Bears?? (Princeton, Poca: homes, to live in, legal)

[jeepejeep]

Originally Posted by GottaHerdOn

Bears are beautiful creatures.... we should leave them alone. I'm not saying to not protect yourself, but just because you see one doesn't mean OMG! Its coming for me! SHOOT IT!!! Leave them alone, and you'll be fine

MOST of the time you are totally correct. They will run away from you 99% of the time but I advise pepper spray or a firearm(if you know how to use it) for that one bear that doesn't want to run for whatever reason. I love bears and even have a bear tattoo but I don't want to be mauled or killed by one.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

MOST of the time you are totally correct. They will run away from you 99% of the time but I advise pepper spray or a firearm(if you know how to use it) for that one bear that doesn't want to run for whatever reason. I love bears and even have a bear tattoo but I don't want to be mauled or killed by one.

I have a feeling people are confusing black bears with brown bears. Black bears are not much more dangerous than a deer - that is, they will run away but if scared or cornered or protecting their young they may charge. Most aren't to much bigger than a large dog. Grizzly/Brown Bears are another situation. But their are no Grillzies in the east and only in very few locations in the west.

Bringing a firearm to protect yourself in the east is just totally amazingly stupid and uneccesary, as well as illegal. Pepper spray, well it may work but again most probably unneccesary. A huge pot to swing at the bear (black bear) will probably be just as effective.

My advice - when hiking make lots of noise so as not to startle a bear, if you see a bear (a BLACK bear) keep your distance, stand up to it, slowly back up, don't run. If it charges hold your ground and fight back if it makes contact (again we are talking about black bears, who tend to "fake" charge, don't do this with Grizzlies). When camping, store your food or hang it up, don't cook near your sleeping site.

Guys I have hiked and camped in black bear territory (The Smokies, which probably have more bears per square mile than anywhere in the east) and grizzly territory (Alaska - denali, Montana - Glacier and Yellowstone). Never have I felt threatened by bears and if you happen to see one from a distance you should feel honored to see these amazing creatures.

[jeepejeep]

Dd714 good advice except that bears have much more potential to do harm than a deer. Most black bears over a year old are way larger and stronger than any dog! How is it illegal to carry a gun in the east? I've lived my whole life in NY and ALWAYS carry a gun in the woods. Nothing illegal about it at all unless in a park that has posted rules against it. Nothing stupid about it either. You've never heard of 2 legged predators in the woods as well as 4 legged ones? People are attacked robbed and killed every year along the Appellation Trail. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

Dd714 good advice except that bears have much more potential to do harm than a deer. Most black bears over a year old are way larger and stronger than any dog! How is it illegal to carry a gun in the east? I've lived my whole life in NY and ALWAYS carry a gun in the woods. Nothing illegal about it at all unless in a park that has posted rules against it. Nothing stupid about it either. You've never heard of 2 legged predators in the woods as well as 4 legged ones? People are attacked robbed and killed every year along the Appellation Trail. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Hey man I am a 2nd ammendment proponent in the strongest sense and a gun owner myself, but I still don't think you need a gun in the woods unless you are hunting, with all repective licenses and seasonal allowances applied.

If you are truly backpacking in the backwoods the last thing you need is a 14 pound useless piece of iron humping on your back or hip. I know hikers that trim the plastic from there toothbrushes to save weight and spend hundreds on high tech down sleeping bags to save 2 pounds. No true hiker would ever consider bringing a handgun, due to the weight and the fact that you just don't need it. Animal attacks (and human attacks) are just too rare. I can only remember reading of one fatal black bear attack EVER in the east (incidently I did hear on the news of someone that was killed by a crazed deer just this week).

As far as the law goes you really need to check carefully. Handguns are illegal in most state parks and all national parks. Now the original poster said she was going to a national forest ground, which may or may not be illegal but I suspect it is a public recreational area of the national forest and, again, probably illegal. Needless to say, if you are carriying one in your jacket or in a pack, well that would be considered a concealed weapon and illegal just about everywhere without a permit. Rangers do patrol those parks, and they do have law enforcement privledges.

Now, I will make an exception. In parts of Alaska and northern Canada I would bring a high powered rifle with me (not a handgun - useless) if camping. Polar Bears and Grizzly bears ARE a threat. But not in the eastern U.S.

[g_massie]

I have a cabin near blue bend that connects with the mongahelia for my entire life and not once have I had a problem with bears.I see them though everytime I go so dont be surprised if you see one but minus cubs and mating season they stay away

[confusedTee]

I almost hit a baby bear last nite on rt. 60..sheww it looked like a dog at first..Waiting to see the mamma..she didn't show her herself..they get so confused on their areas..

[jeepejeep]

Originally Posted by Dd7I4

Hey man I am a 2nd ammendment proponent in the strongest sense and a gun owner myself, but I still don't think you need a gun in the woods unless you are hunting, with all repective licenses and seasonal allowances applied.

If you are truly backpacking in the backwoods the last thing you need is a 14 pound useless piece of iron humping on your back or hip. I know hikers that trim the plastic from there toothbrushes to save weight and spend hundreds on high tech down sleeping bags to save 2 pounds. No true hiker would ever consider bringing a handgun, due to the weight and the fact that you just don't need it. Animal attacks (and human attacks) are just too rare. I can only remember reading of one fatal black bear attack EVER in the east (incidently I did hear on the news of someone that was killed by a crazed deer just this week).

As far as the law goes you really need to check carefully. Handguns are illegal in most state parks and all national parks. Now the original poster said she was going to a national forest ground, which may or may not be illegal but I suspect it is a public recreational area of the national forest and, again, probably illegal. Needless to say, if you are carriying one in your jacket or in a pack, well that would be considered a concealed weapon and illegal just about everywhere without a permit. Rangers do patrol those parks, and they do have law enforcement privledges.

Now, I will make an exception. In parts of Alaska and northern Canada I would bring a high powered rifle with me (not a handgun - useless) if camping. Polar Bears and Grizzly bears ARE a threat. But not in the eastern U.S.

Yup, yup I agree with most of what you're saying there. Good post. But 14 lbs. for a gun?? My 30-06 deer rifle with scope and 5 rounds of ammo weighs just under 8 lbs.! Now if I was backpacking for any length of time this still would be too heavy, true but better than 14 lbs.! Lol! What are you packin' there Pilgrim!?

[David Kennedy]

An .800 caliber elephant gun came immediately to my mind...fired from a mono-pod.

Would do nice work on any bear...gut him...de-bone him and turn his hide inside out so it could be scraped and salted.

I don't think hollow-point or buckshot is available with that...or wanted...would spoil the meat.

[millersangel]

I'm a hiker and I never carry a gun. I have been chastised, warned and advised many times to do so. Not so much for bears but because most men think a woman alone in the woods will be attacked by someone. There is some validity to that.

I do feel edgy in the spring when the bears have cubs. So far, they've run from me.

What I wonder is if they will be much more agressive this year beause of the drought and lack of food. I have seen more wildlife including bears encroaching on popluated areas this year than any other. They're being forced out of the woods to look for food.

At the annual Bluefield Art Festival, a bear came to visit. No doubt, he smelled the food from the concessions stands. People chased him with cameras until he climbed over a fence and esaped.

So what do you think? When the bears come out of hibernation next spring wil they be so hungry anything will look like food?

I'm a day hiker so I don't carry food but backpackers who camp out might be more at risk for being attacked.

[David Kennedy]

I don't think the behavior pattern of bear will change in one season. They are scavengers and if a shortage of food suppy exists it will be because of the increased reduction to the deer population. Many were killed by an inhaled insect. Deer carcasses have been very plentiful this fall. Giving way to the thinking that a shortage will exist in the spring...and this is possibly a regional thing and has not swept completely over the state yet. I look for a short hibernation season with early Spring just like last year...no problems then...so no problems now. The drought means movement to more plentiful water sources...that should mean more sightings...

afterthought: If I were a woman and I hiked in West Virginia..I would carry a little .38 special snub-nose in a belt holster in the small of my back when I hiked alone.
I would practice often and be very familiar with its work. Permits are cheap and easy to get. I say this from personal experience in my family.
A great bonding experience with my Lady, was teaching her how to shoot a little automatic pistol. She was a natural.
I was so impressed at her ability to hit the target. She had been attacked in our home one evening when I was away.
A wonderful State Police friend suggested I teach her how to shoot. I am indebted to his memory as he was killed later in the line of duty.
Don't take a chance. It only takes one instance of violence to change an entire familys perspective on safety and living. The kooks are out there...Logan County last month?
This last comment will bring a plenora of advice...