Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska .357 good enough backup for POW bear hunt?

Aside from the caliber, I would bring a fairly-potent handgun backup based on my experience. Before my first of two Alaskan hunts, my experienced and knowledgeable guide told me that it was a waste. I brought one anyway, and was glad I did, especially when not hunting back at camp. It’s just not realistic to have your rifle in your hands every second when, for example, you’re at camp, including taking a piss at night, or setting up a tent or cooking or whatever. I had my handgun comfortably with me at all times, except for when hunting, which is not all of the time. Much more reliable and convenient to have near you at all times.



Phil: Didn't your need for the 9mm in that incident occur because you and your hunting party had their rifles not within reach (which is common and understandable at times)?

No, I don't carry a long gun when fishing and we run into bears on a daily basis. in forty years that was the only time I felt the need to kill one.

However I never carry a handgun while bear hunting

Thanks for the info Phil.

The odds of having to shoot a black bear in self defense are very low, as 99 out of a hundred will run from you. "Yeah, an old friend replied, "but then there's that one."

Many, many people have been chewed up and/or killed by black bears. I try to be armed at all times when in bear country. You will leave the long gun in camp when you walk a few yards out to whiz, but you'll wear a pistol.

In grizzly country if hunting alone I like to carry a handgun in case I get sprung on and separated from the long gun. Laying there wishing you could bleed out faster while a grizzly eats your intestines is not my idea of a happy ending.

A better plan than a "backup pistol" is for you and your armed partner to stay within close range at all times, and ready to protect the other. My Kodiak deer hunting partner and I always slept in separate tents, in case one got pounced on in the night. Not likely, but it has happened.

Old joke. Its always my first thought when somebody brings up a .357 though.

Old joke. Its always my first thought when somebody brings up a .357 though.

Phil had fishing clients and has posted that if he had known prior what was to transpire, he'd have had old ugly.

How do you piss with a handgun?

With one handy, unlike a rifle:

Option A-Belt holster: (A) Open the fly with the belt on; pee with holstered firearm in about 13" range of hand;

Option B with a different option.

I know you think you know a lot more than me, and you likely do, but it's a lot more easy to piss in BB country with a big handgun handy than a rifle, and you likely won't deny that if you're being honest.

Never can be sure. Easy to have a backup handy.

I am curious, do you live in Alaska?

No. Do you live in SW Alaska, which was about 1,000 miles from where you are?

You got me....there aren't many bears where I live, carry on .

I've been to POW 3 times and you should not need a sidearm. A bug net, rubber rain gear and 100% Deet will save you more.

Ok. Ease up ya overachiever.

Amazon has a special on senses of humor until January 5th. Buy one.

I have no idea of what sort of handgun it takes to win a pissing contest about bear protection!

lol,

+1

I've yet to come up with a suitable analogy for the prostate of an aging man in the shooting/hunting arena.

I have always found the " use it or loose it " philosophy true in both cases.

Haha! Two quips in a row, and still, truer words are seldom spoken!