Hiking / Camping with Bears

Guyon

Guyon

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That bear charge thread got me thinking more about an upcoming hike. In August, I'm going to do some backpacking and camping in what I'm told is black bear country along the TN/KY border (Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area). Here's what I'm planning...

1) Buy a big old canister of Counter Assault bear spray, figure out how to use it, and keep it handy outside my pack. This article was informative in this regard: http://www.adn.com/2008/04/20/381252/spray-proves-its-worth-in-bear.html

2) Hike and camp sensibly. Make noise when hiking. Cook/eat food away from camp. Store food away from camp. Maybe even get a bear canister.

3) Load for bear best I can.

4) Be sure I can outrun at least one of my hiking buddies.

The boy scout in me says I should take a handgun in addition to the pepper spray, though the rational part of my brain says there's no way I'd be able to deploy/use both in the case of a charging bear. There are, however, the two-legged varmints to worry about.

I do not own a .44 Magnum, and I do not think one is in the budget prior to a trip. However, I do own a 4" S&W 686. Best I can tell, this stuff is the best thing out there for the .357 Magnum when it comes to large critters: http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100 I'm sure it would work to cripple one of my fleeing friends such that the bear stops to check him out instead of eating me. :p

What else should I do? I'm guessing I need to figure out what bear scat looks like. And I plan to call the park rangers and ask about bear habitat and activity in the park.
 
Now, according to this device, the proper procedure in case of bear attack is:

Ring bell.
Scream.
Run.
Change underwear.

Is this the right order? I'd really prefer to die in clean underwear. :p

bear%20bell%20300.JPG
 
Get bears bells for your pack and everyone in your group (it beats yelling "hello bear" every minute). I have this one and it has a magnetic silencer on it too.

http://www.rei.com/product/721998




Oh, and get a good stout walking stick. One good whack on the shins of your slowest hiking partner will ensure your getaway.:eek::D
 
When your slowest hiking partner slips quietly behind a big tree, the bear will focus on you, screaming and running through the underbrush, going for the peanut butter your buddy smeared on your shoes ...
 
I'm in black bear country quite a bit and have only had two encounters, I'm typing this with my feet.:eek::rolleyes::p

Here's your poop.
Picture158.jpg


If you're planning on hanging your food, I've found polypropylene rope to pull the easiest across bark. Just a thought.

A few decent articles.
http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/training/bearbag.shtml

http://troop111.org/bear.html

http://www.cliff-jacobson.com/bearproof.shtml

Personally I hang everything away from camp and prefer the counter balance method, that's if I can find a counter balance heavy enough to hold the goods up. It's a good ideal to hang your fishing gear and personal hygiene items too. The only things in my tent are my pfd, sleeping bag and pad, clothes bag, knife, light, bear spray, air horn, and sometimes a gun. Pre air horn I'd keep a clean pot and lid with some rocks so I had a quick noise maker.

If a bear comes into camp shine him with a bright light and scream, if that doesn't work a small marine air horn should, if not spray it down with bear spray. If all that fails the bear will most likely be pretty pissed and you'll want to sacrifice a camp mate to them or go Mano a Mano with your knife and hatchet.:thumbup:

Good luck and don't forget the pics.:)
 
I would be very surprised if you run into any bears in BSF, but it is possible. Given they are somewhat rare in the park, a cannister and pistol may be overboard unless you don't mind the weight and the pistol doubles for two legged predator protection. In the past I have carried a small air horn in GSMNP as the only bears I have seen there are from a distance and generally a loud noise will scare them off. It won't protect you from a surprise encounter though.

Back to the two legged critters, be careful where you leave your car down there. They have had some break-in issues at the more secluded access points of the park .
 
Helle said:
I'm in black bear country quite a bit and have only had two encounters, I'm typing this with my feet.:eek::rolleyes::p

Here's your poop.
Click to expand...

Hopefully that's the bear's poop :)

When berry season is in full gear, the black bear scat that I've seen looks loose and is berry-filled.

Reminds me of the old joke of how to tell grizzly scat from black bear scat:

Black bear scat has fur and berries in it.

Grizzly scat has bells in it and smells like pepper

:)
 
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The buffalo bore ammo is reputed to be quite effective. If you buy some be sure to get enough that you can shoot a cylinder of it before you carry it in your gun. It's likely to rattle your teeth and take a bit of getting used to.
 
How many campers in your party? I think it would be a good idea for there to be at least 1 long gun in the party. A best choice for this trip might be something like a lever action 45-70 carbine... Or if you happen to have an AR-10, that would work well also... If there is no decent rifle available, what about a short (18") barrel 12 gauge pump shotgun... with the right ammo, it is a formidible defensive weapon.
 
Guyon said:
Now, according to this device, the proper procedure in case of bear attack is:

Ring bell.
Scream.
Run.
Change underwear.

Is this the right order? I'd really prefer to die in clean underwear. :p

bear%20bell%20300.JPG
Click to expand...

I thought the bear bell was used to call them to dinner. :D

Jeff
 
I never carry a gun or even spray, I just live in hope that Snicker will kill one if it attacks !

I'm pretty sure she would get stuck in it's throat and choke it to death !!!
 
Here's my bear poo pic (boot is size 14):
poop.jpg

track.jpg


Plenty of black bears where I hike in CO. They haven't bothered me (yet).:)
 
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I don't live in Tennessee, but bears would be the LAST thing on my mind. Your biggest issues to your well being by stats would be

Falls (falling down and having an injury)
Other people ( you know, the predatory ones)
Snakes.

Carry your 357, go have a good time, and don't worry about bears, your in Tennessee not Admiralty or Kodiak Island.
 
oldpinecricker said:
I don't live in Tennessee, but bears would be the LAST thing on my mind. Your biggest issues to your well being by stats would be

Falls (falling down and having an injury)
Other people ( you know, the predatory ones)
Snakes.

Carry your 357, go have a good time, and don't worry about bears, your in Tennessee not Admiralty or Kodiak Island.
Click to expand...

There have only been a few people killed by bears here in the last ten years or so, and not too many mauled but not killed. Enjoy your time in the woods.

:):thumbup:
 
And if it's windy, the bear spray is good for s**t. I'm not knocking bear spray, I carry it myself, but when the wind is blowin'................I'd be happy to have a .357 ( and if I didn't live in Canada, and if I didn't............)

Doc
 
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