JACKSON -- Teton County Attorney Steve Weichman said he's working on legislation that would require permitted backcountry users to carry bear spray when they're in grizzly country.

Weichman announced the proposal last week during a Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee meeting. He said the bill would require hunters, anglers and recreationists overnighting in national parks to carry bear spray when in areas populated by grizzly bears.

Weichman said the bill, which does not yet have a sponsor, is needed because human-grizzly conflicts are increasing. While only 44 people have died from grizzly attacks since the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of those attacks have occurred in the past 20 years.

Weichman also cited recent studies that show bear spray is more effective than bullets at preventing injury to humans during a bear attack.

"The grizzly is here, the conflicts are rising, and this is a commonsense notion much like seat belts, which were not warmly embraced either," he said.

A law requiring bear spray would make sense, said Louise Lasley, public lands director for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance.

"For agencies and organizations across the state to (require) all backcountry users have bear spray in their possession, while seemingly cumbersome, will probably go a long way in protecting those backcountry users and the bears," Lasley said.

Bob Wharff, executive director of the Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, said he's not sure if his group will support the bill. He added that the spray isn't the answer for every encounter, especially when it requires hunters to drop their guns where there's little time to react.

"You're talking milliseconds. It's illogical that you're going to set your gun down and get your pepper spray," Wharff said.