Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bears or horses??

Question for those experienced in both bear country and horses-
Bryce Towsley's experience brought to mind a question that I have pondered for years-In a horseback hunt in bear country, which is most likely to seriously injure a hunter- A horse or a bear?
I say the horse has hurt more people by far.

Royce

Horse big time!

Mark D

Yup - bear country or no, horseback hunting can be hazardous to your health!

Maybe so, but try saddling a bear to hunt horses.
t <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Especially when one tows his horse behind a rubber raft crossing the Salmon river and the horse decides to climb into the raft with her owner. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

I don't know if I'd fault the horse so much as the idea, but it sounds like real western fun to me. I don't suppose you have a video of that, do you? :-)
t

Sure sounds like fun. I bet the horse has injured a lot more folks than bears. Horese are a darn dumb aninmal compared to other animals on the planet.
I was in Canada on a hunt one time, an elk had been wounded ( not by anyone in our party), adn had crossed over onto a govt horse ranch where hunting was not permitted. We were permitted to ride across it though. A Grizzley had finally killed the elk and was on the carcass for a few days. Since it had left, the guide said we could ride up to the carcass to take a look.

Once the guide ask me to get off and put my boot in the bear track to get the size of the bear. I was very skeptical, but the guide said the horse would let me know if the bear was around. The horse was already dancing around snorting. Trying to get back on, that damn horse almost killed me in the process and the bear was no where around

The problem with hunting and horses lies in the inherent danger created when people get on some of the useless, poorly broke nags that they seem to think make good horses. Rodeos have no place on hunting trips, better to spend time in the off season, under more controlled conditions, ensuring that the horse is a steady mount. I've had only one problem horseback hunting and the horse that created it was sold ASAP, some have the disposition for this type of work and some don't. If one only uses good, experienced animals the possibility of danger is pretty low. There's nothing like backcountry hunting on horseback. To my way of thinking, it is the only way to travel the trails.

I couldn't agree with you more Ranger 1. Getting those animals experienced though acan be a handful though

I have written at least once or twice in articles that the only two truly dangerous large mammals a hunter might encounter in North America are the grizzly bear and the saddle horse, and the horse is far more likely to be aggressive.

Have been on a bunch of horses over the years and don't totally trust even the best of them. A few years ago one of the best horseback outfitters I've ever known was killed by his own personal favorite, when just starting out on the last summer pack trip of the season. One of that guy's favroite lines about horses: "They'll kill you and never shed a tear."

John Barsness

Horses and bears have a few things in common. The main thing is there are many people who ought not be around either one of them.

I happen to ride only mules. There is an old addage that horses will kill you by accident where as mule will do it on purpose. Both will hurt you a lot though if one is not careful

Almost all of my scariest outdoor experiences have involved horses. I still own them, and love them, in spite of the danger they pose. My best horse (a Quarter Horse) is as close to "bomb-proof as a hunting horse can be - but now, I usually just crank the keys on my Polaris ATV when I want to cover some serious ground. It generally gets me where I want to go - with less danger. But it's still very dangerous from time to time.The only thing they have in common - is the same risk-taking dummy sitting on the backs of both of them.

Bears rank way down, behind horses and ATV's, when it comes to the chance they'll kill or cripple you.

Considering how many inexperienced riders get on horses and head into rough country it is surprising more people aren't hurt. Goes for experienced riders as well.
Went on a elk hunt with Muleskinner a few years ago and saw first hand what a rodeo with a string of pack animals looks like. Thought I was going to have to wade into that mayhem and save Muleskinner but he restored order though he had to pick himself up to do it.

Considering how many inexperienced riders get on horses and head into rough country it is surprising more people aren't hurt. Goes for experienced riders as well.
Went on a elk hunt with Muleskinner a few years ago and saw first hand what a rodeo with a string of pack animals looks like. Thought I was going to have to wade into that mayhem and save Muleskinner but he restored order though he had to pick himself up to do it.

Having made a living aboard a horse in the past I've spent a fair amount of time on them (18 hours a day in the saddle). They are dangerous, but become much more so with an idiot on top of them. Worse yet with an idiot that knows enough to be dangerous.

Chuck

All so true, but if it wasn't for bears and horses I'd have almost no stories to tell and very few good photos. Life would be about exciting as sitting in a blind waiting for a deer to step out into a field. I'll take the bears and horses any day.

Accidents can happen to even the most experienced, but, they can usually be avoided by not doing the things that we know that we shouldn't. I look for a docile horse that has good heart, some like a horse with lots of go and stamina. Regardless, no animal can be trusted 100% of the time, so vigilance is paramount and patience is key. I guess my point is that most accidents can be avoided by proper preparation and choice of mounts. In the end, traveling by horseback is still a dangerous activity, just much less so for those well prepared.

A horse--but that's because most folks haven't tried to saddle a bear...

I have tried to rope a bear...but we all escaped unscathed... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Casey

I've never been bear hunting, but I sit here reading this with a broken hip and some permanent disability in my right leg courtesy of a horse. I even let him live, which I thought was very considerate, seeing as I was bleeding to death waiting on the dang helicopter.