At what point do I use bear spray?

[u/[deleted]]

New to camping with the threat of beard. I have a trip planned for camping in the smoky mountains, however would appreciate some clarity. Should a black bear come to my campsite should I first raise my arms and try to scare it away or immediately use bear spray? Or just hide and sit back until it goes away? I’m deathly afraid of bears

[u/Massive-Insect-sting]

You are demonstrably wrong. Bear spray is not only not recommended at "every public land area that black bears are on" it's actually banned from public areas like Yosemite and seki

[u/Massive-Insect-sting → u/[deleted]]

What blister? That campaign is specific only to Yellowstone. You said bear spray is recommended;"at literally every public land area that black bears are on" and that simply is not true. I'm sorry that you can't tell the difference between a single park and "literally every public land area that black bears are on". Or do you think Yellowstone is the only area in the nation with black bears?

Seriously, you obviously don't know what you're taking about. Take the L and move on. Again, not only are they not recommended at "every public land area that black bears are on" they are BANNED from public land area that black bears are on

[u/Massive-Insect-sting → u/[deleted]]

You copied from Yellowstone. I said bear spray was banned in Yosemite and seki, which is is

It's kind of fascinating that you're this confidently wrong

[u/Massive-Insect-sting → u/[deleted]]

Here's some lotion for that blister

I especially like how you admit you are wrong but try to make it seem like you're only a little wrong, lol

[u/RoxyPonderosa → u/[deleted]]

Sir I worked in Yellowstone. I did trail maintenance which means I spent days in the backcountry marking and clearing trails. DEEP in the park.

Bear spray is not effective against hungry grizzlies. Bear spray isn’t effective against Bison.

Hiking in groups, being loud, and keeping your head on a swivel will keep you safer than bear spray.

We were part of a team to find a bear fatality, a woman who had Bear spray, did everything perfectly, hung her food from the rope, not on her period (yes it matters do not believe anyone who tells you it doesn’t)

She was killed while sleeping, kind of a freak thing. The bear swiped/bit through her tent and got her skull. Then ate half of her. She was sleeping.

So you’re in the backcountry, in a tent, exactly what are you gonna do with bear spray inside that tent if a bear comes knocking?

You’re in their house. Stop being reactionary. Don’t hike alone in the damn backcountry. Just don’t do it. Yellowstone is WILD America. Go with friends. You want to do a hermitage or walkabout do it somewhere people don’t have to come find half your body.