# Very pistol / flare gun vs bear? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674 "2008-04-02T14:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/21 "2008-04-04T16:08:26Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] Actually, there’s a significant body of thought that There are plenty of reports of bears running away from even such moderate actions as yelling or waving (happened with the only bear I’ve encountered while hiking). So firing a flare gun, though scarcely a recommended procedure, would have a reasonable chance of chasing off a bear. [/QUOTE] Except if you end up accidentally firing the flare so it ends up _behind_ the bear. Then it’s running from the flare…directly at YOU. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/22 "2008-04-04T16:46:07Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] There are plenty of reports of bears running away from even such moderate actions as yelling or waving (happened with the only bear I’ve encountered while hiking). So firing a flare gun, though scarcely a recommended procedure, would have a reasonable chance of chasing off a bear. But grizzlies are often, as you imply, hard to predict. There’s also the point that they are a protected species: shooting at one would be a federal offense; you’d face a stiff fine or jail unless you could show it was attacking. [/QUOTE] Black bears are fairly easy to scare off. You can do better making yourself look big (jacket above your head, arms out, loud noises) then firing a flare gun which has all sorts of possible negative consequences. All the black bears I’ve ever met while hiking have turned tail and ran as soon as they heard us coming. The only exception was an habituated bear at a campsite in the Daks who was later destroyed. It is not recommended to confront a Grizzly during an encounter like you would with a black bear. That may cause an attack by a bear who now feels threatened. If the bear has decided to charge and attack, based on what I’ve read about shootings with bullets, a flare gun isn’t likely to scare off an already mad grizzly. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/23 "2008-04-04T17:38:53Z")
I gotcha bear-slaying flare gun [right here](http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/), people. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/24 "2008-04-04T17:58:00Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] What in the world is a Very pistol? Does it differ significantly from a Somewhat pistol? [/QUOTE] Kinda. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/25 "2008-04-04T19:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=coffeecat] I gotcha bear-slaying flare gun [right here](http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/), people. [/QUOTE] To quote Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington: “I don’t know if that will frighten the bear, but it terrifies me.” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/26 "2008-04-04T21:57:46Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] What in the world is a Very pistol? Does it differ significantly from a Somewhat pistol? [/QUOTE] It’s a flare gun, named after Ed Very. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/27 "2008-04-04T23:12:09Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] It’s a flare gun, named after Ed Very. [/QUOTE] [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flare_gun). It looks like they are effective in subduing German pilots. Doesn’t say anything about bears (stupid Wiki). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/28 "2008-04-05T04:18:52Z")
After the war, Edward Very put all his flare-gun money into a massive non-profit foundation, the Very Foundation of America. The VFA funded burn units in 16 hospitals, spearheaded safe habitats for Grizzly Bears, and provided the seed money for The Care Bears. Mostly, though, the Very Foundation of America is a tax dodge. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/29 "2008-04-05T04:47:08Z")
Does anyone know the answer to the question _How flammable is a bear?_ ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/30 "2008-04-05T05:30:53Z")
I think a flaregun would be be very effective in warding off bear attacks - as long as you limit yourself to Koalas 😛 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/31 "2008-04-05T18:33:00Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] There’s also the point that they are a protected species: shooting at one would be a federal offense; you’d face a stiff fine or jail unless you could show it was attacking. [/QUOTE] From who? We’re alone in the woods with a bear and a flare gun. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/32 "2008-04-05T18:37:11Z")
[QUOTE=coffeecat] I gotcha bear-slaying flare gun [right here](http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/), people. [/QUOTE] Wow…that has to be one of the dumbest ideas I’ve seen in awhile. And yet…totally awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/33 "2008-04-05T22:55:18Z")
[QUOTE=coffeecat] I gotcha bear-slaying flare gun [right here](http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/), people. [/QUOTE] Perfect for home defense, so long as your home, furniture, clothing and family memberes are all made of or coated with concrete. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/34 "2008-04-06T01:32:22Z")
I have read the entire thread and think I have two solutions: - bring along a flare gun and an Okapi When the bear charges, throw the Okapi at it, and use the flare gun to make sure the bear sees the easy meat meal - bring a Trebuchet When the bear charges, load yourself and fire over the bear’s head ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/35 "2008-04-06T12:51:46Z")
[QUOTE=Gary T] Is it a 1920’s style flare gun? [/QUOTE] [You mean like these ones?](http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-weapons/signal-pistols.htm) (OK, they’re WWI vintage, but I can assure you that WWI flare guns were identical to 1920s style Flare Guns which were themselves identical to WWII flare guns). The 9th flare gun down the page should look familiar to most of you- that’s right, Boba Fett’s blaster was a 1920s style Flare Gun made by Webley & Scott. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/36 "2008-04-06T14:19:52Z")
[QUOTE=Valgard] A friend of mine spent 10 days canoeing up in the Hudson Bay region and Big Hungry Bears are a danger up there (right after the mosquito population which Mike said were the worst he’s ever seen, and he’s from a state known for the damn things). Anyhow they all had to take some turns on Bear Watch. Standard armament for the man on watch was a 12ga shotgun loaded with solid slugs. Not a flare gun or some anti-bear fireworks. [/QUOTE] But this raises another question,would a flare gun deter a raging mosquito charging straight at you? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/37 "2008-04-06T16:15:06Z")
[QUOTE=Capt B. Phart] If there’s one thing worse than being ripped apart by a grizzly bear, it’s being rippled apart by an \ ***on fire** \* grizzly bear Ok, being rippled apart by an on-fire rocket-powered grizzly bear on rollerskates being hurled from a trebuchet, that would be worse too [/QUOTE] I am stealing your post for my new sig. I just wanted to let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/38 "2008-04-06T17:34:08Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] We’re alone in the woods with a bear and a flare gun. [/QUOTE] I’m stealing your post for the opening line of my book (It’s a romance) ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/39 "2008-04-07T10:56:16Z")
[QUOTE=coffeecat] I gotcha bear-slaying flare gun [right here](http://mirror.linnwood.org/flamethrower/), people. [/QUOTE] I was going to seriously ask this – would a flamethrower actually work well as a defense against a grizzly or polar bear attack? Surely a bear wouldn’t want to charge through a stream of flame, and if it found itself surrounded by one it would try desperately to get away…? ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674/40 "2008-04-07T14:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Surely the thing to do would be pop the flare into the ground close to the bear, so you get to play on its instinctive dread of fire without having a pain-maddened bear to deal with? [/QUOTE] After the bear stomps out the fire he’d probably [Beat you to death with his shovel.](http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/EM/Images/1985poster1.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pistol-flare-gun-vs-bear/443674.md?page=3)