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Hiking / Camping with Bears
- Thread starter Guyon
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- Mar 14, 2009
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I've done the bear canisters, and they are now required out here in Rocky Mountain National Park. They are heavy, bulky, and in general a pain in the butt to deal with.
But still not quite as annoying as hanging your food every night.
I'd seriously consider an Ursack, especially if you are somewhere without specific bear canister regulations.
But still not quite as annoying as hanging your food every night.
I'd seriously consider an Ursack, especially if you are somewhere without specific bear canister regulations.
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2003
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In black bear country, just be responsible with your food and scented items and you will be fine. Don't forget the lip balm and flavored powder you put in your water bottle...
In the southeast, I am far far more afraid of yellowjackets than bears. I'd carry benadryl before bear spray.
In the southeast, I am far far more afraid of yellowjackets than bears. I'd carry benadryl before bear spray.
lambertiana
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I have had quite a few bear encounters in the Sierras, and only one of them had me concerned (in Yosemite Valley where they are completely used to people). All other encounters in the back country ended with the bear running away.
Take good care of your food and they won't bother you. Since bear canisters are required in many parts of the Sierras, I use one and it is a lot easier than hanging food. And it works everywhere; since I camp above treeline frequently, I need something that works consistently where there are no trees.
Grizzlies would be a different story, they are more unpredictable. But black bears are not a big problem.
Take good care of your food and they won't bother you. Since bear canisters are required in many parts of the Sierras, I use one and it is a lot easier than hanging food. And it works everywhere; since I camp above treeline frequently, I need something that works consistently where there are no trees.
Grizzlies would be a different story, they are more unpredictable. But black bears are not a big problem.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2010
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The best bear deterrent you can bring camping is some cord and a plastic bag. String your food and anything with a scent on it (toothpaste, deodorant, etc) into a tree a few hundred feet from camp. Bear problem solved. Guns and pepper spray are silly and unnecessary.
I've been camping in bear country (both black and grizzly) my whole life, have been within 20 feet of bears several times, and have never felt threatened. They're just big raccoons, looking for an easy meal. Don't give 'em one and you'll be fine.
More people die from lightning strikes than bear attacks each year. Don't worry about it too much
Just don't piss a mother bear off.
I've been camping in bear country (both black and grizzly) my whole life, have been within 20 feet of bears several times, and have never felt threatened. They're just big raccoons, looking for an easy meal. Don't give 'em one and you'll be fine.
More people die from lightning strikes than bear attacks each year. Don't worry about it too much
Just don't piss a mother bear off.
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- Nov 19, 2008
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last fall, I was deer hunting down in the Ocala NF. Spotting fresh bear sign and scat, I stalked after it.
Rounding a curve in the trail, and over a little rise, and dang it there he was. About 250 pounds or so of fairly hefty Florida Black Bear. Staring at me with about 10 yards between us.
He blinked first, and ambled off, which was good for us both.
Rounding a curve in the trail, and over a little rise, and dang it there he was. About 250 pounds or so of fairly hefty Florida Black Bear. Staring at me with about 10 yards between us.
He blinked first, and ambled off, which was good for us both.
Avoid odiferous foods like Tuna and bacon. No sense calling them in from miles around. I don't fry anything when I backpack, for the same reason.
If a bear canister makes you feel better, then use one. I never have used one up here. I keep my food in a dry bag to help seal off food smells, no sense in tempting them. My trash goes into a ziplock bag, for the same reason. In other words, Im trying to give the bear a chance to avoid his natural instincts for free food. Bears are the ultimate moochers.
Surprisingly, black bears are often not affected by pepper spray, whereas grizzlies cant take it at all.
Although I hate bear, (aka dinner) bells, if it makes you feel better, use them. They will drive you and everyone around you crazy after a while.
Make a mental note of which direction the wind is blowing as you hike. The bear cant smell you if the wind is at your face. If he smells you first, he will likely hide out until you pass. If you carry bear spray, you need to immediately know whether or not to shoot your spray. Being blinded by your own spray is no fun. Besides, the bear might like the seasoning.
The sounds of rushing streams, (and wind), will mask your sound signature, so pay attention in those conditions.
Go slower when coming up to the tops of hills.
In other words, do everything you can to NOT surprise a bear. They get real edgy when you scare em.
Above all, dont be paranoid. I dont even worry about bears anymore. In fact, I like it when I see them.
Unless I stumble upon a Mama and her cubs, or a fresh kill, I have no real concerns about errant bear attacks. I exercise the above common sense precautions. I also carry a .44 Magnum with bear loads. However, in black bear country, a .357 is plenty.
Have fun. I hope you get to see some bears!
If a bear canister makes you feel better, then use one. I never have used one up here. I keep my food in a dry bag to help seal off food smells, no sense in tempting them. My trash goes into a ziplock bag, for the same reason. In other words, Im trying to give the bear a chance to avoid his natural instincts for free food. Bears are the ultimate moochers.
Surprisingly, black bears are often not affected by pepper spray, whereas grizzlies cant take it at all.
Although I hate bear, (aka dinner) bells, if it makes you feel better, use them. They will drive you and everyone around you crazy after a while.
Make a mental note of which direction the wind is blowing as you hike. The bear cant smell you if the wind is at your face. If he smells you first, he will likely hide out until you pass. If you carry bear spray, you need to immediately know whether or not to shoot your spray. Being blinded by your own spray is no fun. Besides, the bear might like the seasoning.
The sounds of rushing streams, (and wind), will mask your sound signature, so pay attention in those conditions.
Go slower when coming up to the tops of hills.
In other words, do everything you can to NOT surprise a bear. They get real edgy when you scare em.
Above all, dont be paranoid. I dont even worry about bears anymore. In fact, I like it when I see them.
Unless I stumble upon a Mama and her cubs, or a fresh kill, I have no real concerns about errant bear attacks. I exercise the above common sense precautions. I also carry a .44 Magnum with bear loads. However, in black bear country, a .357 is plenty.
Have fun. I hope you get to see some bears!
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
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Hey bearcut,
As someone who regularly carries spray when hiking in black bear country, I was wondering if you could expand on your remark that this deterrent does not work on black bears. I was given to understand that a decent spraying generally works to see off aggressive black bears.
All the best,
- Mike
As someone who regularly carries spray when hiking in black bear country, I was wondering if you could expand on your remark that this deterrent does not work on black bears. I was given to understand that a decent spraying generally works to see off aggressive black bears.
All the best,
- Mike
It has been well documented by AK fish and game, as well as B.C. rangers, that the black bear species is not as sensitive to pepper spray as grizzlies/browns. Many times black bears have been reported to do nothing more than sniff the air and lick their lips after being sprayed.
This is not the final word on blackies and pepper spray. No doubt, many black bears run like heck after being hit. But many do not.
This behavior has not been noted with grizzlies. People report that when they have sprayed a grizzly, the bear usually retreats.
Grizzlies however have been reported to enjoy the pepper spray after the fact.
A few years ago, paranoid hikers started spraying peeper spray AROUND their campsites. Evidently, they thought that it would act as an invisible fence. It didnt.
In fact, it lured many grizzlies from around the area. Thy enjoyed rolling in the sprayed ground and seemed to take pleasure in it.
Park rangers now warn people not to use pepper spray in this manner.
This is not the final word on blackies and pepper spray. No doubt, many black bears run like heck after being hit. But many do not.
This behavior has not been noted with grizzlies. People report that when they have sprayed a grizzly, the bear usually retreats.
Grizzlies however have been reported to enjoy the pepper spray after the fact.
A few years ago, paranoid hikers started spraying peeper spray AROUND their campsites. Evidently, they thought that it would act as an invisible fence. It didnt.
In fact, it lured many grizzlies from around the area. Thy enjoyed rolling in the sprayed ground and seemed to take pleasure in it.
Park rangers now warn people not to use pepper spray in this manner.
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- Nov 27, 2004
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As a matter of fact, my latest canister of spray actually came with a warning against doing exactly this!
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Of all the times I have hiked and backpacked in the Smokies, I have yet to see a bear. There are supposed to be 2 per square mile. I have been with people who have seen bears but I just missed them. I have camped at spots with bear warnings. All I see are remnants like this.
It looks like a hiker did not realize that it was not a snow-covered rock until it was too late. Still half left undisturbed. It must have been a big bear. This was late season, with nothing but Mountain Ash berries to eat.
It looks like a hiker did not realize that it was not a snow-covered rock until it was too late. Still half left undisturbed. It must have been a big bear. This was late season, with nothing but Mountain Ash berries to eat.
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- Sep 18, 2003
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Those Buffalo Bore rounds will only work if you can shoot them accurately. Misses do not count. You may be just as well off with a 158 grain SWC loaded to Magnum velocities, but again only if you can handle the recoil. Take the 686 with a round that you can handle and you will at least be armed, which is better than nothing. In many areas I frequent I have more concerns about 2 legged predators than 4 legged ones.
What happens when so many people are wearing bells the bears actually but acclimated to the sound and begin to see it as a means of food?
What happens when so many people are wearing bells the bears actually but acclimated to the sound and begin to see it as a means of food?
I have hunted, hiked, camped and 4x4'ed my whole life in bear country.
The only time I carried pepper spray was when my daughters were young.
When I had a camp gun it was usually there for plinking and when not in use it was locked up.
However while tenting/hunting in grizzly season in the fall when bears are trying to put on last minute weight I commonly keep either a 12 guage or 450 marlin close at hand.
I have taken a nap in the woods and woke up later to see that a bear walked by while I slept.
Personally I love seeing bears in the wild
The only time I carried pepper spray was when my daughters were young.
When I had a camp gun it was usually there for plinking and when not in use it was locked up.
However while tenting/hunting in grizzly season in the fall when bears are trying to put on last minute weight I commonly keep either a 12 guage or 450 marlin close at hand.
I have taken a nap in the woods and woke up later to see that a bear walked by while I slept.
Personally I love seeing bears in the wild
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- Jun 11, 2009
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- 291
Make sure that when you lift food up into trees you use something stronger than just plastic bags. When I was on the "Juan de Fuca" trail on the west coast of british columbia, there was a squirrel going for the food on the rope!
came crushing down in the middle of the night..
I carried Pepperspray and decided to sing and whistle instead of going mad because of the annoying bear-bell sound all the time. I saw two black bears, one pretty far away and the other one quite close, maybe 50 feet. He was digging on the beach for something!
Enjoy your trip,
l.
Edit:
ps: I have read about what is the best weapon against bears (also grizzly bears) and from what I know, a good Bear Spray is superior to a handgun. With a gun you have to aim properly in a very frightening situation which might be difficult. If you actually manage to hit the bear it doesn´t necessarily mean that he is instantly unable to attack you. The Spray makes a huge cloud and quite some noise, so the bear will be irritated by the cloud, the noise and the pepper. - That´s what I read.
came crushing down in the middle of the night..
I carried Pepperspray and decided to sing and whistle instead of going mad because of the annoying bear-bell sound all the time. I saw two black bears, one pretty far away and the other one quite close, maybe 50 feet. He was digging on the beach for something!
Enjoy your trip,
l.
Edit:
ps: I have read about what is the best weapon against bears (also grizzly bears) and from what I know, a good Bear Spray is superior to a handgun. With a gun you have to aim properly in a very frightening situation which might be difficult. If you actually manage to hit the bear it doesn´t necessarily mean that he is instantly unable to attack you. The Spray makes a huge cloud and quite some noise, so the bear will be irritated by the cloud, the noise and the pepper. - That´s what I read.
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Actually the most important thing about camping with bears is that they have their own tent - you don't want to be sharing a tent with a flatulent bear.