Bear Spray Scenarios & Demonstration

Be aware that bears sometimes circle around you so don't put the spray away & search your surroundings for that bear until you are safely out of that area.

That's a very disciplined bear, very good in front of the camera.

I have spent over 40 years in bear country of Wyoming and Montana and some time in Alaska. One point I would make is this: If seconds count, you do not need to remove your spray from the holster, you can fire from the hip. Just practice. You don't want to be in a position where the two seconds it takes to get the can out of the holster means the difference between being able to spray the bear from your hip or having the bear on you.

This, from a respected study: "reviewed 83 close bear encounters involving 156 people. The conclusions were startling: In all of the incidents involving spray, there were only three injuries, and none of them fatal—a 98-percent success rate."

I've seen quite a few bear spray videos, and this is by far the best. Especially the caution at 7:56 about a bear not being able to hear you near fast-moving water.

I have spent a few decades in the Canadian bush, have an entire book shelf dedicated to bears, their behaviour and their documented attacks. I view myself as well informed. I always carry a heavy calibre rifle or slug gun in the bush but I also always carry bear spray. I found this video very informative.

We love this video! Clear, concise information, and no bullcrap like other youtubers trying to sell a brand or their personality with dramatic music and quick cut editing. Just the voice of knowledge and experience. Thank you!

Another key point-Everyone in your group needs their own bear spray!

If I get charged by a bear, I hope it has seen this video

Critique: The Bear Spray SHOULD be made with a PISTOL GRIP handle !!! This will both facilitate a quick draw, a better grip and a more positive hold on the weapon ! But to each his own. The can I carry has about 3 times what the displayed can has and was designed for riot control. The only difference between it and “bear spray” is the lack of ammonia, but the % of Oleoresin Capsicum is equal or higher and the volume is higher. TIP FOR USING ANY OC SPRAY: — #1. When you take your OC can out of your car or home ALWAYS hold it up side down and shake it vigorously for 5 to 8 seconds! The capsicum micro solids will tend to gather in the bottom. If you are like most people your can sits up right for weeks or months on a shelf or in your car. Giving a shake every time you go out with it mixes it good and will give you the MAXIMUM power of the chemicals. — #2. CHECK YOUR EXPIRATION DATE: I have seen people carrying cans that expired 8 years ago!! Usually the OC will still be OK, but the mechanical bits, the seals and the propellant, may be gone and useless! — #3 Check for crude build up in the nozzle and finally — #4 When you buy your spray buy at least 2 cans of inert practice spray (unless you are a veteran LEO) and PRACTICE!! The life you save may be your own.

"If you have to spray the bear while you're being attacked" You know what? I think I'll just stay the f**k out of Montana.

Not mentioned in this video is you can also use "bear spray" on other aggressive animals that mean you harm such as cougars and mountain lions. Bear spray can lose it's effectiveness (distance) depending on wind speed and direction. I totally agree with practice to the point where it becomes "muscle memory" and you react without thinking about it. For most people, a charging wild animal sets you in "fight or flight" mode instantly, but some people will freeze. This is where practice really pays off. I've had two bear enconters in Alaska and trust me when I say, you never know until it happens. One encounter was in the Aleutian Islands at a distance of ~50 yards along a river in an open space, giving us and the bear plenty of time to react. Once the bear got our scent, it turned and fled in the opposite direction, which was lucky for us and the bear. The other was on a remote river in Bristol Bay. This encounter was much closer in time and space with a bear that was full of salmon and just curious about my presence in "HIS" territory. It could have easily attacked me and I would not be here to tell the tale given the remoteness of the encounter. In summary, exercise situational awareness and know what to do and not do at all times and in all places. My wife and I witnessed the entire Las Vegas shooting, so now we must all be prepared for that too. You'd be suprised how the innate survival instinct can go dormate in "modern" humans until you need it the most.

It’s very important if you are not familiar with using the bear spray to practice spraying. I used pepper spray in law enforcement. You should know how much pressure it takes to use the spray. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to discover how to get it to work.

This is by far the best bear spray video we've ever seen. Thank you SO much for posting this!

Same applies for Mama Moose with young or young Bulls with attitude. They will charge right in, up close, stamping front hoofs. Always carried Bear Spray on my mountain bike in a water bottle holder. Saved me or other hikers more than once! Alaskan for over 6 decades-LJH

So many good tips here, and especially the bit about spraying even if you aren't sure if the bear is bluff-charging or actually charging. It trains a bear to avoid charging humans in the future, and prevents conflicts that could result in serious injury to a person or a bear. Also, people need to practice! Both with their firearms and their bear spray; simply having those tools isn't enough if you aren't comfortable with them. There are inexpensive and even free classes for practicing drawing your firearm or spray safely, how to use them at 15, 30, and 60 foot ranges with a "pressure" timer set at 2.5 seconds, and even moving targets. It is that muscle memory that will give you confidence in a potentially life-threatening situation, and can save the lives of both people and bears.

Thanks for this video! Watched this before a backpacking trip in Banff, Alberta last week. A huge grizzly followed my girlfriend and me back down a trail for about 70 feet after we startled it. We had come around a bend and it was only 30ft away. It got to about 25 feet away before I yelled as loud as I could and scared it off. I was about to use my spray and was remembering everything you'd said. Had it out quick too because you said to practice it beforehand. I'm glad for your advice even if it was just a close call! All the best EDIT: There is a lot of potentially harmful confusion in these comments; certain people are saying you should spray a bear if it gets within 30ft, regardless of whether it is charging or acting aggressively. This is terrible, dangerous advice that can get someone killed. You should not spray a grizzly bear preemptively for non aggressive behaviour in its own territory. The above video is referring to CHARGING bears. That's it. Please Google what to do in both grizzly and black bear encounters before going into the bear country. This video is specifically catered towards the mechanics of using bear spray once the decision to spray has been made. This decision is far more situationally dependant than some people seem to think. Please do additional research if this is your first video about bear encounters!

Thanks for video, I will be on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route starting July. I met a wildlife biologist that was charged by a Grizzly in MT and had to use his spray. the bear stopped just 10 feet from him on the second charge. First time was a "bluff charge" and huffing, then one of the three people moved a little and the bear got irritated enough to charge again. The second charge at full speed, so he laid a thick cloud and the bear took off.

I feel a bit more confident about taking a deeper dive into nature because of this video! I REALLY want to camp and hike up to those beautiful waterfalls and lakes I see on Facebook. Thanks so much guys! This was a very helpful and informative production.

Thank you for this lesson. Who would think you need to practice getting to your spray? Not me. You opened my eyes.