Testing Of Bear Spray

  • LenH
    Wisconsin
    Posts: 2385
    August 30, 2011 at 1:31 pm #1326364

    Last week I decided to spray just a little of my bear spray to test it to see if it was still functional and charged. I purchased it 1.5 years ago.

    My 26 years in Law Enforcement taught me to check my gear. The gear that could save your life needs to function properly.

    As a cop we replaced our pepper spray often and gave it a “little” squirt to make sure it was still pressurized and the pepper still smelled strong.

    We always did this outside and we sprayed it down wind and just gave it a small spray to test it and let up on the pressurized button so you wouldn’t waste pepper spray.

    I took off the safety cap and pointed the spray down wind and barely pushed on the pressurized button.

    The plunger of the bear spray sucked down immediately and emptied the entire contents of my $57.00 bear spray. I attempted to get the plunger for the spray to get back up but it kept blasting away.

    It was an expensive test but I guess if a bear was charging me my life is worth $57.00 and I would want to empty the entire contents on it.

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    August 30, 2011 at 1:35 pm #991842

    LenH. This is for your fishing here in MN/WI or for somewhere like Alaska?

    LenH
    Wisconsin
    Posts: 2385
    August 30, 2011 at 1:54 pm #991847

    Quote:

    LenH. This is for your fishing here in MN/WI or for somewhere like Alaska?

    i have run it to 5 black bears in southern wisconsin in the last 6 years

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    August 30, 2011 at 1:57 pm #991848

    Quote:

    Quote:

    LenH. This is for your fishing here in MN/WI or for somewhere like Alaska?

    i have run it to 5 black bears in southern wisconsin in the last 6 years

    Huh, I guess I’ve never worried about Black Bears. I grew up in the heart of Black Bear Country and even had a sow who had a den 125 yards behind the house and never had an issue despite 100’s of encounters (some within 10′) and no negative results. Black Bear don’t bother me one bit since 99% of the time they don’t want to be around you any more than you want to be around them.

    In fact I’ve got 100’s of really cool encounters with that sow and her cubs.

    Now when in Grizzly Country…………..that’s a different story. Of course it’s a completely different bear as well.

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    August 30, 2011 at 2:27 pm #991854

    I’ve had 100s of great encounters with dogs, too, but all it takes it one bad one!

    I, too, am not terribly frightened of black bears, but I would rather be prepared than sorry (or mauled).

    Wade Boardman
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 4453
    August 30, 2011 at 2:33 pm #991857

    Quote:

    I’ve had 100s of great encounters with dogs, too, but all it takes it one bad one!

    I, too, am not terribly frightened of black bears, but I would rather be prepared than sorry (or mauled).

    Oh I agree. Especially if a person is nervous. We all know bears, dogs, etc can sense if you are nervous. So bear spray is a good call for Len.

    To your original post Len, that sucks you burned $57 on a test.

    Steve Root
    South St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 5623
    August 30, 2011 at 4:49 pm #991883

    I spent 10 days in Alaska and the only bear I saw was in a zoo. That was fine with me. It’s like tornadoes….part of nature, you know there out there, but I don’t need to get up close and personal with one. The thing I had trouble with was making noise. It’s good practice in Bear country to make enough racket so they know you’re coming down the trail. It seems wrong somehow to be deliberately noisy in the woods. Maybe it’s the old deer hunter in me, but I tend to walk carefully and softly. Not the best idea. So as foolish as it seemed, I’d yell “Hey Bear!” every once in a while.

    Rootski

    Ralph Wiggum
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 11764
    August 30, 2011 at 5:07 pm #991896

    Rootski, I’m sure I could have found a cow bell you could have worn around your neck

    drewsdad
    Crosby, MN
    Posts: 3138
    August 30, 2011 at 5:18 pm #991899

    This is where I would put in the youtube clip of SNL doing the “More Cowbell” skit; but I am practicing restraint today.

    dd

    Steve Root
    South St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 5623
    August 30, 2011 at 6:04 pm #991911

    Quote:

    Rootski, I’m sure I could have found a cow bell you could have worn around your neck

    Ryan, every store in Anchorage…I mean EVERY store…sells these things that look like big giant jingle bells. They come with a strap attached so you can clip them on your back pack, a belt, etc. They’re called “Bear Bells”.

    drewsdad
    Crosby, MN
    Posts: 3138
    August 30, 2011 at 6:55 pm #991928

    The bears call them “dinner bells”… I don’t have enough restraint to let that go.

    dd

    Czech
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1574
    August 30, 2011 at 6:58 pm #991929

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Rootski, I’m sure I could have found a cow bell you could have worn around your neck

    Ryan, every store in Anchorage…I mean EVERY store…sells these things that look like big giant jingle bells. They come with a strap attached so you can clip them on your back pack, a belt, etc. They’re called “Bear Bells”.

    And grizzly scat has bells in it and smells like hot peppers!

    Mudshark
    LaCrosse WI
    Posts: 2973
    September 1, 2011 at 5:52 pm #992382

    Yep……

    A little tough to read but it’s my best shot…

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