Is A Gun Safer Than Bear Spray? The Answer May Surprise You

Let's say you're in the woods and come across a bear.

For the sake of argument, we will say that this meeting is not going well.

What is your weapon of choice?

Bear spray?

A GUN?

The YouTube page Essential Wilderness by Stephan Kesting takes a look at this question.

Which do you think would win?

In the video below our host looks at several studies.

Adventurer and biologist Stephan Kesting looks at four studies and 352 aggressive bear encounters in Alaska to see whether bear spray or firearms were more effective at deterring aggressive black, grizzly, and polar bear behaviour.

The results may surprise you, but data doesn't care about your feelings!

According to a study by The National Parks Service:

People who have used a gun lose the battle against the bear about half the time.

Firearms are not recommended for stopping an attack. Using a firearm during a bear attack may only worsen the attack. An injured bear will be more aggressive, especially during a fight. It’s also harder to hit a charging bear with a firearm rather than bear spray, and a firearm can be dangerous to any hiking partners. While firearms have been effective at stopping an attack, they aren’t recommended.

Wounded bears can be even more dangerous. If a bear is wounded with a firearm, it can potentially be defensive or aggressive. This can put park rangers and other park visitors at risk if a wounded bear must be tracked down.

Firearms are not a substitute for proper bear avoidance practices and knowing how to properly handle a bear encounter.

Bear spray is the recommended tool for self-defense against a bear. Bear spray is easy to use without much experience, and it’s a highly effective tool for stopping or deterring attacks.

The NPS strives to protect wildlife populations. If a firearm is effectively used during an encounter, it can be lethal for the bear, while bear spray allows the bear to likely remain in the population.

If a firearm is used in self-defense against a bear, contact park authorities immediately. Federal regulations prohibit the use or discharge of any weapon within a park area. The applicability of a state statute pertaining to self-defense in a wildlife encounter may vary from state to state and by park area and will generally take into account any provoking or negligent actions by the person.

SATIRE: THERE ARE NO RULES IN BEAR FIGHTING.

I was looking for videos that might offer the worst advice - EVER - on how to survive a bear attack.

WOW did I find a DOOZY!

You can watch the video below.

You'll want to stick with the video because the more you watch the more bizarre it gets.

Honestly, the first few minutes I was thinking, 'Gee this looks like great advice.'

THEN IT GOT WEIRD!

That statement above is SO TRUE!

You can literally use anything you can think of and nobody is going to call you out for bad sportsmanship.

Just be warned that bears understand this too.

So expect the bear to fight dirty.

The good news is that you'll probably be able to think of more clever ideas on how to fight dirty than the bears. Unless you're frozen in panic, then the bear has the advantage.

Step 2 is actually good advice. Don't run. Bears love to chase things kind of like cats does.

But I'm not so sure about this next step.

You'll just have to see what I mean by watching the video.

You can try to freak out the bear with puzzles and quizzes but most bears are pretty good at that kind of stuff.

DO NOT engage the bear in a game of Trivial Pursuit. You'll lose.

I'm betting I can beat a bear at chess. But maybe not checkers.

Step 11 only works if you have some back knowledge of the bear's personal life.

I'm not sure I'd go here because I don't know too many bears personally.

Then again you'd have to ask what the bear might know about you.

What if the bear has some dirt on you that outdoes the dirt you have on him?

NOW WHAT?

If all this seems odd, wait till you watch the video. It does not end the way you think.