# Anatomy of a Bear Skull **URL:** \ **Category:** Hunting\ **Created:** [May 23, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761 "2024-05-23T03:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BRUCE26](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/bruce26/32/111546_2.png) [@BRUCE26](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/BRUCE26)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/1 "2024-05-23T03:03:28Z")
[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/dd_dev/original/3X/2/7/274216f16997318fea9b03dd05d6506a518867d1.jpeg "Anatomy of a Bear Skull - How to Stop a Charging Kodiak Brown Bear") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlV3lX4QLl4) ---
**Author:** ![Ron43xMOS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/ron43xmos/32/137450_2.png) [@Ron43xMOS](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Ron43xMOS)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/2 "2024-05-23T04:25:35Z")
Good info. Seared into my skull… ---
**Author:** ![Will\_B](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/will_b/32/102791_2.png) [@Will\_B](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Will_B)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/3 "2024-05-23T04:34:47Z")
Reminds me of this story…. [https://bowhunting.net/2017/07/45-caliber-round-found-in-bears-skull/?amp=1](https://bowhunting.net/2017/07/45-caliber-round-found-in-bears-skull/?amp=1) ---
**Author:** ![RAYMOND45](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/raymond45/32/95095_2.png) [@RAYMOND45](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/RAYMOND45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/4 "2024-05-23T11:24:37Z")
Reminds me of a story out of Alaska a few years ago, a guy was hiking in Denali and carrying a 45 when he heard screaming, he ran up and saw a brown bear attacking a woman he shot 14 times before he killed it. Why when I moved to Montana, before I always carried a 44 ,I said hmmm these critters are a lot bigger here so I bought a 454. ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_Gary\_Lee](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/robert_gary_lee/32/114309_2.png) [@Robert\_Gary\_Lee](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Robert_Gary_Lee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/5 "2024-05-23T12:06:03Z")
Very good information about shot placement on the skull. If you can as the gentlemen pointed out you can get the bear to cooperate 🙂 when at close range. ---
**Author:** ![WDB444](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/wdb444/32/46469_2.png) [@WDB444](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/WDB444)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/6 "2024-05-23T13:38:04Z")
Thank for posting that @BRUCE26 , that was very informative and valuable information. ---
**Author:** ![Shamrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/shamrock/32/24612_2.png) [@Shamrock](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Shamrock)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/7 "2024-05-23T14:22:57Z")
Good info. Those are very small targets to hit on a rapidly charging and bouncing threat. One reason why bear spray is a solid first choice. It makes a very large cloud that is easy to get in the bears face. If the wind is cooperating. Another reason for bear spray is that bears often bluff charge when threatened. Can’t remember the exact statistic but pretty sure most charges are bluff charges. But if you shoot and injure a bluff charging bear they become more likely to turn that bluff charge into a real charge if you don’t hit one of those very small targets perfectly enough to put the bear down. Black bear skulls are significantly thinner than brown bear skulls. Though just like other animal skulls if you hit them at too shallow of an angle the bullet can still deflect. ---
**Author:** ![Scott52](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/scott52/32/160942_2.png) [@Scott52](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Scott52)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/8 "2024-05-23T15:43:17Z")
Charging bear, bluffing, precision and Brooklyn boy, have never been used in the same sentence until now. Hope to never have to use that sentence again. Unless all hell breaks loose and I have to escape civilization, aim small miss small and a ton of bear spray! ---
**Author:** ![BRUCE26](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/bruce26/32/111546_2.png) [@BRUCE26](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/BRUCE26)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/9 "2024-05-24T02:09:31Z")
Love this guy. 😄 [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/dd_dev/original/3X/d/8/d8a1bed7cb2a8c91e5645b0d44749512d2cbfb45.jpeg "Bear Spray Against Grizzlies?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEMjEoSpepg) ---
**Author:** ![Dave17](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/dave17/32/15053_2.png) [@Dave17](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Dave17)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/10 "2024-05-24T05:17:36Z")
> **[Government View of Bear Spray vs Firearms for Defense Against Bears](https://www.ammoland.com/2019/10/government-view-of-bear-spray-vs-firearms-for-defense-against-bears/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > The authorities in Svalbard, Norway, require adequate firearms for protection against polar bear attacks. They do not consider bear spray to be adequate protection. > **[Blades and Blunt Objects in Bear Attacks](https://www.ammoland.com/2023/10/blades-and-blunt-objects-in-bear-attacks/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > Firearms are not the only tool available to defend against bear attacks. Blades and blunt objects have been effective in several cases. > **[Handgun Defenses Against Bear Attacks - 170 Documented Incidents, 98% Effective](https://www.ammoland.com/2023/11/handgun-defenses-against-bears-170-documented-incidents-98-effective/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > There are now 170 documented cases, with 146 of those cases where handguns only are fired in defense against bear attacks. Handguns are effective 98% of the time. > **[Are Extreme Speed and Accuracy Necessary to Defend Against Bears?](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/01/are-extreme-speed-and-accuracy-necessary-to-defend-against-bears/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > Some people have claimed extreme accuracy and speed are needed to be able to defend against a bear attack. The data indicates extreme accuracy and speed is not needed in over 90% of cases. > **[Simple Arms Could have Stopped Horrific Bear Attack](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/01/simple-arms-could-have-stopped-horrific-bear-attack/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > A large black bear attacked a group of three women and a teenage boy. Two of the women suffered extensive injuries as the bear ate them alive. Possession of a weapon could have stopped the attack. > **[Bias in Studies of the Efficacy of Firearms in Bear Attacks](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/04/bias-in-studies-of-the-efficacy-of-firearms-in-bear-attacks/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > There is significant selection bias inherent in studies of the effectiveness of bear defense weapons systems. However, bias can be limited by objective criteria and by publication of raw data for review by the public. > **[Handgun Defense Against Bears, Caliber NOT Critical as Thought](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/05/handgun-defense-against-bears-caliber-not-critical-as-thought/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > When handguns are fired in defense against bears, caliber is not as important as many people think. Having a gun is far more important. > **[Bear Defense with Handguns Update, 20 More Cases 98% Effective](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/05/bear-defense-with-handguns-update-20-more-cases-98-effective/#axzz8b7AuuZRY)** > > The number of defensive cases where a handgun was documented to have been fired in defense against a bear has reached 100. The total number is now 192 incidents. Success rate remains at 98%. ---
**Author:** ![Richard56](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e4f/32.png) [@Richard56](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Richard56)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/11 "2024-05-24T22:06:07Z")
Norway has apparently discovered that Bear Spray is Tabasco/ Hot sauce for bears. M-M-M good. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_B](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/will_b/32/102791_2.png) [@Will\_B](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Will_B)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/12 "2024-05-24T23:10:56Z")
> [@Richard56](#): > > Bear Spray is Tabasco/ Hot sauce for bears. M-M-M good. True enough, the active ingredient is capsaicin, which is the hot stuff in peppers! (Why they call it pepper spray 😉) That’s the new ticktock challenge, Tabasco eye drops!🙄🌶😳🤯 ---
**Author:** ![Dave17](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/dave17/32/15053_2.png) [@Dave17](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Dave17)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/13 "2024-05-26T02:00:52Z")
> [@Will\_B](#): > > That’s the new ticktock challenge, Tabasco eye drops! That would definitely not be appreciated. I have eaten a ghost pepper on a challenge, but I can’t imagine putting it in my eye. Tabasco, I believe would be worse as it is acidic and salty, the heat of the mild pepper I would believe would be the least of the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Shamrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/shamrock/32/24612_2.png) [@Shamrock](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Shamrock)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/14 "2024-05-26T22:12:57Z")
> **[Firearm Vs. Bear Spray](http://www.bear-hunting.com/2019/8/firearm-vs-bear-spray)** > > We’ve all played the scenario through in our minds. You’re walking through the woods and have a surprise encounter with a sow and cubs. The sow springs to an erect position with a loud “woof” as soon as you both see each other. Perceiving you as a... You have to be careful with statistics. They can be manipulated both ways. I don’t have time to go through all the data now but I went through a bunch of it about 2 decades ago. Neither bear spray nor firearms are 100% effective at stopping bears. I wouldn’t count on just being able to point either in the general direction of a bear and pulling the trigger as a guarantee of success. Plus there are the cases of misuse. There used to be some stories floating around of people thinking bear spray was bear repellent and spraying it around their camps or on themselves! Bears will be attracted to the smell of the spray if it is on the ground or on a person. ---
**Author:** ![Dave17](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/dave17/32/15053_2.png) [@Dave17](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Dave17)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 9:22am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/15 "2024-05-27T09:22:17Z")
> [@Shamrock](#): > > Bears will be attracted to the smell of the spray if it is on the ground or on a person. Seasoning? 🕶 > [@Shamrock](#): > > Neither bear spray nor firearms are 100% effective at stopping bears The articles in AmmoLand do state that. He also explains how he does the calculations. He only counts cases where the firearm or spray was actually used, not just having with you. ---
**Author:** ![Shamrock](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/shamrock/32/24612_2.png) [@Shamrock](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Shamrock)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/16 "2024-05-27T19:27:01Z")
> [@Dave17](#): > > He only counts cases where the firearm or spray was actually used, not just having with you. But he also doesn’t count cases where tools other than a handgun were also used. So if someone empties their handgun and the bear keeps coming so they have to resort to a knife, or someone else has to step in with a long gun it was not counted in the handgun failures. Again I haven’t had time to go through all the data. I did give a quick read of a different article that appears to have reviewed the same data. A couple of Interesting takeaways from it: -About half of the successful handgun deterrences were warning shots that scared the bears away. So firecrackers or other noise makers likely would have done the job just as effectively in those cases. -The percentage of people who ended up injured when defending themselves from bears with handguns vs bear spray was the same. Another advantage to bear spray is that in general it should be legal to use it against nuisance bears to try and chase them away before they become a threat. In most places you can’t legally shoot a bear for going through your trash or picnic food. I’m not saying that having a handgun is a bad idea in bear country. Especially if it is loaded with deep penetrating hard cast bullets for brown bears and mid to large size black bears. Just saying that I would not feel anywhere near 98% confident that a handgun will stop a bear that is intent on attacking me as apposed to just bluff charging me. Ideally I would want someone with some bear spray backed up by someone with a high powered rifle or shotgun with deep penetrating slugs. I would also be watching the bears behavior very closely since odds are incredibly good in most circumstance that I would not need to use either. I have worked in brown bear country for an entire field season without incident. I have also worked and lived in black bear country for many seasons with many close encounters with bears. Didn’t have a firearm for most of that period and never needed to use my bear spray. I did have to throw rocks and do my own bluff charges on a couple of occasions against problem bears that had been habituated to human contact. But the vast majority of the time I was able to convince the bears I was no threat to them and we all peacefully went our separate ways. ---
**Author:** ![BRUCE26](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/bruce26/32/111546_2.png) [@BRUCE26](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/BRUCE26)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/17 "2024-05-28T01:13:40Z")
🐻 Let’s play… “What would you do?” 🤔 [Scary Bear Attacks Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@scarybearattacks) Added… I looked up a dozen or so of the attacks listed in the vids by date, location and # of people and in all cases the story was corroborated by local news stories. ---
**Author:** ![Dave17](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/dave17/32/15053_2.png) [@Dave17](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Dave17)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/18 "2024-05-28T10:46:47Z")
> [@Shamrock](#): > > But he also doesn’t count cases where tools other than a handgun were also used. He stated that he does not include those in handgun defense. > [@](#): > > This is a link to the last full list of **[104 incidents, published on June 21, 2021](https://www.ammoland.com/2021/06/handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attacks-104-cases-97-effective/#axzz84MZyzEdA)**. Included are an additional 9 cases where handguns and other lethal instruments were used. They are not included in the handgun statistics. > > This update brings the total number of incidents to 170. In 146 incidents, only handguns were fired. [Three of those are judged to be failures](https://www.ammoland.com/2022/04/lessons-from-handgun-defense-failures-against-bears/#axzz84MZyzEdA). Another three are judged to be indeterminate, including a case where the bear was driven off, but it was unclear if handgun fire or bear spray was the determining factor. Twenty-four cases occurred where a handgun was fired in combination with another deadly instrument. Those cases are not included in the statistics for handgun defenses. Three failures and 140 successes out of 143 cases is a 98% success rate. > > Nine people have been killed where bear spray has been sprayed in defense against a bear[in eight incidents](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/01/bear-spray-is-not-as-effective-as-claims-firearms-still-the-superior-tool-for-defense/#axzz8XZVEdy9s) from 2003 to 2023. > > Of the 71 incidents in the bear spray study, only 9 involved charging grizzly bears. [Bear spray worked to stop three](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/does-bear-spray-work/) of those charges. > > In the followup study for both bear spray and firearms “[Human-bear conflict in Alaska: 1880-2015: Alaska Human-Bear Conflict](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324990308_Human-bear_conflict_in_Alaska_1880-2015_Alaska_Human-Bear_Conflict)“, published in 2018, four additional bear spray incidents were added from 2006 to 2015, increasing the original 71 incidents to 75. Of the 75 incidents, at least 21 of them were by bear management personnel to harass bears. 70 of the incidents were deemed successful, or 93%. In the 75 incidents, 4 people were injured. > > The number of firearms incidents increased from 269 to 328, an addition of 57. The number of handgun incidents increased by 6, from 37 to 43. The total number of incidents is given as 682. The number of incidents where firearms were not present or bear spray was not sprayed appears to be 279. The criteria used does not appear to have changed from previous studies. Tom Smith confirmed the data from previous studies was included in the numbers for the latest paper. > [@Shamrock](#): > > The percentage of people who ended up injured when defending themselves from bears with handguns vs bear spray was the same. > [@](#): > > As the use of bear spray has ramped up and been promoted in North America, the percentage of people killed in incidents where bear spray was used as a defense has been remarkable. Since 2016, eight of 22 people killed by bears were killed in incidents where bear spray was used as a defense. The numbers are very small. Eight incidents of 22 over eight years is 36%. In the same eight years 45 cases were documented where people fired pistols in defense against bears, and there were no human fatalities. > > It is impossible to know how many times pistols were fired in defense against bears in the eight years or how many times bear spray was sprayed against bears as a defense during the same period. > > [Bear Spray is Not as Effective as Claims, Firearms Still the Superior Tool for Defense](https://www.ammoland.com/2024/01/bear-spray-is-not-as-effective-as-claims-firearms-still-the-superior-tool-for-defense/#axzz8bWCMv8yG) ---
**Author:** ![Will\_B](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/will_b/32/102791_2.png) [@Will\_B](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Will_B)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/19 "2024-05-28T11:01:27Z")
As of yet, I have never seen a wild bear. And while I had a mountain lion kill a deer just a couple yards from my camp, I never actually saw the cat. Spray vs firearm as a deterrent?…. Well, I’ll take whatever is in my hand at that moment! Probably gonna die anyway, so a good beating stick is just as effective as anything else.👍💀 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.usconcealedcarry.com/gary_h/32/5302_2.png) [@Gary\_H](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/u/Gary_H)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761/20 "2024-05-28T13:26:08Z")
And it was you @BRUCE26 that posted this gem: > [@22LR caliber](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/22lr-caliber/95947/57): > > [Grizzly with a .22 Caliber - Tactics/Knowledge - Bear Hunting Magazine (bear-hunting.com)](http://bear-hunting.com/2022/7/grizzly-with-a-22-c#:~:text=May%2010%2C%201957%2C%20she%20killed%20a%20massive%20grizzly,record%20that%20stood%20for%20a%20good%20long%20time.) Bella Twin was a calm, quiet, clear-headed Cree woman with a trap line. May 10, 1957, she killed a massive grizzly bear with her Cooey Ace #1 .22. That was near Slave Lake, Alberta, and the bear Twin killed turned out to be a world record that stood for a good long time. That was seven years before my dad held me for the first time, a five-foot-nothing woman who lived on the land squeezed the tri… _“a five-foot-nothing woman who lived on the land squeezed the trigger on her single-shot rabbit gun and put a .22 rimfire round through the eye of a grizzly bear at close distance. The bear dropped dead, but because Twin knew what she was up against––put seven more rounds into the bear skull––seven insurance shots.”_ [Next page](https://community.usconcealedcarry.com/t/anatomy-of-a-bear-skull/103761.md?page=2)