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604-291-9990
1-888-881-2293
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The BCWF would like to acknowlege the on-going support of the
BC Government.
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(Know)
Key Points
- Every person in the backcountry should have a healthy respect for bears: a sense of caution, knowledge and awareness of potential hazards. This sense of caution will help each person to avoid encounters and be prepared for encounters, if they do occur.
- Hunters and other outdoors men and women must maintain an alertness while in bear country. Thinking about business, boyfriends/girlfriends while in the bush blocks use of observation skills and awareness of surroundings. People in the bush must stay tuned in to their environment.
- Because several B.C. hunters have been attacked while cleaning downed game, students must be aware of the dangers and given safety tips. Rifle shots are actually an attractant to some bears who have learned to associate the sound with meat or gut piles.
- Experts on both sides of the border are recommending hunters have bear spray ready while cleaning animals. A loaded firearm can be a safeguard but presents potential hazards as well.
Teaching Activities
- When discussion arises about keeping a loaded firearm handy, use the opportunity to review the principles of firearm safety they have learned. Make them think by asking questions: Is it safe? Does a bear or the firearm present more danger? How can you keep a firearm ready but keep it safe? Encourage safety thinking because during their lives, your students will meet many firearm situations that have never been covered in class.
- Discussion of injury during an attack may arise with this objective or the next. If it doesn't, raise the topic if there is time or while teaching the first aid section of CORE. Be sure to include methods of stopping arterial and venous bleeding, and the dangers of moving a patient with a possible fractured spine, neck or skull.
Teaching Aids
- The video Bear Attack: Encountering Grizzlies has a good scene and discussion of how hunters should be prepared when starting to clean an animal. The elk hunter speaking in the video tape is also a bear biologist.
- The video Safety in Bear Country shows hikers smelling rotten meat and seeing scavenger birds, then leaving the area. Also shows grizzly burying carcass.
- "Bear Encounter Guidelines for B.C. Hunters" by Gary Shelton makes an excellent one-page handout. Gary gave these to CORE Examiners at the Kelowna conference. Check with Robert Paddon if you don't have a copy.
Suggested Evaluation
- Following the group discussion, ask questions to ensure good understanding.
Return to Bear Safety Workshop Table of Contents »
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