jlawless
Coldfoot, AK
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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YES - you can bring "bear spray" across the border! I have personally done it 14 times with an honest declaration to border officials that "I HAVE BEAR SPRAY." you can just take my word for it - or read on.
This question seems to confuse a lot of people I meet travelling to/from Alaska and judging by a recent post it confuses people here also. The confusion arises because "pepper spray" and/or "mace" is NOT ALLOWED. A reasonable person could ask why a giant cannister of "bear spray" is allowed but a tiny little "pepper spray" is not. I cannot explain WHY this is - I just want to explain THE WAY LIFE IS at the border.
If you need to start the logic chain - start here with the list of Prohibited Weapons
Note that "mace or pepper spray designed for use on humans" is prohibited. Spray designed for use on bears is NOT prohibited.
Need more proof? - see page 11 of the following - Memorandum
of the Candian Border Services Agency that includes the following statement -
Exception: Aerosol or similar dispensers that contain substances capable of repelling or subduing animals (e.g. dog or bear repellent) are not considered prohibited weapons if:
(i) the label of the container indicates specifically that it is for use against animals only;
In other words - the can should actually say "BEAR SPRAY" or something similar - and that is what you should declare. "I HAVE BEAR SPRAY" - there will be no more questions. If you really need to know more - have fun studying the Canadian Pest Control Act.
And YES - it is stupid to allow mass quantities of spray just because the label says it is for bears and not your daughter's little spray in her purse. Just play the game and you can keep your spray. As an added bonus the border officials will know you are honest.
Talk to the animals. They will talk back to you. If you don't talk to the animals, they won't talk back to you, and you will fear and when you fear animals you will destroy, and if you destroy the animals, you will destroy yourself.
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mainlandernow
Los Angeles, Hawaii, Nevada
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Joined: 01/03/2009
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In South America, they use spray cans carburetor cleaner for self defense...
never any legal issues and apparently it really does a number on
attackers. I wouldn't say what I carried it for...
sorry, I just read that in a surivalists forum and had to share
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government."
-Patrick Henry
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revrnd
Apsley, Ontario
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Joined: 09/10/2003
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mainlandernow wrote:In South America, they use spray cans carburetor cleaner for self defense...
never any legal issues and apparently it really does a number on
attackers. I wouldn't say what I carried it for...
sorry, I just read that in a surivalists forum and had to share
Would hair spray & a lighter would just as well?
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mayo30
Lanigan
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Joined: 07/15/2009
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I would like to hear or know of anyone that has used bear spray on a bear.Does it work?
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Joined: 10/03/2000
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I would like to hear or know of anyone that has used hair, bear, pepper, carb or hornet spray on hair, bear, people, carbs or hornets. Does it work?
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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4*phun*2
Canada
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Joined: 09/24/2008
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Grizzly bear poop smells like bear spray and has walking stick bells in it.
Glenn & Karen
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obgraham
Eastern WA
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Luke Porter wrote:I would like to hear or know of anyone that has used hair, bear, pepper, carb or hornet spray on hair, bear, people, carbs or hornets. Does it work? Hornet spray definitely works on hornets. I expect it would work very well on perps, too. I've not had the opportunity to use my bear spray on a bear.
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IdahoGem
The mountains of ID, USA
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Joined: 09/16/2004
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Ask Jack Hanna--he recently used it effectively in Glacier NP.Hanna repels bear
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joe b.
Florida
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The size of the container allowed, appears to be based upon "concealibility" of the item. It is somewhat difficult to hide a 14 oz. spray can of pepper spray in your pocket as you can with the smaller one or two ounce containers sold in the US. Pepper spray is not only carried/used by the law abiding group but also by the criminal element at times. Canada would seem to be trying to avoid having their criminal folks from having an easy/legal way of disabling people so that they can rob, car jack, etc.
Any of the pepper spray has a downside as well. I still have several small containers left over from my law enforcement days in Colorado. I keep them on a shelf out in my garage, as some of the expired ones will have a tendency to leak. I wouldn't personally carry a can of "bear spray" inside my RV either. If you have ever been treated to a spray of pepper spray/Mace, it is an experience you will never forget. You can't see, breath, major pain to the breathing passages, eyes, etc. One of my daughters had a small container in her glove box of her car and it leaked out one day while parked in the hot sun. Quite a surprise to her when she returned to her car and opened the door. Not what you would want to have happen while driving.
Most of the articles on the bear spray do indicate that it does work, when properly applies to the bear. They also recommend that you leave the area as soon as possible, after using the spray, as the residue seems to attract bears to return to the site. Don't know if they like the residue smell or just coming back to kick some human's butt. LOL
My experience in law enforcement, on using Mace on aggressive dogs, has been mixed. Works on some but others seem to be able to ignore it. For whatever purpose you buy the pepper spray/Mace/bear spray, get an extra can and go into a small room and give it a poof. Get a feel for how it is going to feel to you, if you spray it upwind and it blows back on you. Then you will know what to expect. The second time is not as shocking to your system.
I don't carry it for bears, but might in the future, as it could be fairly cheap insurance while hiking in the north country unarmed. Plus the Mace brand is not half bad on a taco, just a spritz or two at most, downwind. LOL
On edit: It would appear that some states have very specific laws regarding Mace/pepper spray and the sale of it. California, in one article is listed as not allowing the sale of containers larger than 2.5 oz., Mass only allows the sale through licensed firearm dealers, etc. In law enforcement we carried the combined product of tear gas and pepper spray, some in liquid spray form and some in a foam spray.
The old Mace (a brand) was originally just tear gas and is no longer produced to my knowledge. I think I will just wait to buy some on my next trip north on the way in one of the mountain west states or when I get into Canada. (the Sportsman's Wholesale store in Grande Prairie, AB, is outstanding and seems to have everything at a good price)Right on the hwy as you go through town. Stores also Edmonton, Calgary and I believe in Lethbridge(not sure about this one) They are as much fun to prowl through as Cabela's, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, Sportsman's Warehouse, Outdoor World, etc.
* This post was
edited 08/15/10 07:05am by joe b. *
joe b.
Stuart Florida
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Alaska-Colorado&others, photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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jlawless
Coldfoot, AK
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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mayo30 wrote:I would like to hear or know of anyone that has used bear spray on a bear.Does it work?
YES! - it works - I know several people that have used it on charging bears and had to pull it out at a momet's notice - usually deeper in the bush than most of you will go - it was very effective. I have had mine out (with the safety off) when I met a brown bear 10 feet away when rounding a blind corner on a mountain trail - but after 15 minutes staring at each other and talking to it - the bear moved on and I didn't have to use it.
There are plenty of stories out there but here is the most recent one publicized that I know of (many are not) - this episode is not a particularly good example of how to behave in the wilderness for several reasons but even these morons survived once they finally got the bear spray out of their pack - it is better to wear it on your belt. Bear Spray saves Resurrection Trail Bikers
And a forum member here posted his own pictures last year - Cliff_Michele's encounter
* This post was
edited 08/15/10 12:22pm by jlawless *
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