Bring a knife to a bear fight, he says

[Cupcake]

So a buddy of mine, who is a former Army National Guardsmen and is kind of anti (non-campaigning, but generally blames guns for our murder rates). Anyway, other than this we get along quite well, and we're going up to northern MI to his folks place to look for meteors and do some aastronomy (I know I'm a nerd, but thats for a different thread). This guy knows I carry, and is at times kind of my superviser at work. Whenever he tells me do something, he changes his tune and asks nicely "please do this or that, but only if you feel like it, and please don't shoot me." We joke about everything and I accept this as more joking.

Back to our "joint expedition": He tells me quite seriously: "Make sure you bring a good knife, there really are bears around here, they've left poo and tracks right outside the house and my dad saw a jaguar" (or Mt Lion or whatever big cat we have, I was kind lost with the "Bring a knife to a bear fight" comment.

What do I say to this guy? I don't want to ask to bring a gun, (sometime better to ask forgiveness than permission right?). But I don't want to be disrepectful either. I know a deadly animal encounter is unlikely, but they do happen. And if this guy is caught out there that bear is gonna use his knife for a toothpick.

I guess I already know what I'm gonna do, unless you guys talk me out of it.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Rebel Till Death]

bring it, would you rather be bear food or have an argument with a friend, and if he is a real friend he'll understand

[JD]

Take the gun. And make it a BIG one. Does your pal have any objections on long guns?

[azchevy]

I would ask his parents permission to carry on their property and if they decline I would respectfully decline the invitation

[wareagleky]

I would ask if he minds. I would rather be prepared than have to depend on a knife. If I remember Brad Pitts charater in Legend of the Fall dies by fighting a bear in the woods with a knife.

[sojourner]

In addition to gun, how about bear spray (OC or other irritant)? Gun concealed, bear spray in the open.

[Cupcake]

Take the gun. And make it a BIG one. Does your pal have any objections on long guns?

Good question. Now that you mention it a 9mm is a bit shy of what most bear hunters would use...I guess if I take the handgun I'll go with the 16rd mags instead of the 10rd I usually carry.

[FknRa]

to me bear = .45 long colt or .44mag minimum. 357 if you are feeling lucky.

I want at least 200+ grains of lead going as fast as possible. If i had a choice i would bring the .450 marlin. (great camp rifle, probably drop a charging rhino the way it kicks)

[pgrass101]

I wouldn't want to shoot a bear with a 9mm even 16 rds, You'd have a very nasty PO'd bear who'd probably die in a few weeks of an infection, after he already pooped you out.

If you're worried about bears take something for bears. Bear spray 12ga slug, a real rifle .30-06 or bigger, a pistol .44mag (might should be .454) or bigger. Don't make the bear mad at you, scare him off, but don't make him mad.

[peacefuljeffrey]

I would ask his parents permission to carry on their property and if they decline I would respectfully decline the invitation

Yes, be prepared to decline the invitation -- that's my advice.

If he/they say that you may not carry the gun, I would advise against going anyway. Your friend himself warned of at least two types of dangerous (deadly) animals -- giving you the justification for wanting to be able to defend.

If they challenge your wish to bring a gun, all you have to do is point out that he himself mentioned defense against animals, but in your view suggest a painfully inadequate solution -- a knife (against a bear?!). You could gently correct the notion that a knife would be an intelligent choice of self defense weapon against the very threats your friend mentioned.

But don't let their prejudice against guns (if it exists) prevent you from being comfortably well defended. If that means not going, I would not go.

[peacefuljeffrey]

I would ask if he minds. I would rather be prepared than have to depend on a knife. If I remember Brad Pitts charater in Legend of the Fall dies by fighting a bear in the woods with a knife.

Wow, the funny thing is, I watched that movie on t.v. only two nights ago, for the first time in years! And it was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread!

[Rob72]

Back to our "joint expedition": He tells me quite seriously: "Make sure you bring a good knife, there really are bears around here, they've left poo and tracks right outside the house and my dad saw a jaguar" (or Mt Lion or whatever big cat we have, I was kind lost with the "Bring a knife to a bear fight" comment.

Man, you're misunderstanding the mindset: the knife is so you can commit seppuku if a bear shows up.

[Janq]

I would ask his parents permission to carry on their property and if they decline I would respectfully decline the invitation

+1

- Janq

[Chooie]

Man, you're misunderstanding the mindset: the knife is so you can commit seppuku if a bear shows up.

Sure, disembowel yourself so the bear doesn't have to wipe its claws clean.

[raevan]

If you decide to go and leave your gun, make sure your knife is long enough to tickle the bears bacbone when pushed in from the front. That way as the bear kills you , you at least have the satifaction of causing it some pain.

I would suggest carrying a Lever Action carbine in at least 44 Mag.