Bear spray??

[JMSZ]

Does anybody carry it? Had a chance to use it? Did it work?

I found a website by a animal biologist and he said that black bears tend to be more aggressive and are more likely to be predatory than grizzlies, i.e., grizzlies will normally try avoid contact while black bears are more inclined to come after somebody who surprises them.

Any experiences anybody cares to share?

On a similar vein, having seen a discussion previously, has anybody had a run-in with a mountain lion that appeared to have taken an interest in them? How did you deal with it and what did the cat do?

[ivorytip]

as much time as i spend in the mountains i have been lucky enough not to have a dangerous encounters. while hunting earlier this month i woke up for an early morning pee, popped out of the ole bivy sack and turned on my head lamp and seen a mountain lion bout 20 yrds away drinking from the stream, he looked up at me then took off. it was pointless to even try and sleep after that. i keep wanting to carry bear spray but for some reason i feel much more confident and safer with my .357 on my belt loop.

[sjsmallfield]

Had a lion stalking me on the opener of rifle last year. I got a wierd feeling and turned around to see a cat 20yds behind me crouched down with his ears layed back. When I turned to face him and raised my rifle he just spun around and took off. Once he knew I saw him he didn't want any part of it. I watch behind me alot more these days!

[Fink]

Bugle magazine had a really good article about bear spray in the latest issue.. It indicated that very rarely to people sustain injuries when they are attacked, and respond with bear spray, while people that try to shoot an attacking bear are harmed about 50% of the time.

Hence forth, I think I'll carry bear spray and a .44.. I'll spray that sucker to immediately stop the attack, then shoot him a few times for charging me in the first place.

[Old Hunter]

I carry bear spray. I've never had to use it. Black bears are usually running 100MPH in the opposite direction when I see them.

Not sure I agree that black bears are more aggressive then grizzlies.

[pseshooter300]

I bought bear spray this year but this will be only in and around black bears

[Muleys 24/7]

Hence forth, I think I'll carry bear spray and a .44.. I'll spray that sucker to immediately stop the attack, then shoot him a few times for charging me in the first place.

You know what, I like your attiude,lol

[Muleys 24/7]

I carry bear spray. I've never had to use it. Black bears are usually running 100MPH in the opposite direction when I see them.

Not sure I agree that black bears are more aggressive then grizzlies.

I havn't had them bolt away but when I ran into a sal with cubs last year I was about 70 yards away, she heard me and then was trying to wind me, when she couldn't wind me she just waited for the cubs to catch up then wondered of but kept looking back to see if I was any danger.