>>2520681This thread has to be bait. I refuse to believe it’s not bait.
>>2520749>>2520754Both correct. Bear spray will almost always be the best deterrent to use. Also, pro tip from someone who works around coastal brown bears, flapping the rain cover for you pack or a plastic bag in the air will make bears turn and run pretty much without fail. It’s pretty funny how much they freak the fuck out from this. That’s how I got pic related to go away. The sound that Hand held marine flares make also makes them run like little house cats.
Bear spray is great as a second to last line of defense. Ideally you should not be alone in bear country and ideally you’ll have one person responsible for the gun (while also carrying a can of spray) while the other is responsible for the initial spraying of the bear. My job requires that we carry a 12 gauge with slugs but that is not practical for anyone recreating. A larger caliber pistol will do the trick but it should never be your first line of defense. Proper food management is key as is being sure not to surprise any bears. Talking loudly with your crew, yelling “Hey bear!” Or, unironically playing music on a speaker while moving through brush are the way to go. Don’t do the last one unless you are way the fuck out there and not near other hikers though. Bear bells are too close in frequency to bird calls and they don’t alert bears. Don’t bother with them.
The annon saying that fire arm carriers are just larpers is dumb. Especially if we’re talking the lower 48 where 2 legged critters are your biggest threat. I’m not a gun nut by any means but I will never understand why anyone would camp in places without cell service and off the beaten path without a means to defend themselves in 2023 America where there are more guns than people. It doesn’t have to be on your hip while hiking. But having one around camp is great for piece of mind.