Dirk

[Northern Celt]

"Also be aware that if a black bear does attack, it is because he sees you as food, and is far more likely to be pressed home to a finish. There are several attacks annually in which black bears stalk, attack, kill and devour people. To black bear we are just another source of protein."

Well said.....you sound like you have experience in bear country

[bear]

Never mess with a Bear.

Just put down the food and walk away quietly. Leave the beer, too.

[Raphael]

Yo

Kidding aside, yes making noise so that you don't st If I am going to be camping in a kilt and carrying a big knife, it might as well be a dirk.

Why not a Katana for a kilted Samurai?

[Doc Hudson]

"

Well said.....you sound like you have experience in bear country

Not as much as I'd like. But, over the last 30 years, I've studied everything I could get my hands on that pertains to bear.

One of my life goals is an Alaskan Bear Hunt. It is still about $20,000.00 away.

[BenTheScott]

I still don't think I'd feel that comfortable going up against any bear with nothing but a 13" blade. I might last a couple of seconds, but I would imagine a cut with a small blade like that is more likely to piss the animal off and make him or her even more ferrocious, whereas the pepper spray, if aimed correctly is more likely to convey the correct message.

And y'all are right about the black bears. That's mostly what we've got here in Maine anyway.

[Doc Hudson]

BEn,

I wouldn't feel "comfortable" tackling a bear with a knife either. Large toothy critters are what firearms are for. However, I don't trust pepper-spray against animals as far as I trust a politician.

Lots better to have a large knife and the pepper-spray than the pepper-spray alone.

BTW, lots of bear have been dispatched with knives, some even for sport. According to local tales, General Wade Hampton, who owned a plantation in this area, loved to hunt bear. His prefered method was to trail them with hounds, then when they were brought to bay, he would provoke a charge and kill the bear with a bowie knife. General Hampton did always have a good man with a big bore rifle handy in case he didn't hit the right spot on first stab.

In any event, any weapon, no matter how inappropriate, is far more effective than bare hands.

[bubba]

Doc, Hampton was quite the risk taker. One of my kin served under him in the War.

[Casey]

I have spent a lot of time in the Canadian bush. As a result I have had many contacts with bears. They are big. They can be mean. And, in parks particularly, they quickly lose their fear of humans.

Be alert! Give em lots of room and everyone will be happy.

On the lighter side. If you are in wilds of Stanley Park. I would recommend beer rather than pepper spray.

Casey

[Rufus]

I spent two summers in Anchorage, Alaska a few years ago. At the end of my second summer, I went to Denali Nat'l Park with some of my friends to go camping.

One night, a couple of the guys took off to see if they could spot some bears. I decided to stay at camp with my friend Scott, who had sprained his ankle.

That night, as I was wondering around, I came moseying (yes, like Philbo) around the front of the bus, I wandered between a Momma black bear and her cubs that were on the other side of the road. I hadn't seen either of them, until I was right there. I stood up as tall as I could, put my arms in the air, talked as deep as I could, and slowly walked backwards. Honestly, Momma didn't even look at me much, but boy was I freaked out! Visions of Rufus snacks danced in my head.

When the guys that had gone out to find bears came back to camp, they were rather disheartened, because all they had found were a few tracks. Rather ironic, I think, that the two campers who really didn't care to see bears where the only ones that did! That's my bear experience.

[Alaskan Celt]