Mystery Alaskan State Parks Grizzly Bear Target

A few years ago, a well done target featuring an attacking grizzly bear came on the market. It appeared to be an official target of the Alaskan State Parks. 

I liked the look of the target as an image to use with bear attack stories where original images of the scene was unavailable. Many bear targets show cartoonish bears, bears which are not approaching the shooter, bears which are not focused on the people being trained to shoot at them.  This target showed the right mix of realism, focus and artistic depiction. The image was clearly created by an artist, so it would not confuse readers about whether it was an actual image from the scene of an attack.

I contacted the Alaskan State Parks, and was directed to a very helpful Development Specialist at the State of Alaska, Wendy Sailors. Wendy was a delight to work with. However we were unable to find the source of the target. 

Two years ago, Wendy said I could use the target, as the government of Alaska did not seem to have any information on it. Use of a more realistic target when training to stop bear attacks is useful. Notice the eyes of the bear are focused on the defender.  It helps break down the inhibition against shooting a bear. Such an inhibition has been inculcated into millions of people via the constant portrayal of bears as friendly, fuzzy, furry forest creatures, in hundreds of TV shows and movies.

In reality, bears are large, strong, unpredictable wild animals which are very dangerous to naive humans.  When people practice shooting realistic targets, it helps them overcome the inhibitions inculcated by television shows and movies.

 The image shows the natural weapons of a bear very well. The aiming point is reasonably well placed. I might have placed it an inch higher. The look of the bear's face is focused on the bear's target, while the person being trained should be focused on the bear target.

Recently, another source popped up, showing the target was used in 2010. The people using the target thought someone, perhaps a State of Alaska employee, might have been the person who produced the target. Currently, the target does not appear to be commercially available. 

This correspondent initiated another exchange with the ever patient and responsible Wendy Sailors.

Wendy worked to find references to the new lead.  She wrote again  to state that I could use the target if I desired to do so, because the state of Alaska did not appear to have any records of it. 

It is likely taxpayers paid the salary of the person who created the image.  It is almost certainly in the public domain. It is an image which deserves promotion and use. It is an excellent target to use when training people how to use firearms in defense against a bear attack.

The artist who produced the image clearly has talent. Perhaps it was done for the Alaskan State Parks department at some time. The image bears the identifier: ASP-BB.  If any readers have more information about the target, please contact AmmoLand.

 

©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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