I got lucky last night

[NSBound]

Now stop! Just read what I have to say and don't go off like that .

Last night it was very dark, and my driveway alarm sounded, twice. They were strong signals, not like the lesser ones I get with smaller animals, grouses, etc that cross the path of the beam.

Thinking intruders, because of some last weekend shenanigans with a few drunken idiots on an ATV, I flipped on all the lights and went outside with a bat I have by the front door. I went to my truck, which is parked near the bird feeders beside the house, and turned on the headlights, pointing roward the river. Then I walked over to my tractor, which I have parked blocking the path down to the river.

I didn't hear anything for a minute or two, and I was standing dead still, not moving or breathing much. Then I heard rustling in the dry leaves, on the other side of the tractor - on the river side, as it were. It was 9 pm. As the rustling of dry leaves sound moved slightly closer to the tractor (they didn't know I was standing right there beside the tractor), I yelled "HEY" in a really loud voice. It was *real* loud as the night was very still. Then I took my bat and banged hard on my box blade, which is attached to the rear of the tractor, and yelled again. That made another *really* loud noise.

And then, the TWO bears that were RIGHT THERE took off running. They had been maybe 15 feet away from me, albeit on the opposite side of my tractor. One headed down the bank toward the river, and the other took off into the pitch darkness down my path. I decided it was a good time to beat a hasty retreat, stopped to turn off the truck headlights, and scooted inside the house. Whew! . I think it's time to get a shotgun!

 

[RadarTech]

ok-- A BAT????????

Not sure about the laws up where you come from, but I would have at least had the BAT and a pistol on the small of the back...
I live out in the country too...
and had a couple surprises...


Never again will I go out unarmed....
But I am a Former Marine and a weapon is second nature...

anyway--- glad your safe...

J

 

[bp fick]

Beaver Creek is also bear country. Best thing to do with bears is pretty much what you did. Scare 'em off, if they wish to be scared off. Back off and let 'em do what they are gonna do.

When dealing with bears, especially if a sow should decided she is protecting a cub is give them wide berth. Oh, and, don't take a knife to a gun fight.

 

[NSBound]

ok-- A BAT????????

Not sure about the laws up where you come from, but I would have at least had the BAT and a pistol on the small of the back...
I live out in the country too...
and had a couple surprises...


Never again will I go out unarmed....
But I am a Former Marine and a weapon is second nature...

anyway--- glad your safe...

J

I hear you! I don't own any guns or rifles but you have to use what you have. However, the decision has now been made and I am definitely going to go through the process to buy one (or two)! It's a tedious and lengthy thing to get a firearms acquisition and possession license up here, to discourage spur-of-the-moment things. First we have to take a federal 9-hour firearms safety course (classroom plus practical) through a local community college. So you have to schedule yourself in for that. Following that, there's another 9-hour safety and training course given through the Hunters' and Anglers' Association. And THEN you can apply for your firearms license, and the wait is 2 weeks to 2 months. Country life is sure some different than city life. Last weekend, I found that when one calls the cops for help the wait is likely 45 minutes. If I had called 911, it might have shortened the wait to a half hour, according to the cop that responded.

 

[foggy1111]

I hear you! I don't own any guns or rifles but you have to use what you have. However, the decision has now been made and I am definitely going to go through the process to buy one (or two)! It's a tedious and lengthy thing to get a firearms acquisition and possession license up here, to discourage spur-of-the-moment things. First we have to take a federal 9-hour firearms safety course (classroom plus practical) through a local community college. So you have to schedule yourself in for that. Following that, there's another 9-hour safety and training course given through the Hunters' and Anglers' Association. And THEN you can apply for your firearms license, and the wait is 2 weeks to 2 months. Country life is sure some different than city life. Last weekend, I found that when one calls the cops for help the wait is likely 45 minutes. If I had called 911, it might have shortened the wait to a half hour, according to the cop that responded.

Geeez, talk about red tape......was Obama president in Canada before coming to the US? :laughing:

I heard that Canada was about to dismantle the firearms registration plans they had put in place....as it was a huge cost providing nothing in return. Correct?

 

[jimmyj]

If we stop voting, will they all go away?

:laughing:

 

[Mousefield]

We have lots of bears in our area, two years ago we had over 40 sightings from spring to fall, many behind our barn. 2 times we have had cougars here as well in the past 12 years. I have had guns for many years but the wife and I took the firearms course for both long gun and hand guns as we wanted a hand gun but need the acquisition license to get one. Feel much better going out to the barn at night to put the critters to bed. Sadly we lost our dog this January after having her for almost 12 years, she was good at barking at the bears and they would take off, several times she treed them. Haven't got another dog yet, but they are also great at detecting and protecting. Glad things turned out OK and no one was hurt.

 

[NSBound]

I heard that Canada was about to dismantle the firearms registration plans they had put in place....as it was a huge cost providing nothing in return. Correct?

They are "talking about it", but who knows? The police departments still think it's a good idea. For now, it's still in effect.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great story. Glad it worked out the way it did. Black bears kill more humans then any other wil animal in North America. I've never had a problem with them, and don't worry about them when I'm out in the woods, but I'm also glad that they don't exist in my part of Texas. Rumor has it that they are making a comeback along the edge of the state, but I doubt I'll ever see one around here in my lifetime.

Eddie

 

[Mousefield]

Great story. Glad it worked out the way it did. Black bears kill more humans then any other wil animal in North America. I've never had a problem with them, and don't worry about them when I'm out in the woods, but I'm also glad that they don't exist in my part of Texas. Rumor has it that they are making a comeback along the edge of the state, but I doubt I'll ever see one around here in my lifetime.

Eddie

Eddie,
British Columbia has the largest Black Bear population in North America, and Vancouver Island has the densest population of bears in the entire province.
OPPS that's where I live.
They are a real problem; of course it doesn't help when people even feed them. A lot of them get relocated away from populated areas but many come back for the easy food, garbage cans, bird feeders, fruit trees etc. I have heard that we now have grizzly bears on our island, now those are bears you never want to have around.