeans9546 I hike alone, and I see bears once in a while depending where I am. I saw an adult one three weeks ago on my regular trail in a suburb of Vancouver. I've never seen a cougar but I have seen their scat, and I know a few people who have seen them around here- they are fairly common where I live.
Don't believe all that BS about bear spray being very effective. If you want to survive from becoming a bear's dinner then carry a 12 ga shotgun loaded with 00 buck or dear slugs.
Excellent video. I’ve carried bear spray on recent camping trips in bear country out west and this tutorial was quite informative. Appreciate the effort in making this video!
Agreed. All I’ve seen until this video was quick vids to pull, release safety, spray. Until now I thought I was trying to spray the bear not dispense a cloud for the bear to encounter on arrival. Very informative.
@@shucksful Lawyers are more dangerous, more calculating, more irritable, more easily provoked and more likely to leave you scarred up than any bear. And they smell worse too! haha
I dont think bears understand "no" or "stop". I personally prefer, " YOU SHALL NOT PASS!". 100% of the time the bear will spontaneously combust and implode.
They don't. What matters is the tone and volume of voice. Once, I used "I AM THE BLUE GIRAFFE! As I went into a ridiculously stylized Kung Fu pose. Even bears worry about crazy. (I'm crazy, not stupid. The bear spray was being held.)
Lived in Alaska for 3 years and now feel more comfortable using bear spray. I hope I never need it but if I do I will do my best to follow everything shared here. Thank you for the video!
I have watched this several times and I share this video with all my hiking friends. Hands down-this is the most iseful and informative bear aware video!
Great video showing the distances and what to do to win the spray within certain distances and it also sounds good to have a can of bear spray that was space 40ft and for 7 seconds who needs a 15-foot range that's no distance for a charging Bear to cover
Just yesterday I bought bear spray to carry with me while cycling. I ride at Stanley Park in Vancouver about 3 or 4 times a week and in the last 8 months or so there have been over 30 people attacked by coyotes. I often stop to rest and just take in the nature but I'm quite aware of the fact that an encounter with one or more of these increasingly aggressive animals is possible and hopefully bear spray would keep them at bay if necessary.
Excellent description and demonstration! I have done a lot of hiking over the years but not much in bear country. After I recover from surgery, I plan on hiking more and will definitely bring bear spray and be well practiced. Thanks for this video!
Thank you for putting this up because I had no idea how to use the bear spray we bought this year due to insane amount of bears in our city of only 80,000 people there were over 30 actual bears in the downtown area. Fires have been taking them out of the forest and into our backyards. Thanks again for the education!
Glad I came across your channel. I plan on moving out to the midwest after retirement and will be spending alot of time in these types of areas. Im a firm believer in educating myself about the wildlife wherever I go, wayyyy before I get there.
Very well done!! Thanks for producing this video. I'm going to forward to all my friends and family. We live in British Columbia, Canada where there are many Black and Grizzly bears.
Quite a few stories of people who had bear spray but couldn’t get to it in time because they were carrying it in a backpack or didn’t know how to release the pin/holder. Great advice about preparing if need be to spray from an over your shoulder prone position.
Also stories of Grizzlies eating the person after the pepper spray blows back on the person. I've heard the bear was heard saying this pepper spice is good, but could use some garlic.
Great advice. I live in the UK so I don't have to worry about bears but I hope to visit Alaska soon (when this covid thing is over) so am avidly reading everything I can about how to stay safe in bear country. Thanks.
Thank you for the education on how to properly use bear spray. I’m feeling better about how to use my bear spray now. I take it with me every time I go hiking. I really appreciate this video!
I gained confidence in bear spray when I practiced the removal from holster etc. Now I can do it automatically and never forget how. You must fork out for the holster. Too bad the spray is now well over $50 CDN.
I'm glad I watched this; I didn't know you were supposed to KEEP spraying if you're charged. I figured it was a short burst, but it makes sense. You wanna make sure there's no ambiguity: you're in control, and the absolute last thing in the world that bear wants to do is charge in your direction. Also, the point about protecting the bear is interesting and true. You're not doing that bear any favors by hesitating. By deterring that bear today, you're saving it tomorrow when it might've charged someone with a shotgun. And if its not a false charge, not only do you hurt yourself, but whatever search party is looking for you is ultimately gonna wind up putting the bear down because its a mankiller
Excellent video, very well explained. I always carry bear spray when going to the backcountry. This is bear country. I'm more concerned about a cougar encounter than bears. I've seen quite a few bears, no problem, but you're lucky if you see a cougar. They're there and probably watching you. Like the bears they just want to be left alone.
@@sandy10901 don't be the slowest one! I have always wondered if you could grab the scruff of a cougar like a house cat... so they stop moving. I guess I will probably never know. Don't take your eyes off a cougar if you see one, and don't turn your back on it. Be big, be loud, throw stuff!
I have had two encounter with bears , large grizzley while hiking in montana, I carry two cans of 12 oz counterstrikes, 6 inch knife and a 12 gauge. both encounter bear spray worked like a charm, i blasted for about 30 seconds, so remember every time you discharge , be sure to get a new one to carry next time. Great Tips here, be sure to get familiar how the bear spray works, Practice with a used one so you know how it works. They come with a holster so you got quick access. I also carry a gopro on my neck hands free, it on all the time when i am in the woods.
Most 12 ga have 5 rounds - warning shot better vs fumbling with spray at 20 feet. We're they charging? As always, spray works great for bluff charges but makes nice seasoning for a full attack 👍👍
Thank you for a great teaching video. On my property are both black bear and cougar. I never cut grass, ride my bicycle or do any activity without a full can of bear spray and a knife with an 8 inch blade. I love the wildlife and do not allow hunting on my property. The cougar and I respect each other from a distance. She walk within a hundred yards of the house but have never killed any of my pets. Bear spray is part of each family member whenever we are outside.
He is right about practice with bear spray, first time I had to use it on a vicious dog I could not get it to spray! Buy 2 or three of them and use one for practice. Always carry and be proficient with a powerful handgun also. Here in Montana almost everyone carries a Glock 20 in the woods...
@@miguelservetus9534 The Glock 20 is a 10 mm and I use Underwood 200 grain hard cast. At 1250 fps that is more powerful than a 357 magnum and you have 15 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. A test showed that load shooting through a shag carpet folded over a fresh cow skull and the bullet traveled through both sides and exited the skull.
A few yrs back in Grand Tetons back country, a grizzly walked up a trail right up to 10 ft from us... we stood "talking" to him. It showed no agression... sniffed a little and walked away... once in a lifetime... I had my spray out but never used it...
Same thing back in 2013. On a trail walking back to the Lodge in the Tetons and a big Grizzly walked near us and let us pass by until it went into a meadow. We reversed direction and let it go where it wanted instead. No spray needed.
Very informative. Thank you! But having had my first and terrifying bear experience, I feel obligated to add don't assume a bear will be in front of you. I had a black bear come up behind me running 90-miles an hour. They cover ground fast! And it didn't not care in the least that I was there ("most bears will run away from you"--nope!) I was very very lucky it ran past me. So 360° of bear awareness.
@@sstritmatter2158 I was SO lucky. I was absolutely defenseless. I had to just stand there and watch it running towards me (after I heard it and turned around). I was so close to my car I hadn't even taken my hiking stick with me. But I couldn't run. Now forever fearful there of what I can't see behind me... Bear spray doesn't make me feel better.
Why the hell would it run past you? Doesnt make any sense. So you mean to say you were on a trail a bear came running through (full barrel) and just whizzed right by you..🤣 Ive heard some BS but this is crazy. Plus 90miles an hour? 😂 You have me in stitches here....that must have been a bear riding a Yamaha Raptor or something....LOL!
@@jensz9360 I didn't really think to have a conversation with the bear at the time to ask why it was running or why it ran past me. I was not on a trail, I was in the woods. If you must be so literal it ran past me around 30 mph. A black bear can cross a football field in 7.5 seconds. And there was NOTHING funny about it. I was lucky.
Well done video! This info was based upon meticulous study of numerous bear attacks, including instances where spray was deployed too late or too little. There are no guarantees in Grizzly country, but having ready, practiced access to bear spray dramatically improves your odds. If you want to carry a sidearm too, go for it. If you are special forces, law enforcement or an extremely proficient shooter under immediate threat with a high caliber weapon maybe you’re as safe. Most people are not. Bear spray will always be my first line of defense in an attack. Cheers!
I live in Southern California and we don’t have a lot of wildlife other than ants. This is extremely helpful as we are getting ready to travel to many of our national parks later this year.
A few weeks ago in BC Canada I snuck up on a black bear cub that was climbing on my back yard fence. I sprayed it directly from about 3 feet away. The next night an adult black bear was trying to break into the garbage can next door over. I snuck up on her and sprayed her directly over the fence. She ran away fast and I haven't seen any of the bears since. I don't recommend using my tactics. I'm used to encounters as suburban garbage bears are too common around here. Lock your garbage up and clean up all attractants!
Thank you, Chuck. I've taken bear courses utilizing bear spray, and your video by far is the best! Braking down the distance zones was new to me. I didn't know the 60, 30, and 15 ft zone comparisons before. Again, thank you!
They are very fast bears ! Was attacked by a bear last year here in Sweden when I was standing and photographing my Plymouth after a forest road ! I was lucky so it stopped the attack 15 meters away from me .
I live in the UK and not many bears here, but, this guy is 100% correct! Repetition is the mother of all skill ( it saved my life in a parachute entanglement ) and practice makes perfect! If I was going anywhere near bear country I would practice over and over with that spray can.
Whoa. This was good. We live in mid Florida. There have been rare black bear sightings east of where we live. Very rare but there were in remote residential areas. This is good information in case we go on vacation.
I use to live in Pensacola,Fl approx. 2 yrs. ago. On the local news a mans trash cans were being turned over and their trash was in the yard. Their home camera picked up a bear doing the damage. This was in Gulf breeze,fl.
We used to hike up and down the streams fishing in Montana, unarmed save for a buck knife. 40 years later and this video has scared the crap out of me!
As it turns out, bear spray is heavily regulated in favor of the bear. Most modes of transport do not allow bear spray aboard. Few outposts carry it. Frontiersman, 2022's #1 bear spray, has a formulation that features the highest level of capsaicin content "legally permissible" at 2%. But the same pepper spray that is used on humans can contain 10%, and the higher concentration of oleoresin capsicum whereas a bear spray will only contain 1-2% of the same active ingredient. The point is to cause the bear to back off rather than to do any real harm. So, we would rather protect bears than people. We are only 10 - 20% as important as a bear.
Use words like no and stop unless he’s a Spanish bear and then say Alto or nada. If he’s a German bear say nein or stopp! You better figure out what kind of bear he is quick!
there are not german bears. the closest are in switzerland, 3 of them in bern. and they just walk in circles all day long in a small enclosure that was even smaller in the past. and because it's german-speaking part of switzerland, they're more likely to understand russian. lol
You can also buy a practice can of bear spray, that just has compressed air or something like that. They're not cheap (for what they are), but I liked being able to practice actually spraying, too, before I went backpacking in grizzly territory for the first time.
I wish I had known that when I went to Yellowstone over a decade ago. I practiced before traveling with live spray. The wind changed direction, and I got a taste.
IMO there should be mandatory classes on using bear spray and how to interact with wild animals (including sharks and gators), that way we the taxpayers don't have to deal with ignorant people who foolishly antagonize wild animals and get mauled, and then the poor animal often has to be put down.
I like this guy!!! Very very informative & I swear he has to be 6'7" 285 lbs he just looks so in control! I need to meet this man of great knowledge!!!
That's a very disciplined bear, very good in front of the camera.
I think the bear is scared stiff from past encounters with this lecturer
Right?? Well trained.
It wasn't a peppered breathed Grizzly.
@@fredbmurphy No joke this guy was at a "nature conservation day" that I went to 5th - 8th grade in the mountains outside of Race Track Montana, near Deer Lodge. Pretty weird seeing him on this video with 200,000 views. He used those same decoys, and I remember he was partially deaf, so he would have to see lips to understand people.
😂😂😂
Be aware that bears sometimes circle around you so don't put the spray away & search your surroundings for that bear until you are safely out of that area.
I have spent over 40 years in bear country of Wyoming and Montana and some time in Alaska. One point I would make is this: If seconds count, you do not need to remove your spray from the holster, you can fire from the hip. Just practice. You don't want to be in a position where the two seconds it takes to get the can out of the holster means the difference between being able to spray the bear from your hip or having the bear on you.
a real cowboy 🤠🐻
I bet, those sleeves are kind of tight and it would leave your ass hanging if you are futzing with trying to get the canister out.
Good advice!
Good point
you should carry the spray can on a loop round your neck ready to spray in less than a sec
I've seen quite a few bear spray videos, and this is by far the best. Especially the caution at 7:56 about a bear not being able to hear you near fast-moving water.
Or wind! Had to get super loud around a grizzly on a windy hillside
Totally agree, this is by far the most informative video I've seen ❤.
That is exactly what happened to Justin hiking on his 36 day hike on the great divide trail. At around 2 hours and a few min he got charged by a Grizzly. He was with the wind and near a small river
If I get charged by a bear, I hope it has seen this video
There’s no wifi out in the woods so I doubt it.
If I get charged by a bear, I hope there's no wind.
@@MustangsTrainsMowers starlink
This is a very important and valuable video.
He's right on.
I'm a forest dweller so I usually have my 12 gauge shot gun for safety. But for those who are not armed, this spray, used as he instructed, can save your ass.
@@raveninavaniam9438 12 gauge buckshot? Or 12 gauge slug
I have spent a few decades in the Canadian bush, have an entire book shelf dedicated to bears, their behaviour and their documented attacks. I view myself as well informed. I always carry a heavy calibre rifle or slug gun in the bush but I also always carry bear spray. I found this video very informative.
What about bear bangers?
I’m not a fan, personally. I have seen bear bangers used on a black bear with no effect. There is also a chance that it will explode behind the bear, driving it in your direction. And they present a fire hazard. It also requires fine motor skills to load and operate a bear banger, which isn’t going to work when you are under the influence of adrenaline in a charge scenario.
What if the randomly roam your yard and even cross over your deck like the do here. If out gardening etc. it not l8kely one will remember their Rambo kit, lol. I was wondering,though, if air horns really works or not…some say it angers them; any input or experience with that?
You should just get a pet Kodiak to walk with you.
@@etal843 well shit bro if they were in my front yard I'd stay strapped or get clapped man. If someone calls the cops tell them their is bears all the time and to stay strapped or get clapped eyes open at all times brother.
I don't trust bear spray. "if it runs into the cloud it will divert it's charge" yeah no thanks. I'll take the full auto high caliber rifle with a large ammunition capacity.
Cops probably gonna pull their gun out too if their is bears walking around your front yard looking for something to eat man 😂
This, from a respected study: "reviewed 83 close bear encounters involving 156 people. The conclusions were startling: In all of the incidents involving spray, there were only three injuries, and none of them fatal-a 98-percent success rate."
I read a similar study but they found something quite different. They found the bear spray to only be between like 33 to 45% effective depending on what you consider to be effective. If you're trying to stop an attack they were not very effective. The bear sprays were mostly effective for curious bears that did not attack. When the bears were charging or acting aggressively they spray was dramatically less effective.
You should always have a lethal backup. Like humans, some bears are more susceptible than others to capsaicin products.
@@topherd1011 I wouldn't argue this, but it seems to me that by the time you realize that your spray isn't stopping a charge, times up.
I guess then every brown not thwarted by spray that mauled or killed the person is now broadcast on CZcams because this app is loaded with bear spray fails. The purpose is to try to spare the bear. One has to have lethal defensive capability as well....unless they are a Treadwell. This notion humans should sacrifice themselves to save a bear is insanity. Literally. We have woke folks who think we deserve this for invading their habitat.
I've heard some critics of this study, I believe the results were circumstantial. Regardless, I have seen stats that have shown significant success with ending the threat from aggressive grizzlies with several shots from several firearm calibers including .45, 10mm auto and .44 magnum.
"If you have to spray the bear while you're being attacked"
You know what? I think I'll just stay the f**k out of Montana.
Montana is beautiful and worth a visit just remember that the bears love it here too
Had to stop feeding the birds here in Montana. The black bears smell seeds for miles and come running.
LOL made me chuckle. Seems reasonable :-)
Agreed! Just seems ignorant to me to go where they are! I will keep my butt at home, or better yet totally away from where bears live! That is their home, not mine.
Living in fear is no way to live. Everything comes with a risk. You could have a brain aneurism on the couch. You gonna just stop sitting on your couch? Probably not.
We love this video! Clear, concise information, and no bullcrap like other youtubers trying to sell a brand or their personality with dramatic music and quick cut editing. Just the voice of knowledge and experience. Thank you!
Agreed! Seems like the pursuit of money tends to cheapen and convolute things
Who is “we”?
I know for a fact that bear spray works I got charged by a grizzly and saved my life
Scary! Where dod this happen? And how?
Please tell
Yes please tell wow that’s crazy
It's not crazy, it's a bear, a wild animal behaving perfectly normal. Staying alert is every persons responsibility when hiking in bear country.
@Feral Man people sail and fly around the world because its round
Not mentioned in this video is you can also use "bear spray" on other aggressive animals that mean you harm such as cougars and mountain lions. Bear spray can lose it's effectiveness (distance) depending on wind speed and direction. I totally agree with practice to the point where it becomes "muscle memory" and you react without thinking about it. For most people, a charging wild animal sets you in "fight or flight" mode instantly, but some people will freeze. This is where practice really pays off. I've had two bear enconters in Alaska and trust me when I say, you never know until it happens. One encounter was in the Aleutian Islands at a distance of ~50 yards along a river in an open space, giving us and the bear plenty of time to react. Once the bear got our scent, it turned and fled in the opposite direction, which was lucky for us and the bear. The other was on a remote river in Bristol Bay. This encounter was much closer in time and space with a bear that was full of salmon and just curious about my presence in "HIS" territory. It could have easily attacked me and I would not be here to tell the tale given the remoteness of the encounter. In summary, exercise situational awareness and know what to do and not do at all times and in all places. My wife and I witnessed the entire Las Vegas shooting, so now we must all be prepared for that too. You'd be suprised how the innate survival instinct can go dormate in "modern" humans until you need it the most.
Idk why you put his territory in quotes. You really were in his territory
Would it work on squatch?
@@jameszelinske6329 I believe beef jerky works best
Sounds like good advice. I have read bear spray is probably more effective than a shotgun since even a shot bear can kill you. The 2017 Las Vegas shooting must be what the author is referring to, though there are so many it's hard to tell. I would take my chances vs a bear than a US mass murderer with firearms.
Totally agree with you that you don’t know until you are in the situation. We were hiking and a bear came without a 100 ft of us. My adrenaline started and I was scared, but I didn’t freak out and run away. I slowly started to back away while my husband stood there saying, “hey bear….that’s a good bear…” things like that. It ended up coming a little more towards us and then turning around and walking away. We didn’t have bear spray, but we sure as heck went straight to bass pro shops and got some right after.
Another key point-Everyone in your group needs their own bear spray!
It’s very important if you are not familiar with using the bear spray to practice spraying. I used pepper spray in law enforcement. You should know how much pressure it takes to use the spray. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to discover how to get it to work.
Critique: The Bear Spray SHOULD be made with a PISTOL GRIP handle !!! This will both facilitate a quick draw, a better grip and a more positive hold on the weapon ! But to each his own. The can I carry has about 3 times what the displayed can has and was designed for riot control. The only difference between it and “bear spray” is the lack of ammonia, but the % of Oleoresin Capsicum is equal or higher and the volume is higher.
TIP FOR USING ANY OC SPRAY: - #1. When you take your OC can out of your car or home ALWAYS hold it up side down and shake it vigorously for 5 to 8 seconds! The capsicum micro solids will tend to gather in the bottom. If you are like most people your can sits up right for weeks or months on a shelf or in your car. Giving a shake every time you go out with it mixes it good and will give you the MAXIMUM power of the chemicals.
- #2. CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION DATE: I have seen people carrying cans that expired 8 years ago!! Usually the OC will still be OK, but the mechanical bits, the seals and the propellant, may be gone and useless! - #3 Check for crude build up in the nozzle and finally - #4 When you buy your spray buy at least 2 cans of inert practice spray (unless you are a veteran LEO) and PRACTICE!! The life you save may be your own.
excellent thanks
Good advice.
Yeah that kind of grip seems pretty shitty. A pistol grip on the other hand doesn't need to be explained. It's very hard to hold a gun in the wrong way unless you try to :P
are you sure its safe to shake the can?
Liberals would ban it because it looks scary.
Same applies for Mama Moose with young or young Bulls with attitude. They will charge right in, up close, stamping front hoofs. Always carried Bear Spray on my mountain bike in a water bottle holder. Saved me or other hikers more than once! Alaskan for over 6 decades-LJH
Would bear spray work on a tiger or mountain lion?
@@Mickieshelton Decades of experience with Moose & Bears. Have no idea on the Tiger, and it is my understanding that cougars or mountain lions attack humans from behind(?). Thank goodness I have zero experience with either one. But, the short answer is “yes” if it was all I had available.
Glad to hear that. My friends and I were charged by a mama moose with a very young calf in Wyoming about a month ago, and at the time we didn’t have bear spray or a firearm on us so all we could do was run and try to hide behind things and create distance. She charged multiple times but had we of had bear spray I think it would have greatly reduced the danger we were in and stopped the attack sooner.
@@GreatOutdoorsDetecting Has worked for my family, and Alaska Moose are a bit larger than those in Lower 48. When our boys were young we had them practice up at our cabin. The “advance” practice we turned into a fun game; teens and pre-teens love it!
@@MickiesheltonVacuum cleaners probably work on big cats. 😂
This is by far the best bear spray video we've ever seen. Thank you SO much for posting this!
Thanks for this video! Watched this before a backpacking trip in Banff, Alberta last week. A huge grizzly followed my girlfriend and me back down a trail for about 70 feet after we startled it. We had come around a bend and it was only 30ft away. It got to about 25 feet away before I yelled as loud as I could and scared it off. I was about to use my spray and was remembering everything you'd said. Had it out quick too because you said to practice it beforehand. I'm glad for your advice even if it was just a close call! All the best
EDIT: There is a lot of potentially harmful confusion in these comments; certain people are saying you should spray a bear if it gets within 30ft, regardless of whether it is charging or acting aggressively. This is terrible, dangerous advice that can get someone killed. You should not spray a grizzly bear preemptively for non aggressive behaviour in its own territory. The above video is referring to CHARGING bears. That's it. Please Google what to do in both grizzly and black bear encounters before going into the bear country. This video is specifically catered towards the mechanics of using bear spray once the decision to spray has been made. This decision is far more situationally dependant than some people seem to think. Please do additional research if this is your first video about bear encounters!
I think you need a refresher course. I am not being a dick, either. By your own words you did not follow the procedure outlined in this video.
@@michaeldose2041 Not sure what you mean - the bear never charged us, just followed us as we backed up for about 70ft
Wow!! So close I’m sure remembering it was both terrifying and amazing to see a grizzly in nature so close. Beautiful scary animals :) glad you both were ok and the bear wasn’t aggressive!!
that's the unfortunate part of hiking the rocky mountains compared to anywhere in europe. You are always at risk of being killed once you are off the beaten path. In Europe you can hike 500 km from civilization alone, and you will always be the apex. It just makes me sad since it would be nice to explore non-touristy parts of the Canadian bush by myself
@@rebeccasager8212 Yes, it was surreal! My gf and I are both very glad to have had the experience but I wouldn't want a bear to get that close again :)
Thanks for video, I will be on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route starting July. I met a wildlife biologist that was charged by a Grizzly in MT and had to use his spray. the bear stopped just 10 feet from him on the second charge. First time was a "bluff charge" and huffing, then one of the three people moved a little and the bear got irritated enough to charge again. The second charge at full speed, so he laid a thick cloud and the bear took off.
Did he deploy the spray on the first charge too?
I feel a bit more confident about taking a deeper dive into nature because of this video! I REALLY want to camp and hike up to those beautiful waterfalls and lakes I see on Facebook. Thanks so much guys! This was a very helpful and informative production.
Bear spray is a great tool, but have a firearm as well. Multiple cases, including a couple and their dog being killed in Montana this past week, have been found next to multiple empty cans of fully utilized bear spray which didn't work.
This has got to be the best demonstration video I have seen on using bear spray. Fantastic!
I've never used the spray on a bear but I used it to reeducate 2 aggressive racoons in my yard one evening. They were growling and showing their teeth and approaching. I have also used it on some aggressive dogs when I was walking on a dirt farm road. It worked extremely well in all cases. I accidentally deployed it in my pickup one day briefly. Some of it ran down and dripped into the center console jocky box. Two years later I still cough a little when I open the jockey box. I washed it out with paper towells and spray cleaner and everything. This stuff hangs in there. Also if you use it do not rub your eyes or use the bathroom until you have thoroughly washed your hands, and I mean thoroughly.
Try baking soda.That stuff is potent .
Counter Attack (a popular bear spray manufacturer) makes a secure screw-top foam-lined container for storing and transporting the bear spray canister, called the ‘Kozee-Tote’. The foam absorbs the contents if they leak. Remove from protective container and put in holster when you reach the trailhead. I bought one when I bought the bear spray because I was afraid of contaminating my car in exactly that type of scenario! What a disaster! Thanks for warning others!
Wow🤪😤😵💫
@@altitudeiseverything3163
I didn't know that. Thanks, I'll get one. An oz of prevention is worth a lb of cure. In this case perhaps ten lbs. 😏
Dude why would ever admit to being punked by a raccoon? Shameful.
watch for signs of "scat" avoid area. The difference between black bear scat and grizzly scat is; Black bear scat has berries and seeds.Grizzly bear "scat" has little silver bells, running shoes and smells like bear spray... If you camp in bear country do not cook near camp secure food away from camp and do the same with your garbage. Make loud sounds when hiking and stay away from rivers that are loud the bear will not hear you..
funny. Black bear scat reminds me of charcoal briquettes. I think this advice is for Grizzly bears. I saw scat on a trail, looked up and froze. Because there was a black bear on the trail in front of me. Water to my right down hill, perhaps covering the sound of hikers. But the other 9 people in my group, including my son and other children were all resting behind me around a bend in the trail behind a boulder and a tree.I tried to assess the situation and then witnessed a little cub come onto the trail also. OK, so now I know it's a mamma bear and the most dangerous kind.
Okay then....keep eyes peeled for more cubs, make sure i'm not between mom and cub. I didn't' see any other cubs but doesn't mean there weren't any. They went down to the water, I'm guessing. I was most afraid when I could not see them. This park did not allow any firearms OR bear spray, only bells. So I got out my camera and when they came back to the trail, I took photos. Laying on the ground for a black bear just invites them to eat you, from what I've been told. Luckily it ended well, the bears continued on the trail walking away from me. Whew.
I rejoined the folks in my group and told them they missed the excitement. The dads got all protective of the boys at that point, but they were fine when I wandered ahead alone, the only woman. As we all hiked forward with our eyes peeled, we came upon them again off the trail this time, they were jumping on a fallen tree looking for food there. I got better pictures than anyone else. Sure gets the adrenaline going.
Old one, but you missed the setup...
..and if they live in your backyard, then what
@@etal843 I will lend you my mother n law, she so cold the bears will think it is time to hibernate.
Omg 💀
When you said, "You need to know what bears want most of all..." I thought to myself, "is to be loved. And when they sense your rejection, it hurts their feelings, and they become angry and want to hurt you back." But that's not what you continued to say. :) Great video with visual examples!
Underrated comment 😂
So many good tips here, and especially the bit about spraying even if you aren't sure if the bear is bluff-charging or actually charging. It trains a bear to avoid charging humans in the future, and prevents conflicts that could result in serious injury to a person or a bear. Also, people need to practice! Both with their firearms and their bear spray; simply having those tools isn't enough if you aren't comfortable with them. There are inexpensive and even free classes for practicing drawing your firearm or spray safely, how to use them at 15, 30, and 60 foot ranges with a "pressure" timer set at 2.5 seconds, and even moving targets. It is that muscle memory that will give you confidence in a potentially life-threatening situation, and can save the lives of both people and bears.
This is why I wear a suit of knights armor when I am outdoors.
Bears like canned food.
I drive my APC tank vehicle loaded with anti personal rounds and smoke screen quick deployment
Type up Russian bear hunting armour
Thank you for this valuable information. I hike several times per week year-round here in Southern British Columbia and there are bears and cougars everywhere. I carry bear spray.
I'm curious, how many people do you hike with and have you encountered any bears?
@@bakedbeans9546 I hike alone, and I see bears once in a while depending where I am. I saw an adult one three weeks ago on my regular trail in a suburb of Vancouver. I've never seen a cougar but I have seen their scat, and I know a few people who have seen them around here- they are fairly common where I live.
Thank you so much for putting this video together. Great information, that can save lives, explained so clearly. This is CZcams at its best.
With bear attacks on the rise, and their fear from humans is vanishing, this was such an informative video. Thank you so much!
Don't believe all that BS about bear spray being very effective. If you want to survive from becoming a bear's dinner then carry a 12 ga shotgun loaded with 00 buck or dear slugs.
Bear attacks are on the rise?
Excellent video. I’ve carried bear spray on recent camping trips in bear country out west and this tutorial was quite informative. Appreciate the effort in making this video!
Agreed. All I’ve seen until this video was quick vids to pull, release safety, spray. Until now I thought I was trying to spray the bear not dispense a cloud for the bear to encounter on arrival. Very informative.
Excellent presentation....but if that bear charges me...he should know I have an excellent lawyer!!
Lawyers charge more. 😀
@@shucksful Lawyers are more dangerous, more calculating, more irritable, more easily provoked and more likely to leave you scarred up than any bear. And they smell worse too! haha
I always yell "drive it home daddy". That way the bear knows "I" mean business.
lol
I hope u do it with gusto doe
Thank you for this lesson. Who would think you need to practice getting to your spray? Not me. You opened my eyes.
If you have no bearspray , run towards the bear as fast as possible, it will reduce your time of suffering by a few seconds.
Funny! LMAO!!!
Engage all your fighting skills from years of Schwarzenegger movies
Bullets are cheaper
Hilarious!
I dont think bears understand "no" or "stop".
I personally prefer, " YOU SHALL NOT PASS!". 100% of the time the bear will spontaneously combust and implode.
Hahaha. Just watching some mp today.
They don't. What matters is the tone and volume of voice. Once, I used "I AM THE BLUE GIRAFFE! As I went into a ridiculously stylized Kung Fu pose.
Even bears worry about crazy.
(I'm crazy, not stupid. The bear spray was being held.)
I think we’re all guna yell “FUCK!”
I always say “None shall pass.”
you're an IDIOT Q: did you get that from your last Dungeons and Dragons gathering?
Lived in Alaska for 3 years and now feel more comfortable using bear spray. I hope I never need it but if I do I will do my best to follow everything shared here. Thank you for the video!
I have watched this several times and I share this video with all my hiking friends. Hands down-this is the most iseful and informative bear aware video!
Great video showing the distances and what to do to win the spray within certain distances and it also sounds good to have a can of bear spray that was space 40ft and for 7 seconds who needs a 15-foot range that's no distance for a charging Bear to cover
Just yesterday I bought bear spray to carry with me while cycling. I ride at Stanley Park in Vancouver about 3 or 4 times a week and in the last 8 months or so there have been over 30 people attacked by coyotes. I often stop to rest and just take in the nature but I'm quite aware of the fact that an encounter with one or more of these increasingly aggressive animals is possible and hopefully bear spray would keep them at bay if necessary.
Excellent description and demonstration! I have done a lot of hiking over the years but not much in bear country. After I recover from surgery, I plan on hiking more and will definitely bring bear spray and be well practiced. Thanks for this video!
take 2 cans
Thank you for putting this up because I had no idea how to use the bear spray we bought this year due to insane amount of bears in our city of only 80,000 people there were over 30 actual bears in the downtown area. Fires have been taking them out of the forest and into our backyards. Thanks again for the education!
Best bear safety instruction on the entire internet. Thank you so much! ❣️❤️👍🏻
Best 🐻 safety instruction on the Internet:' STAY OUT OF BEAR COUNTRY!!!!!'
Finally, some useful good broad advise! Thank you!
@@deliajones9541 You're welcome!!
@@robinrobyn1714 Well, bears are being fed by people, so they come into residential areas a lot.
@@DP-ot6zf As we were taught-' A fed bear is a dead bear"......
The Constitution guarantees the right to arm bears.
Thank you for this life saving demonstration
Glad I came across your channel. I plan on moving out to the midwest after retirement and will be spending alot of time in these types of areas. Im a firm believer in educating myself about the wildlife wherever I go, wayyyy before I get there.
A VERY worthwhile video. Thank you all for the presentation.
Very informative straight the point 'real world' no nonsense Video. great job, Thank you!
Very well done!! Thanks for producing this video. I'm going to forward to all my friends and family. We live in British Columbia, Canada where there are many Black and Grizzly bears.
Quite a few stories of people who had bear spray but couldn’t get to it in time because they were carrying it in a backpack or didn’t know how to release the pin/holder. Great advice about preparing if need be to spray from an over your shoulder prone position.
Also stories of Grizzlies eating the person after the pepper spray blows back on the person. I've heard the bear was heard saying this pepper spice is good, but could use some garlic.
Thank you! This is the best and most detailed video on this topic i have seen.
Great advice. I live in the UK so I don't have to worry about bears but I hope to visit Alaska soon (when this covid thing is over) so am avidly reading everything I can about how to stay safe in bear country. Thanks.
Thanks, that was super informative and easy to follow. Well done!!!!
Chuck you are the best! Loved the video, very informative. You’ve got some swag and charisma sir! ✋ 🐻
Thank you for the education on how to properly use bear spray. I’m feeling better about how to use my bear spray now. I take it with me every time I go hiking. I really appreciate this video!
Very informative and useful! Thank you for sharing and taking your time to post!
I gained confidence in bear spray when I practiced the removal from holster etc. Now I can do it automatically and never forget how. You must fork out for the holster. Too bad the spray is now well over $50 CDN.
This was the best and most complete how to video of the tens I watched about this.
Came up in my feed from watching so many Van life camping videos.
Thank you kind Sir for posting this!
I'm glad I watched this; I didn't know you were supposed to KEEP spraying if you're charged. I figured it was a short burst, but it makes sense. You wanna make sure there's no ambiguity: you're in control, and the absolute last thing in the world that bear wants to do is charge in your direction.
Also, the point about protecting the bear is interesting and true. You're not doing that bear any favors by hesitating. By deterring that bear today, you're saving it tomorrow when it might've charged someone with a shotgun. And if its not a false charge, not only do you hurt yourself, but whatever search party is looking for you is ultimately gonna wind up putting the bear down because its a mankiller
100% spot on!
Whole new definition to "spray and pray"
What an informative, straightforward video. Thank you sir!
Excellent video. Very informative. I've never been charged, and consequently have never used bear spray. These tips sound very logical. Thank you!
Excellent video, very well explained. I always carry bear spray when going to the backcountry. This is bear country. I'm more concerned about a cougar encounter than bears. I've seen quite a few bears, no problem, but you're lucky if you see a cougar. They're there and probably watching you. Like the bears they just want to be left alone.
They wait and jump you from behind . Soft kitty
@Paul Kryder I am more afraid of a cougar attack than a bear and I cannot find any information as to what can, potentially stop a cougar attack????
I always like to say, "You may have never seen a Cougar in the wilderness but a Cougar had probably seen you in the wilderness."
@@sandy10901 Stay as a close group is your best option. Cats like to hunt isolated smaller prey so if your a group they cant sneak up and nab someone.
@@sandy10901 don't be the slowest one! I have always wondered if you could grab the scruff of a cougar like a house cat... so they stop moving. I guess I will probably never know. Don't take your eyes off a cougar if you see one, and don't turn your back on it. Be big, be loud, throw stuff!
The comment section is quiet amusing .Thank you People !
Their is some humorous people among us
Super useful video with practical advices! Thank you!
I love this video so much. You answered questions I didn't know I even had.
I have had two encounter with bears , large grizzley while hiking in montana, I carry two cans of 12 oz counterstrikes, 6 inch knife and a 12 gauge. both encounter bear spray worked like a charm, i blasted for about 30 seconds, so remember every time you discharge , be sure to get a new one to carry next time. Great Tips here, be sure to get familiar how the bear spray works, Practice with a used one so you know how it works. They come with a holster so you got quick access. I also carry a gopro on my neck hands free, it on all the time when i am in the woods.
Most 12 ga have 5 rounds - warning shot better vs fumbling with spray at 20 feet. We're they charging? As always, spray works great for bluff charges but makes nice seasoning for a full attack 👍👍
Why a go pro?
Excellent video! Thank you!! 🐻
We don't have bears here in Brazil, but I enjoyed so much this lesson. Thanks CZcams algorithm!
Thank you for a great teaching video.
On my property are both black bear and cougar. I never cut grass, ride my bicycle or do any activity without a full can of bear spray and a knife with an 8 inch blade.
I love the wildlife and do not allow hunting on my property.
The cougar and I respect each other from a distance. She walk within a hundred yards of the house but have never killed any of my pets. Bear spray is part of each family member whenever we are outside.
He is right about practice with bear spray, first time I had to use it on a vicious dog I could not get it to spray! Buy 2 or three of them and use one for practice. Always carry and be proficient with a powerful handgun also. Here in Montana almost everyone carries a Glock 20 in the woods...
Don't the folks who make the spray also supply inert practice cans so you can avoid wasting real spray?
Curious what ammo you load?
Not sure a 9mm, (Edit: see corrective post below)Unless a brain pan shot, would save a life.
@@miguelservetus9534 The Glock 20 is a 10 mm and I use Underwood 200 grain hard cast. At 1250 fps that is more powerful than a 357 magnum and you have 15 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. A test showed that load shooting through a shag carpet folded over a fresh cow skull and the bullet traveled through both sides and exited the skull.
@@markkosa1 Thanks. I learned something! 😊
A few yrs back in Grand Tetons back country, a grizzly walked up a trail right up to 10 ft from us... we stood "talking" to him. It showed no agression... sniffed a little and walked away... once in a lifetime... I had my spray out but never used it...
Same thing back in 2013. On a trail walking back to the Lodge in the Tetons and a big Grizzly walked near us and let us pass by until it went into a meadow. We reversed direction and let it go where it wanted instead. No spray needed.
Once you started down the trail again, did you find the remains of the 3 hikers upon whom the bear had already feasted?
@@patbowman9959 ... fear is what its all about... does your gun keep u warm at nite???
You luck you!!!
Very, very lucky. I carry a Smith & Wesson 44 Mag with 250 grain hollow points. It compliments my bear spray as an accessory.
Thank you for publishing this informative video. It’s much appreciated.
i know nothing about bears but the people that do like this video and that's all I need to know . Great work bebearaware
Very informative. Thank you! But having had my first and terrifying bear experience, I feel obligated to add don't assume a bear will be in front of you. I had a black bear come up behind me running 90-miles an hour. They cover ground fast! And it didn't not care in the least that I was there ("most bears will run away from you"--nope!) I was very very lucky it ran past me. So 360° of bear awareness.
you were very lucky it ran past you. most of the time that is predatory stalking - cannot predict wild animals.
@@sstritmatter2158 I was SO lucky. I was absolutely defenseless. I had to just stand there and watch it running towards me (after I heard it and turned around). I was so close to my car I hadn't even taken my hiking stick with me. But I couldn't run. Now forever fearful there of what I can't see behind me... Bear spray doesn't make me feel better.
Why the hell would it run past you? Doesnt make any sense. So you mean to say you were on a trail a bear came running through (full barrel) and just whizzed right by you..🤣 Ive heard some BS but this is crazy.
Plus 90miles an hour? 😂 You have me in stitches here....that must have been a bear riding a Yamaha Raptor or something....LOL!
@@jensz9360 I didn't really think to have a conversation with the bear at the time to ask why it was running or why it ran past me. I was not on a trail, I was in the woods. If you must be so literal it ran past me around 30 mph. A black bear can cross a football field in 7.5 seconds. And there was NOTHING funny about it. I was lucky.
@@suzannehedderly1331 Uh huh 😂
Well done video! This info was based upon meticulous study of numerous bear attacks, including instances where spray was deployed too late or too little. There are no guarantees in Grizzly country, but having ready, practiced access to bear spray dramatically improves your odds. If you want to carry a sidearm too, go for it. If you are special forces, law enforcement or an extremely proficient shooter under immediate threat with a high caliber weapon maybe you’re as safe. Most people are not. Bear spray will always be my first line of defense in an attack. Cheers!
If spray fails, there is no second line
@@proislam1447 Can't you make some kind of fillable vest that, once punctured, would release something akin to bear spray as a second line of defense?
@@proislam1447if ya metal zingers miss?
Best video on bear-spraying ever made in the world
Great video and demonstration! Thanks.
I live in Southern California and we don’t have a lot of wildlife other than ants. This is extremely helpful as we are getting ready to travel to many of our national parks later this year.
Does bear spray works against aggressive ants?
@@geralddorsett607 if it did they would be sold out because down here in Arkansas we have fire ants. They’re little but damn they a mean. LOL!!!
I went to Kings Canyon and had a run in with a bear on a trail less than a mile away from the visitor center.
A few weeks ago in BC Canada I snuck up on a black bear cub that was climbing on my back yard fence. I sprayed it directly from about 3 feet away. The next night an adult black bear was trying to break into the garbage can next door over. I snuck up on her and sprayed her directly over the fence. She ran away fast and I haven't seen any of the bears since. I don't recommend using my tactics. I'm used to encounters as suburban garbage bears are too common around here. Lock your garbage up and clean up all attractants!
Locking your garbage up will keep both you and the bear safe. Hopefully they made it back to the wild. Thanks for sharing!
Now I know BC stands for Bear Country , Canada
Excellent video and demonstration! Thank you
Great information! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Danny and Lynn
Thank you, Chuck. I've taken bear courses utilizing bear spray, and your video by far is the best! Braking down the distance zones was new to me. I didn't know the 60, 30, and 15 ft zone comparisons before. Again, thank you!
They are very fast bears ! Was attacked by a bear last year here in Sweden when I was standing and photographing my Plymouth after a forest road ! I was lucky so it stopped the attack 15 meters away from me .
Wouldn't call that an attack, more like a bluff charge. :)
They very rarely intend to kill - in the whole USA there are fewer than 2 deaths a year on average. So your outcome was much the most likely.
@@tullochgorum6323 we've had two people killed by bears in Alberta alone already
@@Zenas101 you guys probably have more bears up there though because their is more vast wilderness.
@@tullochgorum6323 In particular as Sweden is not part of the USA ;)
In Sweden 2 fatalities by bears in 100 years are known.
BEST VIDEO ON THE INTERNET THAT IVE FOUND!!! Thank you!!
one of the best videos I have seen on using bear spray
I live in the UK and not many bears here, but, this guy is 100% correct! Repetition is the mother of all skill ( it saved my life in a parachute entanglement ) and practice makes perfect! If I was going anywhere near bear country I would practice over and over with that spray can.
How did you encounter a bear during a parachute jump?
@@ballasogred bearon
@@jackd1582 How about Bäron? Pronounced the same as your re-spelling.
Whoa. This was good. We live in mid Florida. There have been rare black bear sightings east of where we live. Very rare but there were in remote residential areas. This is good information in case we go on vacation.
Does it work on vipers?
I use to live in Pensacola,Fl approx. 2 yrs. ago. On the local news a mans trash cans were being turned over and their trash was in the yard. Their home camera picked up a bear doing the damage. This was in Gulf breeze,fl.
We used to hike up and down the streams fishing in Montana, unarmed save for a buck knife. 40 years later and this video has scared the crap out of me!
Thank you!!! This is all information nobody else talks about.
This guy rocks
I agree. This has been the best video on this topic.
As it turns out, bear spray is heavily regulated in favor of the bear. Most modes of transport do not allow bear spray aboard. Few outposts carry it. Frontiersman, 2022's #1 bear spray, has a formulation that features the highest level of capsaicin content "legally permissible" at 2%. But the same pepper spray that is used on humans can contain 10%, and the higher concentration of oleoresin capsicum whereas a bear spray will only contain 1-2% of the same active ingredient. The point is to cause the bear to back off rather than to do any real harm. So, we would rather protect bears than people. We are only 10 - 20% as important as a bear.
Use words like no and stop unless he’s a Spanish bear and then say Alto or nada. If he’s a German bear say nein or stopp! You better figure out what kind of bear he is quick!
Just use Russian words. Bears are terrified of Russians, as everyone should be.
You say"AufHalten"! To the 🐻 if it's German.
Wrong. The word is-' Para"( not "nada"), for "Stop".
LMAO!! This is the best advice I've heard in long time 🙌
there are not german bears. the closest are in switzerland, 3 of them in bern. and they just walk in circles all day long in a small enclosure that was even smaller in the past. and because it's german-speaking part of switzerland, they're more likely to understand russian. lol
Very educational and helpful. Thank you for posting.
That was very helpful thank you much appreciated. You can never know too much about protecting yourself or others when in bear country. 🕊️👍🐻
We use to tell our boy scout troops to try not and smell like bacon when in the back country!
My trick was, I always "befriended" the slowest runner in the troop.
don't chop onions before heading into bear country cos bears luv onions with thier boy scout snacks.
@@dumbdumber1885 Yummy
@@TimeSurfer206 be careful bro, the guy running the fasted in the woods probably trips first
@@TheAnnoyingBoss I was never the fastest. That's why I befriended the slowest!
Why am I watching this? 😂 I mean, I live in Morocco where there are no bears in the wild
This is an excellent and extremely helpful video. Thank you.
Thank you for posting a well done and informative video!
You can also buy a practice can of bear spray, that just has compressed air or something like that. They're not cheap (for what they are), but I liked being able to practice actually spraying, too, before I went backpacking in grizzly territory for the first time.
I wish I had known that when I went to Yellowstone over a decade ago. I practiced before traveling with live spray. The wind changed direction, and I got a taste.
IMO there should be mandatory classes on using bear spray and how to interact with wild animals (including sharks and gators), that way we the taxpayers don't have to deal with ignorant people who foolishly antagonize wild animals and get mauled, and then the poor animal often has to be put down.
Mandatory classes for a less than lethal can of bear spray?
great instructor
I like this guy!!! Very very informative & I swear he has to be 6'7" 285 lbs he just looks so in control! I need to meet this man of great knowledge!!!
This video has a lot of gusto. Very informative. Thanks!