Course Overview
Firearms for Bear Defense is a 4-hour live fire course for people who want to understand what makes the best bear protection gun in real Alaskan conditions. It builds on your bear awareness and helps you turn knowledge into practical skill. Our Bear Safety Foundations course is encouraged but not required.
First, the class starts with safety foundations and a clear course direction. Instructors cover state law and reporting regulations for both pepper spray and firearms you use for defense. You learn what is legal, what is appropriate, and how those rules apply in the field.
Next, you move into basic ballistics. You look at what makes a gun a “bear gun” and why some loads perform better than others. Unless you specify one platform (by agency or individual request), the course compares three common bear guns: shotgun, revolver, and semi-automatic pistol. Instructors focus on practical function and realistic backcountry use, not theory from a magazine or forum thread. Overall, this course offers a complete overview of the information and core skills you need for successful bear defense with a firearm.
We offer students the opportunity to complete the bear defense / bear guard qualification drill with proctoring. However, participation is not required unless your agency states otherwise.
This training meets the requirements of many state and local entities. Please check with your employer for certification parameters.
Bear Protection Firearms Class Rundown
This course focuses on helping you build a personal process applicable to your context for bear protection. You’ll gain knowledge of what elements are necessary for bear defense, which calibers or ammo types are most successful, and what options offer you the best odds relative to your context. Additionally, you’ll work to build or refresh a solid foundation as you focus on stance, how you mount the gun, and how you manage recoil to place effective impacts under pressure.
We identify and practice slings, holsters, or applicable carry options throughout the session. In standard courses, we offer students the opportunity to shoot several common bear guns in semi-auto, revolver, and shotgun platforms with both practice and bear loads if desired. Furthermore, you can bring personal firearms, though your instructor will conduct a safety evaluation prior to use. Your instructor will also evaluate ammo types for safety and reserves the right to prohibit personal equipment from a training session for your safety.
This course includes range fees, firearms for live fire training, interactive bear targets, eye and ear protection, course materials, a ballistics handout, and course certification. We invoice ammo per rounds fired if applicable. An ammo price list is available on request. Meanwhile, holsters, magazine pouches, belts, and speed loaders are available to borrow.
For more information on bear safety in Alaska, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
