[pct-l] Bear Cans

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

the old owner of VVR, Butch, used to use a pellet gun to scare the 
bears away.  it seemed to work pretty good.


> while the mention of guns in these threads makes me CRINGE and want to
> throw your glock in a lake, I will offer up this:  A friend was on a
> volunteer trail maintenance crew out of vermillion a couple weeks ago.
>  He said once the crewleaders fired their rifles into the air, the
> bears did not come back.  And the PCT does run through the land of the
> free after all.
> 
> blanks not hollow points,
> s.c.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Bankhead" <wandering_bob@comcast.net>
> To: "Lars Nilsson" <Lars@standardarmament.com>;
> <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 10:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bear Cans
> 
> 
>> Let me take that one step further. In bear country, alter your
>> ultra-light ideas; carry the bear can. Leave the Glock at home. It
>> doesn't have the punch needed to stop a bear and will only serve to
>> get you his undivided attention. The chippies, marmots, and camp
>> robbers, while annoying, aren't that bad on the trail, and you can't
>> possibly carry enough ammo for the mossies.
>> 
>> Stopping a bear charge requires a heavy caliber weapon in the hands
>> of someone who (1) knows when to shoot and when not to (2) knows
>> where to hit the animal to effectively do the most damage, and (3)
>> has the mental coolness to be able to put the bullet where he needs
>> to while watching 400
> +
>> pounds of fang and claw close the distance between them at 30 miles
>> per hour. Even a cannon is useless if you can't hit anything with it.
>> 
>> If you want to go hunting, buy a license, carry the right weapon, and
>> go where and when it's allowed. If you want to go hiking, leave the
>> bang-bang at home. The loud noises scare away the hobbits.
>> 
>> Wandering Bob
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Lars Nilsson" <Lars@standardarmament.com>
>> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 9:36 AM
>> Subject: [pct-l] Bear Cans
>> 
>> 
>> "Carrying gun and ammo is heavier than bringing a bear can." 
>> Actually, a Glock .40 w/ 7 rounds weighs several ounces LESS than a
>> 'Bear Vault', and more than a full pound less than the Garcia bear
>> can.  And while a Glock is less fun than a WWII US Sherman Tank or a
>> German Panzer, it is certainly more sporting.  Also, I think stealth
>> camping with a tank, with or without a bear can, is almost out of the
>> question, especially in the Sierras.  Really, the point of bear cans
>> or even guns is not just keeping humans safe, but keeping wild
>> animals wild.  Carrying a bear can is quieter than carrying a gun,
>> and in today's American West, it is more socially acceptable. I have
>> no problem with responsible adults "packing heat" on the trail.  We
>> thru hikers and ultra lighters think of ourselves as a breed apart,
>> but we are still part of the food chain. And as we used to say in the
>> '60s, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the
>> problem".  Carry the can in bear country. Sincerely,
>> Lars Nilsson
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> pct-l mailing list
>> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>> unsubscribe or change options:
>> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
_________________________________________________________________
    http://fastmail.ca/ - Fast Secure Web Email for Canadians