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OPERATING IN POLAR BEAR ENVIRONMENTS AND FIREARM HANDLING COURSE

Expedition guiding in the Arctic requires us to be ready for polar bear encounters. As much as our goal is to show our guests polar bears, our primary aim is to avoid polar bear encounters on land. We want to keep bears and people safe, thus need to understand polar bear behaviour and biology.

This course will teach you about polar bear biology and behaviour, how to scout a landing for bears, and how to react if surprised by a bear. You will gain an understanding of how to guide in polar bear environments and important considerations when watching bears from a Zodiac or ship.

You will also learn how to operate a rifle, including cleaning and caring for firearms, as well as shooting a firearm. This module will provide you with a South African Firearm Competency certificate which will allow you to apply for a ‘Permit to Borrow’ a firearm in Svalbard.

This course consists of 2 modules:

  1. Operating in polar bear environments
  2. Firearm skills for polar bear environments


OPERATING IN POLAR BEAR ENVIRONMENTS
By the end of this course, you will have gained knowledge of polar bears and their environments including:

  • Polar bear behaviour and biology.
  • High risk areas.
  • Polar bear attack statistics.
  • Use of non-lethal deterrents strategies.
  • Preparing for group and individual excursions in polar bear environments.
  • Managing a large group excursion in polar bear environments.
  • How to prepare a site for visitors.
  • Develop strategies for polar bear encounters and withdrawal.
  • Develop knowledge of an emergency response strategies.

PTGA Alignment: Operations in polar bear environments.

GOOD TO KNOW

Duration: 3 days
Cost: $1 200

Certification: South African Certificate of Competency to Handle and Use a Manually Operated Rifle or Carbine.

PTGA Alignment:

  • Operations in polar bear environments
  • Firearm skills for polar bear environments

FIREARM HANDLING SKILLS FOR POLAR BEAR ENVIRONMENTS

  • Understanding the characteristics of different firearms and ammunitions.
  • Preparing a firearm for field operations.
  • Firing positions in polar bear environments.
  • Shooting the firearm: Knowledge and performance.
  • Bear anatomy and optimal shot placements.
  • Common aiming concepts.
  • Firearm carrying options/strategies.
  • Common firearm malfunctions.
  • Knowledge of post shooting actions and shot/killed animal protocols.
  • Unloading the firearm.
  • Post use firearm care.
  • Practical firearm training at the range.

PTGA Alignment: Firearm Skills for Polar Bear Environments.

CERTIFICATION
South African Certificate of Competency to Handle and Use a Manually Operated Rifle or Carbine.

This certification is recognised by the Governor of Svalbard to apply for a ‘permit to borrow a firearm’ in Svalbard. This is required by any guide wishing to work as a bear guard in Svalbard.