T; Thanks for the very kind reply again sir, you're consistently patient with this semi-old Canuck who reads and I realize also writes too much at times.
Your statement about shotguns being a "one size fits all" and work reasonably well most times makes sense to me for sure.
Because we're not trusted with sidearms in the back country in Canada, I've either used a lever rifle or pump shotgun for my personal meat packing or camping arm over the years. I started with a bit of a modified pump gun that I bought when I was maybe 13 or 14, so we go way, way back, then switched to a 94 and then went back to a 14" barreled pump gun which is at least a pound lighter than my old Lakefield Mossberg. We can run short barreled long arms up here - so far - as long as the overall length is 26.5" and it's not a semi-auto. If it's an auto loader it has to have an 18.5" barrel because....
I'll not even begin to attempt to explain the reasoning behind any of our firearm laws, suffice it to say T, the law makers either have armed guards and have never seen a bear other than on a screen most likely.
Should you or anyone be so inclined for some decidedly not "light reading" I've got a trio of books that were written by a chap who moved to Bella Coola country from the US and became BC's bear attack expert. Now for awhile he taught one of the first if not the very first bear course which WorkSafeBC required for certain jobs or job areas.
So for sure he had experience, but was also selling his course and all that - still T - it's interesting reading for anyone who lives, works and recreates in bear country as we both do.
For sure as I've noted before when I link books, I'm not Mr. Bezos' biggest fan, so provide Abebooks links. Even here in the BC sticks I've had really good service and shipping times from them.
Thanks again for the pleasant exchange, I usually learn something from you and I appreciate that.
Since our last exchange I've also been sent yet another possible location to try for perch at a lake that isn't intentionally being winter killed, so it's an embarrassment of riches truly.
