First Harvest for a Young Fan

It's usually a good idea to be well armed when out in bear country. These are the best bear-defense guns for the job.

When you head into bear country, be it the Alaskan wilderness or your Florida backyard, you must accept that you are no longer at the top of the food chain. Luckily, most bears usually do not want any trouble and will leave the area as soon as they detect you. However, this is not always the case and you should be prepared for self-defense if you get in a tight situation. A good bear gun should be a part of your defense plan.

That said, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. By using your brain and taking a few basic precautions out in the woods, you can dramatically reduce your odds of encountering a bear attack.

Give any bear that you encounter (especially a sow with cubs) plenty of space. Make lots of noise so that any bears in the area know that you are there and carry bear spray. Firearms should only be used as a last resort to defend yourself from a bear.

A charging bear can move extremely fast and only a hit on the bear's central nervous system (brain or spine) is guaranteed to stop a bear in its tracks. Even on the biggest brown bears or grizzly bears, the central nervous system is not a large target, so stopping a charging bear with a gun makes for some very challenging shooting.

Because of this, you should practice shooting your chosen gun extensively. If you use a handgun, then buy a good quality holster and practice drawing it.

Remember: even the biggest and most powerful bear-defense guns aren't guaranteed to stop a charging bear if you don't make a good shot. By the same token, even a smaller handgun will get the job done with good shot placements, good bullets, and a little luck.

We suggest some well-known bear guns, made by the likes of Ruger, Taurus, and Smith & Wesson, plus some lesser known or unthought of firearms, like big bore rifles, 12-gauge shotguns, and even a lever action for old time's sake.

They're all good for close range bear protection when it's needed most.

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