Where does one get pepper spray?

[snoozy]

Rather than get into the Grizzly fray now onto page 5 or something, I was wondering where you get pepper spray? I've been thinking I oughter have some for when I go hiking...

[Harry Chickpea]

Dollar store has some around here. Not sure I would trust it... Try gun shop.

[NickieL]

REI if you have one near by.

[Bearfootfarm]

Look for "bear spray"

It's stronger and will spray more/farther

Gun shops, outdoor sporting goods stores and online are places to find it

[julieq]

I'm sure here in Southern Idaho any sporting goods store would carry it. Although I think most of us here choose to carry guns instead.

[houndlover]

Bob's in Longview WA - huge outdoor store, has many different sizes of pepper and bear spray.

[scooter]

Gander Mountain here in MN has it. We got some for our granddaughter who went out east to Boston for college. We got her one that's on a key chain and then a bigger one to also carry with her.

[snoozy]

Thanks!

[Malamute]

Even wal-mart has it here. Don't think its as good as the Udap stuff, but probably works.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

I've read bear attack experts recommend not getting anything less than an 8 ounce can. That really spreads a big cloud.

[Malamute]

I think you get much more range from larger cans also.

I've heard that there are classes to teach people how pepper works, and how to use it. They have non-peppered spray to practice with and show how it works. May be worth checking around.

[secretcreek]

I found various sized/priced pepper/mace sprays at a local gun/hunting supply store. I too purchased a couple for my young adult daughter, and one for myself. I have a key-chain kind. I made it very visual as I flipped it to "open", when I felt threatened as I told someone they needed to leave my parents property back in July. He backed right off.

-scrt crk

[Wayne02]

I order it from this outfit.
http://www.udap.com/

It's a good idea to purchase a can of the inert version of the spray for training purposes. Most people assume that accurately and safely deploying pepper spray in an emergency situation is going to be easy.
It's not as easy as folks assume it will be.

Most people have no idea how far their spray will carry, the shape and dispersion of the spray, the length of time it will operate, the potential for blow-back, etc.

You can take the inert can out in the yard and shoot at a fence post or something. That will at least give you an idea of how the spray will operate should you need to use it someday.

[k9]

It would give you a nice pepper seasoning taste for the grizz.

[Jan in CO]

Based on an older email going around that recommended using WASP spray rather than pepper spray for home deterrent, or office, I wonder if carrying a can of that would be too cumbersome or if it would be effective against a griz if that is what you wanted it for? Supposed to be strong and spray father and more accurately than pepper spray. Just a thought.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by Jan in CO

Based on an older email going around that recommended using WASP spray rather than pepper spray for home deterrent, or office, I wonder if carrying a can of that would be too cumbersome or if it would be effective against a griz if that is what you wanted it for? Supposed to be strong and spray father and more accurately than pepper spray. Just a thought.

In the interviews with bear experts that I've read, pepper spray is more effective than anything else because it spreads out in a cloud and creates a wider barrier between the bear and person.
Aiming something with a narrow spray at a charging bear's eyes could be problematic for someone who would be scared snotless, as I would be.

[joseph97297]

I would look for something other than spray. Back when I went through MSG School in Virginia, one of the training episodes was to get sprayed with the pepper Spray and then you had to react and 'defend' yourself. The reasoning behind it was you could have your spray taken away, but we also carried revolvers, but thankfully no one mentioned they could get taken away as well....

It may be different strength, and I hope so, because I saw folks walk through that stuff like it was sugar water and keep on trucking. It made my eyes puffy and swell but other than that, just irritating. I wouldn't trust my cat's life to pepper spray, better off with something else, though I don't know what other than a firearm of some sorts.

But they do make large cans, crowd disperser types if you want to carry something.

[snoozy]

Originally Posted by joseph97297

I would look for something other than spray. Back when I went through MSG School in Virginia, one of the training episodes was to get sprayed with the pepper Spray and then you had to react and 'defend' yourself. The reasoning behind it was you could have your spray taken away, but we also carried revolvers, but thankfully no one mentioned they could get taken away as well....

It may be different strength, and I hope so, because I saw folks walk through that stuff like it was sugar water and keep on trucking. It made my eyes puffy and swell but other than that, just irritating. I wouldn't trust my cat's life to pepper spray, better off with something else, though I don't know what other than a firearm of some sorts.

But they do make large cans, crowd disperser types if you want to carry something.

Monosodium Glutamate School??

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by joseph97297

I would look for something other than spray. Back when I went through MSG School in Virginia, one of the training episodes was to get sprayed with the pepper Spray and then you had to react and 'defend' yourself. The reasoning behind it was you could have your spray taken away, but we also carried revolvers, but thankfully no one mentioned they could get taken away as well....

It may be different strength, and I hope so, because I saw folks walk through that stuff like it was sugar water and keep on trucking. It made my eyes puffy and swell but other than that, just irritating. I wouldn't trust my cat's life to pepper spray, better off with something else, though I don't know what other than a firearm of some sorts.

But they do make large cans, crowd disperser types if you want to carry something.

Must be something different than what they sell as bear spray, because bear spray really puts the brakes on bears.

[Cabin Fever]

How do you tell the difference between grizzly bear scat and black bear scat?

Grizzly bear scat is full of little bells and smells like pepper spray.