Moderator: HAZ - Moderators
Good general advice is to keep weapon and ammo secured and separated and out of your control. Except when neededRead it before a trip, pack it, or leave one in your vehicle, so you know what to expect as you approach each state line. Clear writing gives you the basics for every state in one handy guide. Plus, each state is rated for its relative freedom, based on its gun laws, from zero to 100. See where your state ranks.
Sure, if you run into a disgruntled hippy. Unfortunately for you, a Glacier NP bear will laugh at your small caliber firearm over dinner (you are of course the main dish!)Jim_H wrote: From what I have read, I should have no issues if I carry a gun over spray.
Bear spray just makes them angry. I was told to apply Buffalo Wing sauce to my body - that way they will eat me quicker and I shouldn't suffer as much.big_load wrote:Don't forget the bear spray.
Is a .45 small? Golly gee, I thought that was a good size.nonot wrote:Sure, if you run into a disgruntled hippy. Unfortunately for you, a Glacier NP bear will laugh at your small caliber firearm over dinner (you are of course the main dish!)Jim_H wrote: From what I have read, I should have no issues if I carry a gun over spray.
That wouldn't surprise me, from a statistical point of view.Jim_H wrote:Alces is the more dangerous animal in the park, according to the NPS.
The change recently took effect.azbackpackr wrote:I had always thought you are not allowed to carry guns at all in NPs, but maybe they changed that law in the past couple years?
Bears have thick skulls and dense bones. Even a .45 bullet can bounce off the skull or deflect off a bone and miss the vital organs. A few well-placed shots should do the trick. Don't just shoot for the center of mass. I know this is easier said than done when the adrenaline starts pumping. Spend some practice time on the range if you are rusty. Penetrate through the shoulder to the heart. Know exactly where the heart is located on a bear. But Lizbeth is correct - a bear can keep motoring even after you have hit the motor. Some of the charges can be bluffs - the trick is knowing which are bluffs and which are real.Jim_H wrote:Is a .45 small? Golly gee, I thought that was a good size.
I have heard this, but I tend to think they are including vehicle accidents. I agree a Moose approaching or during the Rut is unpredictable and Dangerous. Red Velvet is not your friend. But early in the season, from my limited experience they are fairly docile. Don't surprise them, don't mask your scent, don't dab Cow Urine behind your ears.Jim_H wrote:Funny how people only think of Ursa, since Alces is the more dangerous animal in the park, according to the NPS.
The trick is to wear flannel clothing and recite the Molson "Rant". They will hug you and do that "passive-aggressive" apologizing thing that they do with Americans. Please don't shoot them. Just smile and ask them which Province of Canuckistan they are from. Works almost every time. :A1:Jim_H wrote:You know, those illegal Canadian Coyotes can be a real rough bunch.
OOPS Sorry I think I was supposed to say "Flannel / Flanelle" to keep the Quebecoise happy. That's one of the problems with having a couple of official languages.Jim_H wrote:Flannel, you say.
.45 might be suitable for the smaller bears here in AZ, but it is very much underpowered for what you'll find in Glacier =) Since I'm not to keen on the bigger calibers myself, I'd just go right to a 500 S&W and be sure. Of course, a 45 is still better than a stick and angry words... That said, I only carry a .40 since that's just what I have. The abovementioned 500 S&W would certainly be an item I'd look into before hiking grizz-land, or perhaps a pistol-gripped Mossberg 500 with slugs (MUCH cheaper option.)Jim_H wrote:Is a .45 small? Golly gee, I thought that was a good size.nonot wrote:Sure, if you run into a disgruntled hippy. Unfortunately for you, a Glacier NP bear will laugh at your small caliber firearm over dinner (you are of course the main dish!)Jim_H wrote: From what I have read, I should have no issues if I carry a gun over spray.
Funny how people only think of Ursa, since Alces is the more dangerous animal in the park, according to the NPS.