And I suppose a panicked gun toting local ALWAYS uses his gun properly!!

I denie you to be my father.
Thank to God he is more respectful with otherscand nature.
So don't take the right to name me children
Erik

I may be a little old to be one of your children.

I'd hate to be down the trail on the other side of the bear with a panicked gun carrying hiker (local or not).

I think I'll continue to choose bear spray over a gun.

Why do the rangers carry bear spray and not guns? Only the ones in protection carry guns.

If I were hunting down someone who had killed 2 people(related to the girl), sure I would carry a gun. Comparing the 2 makes no sense at all.

I suppose the fact that most of the license plates in the parking lot read Montana--I guess none of those people were hiking or were all a bunch of ignorant city slickers.

I don't really have a problem with someone carrying a gun, but everything I've read says bear spray is more effective. I remember reading an article about Jack Hanna carrying and deploying Bear Spray a couple of years ago. Interestingly enough, he has owned a house there for many years(so he is a local) and he has more experience with animals than most people do.

"If I were hunting down someone who had killed 2 people(related to the girl), sure I would carry a gun. Comparing the 2 makes no sense at all." makes no sense cause you are confused. the people were out horseback riding and came across the kidnapper. read my post again

http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/...ar%20spray.pdf

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and...9bb2963f4.html

Now go troll somewhere else Katzgar. Stick to the lounge and your cookie recipes, at least there you have something pertinent to add to the discussion.

better to try to stick to reason and facts WAW, your childish demonizing smacks of FOX news. try to focus on what the OP posted. The idea that spray is superior to guns is in no way proven or confirmed.

http://www.examiner.com/article/bear...-safety-expert

Facts: "University of Calgary bear expert Steve Herrero was involved in two separate studies that looked at the effectiveness of bear spray and firearms in bear attacks. The bottom line: Ninety-eight percent of those who used bear spray walked away from their encounter unharmed, and none of the people or bears involved died. With firearms, 56 percent of the users were subsequently injured, and 61 percent of the bears died."

Obviously you didn't read the article I linked. Like I said, stick to the lounge and your cookie recipes. You're in over your head here.

and you obviously didn't read my link. demonizing is all you got? time to get back on your lithium.

This is part of "how hiking in bear country",on the official site of Yellowstone NP

"Be prepared for bear country

Wildlife scientists note that there is an average of one bear attack in the park each year. In 2011, in separate incidents, two visitors were mauled and killed by bears inside the park.

Hiking in bear country takes appropriate preparation. Before you set out, be sure to learn and think through fully what you need to do if you ever encounter a bear unexpectedly. While some insights and advice are offered here, deeper and more detailed resources are available at visitor centers-where public bear spray demonstations will be offered in summer ranger programs..."

As you can read, only bearspray is named.
The two killed people last year didn't use bearspary and were not well prepared to the encounter, upon the reports...
In the official site, no way for guns, firearms,...
So Katzgar or you feel you superior to the national rangers and perhaps it's time to candidate to be the national superintendant.
Or you have only ambition to argue and it's perhaps time to moderator to take their responsabilities...
The discussion has been initied to have advice.
And the discussion has been constructive till you arrive on it...
We have been, my wife and I, 7 times in Yellowstone/Glacier and depending years we met between 3(the less) and 18(the more) bears on trail.
The first year we didn't know the rule and were without bearspray...only clapping our hands and speaking.
Then we spoke with rangers for future trips and ALL have the same advice: bearspray, and making bear not surprised by the hikers...
And suprisely, NONE of those rangers recommands guns, but it's sure they didn't know their jobs.
Erik

<<The locals live with bears just fine without bear spray.>>

Where do you live Katzgar?

I'm a local and I'm pretty sure John is from NW MT. Every local I know carries bear spray in bear country.

Correct. I'm from NW Montana and yes, every local I know carries bear spray while hiking bear country.