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Gentlemen,

Forget about developed tolerance, wind, whatever, and concentrate on individual encounters. LOOK at the study I refrenced and the unequivocal reality a charging Grizzly presents. Unless you've got a 50 cal Bearspray is without question your best option, period. However much you want to speculate the historical record and reason are what they are.

Just an FYI Grizzlies and Blackies are congreagting in the GYE in odd fashion. We have a sow, 2 cubs, AND a blcak bear boar on and off the compound here. Big boar Grizzly less than a mile away recently too. That poor Pine Cone crop is really starting to mainfest itself.

Doublecabin wrote:Just an FYI Grizzlies and Blackies are congreagting in the GYE in odd fashion. We have a sow, 2 cubs, AND a blcak bear boar on and off the compound here. Big boar Grizzly less than a mile away recently too. That poor Pine Cone crop is really starting to mainfest itself.

I know the tourist areas were crawling with bears this summer, even in June before the pine cone crop issue. And of course we had the unusual campground attack. What's the [sensible] local speculation about what's going on?

Global warming.

Reality TV.

The pending return of pnp (or something like it). Its got the whole universe in upheaval.

Arthur,

We've been using airhorns, rocks, lungs, and beanbag shells. Been leaving them alone when we can, doing everything not to get them trapped. We have lots of goosberries, clover, mushrooms, etc.; hoping they get their fill and move on.

thanks for the advice everyone - of course, i've been working on the helena nf all month without carrying bear spray, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea - i'm definitely gonna bring it with me if/when i work in the bob marshall next year - hey, does anybody know anything about portable electric fences for a backcountry camp? or is it better to just use stock paniers / bear canisters / etc. - we're potentially gonna have 4-5 people at a backcountry camp for 10 days at a time, so food storage will be critical... we will have horse support

I forgot to answer Arthur's question. I think [guess] logically what's going on is: 1) An over abundance of bears. They're being spotted well out onto flatter lands, one Grizzly was shot in Crowheart recently, some incredible pics posted from Montana a year or so ago. The Grizzly was a plains animal, but that was a different world. "Rewilding" would be cool if we ever did reinvent civilization. 2) We saw all those blackies during the day because the Grizzlies had forced them into being diaurnal. I think that may have been happening in lower reaches of the NE Tetons for several years now.

On the electric fence I think I posted a pic of ours we use for horses. Sure beats hobbles. As for keeping grizzlies out I wonder if the shock would NOT necessarily make a grizzly react backwards. They have thick hides, I just don't know.

Hell with the bear spary use the biggest damn gun you can carry and kill every one you see and try and pick an alpha wolf while you're at it. Just kiddin you know someone had to start some shit.

And just FWIW here's an article on using guns to defend your family from bears:

Warning: the article is written from the perspective of the reality-based community.

Hiked all summer in GTNP/Yellowstone. Some more remote backcountry areas, some heavily crowded dayhikes. Never carried bear spray or a gun. Did carry a big damn knife. Most important thing, IMHO, is to travel only during the day with at least one other person, preferably someone talkative, and pay attention to your surroundings. I don't recall ever wanting spray or a gun, despite having several grizzlies, moose, and one wolf turn and run. I did see several people with spray doing risky things (hiking alone at night, ignoring grizzly trail closures) because they felt "protected" by carrying spray.

You sound like you can handle yourself in the backcountry, I say just to whatever works best for you, but don't think there's any fail-safe. Grizzlies are all individuals and will all react in their own way.