hi
i fish in area infected by bears in summer time and have combo with 20 ga barrel. what do you sugest for bear defens?

yes
I used to hunt ruffed grouse in north central Ontario (Canada) {Nipissing District}and this was in early October -when the black bears were looking for dens) and the locals advised me to carry #2s for my 12 gauge and a couple of 12 ga. slugs (the latter were strictly illegal to carry afield after bear season had closed but if I wanted to feel better about running into a "blackie" who wanted to object to me being around, the locals advised me to carry them. I did and always felt better -and, yes, I can believe that #2s in the face of a black wouldn't tickle either -but I always made sure to carry a couple of slugs with me. You, out fishing in bear country must have an even more touchy situation. (Don't the bears want to take your fish away from you -or, at least, object to you competing in their territory?) Do you have the really big European brown bear in your neck of the woods? If so, why not drop your favorite 20 and go to a 12? - and I'm not entirely kidding! Regards

The wife and I have used a 20ga for grouse while in bear country.

We always carried Brenneke slugs... Several of them.

My experience with the 20 gauge slug was not very encouraging. I was attacked by a feral and vicious dog (lab size). I hit him in the chest but he kept coming and the only thing I had left was a .22 LR in the upper barrel, which I put into his head. He went down about 2 feet from me.
I would use a 12 gauge with Brennekes or, if it's legal, take a .44 mag revolver with you while bird hunting in bear country (which is what I do).

thanks for replies. i have a box of brenneke slugs annd a box of french sauvster slugs too in my back pack in case if! and the combo's rifle barrel is in 222 rem which i will load with rhino or oryx bullets they penetrate a lot more than any slug i have tested, if all fail i have still my katana sword in my back pack and it is sharp i will chop and slice the bear in pieces !! ready for frying pan! we shall see who is eating who

Much better then a sharp stick, your fist or a rock you picked up.

p dog shooter:

You got that right! (Although I was really upset about "namibiahunter" experience with a 20 ga. on a relatively small animal.I was pleased that the 22 dropped the critter. (Penetration,penetration, penetration, is the name of the game - and the 22 {surprisingly) does just that given the right circumstances of soft tissue . (Yes, I'm open to argument)

I have hunted birds in black bear country for fifty odd years and never felt like I have needed any more than what was in the gun for birds if a bear got to be trouble. I have found a few bears in dens (and had them come out). I have had dogs that would bother bears and dogs that ignored them.

I never hunt grouse with more than an ounce of 8s and if I need to take a black bear down it will do it before the bear gets me. I know of one bear killed with a face full of shot out of a .410. That bear was chased down and it did not attack.

Unless you are carrion, a treated fence post or a pile of garbage, a black bear is the least of your worries out hunting birds.

Berrenekes in your 20 ga. would mess a bear up. Pattern them to be positive they shoot accurately.

miles58:

I read your post with considerable interest -and respect, after noting your home state -so I know you know about bears and hunting ruffs in October. In the Nipissing District of Ontario (where I hunted blacks and ruffs)there was a feeling among the locals that there were many "erratic" or "oddball" blacks -and moose (rutting season meshed with opening of bird season). When you are out in the real "bush" by yourself (as I often was) I listened to the locals. Yes, the feel of those couple of slugs in my upper shirt pocket made me feel better. (BTW to support your point,I never encountered a black who remotely wanted to pick a fight - but I was chased once around a windfall (halfhartedly)by a bull moose -and often had moose watching me -and never felt fearful. (I love moose and never would hunt them -but that's another story -Guess I''m a PETA secret agent) ( BTW, I liked your mention of light loads in an upland bird hunting shotgun. Me too!)

I am a damn sight more concerned about moose than bears! I have twice been within 50 feet of bulls in quite unexpected situations. They have a way of looking at you like they're trying to decide are you worth stomping or not. Mostly, I don't think much at all goes on between their ears. I can't get a handle on what they might do next. Bears are easier to read, and mostly they just want as much distance between you and them as quick as possible.

Slugs or buckshot wouldn't make me feel better at all. As fast as a bear is when he wants to be somewhere else in a hurry, I wouldn't have the time to swap out loads in my O/U.

Every spring them damn bears come to my house and tear up the bird feeders. That's about as much trouble as I have ever seen out of them.

miles58:

I laughed out loud at reading your mention about your thought about whether bull moose were not being able to figure out whether to stomp you or not. I encountered by bull while standing at one end of an Ontario lake (the locals always called them "ponds" even if 5 miles long)and waiting for ducks to fly overhead. (The guide would try to scare them up from the other end of the lake) I heard rustling in the brush and looked behind me and saw this bull picking his way down the slope to the "pond". We eyed each other. My nerve cracked first.(At close range, maybe 40-50 feet, I just didn't trust him to be a kindly Canadian welcoming committee)He came after me and I ran around the windfall. He came halfways after me around the trunk -and, of course, I retreated still farther around the trunk. He eyed me, shook his head with an "Aw, the hell with it" attitude and went down to the lake. I'm proud to say that I stayed in the area (although quite near the windfall) and even fired at some ducks thereafter. My shotgun slugs? I never thought of trying to use them on him -simply because he was so damn big and I was too scared even to think of reloading the shotgun.

Problem fishing with a long gun is that you can't fish and have access to the gun too, unless you're standing on the bank and not moving.

Black bear? 44 magnum, and it's nice if you can get to a carbine in 45/70. But in bear country, I'd want a large caliber, magnum handgun in a holster on my person.