Startling Grizzly Encounter in the Backcountry - Yellowstone 

Thank you for the nice comments. I am 100% sure that you will spend time in the Yellowstone area some day.

Not sure hiking quietly is the best option in these scenarios, by you don’t have to be obnoxious either.

In bear country most attacks happen by quietly surprising a bear. You are supposed to wear bells, or talk loudly enough... Like, hey bear, hey bear so the bear knows you are there. And if you have a gun they are a protected species and Im sure the game warden would love to watch your you tube video sneaking up on bears and then shooting them when they respond to you.

@@deeannwatson4453 HE has never sneaked up on any bear, in all the many years he's been out there and he has NEVER even had to use his bear spray. Of course he has never shot any bear considering HE CARRIES NO GUN.

Yes, treating a wild animal as if it is not wild is very disrespectful to the wild animal. Thank you for your comments.

I am glad he did smell me. He was about 150 yards away when I saw him heading right towards me. It is a little scary when you are not sure if he is heading towards you on purpose or by accident. If you watch some of my older videos, this grizzly does the same thing every time. In the mornings he always heads towards the east, and at night he always goes west.

That's right and the very best way you can mitigate that risk is by carrying the right type of gun loaded with the right ammo. Anyone who goes into brown bear country without a good grizzly gun is rolling the dice and if they survive it's pure luck and only because the bear allowed them to survive. I'd rather trust my survival to myself. The best setup is a smith and wesson m&p 10mm with flat tipped copper bullets with a hot load. 15+1 capacity. And really it's best to also carry a good high powered rifle on a shoulder sling as well. But at minimum a 10mm and extra full mag.

Unfortunately, it makes people think it is safe to hike in Grizzley country, play stupid games / win stupid prizes...it's just a matter of time until he becomes a meal.

Yes, God is gracious and patient.

I have done a lot of hiking in amazing SW Utah, but it was before we had digital video cameras. I have a lot of still pictures.

I enjoy your videos so much! Thank you

Safe travels to you in God's beautiful country

Yes. The dark does not bother me but thick fog does. Maybe it is because I can still see a little in the dark.

Thank you very much for your nice comment.

Being in the backcountry with a grizzly with just you on foot is an amazing experience. Being afraid is not a bad thing. It is what makes you stay alert and feel alive. But even this, if you do it enough, becomes a bit jaded. Thanks for your comments.

Yes, you can think about it that way but since I never saw them or knew they were there, I never got worried about them. But that does bring up the question, how many bears saw me that I never knew about. Sometimes that worries me when I think about it.

I always have one can of UDAP and another of something else. I can’t say if one is better than the other. But I do have about 20 old cans out in the garage. Maybe I should do a video on testing old cans of bear spray and see if they work or not.

Not sure. Mountain lions are hard to spot.

Yes, you can carry a gun but you cannot discharge it. I think that law is meant for hunters that need to move through the park and hunt on the other side. You believe like I think the majority of people believe, that is, the gun will give you the proper protection. I disagree with the majority and think bear spray is a better way. But as you may have noticed if you watch more of my videos, I don't consider that it is all about me when I am out in their only home. A great consideration goes toward the wildlife. I am out to see all the amazing wildlife in a peaceful and respectful way. A lot of people may think it is more dangerous for me, but with the many years of experience that I have solo hiking in grizzly country, this is the way I have found to be safest for me. I have never had a bad experience with a bear and I have never used bear spray (I always have 2 cans). Before you respond with "it is only a matter of time, the odds are..." My life is not a game of chance, life does not have to be a game of chance, I live the Lords wisdom and promises. Chance has nothing to do with it. But like I say, this is the way I do it as a solo hiker. You need to do what feels best for you. Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for watching my videos in God’s beautiful creation.

Yes, 2 cans.

Canon sx70

@@StanMills Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.

It’s nice to hike in all kinds of weather conditions . We don’t have to wait for perfect weather . You wouldn’t get much done if your waiting for perfect weather.

I never have seen them or heard them.

Great news. I’m so envious of you hiking 16 miles a day at times. I have bad knees and can only hike a few miles. If I got a knee replacement I could be like you!! ❤️

I would think it would make no difference. I have never had to use bear spray.

Never

Genesis 9:5 If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. Matthew 10:35 Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.

Well he isn’t out to harm the grizzly. He is willing to take the risk because he admires the grizzly and wants to see them up close. Nothing wrong with that.

He always emphasizes safety such as never surprising the bears. And he fervently looks for signs such as tracks, scat, and other things that tells him they maybe near. And he always take bear spray with him, and never really get that close to them. I initially thought he was being unwise, but I see how cautious he is; therefore, I try not to judge him, because of how careful he is!

Stunning wildlife, but a future episode of scary bear attacks in the making?

I am off trail. My opinion is that exploring on horseback is a safer way to do it (if you have a good horse) and from my observations being on horse doesn’t seem to alarm the wildlife very much. If wildlife and bears see you on foot they seem to react differently.

@@StanMills agreed

No. Just going my way.

Meaning you probably should not go solo hiking in grizzly country until you get some experience hiking in groups. Be sure you know how your reaction will be when having a close encounter with a grizzly. Normally they are very predictable but you can always run into a grizzly that is upset and in a bad mood. So knowing how you are going to handle the situation is important. The only way to know is from the experience of having it happen.

It is the black grizzly I saw earlier. He is a bear and he is “black” in color.

@@StanMills got it! Thanks!

Hopefully this video shows that ‘most’ of the time you can know from experience what a grizzly is going to do before he does it. I showed that I could predict where he would be. This particular grizzly moves west to east every morning this time of year in his range. He moves east to west at night. He will mate with 3 or 4 of the females in his range. There are about 10 different females that live in his range. This male is about 9 years old (based on the number of years I have observed him) and will always go the opposite direction when detecting a human. His behavior is always to avoid humans. By July this grizzly will move up into higher and more remote locations. I have seen this grizzly down low in July in early morning and heading up to high elevation at first light in July. Do I need to continue…