Thanks Will, very interesting to read, I was wondering and you answered all my questions with the links!

I also didn't know that the brown bears are the largest, with some around a 1,000lbs. Trying to imagine a 1,000 pound bear charging at you like lightening. Few things scarier than that.

Speaking of hunting, you feed raw right Will? Do you feed your dogs the elk and deer? Nice gold mine of food for the pups were you live, lucky man! Even luckier dogs!

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Grizzly bear poop is larger and has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Yep, I feed raw, tonight's menu is ground bison.

 Quote: Will Rambeau

Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop is larger and has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Thank god I am in Colorado with no grizzlies. We have plenty of black bears. And a cub that has been seen all over my neighborhood in Summit County where we have a mountain place. He? has been robbing bird feeders and we are all worried he will become a nuisance bear. I worry on my hikes alone (with fearless dog). No, I don't carry arms. But I make noise, like talking to the dog...

There are actually more worries about Mountain Lions. They snatch you from the trail...

I've been in a crowded concert where someone nearby let off pepper spray, and it was SO much worse than I would have anticipated. I'm pretty certain none even hit my face directly, but Aaron summed it up perfectly. You can't *inhale* and your eyes water more than you'd think possible. I remember on that MTV show "Jack-A**", the guy was tazed, stun-gunned, and pepper sprayed by a law enforcement officer. When it was all over, they asked him which was the worst, and he said by far, the pepper spray.

I'm glad we just have black bears here (though they are getting worse each year). I've had several on my property, and firing a gun, even my little P-22 will send them sprinting off. But they have killed dogs and a neighbor's goat already this summer. My koi pond has been destroyed, my bee hives turned into kindling, and even bird feeders have to be brought inside at night. I just try to remind myself that they were here first, and we need to coexist, though that little consolation when you wake up to utterly destroyed property.

Overseas, we only had access to laundry once a month, or so.
So re-wearing of uniforms was the norm.

One day I wiped my eye with my sleeve standing in Guard Mount.
It didn't take long to remember that I was wearing that uniform a few nights prior when I sprayed a subject.

My Nephew is studying criminal justice to be a LEO and just had to get sprayed for training and was tazed the week after.
While both are no fun, he said for him the pepper spray was by far the worst.
I remember watching that vid that Ed Frawley had on here a while back of the guy that volunteered to get sprayed, ugh, he looked so miserable.

I think Aaron's idea of experimenting with just letting the stuff hit you is a good idea just to know what it might feel like and to be prepared should you encounter it when spraying a bear.

Question: Is the bear spray worse than the stuff the LEO's use on criminals?

Seems unlikely. But possible.

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In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field.

Actually leaving for Montana in the am...Bears , Mountain Lion, wolf everywhere around where we stay. Glacier National Park advises on bear spray. My brother just got back from a 2 week grizzly hunt{Alaska}. The bear he got was huge! He said you need to have one charging at you, you would rethink on spray!

I'd take the riffle myself!

Had a problem with a can of spray exploding in the car on an 80 degree day last summer...wasn't pleasant!

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Grizzly bear poop is larger and has little bells in it and smells like pepper.

Have a wonderful trip Tammy! Be safe, take that loaded rifle, and bear spray!
Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.
Does Roger get to come along with you?