[dsn_klr650] bears...nklr

[Skip Faulkner]

I can't believe we're having this thread again....it was one of my favorites! OK, Skip come on over to the campfire and tell us a couple of bear stories. Just like in Lion King when the Hyena's are teasing each other, "Mufasa....ohhhh....scary...say it again." Kurt I was going over the posts I missed while getting ready for Moab and came across these. I decided to stay out of these "bear" posts, but couldn`t stand it any longer. There is so much well-meaning mis-information being spread in the general public that it has and will get people killed. As far as successful handgun outcomes goes, what has been said in the past is simply bullshit. While living in Alaska and here in Montana, successful encounters are regularly in the local papers, but not nationally. "They" don`t like this kind of news to become widespread so as not to encourage everyone carrying guns in the woods. Out of several encounters, I`ve managed to avoid using my pistol except in two encounters, and was successful in both, and totally unavoidable. Bears are very unpredictable and an example is that Fish and Game depts. in Alaska and Montana are NOW saying that playing dead may not be the best recourse any longer. It has failed to prevent unprovoked deaths in many situations. As far as mountain lions go, that is without question the worst thing you can do. All authorities agree you should try and scare the cat and if attacked, fight like a son-of-a-b****. The bells have jokingly become known as "dinner bells" around here as they appear to sometimes draw bears that associate humans with food. As far as a bear pulling a guy off a horse being a Kodiak, we don`t have any in Montana and it has happened more than once, especially in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. All he has to do is get a good grip on your leg, but usually the horse will help him out by throwing you first. Sorry Kurt, I do have some good stories from my guiding days, including some good scars, but I`ll save them for when you and Kimberly come by this fall, prime bear encounter season. :>) Skip