I read all the time about buying huge handguns to protect againest grizzlies. Who has actually shot one? Is there that many encounters with bears? I have lived near Yellowstone and spend thousands of days fishing, hiking, etc. in Island Park and inside Yellowstone and have seen maybe ten bears in 50 years. None of which were closer than 50 yards. One one grizz in Yellowstone at about 500 yards. I am much more scared of humans right inside my home than I am of the big bad bear in the woods. I have more fear of being attacked by a moose than anything else. Maybe a bear if you were leaning over a fresh kill. I think that we need to say it like it is, we buy big powerful handguns because we can, not so we can go shoot a grizz.

You could be on to something. I've got a couple big bad powerful handguns and have never seen a grizzly; never even been in an area that has grizzly. If a rabid squirrel decides to attack, I've got a 475L that should be good medicine.

I think most of us have them cause we want 'em; not need 'em. You've got to admit; they're pretty cool!

jwp475 shot a grizz that was coming in on his moose kill with a .475 Linebaugh and the results were rather impressive.

I've shot grizzly with the 375 JDJ and brown bear with 375/06 JDJ, both using 270 gr. Hornady. Grizzly was taken around 60 yards, brown bear 82 yds.

I think he's talking about in a self defense situation, which if that's the case how many of us have shot a human outside of war? I've drawn my weapon once, I have been charged by a black bear and a cougar. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Again, jwp shot his grizz defensively and it worked very well.

Sorry I misunderstood.

I don't have any grizzly stories but a better question might be how many people have saved themselves with a firearm. I have from an angus bull that got me down and I was damn glad to have a gun with me .I call it my American Express card cause I don't leave home without it {EVER]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Different parts of the country have different threats.

I haven't killed an animal in self defense unless you count the last badger that came after me. I have been saved by both a handgun and rifle in situations that weren't going to have a happy ending.

I`ve never hunted Idaho but have hunted black and brown bear in Alaska and after seeing how big they can be I felt it was a good idea to carry a sidearm the entire time I spent hunting. I`am no expert when it comes to Alaska but I once sat in a tree stand overlooking a salmon stream and watched a big mama brown catch a fish for her cubs and when she crushed the salmon in her mouth the sound echoed over the water to my ears which proceeded to send chills up my neck thinking thats the sound I would make if it was me she had in her mouth....

But James, she'd probably spit you back out.

Kim, Your probably right....I`ve had that happen a few times before....

Some good responses. I enjoy hearing stories. I do carry my sbh with me, but never had to use it thus far. I have been doing some wolf hunting though and think my side arm would be my model 94 30-30 because i am the fastest with it.

I'm kind of like Wapitirod and have had only one self defense situation and that was with a badger and I ended up ended that attack with the 12ga I had on me, which I was lucky to get to after picking of my caller. But when I hear people talk about bear attacks this one comes to mind.
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/26/us/grizzly-bear-killed-after-biting-warden-in-montana-forest.html

I actuall worry more about blackies, we often understimate them and they are in general less likely to attack. The thing is when a black bear attacks it's for real and it is more likely to kill you and eat you. A grizz will take you down until it feels you are no longer a threat but a blackie will just start eating you while your alive if you try playing dead. There have been more black bears gone rogue and turned into true man eaters than grizzlies.

I have had to kill a hog in self defense. Charles Gatlin the gunsmith stopped a charging bear with my .450 about 6' from settling his hash. reflex264

I too have been charged by hogs.

That's why they call them the poor mans grizzly, unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it we don't have much in the way of hogs here. There is one ranch where I got my 750 pound feral and they have Russians and there are a couple places they are starting to take root but they are on ranches and you won't find many people in this state that will let you hunt their land anymore.

Between the bear and cat the cat bothered me the most, it thought about what it was doing and layed in ambush waiting for me.

I have lots of friends who have bagged wolves and they say that is a thrill. At times, the wolves come in on your calling and you become the hunted. Friends say at that point a scoped rifle is useless.

I can imagine a cat would be creepy. He was probably wondering how you were going to taste. reflex264

yeah I've been close to a few of them now and all you have to do is think about a house cat. If you've ever taken the time to watch a house cat stalk and kill a bird or small animal it's creepy when you realize your the little animal.

Evil creatures!

It is definitely a comfort thing having a sidearm while out in the woods. I don't carry often time while shed hunting and such when here in MN despite the blackies and wolves (and occasional coagar),

But; I am moving to NW Wyoming in a couple of weeks, and I guarantee I will have my blackhawk with me while exploring the woods, along with bear spray.

Kind of like concealed carry... you hope that you will never have to use it, but it is at the ready if that situation is forced upon you

Lucky dog you!

Hey thanks! haha. Looking forward to it! will be out there till about mid October for work. hope to see all kinds of critters, just none of the toothy kind too close

I hear ya there!

I'm still trying to get my wife to move to that area. Thought she would be able to transfer with her company at one point but it fell through.

Defense of Life or Property (DLP) griz kills happen quite often here in Alaska. Not all are big headline news though. In fact most of them aren't unless it involves a mauling. Also, if a guy kills a DLP griz he's supposed to report it. I can tell you that doesn't always happen. They get killed and left. Also, some of these DLP bears are killed during open season when a guy has a tag in his pocket. Sept 1 to June 31 in most areas. Longer up in the Brooks. Also, some areas don't require a separate griz tag so they get killed and hung on the wall with a good story.

It doesn't surprise me that blackies are the problem in the lower 48. There's more of them and they like people food, dog food, garbage and whatever else. Throw in the tourist that go to Glacier or Yellowstone that want to feed the "cute fuzzy bear" and there you go. I'm from western MT and remember the stories of the tourists in Glacier.

I have seen lots of griz in the woods in my 22 years here in Interior Alaska. Never have had a DLP encounter. I've come close. I did kill one with a rifle one moose season at dusk. The bear was sniffing where we had been sitting earlier and then sniffed and followed our scent trail towards our tent. I was in the rocks above our camp and shot the griz 165yds out. If I hadn't seen and shot him, he'd of been in our camp. I'd have shot him as a DLP bear but in that area no griz tag is required so it never would have been reported as such. If I'd have been in my tent/sleeping I'd have shot him with the 45 Colt Redhawk I always pack. It also goes in my sleeping bag with me.

DLP griz in Alaska happens more than you'd think.

Glad to hear from someone who lives and enjoys Alaska.

Here's a couple close calls that ended up with a dead bear. 44mag a 454 casull in Ruger Alaskan.

http://doubletoughoutdoors.com/the-longest-minute/

http://www.adn.com/2009/08/13/897940/twig-snap-alerts-dog-walker-to.html

45 Auto "spray and pray" ended up with a dead bear in Denali National Park. I'd say it was the Pray part the got the job done :D!

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/201...nd-preserve5943

We don't have many bears in my part of Arkansas; and while I hoot and holler for my Razorbacks on TV, I view pigs as a vermon to be eradicated.

Several years ago I was bow hunting near Mt Magazine district, just as typical 40 minute hike in the dark over a few ridges. I had a pack on, bow/light in one hand, and my Gee'peer (GPS) in the other. Just another day in hillbilly paradise. Then something jumped up in front of me, I was startled; once I realived it was a pig I gave it a few shouts to run it off. Which it did.

As I regained my composure and questioned the smell coming from my shorts I heard the piglets behind me... I was now between a scarred sow and her piglets. Exactly 0.0034 seconds later I hear her coming to pay me a second visit.

Real quick fast I tossed my gear, and found a very comfy Eastern Red Cedar to crawl in. I watched as her and her friend made a wallow out of my bow running around the bottom of the tree.

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to call my dad whilst in the tree. He made some remark about " its 6:30 AM I bet your hanging in a tree" I followed that with "you don't know how right you are" and " for college graduation I want a powerful handgun I can pack well"

After that I got a Ruger sp101 in 357 and carried it religiously while bow hunting. until it was stolen ..grumble grumble..

back about 10 years or so a fellow here in Me. was attacked by a black bear. bear wasnt sick, wounded or with cubs. he had a 20ga ruger red label and six rounds of bird shot to defend himself. ill bet that was some exciting for a moment or two. as for cats; i was giving an IV to a five lb feral house cat. not bad when he was sick, around day 3 i ended up leaking blood like i had wrestled a chainsaw. i got to thinking if that had been a wild cat and add 40-45 lbs... of course we dont have big cats here in ME. or wolves, if&w says we might have wolves passing through. guess their from Canada going to the casino in N.H. i always carry a couple of slugs when im bird hunting and have forever. never know when something will need killing.