Barr Huntin

“So I was watchin and old Disney Flick with my kids last night and lo and behold if old Davy didn't get himself a bar by wrasslin and a big knife.

I'm generally terrified of Bears and its a constant worry so its comfortin to know that I can probably take one on, mano a mano. Question is, what kind of knife? Bowie or something more modern and exotic.”

“Landser, I have been face to face with a California Black Bear, unintentionally I might add. There isn't a knife big enough for you to take on a bear "mano a mano". I go bowhunting every year for black bear, I usually get about 20 yards from them to take a shot, and that is as close as I want to get ever again. Bears are incredibly powerful animals and Davy Crockett on Disney ain't gonna cut it. The absolute best thing you can do when confronting a bear is DON'T. Drop to the ground and play dead, this usually works and they will go away. If you are attacked, all I can say is God be with you. Just some friendly advice from someone with experience.”

“The old idea of playing dead doesn't always work. The reason for this is because it depends on the bear. Grizzly bears don't like fresh red meat, usually. They kill it, bury it, piss on it and leave it for a few days. Black bears on the other hand like to eat fresh meat. They will kill something and eat right away. The rule of thimb is generally fight a black bear, play dead with a grizzly. If it comes to that. Usually if confronted by a bear the best bet is to look behind you first, to make sure there are no cubs behind you, then back away slowly.”

“Of course, no knife would be adequate and you would become bear food in short order. But if I had to choose one, it would be a 20" Ang Khola Khukuri.

”

“You don't need a knife or gun, just a hiking partner who runs slower than you.

Most bears only come near backpakcers for the food cache, not to attack. Keep food away from your immediate campsite, and well out of a bear's reach, and you should minimize any bear problems.”

“The absolute best thing you can do when confronting a bear is DON'T. Drop to the ground and play dead, this usually works and they will go away

The bears must be bred different in California. You better not play dead with the Black Bears on the east coast. Make tons of noise, act big, and fight like crazy. Don't run.
last edited: 8/01/05 10:04:37 PM”

“Bears are extremely strong, agile, fast and quick for their size with a tremendous level of endurance and they can take a wound and not even notice.

A bear would win a fight against any similarly sized tiger or lion they might be matched against.

Humans would not have a chance in a fight with an adult bear even if the human outweighed the bear 2 to 1, bears have big claws and teeth.

Bears reflexes are quick, so a big knife might not be much help.

Fortunately for hikers bears are usually easily bluffed and would rather avoid mauling the human.
last edited: 8/01/05 10:20:47 PM”

“Man, gone for 24 hours and...... Seriously, only kidding guys about the Barr Wrasslin, I realize that Davy Crocket show starring Fess Parker was like...not for real. And the biggest knife I own is like in my Leatherman case anyway.

The only Barr wrasslin I do for real is when I beat the stuffing out of my wifes Pooky Bear from her childhood.

I'll bet that Crocodile Dunee thing with the two fingers would work though eh?”

“If I run into a bear while hiking, I always drop my pack and take out my sleeping bag. I put it on over my head and charge the bear making as much noise as I can. Of course I cannot see anything, but that is half the fun!”

“You know that may be the last thought in my head before the Bear eats me, at least I'll be laughing my head off.”

“And that just reminded me of that movie Super Troopers where the guy was pretending to hump a Bear....laughing hard enough that I have to sit on the floor right now.”

“Here is a picture of me charging a bear down in Mammoth Cave. I chased the bear away and I only got a bad case of chiggers for my actions.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/192376562/192520639ywiCAq”

“PEEK-A-BOO!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/192376562/192523020sgjSbC”