I have yet to see any so-called bear spray data that wasn’t outcome based and usually paid for by the manufacturers of bear sprays.

According to The Outdoor Wire, the “Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) and Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee teamed up with renowned Hunting Journalist Craig Boddington and the Boone and Crockett Club” to make a video geared toward convincing hunters in grizzly bear country to carry bear spray for protection against bears instead of using your gun. Their claim is guns take too long, are cumbersome and in a “panic” situation, a hunter will be unable to shoot accurately to defend themselves. They claim spray is much more effective citing 92% effectiveness.

While carrying bear spray might, in certain circumstances, do the job and is certainly better than carrying nothing for protection, remember, this video and promotion of bear spray is nothing more than a giant advertisement campaign for bear spray manufacturing companies.

Proof of this can be found in the last paragraph of the Outdoor Wire article:

Additional financial support for production of the video was provided by bear spray manufacturers Universal Defense Applications Products (UDAP), Counter Assault, as well as the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

This is also an effort to protect the grizzly bear. Due to the history of some of those involved in this advertisement campaign, I would NEVER trust any so-called outcome-based research they cram down the throats of people.

If you are going into grizzly bear country, take something for protection. If you are not comfortable with a gun, and know well how to use it, bear spray might provide a level of protection.

I wonder how bear spray works on wolves and mountain lions?