Bear Control

[my spoiled chickens]

My friend recently had a bear around her house and she only lives 9 minutes away from me.I like going for trail rides in my woods but our neighbor got his property logged not too long ago so that probably scared them away,but I want to be sure. Should I get bear repellent or a pepperball gun or should I just put some hunting tips on my arrows? I only have a Recurve bow so it may not peirce the skin and I don't want it just getting angry.Does anyone know the best way to defend yourself against a bear? Better safe than sorry I figure.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

@MamaPoult I know you have grizzly's up in Alaska

 

[MamaPoult]

@MamaPoult I know you have grizzly's up in Alaska

Yes we do! To be fully honest a 12 guage shot gun or a large revolver. Or something that'll take a bear. If a bears charging you you might not have time to raise a bow. And pepper spray is not very great either! I know it may seem harsh but it is the best option.

 

[MountainWoman73]

We have bears around regularly. We try to keep our trash and animal feed locked up, don't leave food in the car, keep hummingbird feeders out of reach. Basic common sense stuff. They don't like loud noises, so banging pots and pans together or a barking dog can scare them off and discourage them from coming back. I play the radio in my chicken coop at night during warm months. As longs as we're good neighbors to them, they've been good neighbors to us.

**Edit: we have black bears, not grizzlies. Totally different animal for sure.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

We have bears around regularly. We try to keep our trash and animal feed locked up, don't leave food in the car, keep hummingbird feeders out of reach. Basic common sense stuff. They don't like loud noises, so banging pots and pans together or a barking dog can scare them off and discourage them from coming back. I play the radio in my chicken coop at night during warm months. As longs as we're good neighbors to them, they've been good neighbors to us.

**Edit: we have black bears, not grizzlies. Totally different animal for sure.

We are dealing with a black bear.

 

[MamaPoult]

We are dealing with a black bear.

Blackies are know to appear chill I've heard then go crazy and charge you.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Yes we do! To be fully honest a 12 guage shot gun or a large revolver. Or something that'll take a bear. If a bears charging you you might not have time to raise a bow. And pepper spray is not very great either! I know it may seem harsh but it is the best option.

Nothing is too harsh for safety. To be honest I don't know whether my bow would be able to do the job. But I don't want a gunshot to spook my horse while I'm on her. Not one to turn down a bearskin anyway if we do have to kill it.

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Blackies are know to appear chill I've heard then go crazy and charge you.

We VERY recently got a TON of black bear sightings and attacks.Most of the attack victims were defending their dogs. I might bring an "Atlatl" on the trail with me though

 

[Debbie292d]

We recently had bear visiting again.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/debbies-silkies.1612185/post-27799378

We keep all the wild bird feeders only with sunflower seeds to keep junk birds away, but that's bears' favorite, so after they destroyed several, we string the feeders up by pulleys in the tree. The very tree these cubs climbed has one.

 

[MountainWoman73]

We are dealing with a black bear.

In that case, unless the individual bear in question has shown lack of fear/aggression towards people, I would not be at all worried about meeting it on a trail ride. Just be prepared to give it lots of space, back away slowly, and be respectful, and black bears will leave you alone.

I met a mom with cubs in the yard by accident once, and I just froze, watched her respectfully for a few minutes, and then when she noticed me I backed away slowly and went back to the house. They're definitely not to be messed with, but black bears are not looking to pick a fight with humans if they can help it.