What's the best way to do away with a bear if it attacks you when you don't have a big rifle along?

Question

I am going to go deer hunting up north this November in a big woods that always has tons of bear tracks in it. I asked my pa what I should do if one of those bears gets hungry and starts drooling on my boots while I'm hunting. He says that a bear's heart beats so slow that it doesn't pay to shoot it in the heart and that he heard that a bullet from a .22 won't make it through a bear's skull. I don't think that I'll have any problems with a bear as I'll be with other people, but now I'm curious as to what to do in such a situation.

I deer hunt with a Savage 30-30 ... pretty small and old, but it gets the job done, & I would never trade it in for anything! The clip can carry 3 bullets; so, I can have 4 bullets in there at a time. One for each kneecap on the bear, right?

I haven't been bear hunting which is why I have no idea about this stuff, and I'm sure that bear hunters use much bigger rifles, but what does one do while carrying only a small rifle during a bear attack?

Answer 1

If you're entering bear territory, you should make loud, consistent noises the entire time as you're walking around, so as not to startle them. This gives bears a chance to move away from the noise source. When bears are startled, that's when they're most aggressive and deadly.

If you DO come across a bear standing on his hind legs - that's when he's in attack mode - I've heard that you should crap a big load in your pants. Seriously. It supposedly drives them away. You DON'T want to attack with a small gun - it will only piss the bear off more.

Answer 2

your 30-30 deer rifle is also a good black bear gun.
shoot a bear in the same place you shoot deer, in the heart or head a 30-30 will do the job just fine. as for the 44 mag pistol its pretty marginal. here's the ballistics. 30-30 150 or 170 grain =more than 1600 ft. lbs. energy .44 mag pistol 7 1/5 in barrel 240 grain bullet = 971 ft lbs energy. use the same bullets for black bear as you do for deer. they probably wont exit as they are made to expand & dump all their energy inside the animal so you wont ruin the hide with a big exit wound.
if your deer hunting in brown bear country a 338 would be a more appropriate deer rifle or at a minimum a 30-06 with controled expansion bullets, 180 gr. in the chamber for deer, 220 gr. in the magazine for back up. dont take a 30-30 into brown bear country they dont have enough penetration for grizzly.

Answer 3

* confident a Gun is the Worst concern to apply for Self-protection against a bear.* the excellent protection is bear Spray.* some Bears will cost you unprovoked.* evaluate that while they start, or initiate charging you, you only have 3 (3) seconds to react in the previous they are upon you.* that is why a Gun is impotent and ineffective to apply as a protection against them.* Bears are very unpredictable, and extra so while their youthful are nearby.* No a Gun won't keep you yet bear Spray will.* how many photos are you able to fire interior of three (3) seconds properly at a bear that is charging you at between 25 to 40 miles an hour.* Its extraordinarily hopeless.* bear Spray is the excellent Survival approach to place self belief in.* a useful Rifle, Shotgun, or Handgun may well be used as a back-up weapon and that's all.* bear Spray is the 1st Line of Self protection against Bears.*

Answer 4

remember that all wild animals (unless they are rabid or starving) will run away before they attack. but as every hunter should know, bear will attack if you get between them and their cubs, or between food/water. and just like all other animals, if you give it no other escape rout, it will attack.
now, for your question:
people use the .30/30 win for black bear withing 100 yards, whether you will believe this is another matter. if i ever hunt where i know that there is a possibility that i will encounter dangerous animals like Kodiak bear i will be hunting with a buddy that has a gun or by myself with a revolver. don't go for body shots, as bear can absorb bullets like nothing, but if you but two in its head, it will go down.
when I'm 21, i will be getting my concealed carry permit and a pistol, somewhere in the .38, .40, .357 or .45 ACP area. nothing smaller than a .38.
good luck hope you get the deer you want this year.

Answer 5

I wouldn't worry about it too much to be honest,I have seen black bears while hunting where I live in MI,they have always beat feet the opposite way,and although I have no expierence with the Grizzly or Kodiak,I would probably take a sidearm if i am hunting in the Grizzly area,but in black bear areas,no problem,if a sidearm is unavailable I would buy a bigger rifle I suppose.

Answer 6

Crap your pants???!!!!
First off carrying that bear spray is the best idea here. While carrying a second large caliber rifle is unpractical what about a handgun? Six shots from a a .44 mag into a 250 pound black bear's chest will witout a doubt drop it. If can't buy or access a heavy revolver than aim at his head with the 30-30. It will kill it. Black bear are not that big a .30 size round won't penetrate it's skull. But the bear spray is best cheapest most proven way to go.

Answer 7

I had no gun and saw some black bears in Tennessee. I had watched a show about a man (I can't recall his name) who studied bears. He said that sometims they get very juvinile and frisky. When the begin to menace you, he said to throw your arms over your head and yell at them.
So I tried this, I yelled jibberish like I was at some pentecostal sunday meeting. This confused the bear and gave us both a chance to think about a different situation..."I think I'll go over there, now." He also said (and it makes sense to me) never to lay on the ground. Bears are omnivores and do eat carrion. I won't sit still and die without giving the bear "what-for" !
I would honor the bear but if it came down between us and I had my .45 I would aim for the eye. The eyes are also good for other situations. Most battles will end with a gouged out eye.

Answer 8

The .30-30 has killed more Black bear and deer than any other caliber. Although it is not my first choice if I am in bear country and I find myself in a predicament with a bear and its all I have, I'll try for a head shot. With your Savage you get four tries (one round in the chamber and three in the magazine). And your Dad is right, bears can absorb a lot of lead so body shots may not drop him fast enough.

Lot's of hunters carry .44 Magnum revolvers as backup in bear country. The .44 Mag. is not better than a .30-30 carbine, so there you have it.

Good luck and happy hunting.

H

Answer 9

if you aren't using a " big" rifle, then you better have a "big" back-up revolver, like a .44 magnum. also, bear spray and know how to take the safety off it and use it in a hurry. especially, keep a good look out while field dressing your deer or better yet, have a friend with you to look out while you field dress your deer. in many bear areas, they will come running to the sound of your rifle because they have become conditioned to know the sound of a gun may mean an easy meal for them.

Answer 10

Id shoot it with the 30-30. If its a black bear, it will probly kill it it anyway, but a Grizzly would be a different story. The idea of making noise while hunting is retarded. How are you supposed to see der when you are scaring off bears? If you hit it in the head, it will more than likely kill it.

Answer 11

Get some of the Hornady leverevolution ammo for your 30-30, if you're a good shot with it, and can hit the bear in the eye (the bone tissue is thinnest in the ocular socket) this ammo will kill the bear with 1 shot.