Carrying bear spray is an important part of recreating in bear country. Knowing how to access and deploy it under pressure is just as important.
That is why Defend has been supporting hands-on bear safety education in Wyoming by providing inert training spray for Bear Wise training events conducted in partnership with wildlife and conservation organizations.
The training allows participants to do more than hear about bear safety. They can practice drawing a canister, removing the safety mechanism, aiming and deploying an inert spray during simulated encounters.
"Bear spray is emergency equipment, and emergency equipment works best when people have practiced with it before they need it," said Teri Quinn, Director of Marketing at Defend. "Our goal is not simply to put bear spray in someone's pack. We want people to feel prepared and confident using it if an encounter ever occurs and that's why this partnership is so important to us."
During Bear Wise Wyoming training events, participants learn about bear behavior, proper food and attractant storage, situational awareness, and how to respond during a bear encounter. Hands-on demonstrations take the education a step further.
"We're very grateful to Defend for providing the inert training spray that helps make these hands-on training opportunities possible," said Mark Aughton, Bear Wise Wyoming Coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "There is tremendous value in giving people the opportunity to actually practice accessing and deploying bear spray before they ever have to use it in a real encounter. Support like this helps us provide realistic, practical training that better prepares people to recreate safely in bear country."
Participants have been able to practice deploying inert spray against a simulated charging bear, helping outdoor users experience the mechanics of drawing and firing a canister without discharging live bear spray. The experience reinforces an important part of bear-country preparedness: equipment should be accessible and familiar.
A canister buried in a backpack does little good during a fast-moving encounter. Hunters, hikers, campers and anglers should know where their bear spray is located and how to deploy it quickly.
Defend entered the outdoor protection category with the goal of helping people feel more prepared while doing the things they enjoy outside. The company's bear spray lineup includes a 14-ounce canister designed to reach up to 45 feet, giving users additional distance during a potential encounter.
The Wyoming training initiative also reflects Defend's broader mission to support practical outdoor-safety education alongside the products it develops.
Visit Defend to learn more about our Bear Spray offerings or to stay social, connect with Defend on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
About Defend: Defend is owned and operated by Arcus Hunting, an acquisition growth platform with a strong portfolio of leading brands in the hunting and outdoors category. Arcus Hunting owns and operates Tink's®, Dead Down Wind, Defend, Defend by Tink's and Defend by Dead Down Wind brands. For more information about these brands or products, please contact Arcus Hunting at marketing@arcushunting.com or visit arcushunting.com.