Wasn't on that mountain, won't pretend to know what did or didn't happen.

But reading here - I sure hope that those gentlemen didn't employ the spray first with the hopes of avoiding the pistol. Seems like if I thought I'd need the spray, I probably needed the pistol. Having a choice would seem to complicate things. I'd rather swing big and KNOW I was using the strongest deterrent available at the time that I had than 1/2 way and hope it was enough. I hope that wasn't the case that they worried about backlash and tried the spray first because of fear of prosecution or harassment from Treadwells later.


Now before someone gets wound up - spent very little to no time in Griz country. BUT when I was 14 I did get charged by a wounded black bear and shot him at a distance of about 20 inches. Measured and witnessed by 3 other people. I've been in a "high excitement" situation with something that weighed more than I did and could eat me. I'm not saying 1:1 comparison or that I'd do the same now. Just saying - my perspective.

Me