Bear Spray VS Bear Banger

[minks]

well yeah those are legitimate products I was pondering last nite at the outdoor store.

We have been seasoned here to take all kinds of precautions when hiking in the back woods. One of the key issues is to beware of the bears, yes Minks does not want to become bear bait. There is always a handful of bear attacks yearly around here so hence all the warnings and write ups.

I am heading out to the toolies/woods/wilderness/forest this weekend, and for the first time in my life I felt the need to take along protection.

So we have 2 choices:

#1 is Bear Spray, it's capsicum spray, or commonly known as pepper spray, yes ok I am all for it, I hear it's a great thing to have.

So we go off and ask the guy behind the counter all about it, well mam, it's good for about 5 meters... Oh meaning if the bear is within 5 meters of me I can spray him, yes mam, that is correct, make sure you get his eyes... ok yes got ya, I can't imagine it being effective if I merely shot pepper spray at his lethally massive swinging paw. I understand this stuff has a shelf life yes? Yes mam 3 years, see expiry date below. Got ya thanks, good to know I sure hope I remember that in 2010 when I head out again.

#2 Bear Banger, what is this I have seen them, how do they work? Well mam, it's a spring loaded pen like device and you attach the cartridge on the end and you shoot it towards the bear. Ok do I hit the bear and paralyze him with it, um no mam they make a loud firecracker bang and will scare the bear away, some come with a loud whistle noise, some come with a bright flashing light of either red, green, blue or yellow. Does the bear have a preference, no mam they will be afraid and run away. Ok thanks I didn't want it to stick around and think this was a free fireworks show while I stand there **&^*%$^%)_ my pants. Mam the banger can shoot up to about 20 meters away, really you don't say, yes mam that is correct.

Well now I am full of knowledge and not sure which to choose so I ask the guy straight out what he thinks because the prices are the same pretty much....



Which do you think is better sir, well mam, the spray is capsicum, pepper, pepper is a food, if you miss the bear, or you get any on you the bear is going to think you are food, you know how much bears like food, yes ok you are right not to mention the fact I dunno how much of a panic mode I am going to be in at 5 meters face to face with a bear, will I be able to concentrate on getting spray in his eyeballs, well mam who knows, but mam, the spray only lasts about 8 seconds, WHAT!!! Yes mam after 8 seconds you better hope you got smokey the bear square in the eyes... no shock sherlock.....

Ok and the bangers, I think I am going with the bangers, ok mam, buy extras mam you will want to shoot a practice one, ok sure if you say so, oh and mam, yes.... Make sure the banger lands between you and the bear, because if it lands behind him he is likely to run straight ahead, and well mam, you will be in his pathway then.

OMG what have I got myself into....

The man behind the counter laughs at us as we walk away with our bear scare device and likely is thinking to his self, it will be a freaking miracle if those girls survive out there if they encounter a bear.

[chonsigirl]

I have heard of the bangers, and they are supposed to be pretty effective in chasing the bears away. A non-lethal way to scare off Yogi.........

[minks]

chonsigirl;648572 wrote: I have heard of the bangers, and they are supposed to be pretty effective in chasing the bears away. A non-lethal way to scare off Yogi.........


I certainly hope so, not that Im planning an encounter eeeek

[Chookie]

Not to worry, the real question is



























who is the slowest runner?