Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Pepper Spray

Bushwacker, Backpack, and Supply Inc., dba Counter Assault was established in 1986 in Missoula, MT and is presently located in Kalispell, MT.

Counter Assault Bear Deterrent pepper spray was developed, in conjunction with the University Montana, as a means to protect people from bears in a non-lethal manner. In the early 1980s, Dr. Charles Jonkel and Carrie Hunt of the University of Montana Border Grizzly Project generated the scientific data that proved Counter Assault’s proprietary formula and delivery system successfully deterred bears from aggressive encounters in a non-lethal manner.

In 1986, Counter Assault began business operations in Missoula, Montana to market a bear pepper spray. Since that time, National Park rangers, hunters, hikers, guides and others have carried the spray in the backcountry. Counter Assault Bear Deterrent is used worldwide by outdoor professionals, enthusiasts, and by Federal and State wildlife agencies. Counter Assault Bear Deterrent is lightweight, easily carried on the belt of a hunter, fisherman, or backpacker.

In the early 1990s with Counter Assault’s formulation technology and product specifications, we added a line of personal defense pepper sprays called OC-10®. Counter Assault OC-10® is a non-flammable, non-toxic aerosol spray used by law enforcement, military, and the general public as a non-lethal alternative for attacks by humans.

In June of 1998, Counter Assault became the first bear deterrent pepper spray to achieve US Environmental Protection Agency registration. In December 1998, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, a group consisting of various US Forest Service, state agencies, and other government personnel, awarded Counter Assault the 1998 Grizzly Bear Stewardship Award for significant participation in the research and development of bear deterrent pepper spray.

Counter Assault relocated to a new facility in Kalispell, Montana that was designed specifically to accommodate pepper spray manufacturing in February 1999. During the first quarter of 2004, Counter Assault doubled the size of its manufacturing facility and in the last quarter of 2008, Counter Assault completed a second expansion that again almost doubled the size of its manufacturing facility.