Dealing with bears.

[Swatsy07]

I loved exploring the Western and Northern wilderness of Chernarus; however, because of my real-life pathological fear of bears I have not returned to these areas since their introduction due to them transforming DayZ into a horror game.

Anyone got advice regarding killing/wounding/avoiding bears?

[tslaw2]

I haven't encountered a bear. Wolves but no bear. Try playing with a partner it will make dealing with animals less fearful.

[Deaths]

It's scary as heck for everyone, you just have to get your feet wet a few time to build the composure you need to go after a bear. It's never easy and know sure fire way to approach the first time. Much respect and take care survivor

[Deaths]

it will take 7 to 8 308 headshots to kill or about 18 556/ or 7.62x 39 headshots to kill

[deuceyd]

Originally posted by Deaths:

it will take 7 to 8 308 headshots to kill or about 18 556/ or 7.62x 39 headshots to kill

not very realistic

[Holiday]

Tactical helm or ballistic, press vest or plate carrier and the vaiga is the way to go for first time bear hunt. This way you can take more than two swipes from the bear without dying. Winchester works for a couple of long range shots, then finish him off with Vaiga. Or if you have a fully loaded Vaiga drum mag, just use that.

[etwas]

Originally posted by Deucey D:

Originally posted by Deaths:

it will take 7 to 8 308 headshots to kill or about 18 556/ or 7.62x 39 headshots to kill

not very realistic

thankfully its just a game,
if this would be close to realism, noone would play anymore.
u get some advantages - like speed up recovery from sickness or wounds, no need to sleep etc.
one tapping with anything at anything would be boring fast. fix your shoes? just do it once a month. eat? nah i ate sth last week, i can sprint another 20km.
;)

[etwas]

u have a good chance to survive if u dont attack the bear at all. he might hit u unconcious, but most likely will move on afterwards. if u shot at him first, be sure he will finish u off.

[ast]

Originally posted by etwas:

u have a good chance to survive if u dont attack the bear at all. he might hit u unconcious, but most likely will move on afterwards. if u shot at him first, be sure he will finish u off.

good tip...and I was wondering why the last bear who surprised me didn't finish me off.

[Swatsy07]

Originally posted by tslaw2:

I haven't encountered a bear. Wolves but no bear. Try playing with a partner it will make dealing with animals less fearful.

I have a friend that used to play occasionally, but he has not been on since their introduction. I probably should have clarified that I play mainly solo, but thank you for replying (and hopefully it might help someone else out).

Originally posted by Deaths:

it will take 7 to 8 308 headshots to kill or about 18 556/ or 7.62x 39 headshots to kill

I tend to run with either a Winchester or Mosin when solo with a shotgun (either the double barrel or the 133) as a secondary weapon. I imagine a few initial shots from the rifle and then follow-up shots from the shotgun as the bear nears? Shooting from inside a building sounds like my best bet.

Also, for bears, buckshot or slugs? Thanks.

Originally posted by Holiday:

Tactical helm or ballistic, press vest or plate carrier and the vaiga is the way to go for first time bear hunt. This way you can take more than two swipes from the bear without dying. Winchester works for a couple of long range shots, then finish him off with Vaiga. Or if you have a fully loaded Vaiga drum mag, just use that.

If only I have ever even seen a Vaiga
Do you know roughly how many headshots it would take to bring down a bear using a shotgun? Thank you for the suggestions.

Originally posted by etwas:

u have a good chance to survive if u dont attack the bear at all. he might hit u unconcious, but most likely will move on afterwards. if u shot at him first, be sure he will finish u off.

Can you hear a bear's roar from a far enough distance to avoid it like with wolves? Also, do bears tend to stray far from their spawn points and onto roads or forests that don't spawn any bears? Thank you.

[ast]

Originally posted by Swatsy:

Can you hear a bear's roar from a far enough distance to avoid it like with wolves? Also, do bears tend to stray far from their spawn points and onto roads or forests that don't spawn any bears? Thank you.

usaually yes but the last one really surprised me...I heard him roar once but it sounded still quite far away.
I just wanted to check for him when he was on me before I had the chance to fire a shot and knocked me out with one hit of his claw.
I was waiting for his final deathblow while lying unconscious on the ground but it never came.
he just sniffed around a bit and then strolled away.
when I came to my senses my clothing was ruined, most of my gear damaged and my health in the red, though, but I survived

buckshot is the ammo of choice for a shotgun imo...when do you use a shotty for farther distances (slug)?
damage is the same as the big calibers, 7-8 aimed hits should be sufficient.

usually bears are roaming their spawn area and don't wander off.
(only talkin bout official, though)

[Swatsy07]

Originally posted by ast:

Originally posted by Swatsy:

Can you hear a bear's roar from a far enough distance to avoid it like with wolves? Also, do bears tend to stray far from their spawn points and onto roads or forests that don't spawn any bears? Thank you.

usaually yes but the last one really surprised me...I heard him roar once but it sounded still quite far away.
I just wanted to check for him when he was on me before I had the chance to fire a shot and knocked me out with one hit of his claw.
I was waiting for his final deathblow while lying unconscious on the ground but it never came.
he just sniffed around a bit and then strolled away.
when I came to my senses my clothing was ruined, most of my gear damaged and my health in the red, though, but I survived

buckshot is the ammo of choice for a shotgun imo...when do you use a shotty for farther distances (slug)?
damage is the same as the big calibers, 7-8 aimed hits should be sufficient.

What I am learning so far is this:

1). Avoid if at all possible
2). If avoiding is not possible AND you have a Saiga, unleash all into the bear.
3). If avoiding is not possible and you DON'T have a Saiga, find a building/hunting stand etc. and head shot the bear from there.
4). If a bear surprises you, you are better off NOT shooting as you are unlikely to kill it (maybe you could with a Vaiga) and if fired upon a bear is more likely to kill you rather than merely knock you unconscious.

Is this broadly correct?

[ast]

yep, you're pretty much on the safe side if you keep these things in mind...

but don't forget - this is a game based on experience and the key is learning by doing ;)

[Luca NK]

Only bear I ever met killed me anyway, even if I hadn't shot him. Since then I only venture in those areas if I have a big automatic, and run away in the opposite direction as soon as I hear one. The bad thing is that once you step in those woods north of Severo/Novaya, you hear them even if they are not there, so I understand the OP worries.

Anyway, just found the drum mag for my Saiga, off to West Evac!

[Luca NK]

Originally posted by Swatsy:

I tend to run with either a Winchester or Mosin when solo with a shotgun (either the double barrel or the 133) as a secondary weapon. I imagine a few initial shots from the rifle and then follow-up shots from the shotgun as the bear nears? Shooting from inside a building sounds like my best bet.

Also, for bears, buckshot or slugs? Thanks.

That's my favourite loadout aswell, but for the average game, with that equipment I wouldn't try take on bears. Those weapons pack a punch, they are perfect against other people, but with bears you need more dakka. Assault rifles and the Saiga shotgun. I'm also tempted to try and go after one with my FAL, but risking of losing it that way always seem rather stupid.

[Butch]

If you get surprised, you can also try to avoid it's attacks by circling arround the bear, idealy using trees to further obstruct the stupid ai's pathfinding, while looking for some place to get to safety, eg. climbing on a car wreck, some big rocks, a woodpile, buildings... from where you can safely kill it. A bit cheesy, i know, but better than getting mauled. You don't always have a Vaiga with a full drum mag or a LAR at hand, wich really are the only two options to face a charging bear head on and survive.