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Good! Thanks for the info. You do clean them up afterwards?
Andy
Andy
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How do you protect yourself and your family in the wilderness ?
- Thread starter myright
- Start date
I'm a cheap bastid so I re-use them. If you put them in small zip locs (for carrying in a larger zip loc), you can simply open the smaller bags and place them where you need them. When you're leaving camp, you just pick up the small bags and seal them inside a bigger bag for transport. The mothballs get smaller as they evaporate so having them in small bags makes them easier to handle. If you were to leave mothballs unbagged on the ground somewhere, they would eventually dissipate and leave no trace.
When I am protecting a sealed food canister/bag with mothballs, I like to put a piece of plastic or tarp over it and weight down the edges. This seems to collect and concentrate the mothball stink. I've tested this on campground bears and they haven't even touched the plastic covering material. They get within a few feet then turn around and leave.
DancesWithKnives
When I am protecting a sealed food canister/bag with mothballs, I like to put a piece of plastic or tarp over it and weight down the edges. This seems to collect and concentrate the mothball stink. I've tested this on campground bears and they haven't even touched the plastic covering material. They get within a few feet then turn around and leave.
DancesWithKnives
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If I am hiking a long way I won't have a long gun with me.
If I am camping somewhere relatively close to a vehicle, then probably half the reason I am there is to do some shooting with some of my rifles, so chances are good there will be at least one loaded M14 on hand!
But honestly I really do not feel that I need protection anywhere that I go in the bush...this probably relates to the sheer size of this country and the extremely low population density. How many axe weilding maniacs am I going to encounter 40 miles into a trail where the next human population center is another 60 miles? I mean we are not talking crackhead country out there...if you meet anyone at all it's probably a member of MEC stretching their legs in some brand-new fancy goretex with an ultralight pack on.
Out there I guess I am MILDLY concerned about grizzlies, but not very. I am just careful with food, and I have a dog, and I rely on the experiences of my dad, who was a prospector, who stopped bothering to carry a gun after his first year because although he had occasional bear encounters, he never felt the need to shoot any of them.
If I am camped somewhere with the vehicle then there is more potential to see other people, but even so I see very, very few. I am going to pretty remote spots, which is exactly how I like it.
On occasion I have been talked in to 4x4 camping (not car camping exactly but the vehicles are right there, even if we had to cross a river or two to get in) and those are the only times I've encountered potential problem people - usually just drunks with trucks. Anyway, if they get on my nerves I start shooting stuff for a while. I think there is something about listening to two or three hundred rounds of .308, 12g, or .357 that is very relaxing for people because they are always calm afterwards.
If I am camping somewhere relatively close to a vehicle, then probably half the reason I am there is to do some shooting with some of my rifles, so chances are good there will be at least one loaded M14 on hand!
But honestly I really do not feel that I need protection anywhere that I go in the bush...this probably relates to the sheer size of this country and the extremely low population density. How many axe weilding maniacs am I going to encounter 40 miles into a trail where the next human population center is another 60 miles? I mean we are not talking crackhead country out there...if you meet anyone at all it's probably a member of MEC stretching their legs in some brand-new fancy goretex with an ultralight pack on.
Out there I guess I am MILDLY concerned about grizzlies, but not very. I am just careful with food, and I have a dog, and I rely on the experiences of my dad, who was a prospector, who stopped bothering to carry a gun after his first year because although he had occasional bear encounters, he never felt the need to shoot any of them.
If I am camped somewhere with the vehicle then there is more potential to see other people, but even so I see very, very few. I am going to pretty remote spots, which is exactly how I like it.
On occasion I have been talked in to 4x4 camping (not car camping exactly but the vehicles are right there, even if we had to cross a river or two to get in) and those are the only times I've encountered potential problem people - usually just drunks with trucks. Anyway, if they get on my nerves I start shooting stuff for a while. I think there is something about listening to two or three hundred rounds of .308, 12g, or .357 that is very relaxing for people because they are always calm afterwards.
There have been several good ideas here, but this one can truly be classified as wisdom...
I'd stop and take a leak while he watched....
Then I'd dump out my pack contents right in the middle of the trail, all the while making like I did not see him in his stand. "Now where the heck did I put that blankety blanking blank (at the top of your lungs),acting pissed at yourself...you are alone after all
There's always the pebbles in the soda can because there *might* be a bear around the next corner and this is your first solo hike
Lame hunters should starve all season:barf: Mike dialup CTDEP I'm sure someone else is free to stroll those trails in a uniform who'd be interested in poorly chosen hunting locations.
hmm, didn't go through every thing here, but at least its not over the edge in here.
For me, defense of my life and others is very important. I know first aid as well as the girl, Im trained in self defense and Im use to very tense situations (SAR, rangers). We both are constantly watching every thing, I test her on vehicle types, clothing types in all times of the day. Ways to get out of the city, high traffic areas, and bad sides of town. The city is the biggest problem for me, while it might sound odd, when we walk, she is in front of me, that way I can see everything I need to in front of me, too many times I heard of someone grabbing the person behind. She was a boxer in high school and honestly would give me a run for my money.
Tools I carry?
-My mind is the first thing, being used to the situations and having training is key
-My light is the first line of defense in night and day, I has both a ranged defense mode, and a close range style.
-My body is last, I haven't even had someone look side ways at me. Im 6' tall, 230 pounds, and about %10 body fat now, plus my head is shaved, I have dark eyes and honestly, its surprising anyone talks to me now.
-Lastly, I have a knife. Honestly dont think I would ever use it, I would have a hard time justifying using it in canada, considering my size and training, so were talking absolutely last ditch, well not last, but right in front of the rifle in my truck.
For me, defense of my life and others is very important. I know first aid as well as the girl, Im trained in self defense and Im use to very tense situations (SAR, rangers). We both are constantly watching every thing, I test her on vehicle types, clothing types in all times of the day. Ways to get out of the city, high traffic areas, and bad sides of town. The city is the biggest problem for me, while it might sound odd, when we walk, she is in front of me, that way I can see everything I need to in front of me, too many times I heard of someone grabbing the person behind. She was a boxer in high school and honestly would give me a run for my money.
Tools I carry?
-My mind is the first thing, being used to the situations and having training is key
-My light is the first line of defense in night and day, I has both a ranged defense mode, and a close range style.
-My body is last, I haven't even had someone look side ways at me. Im 6' tall, 230 pounds, and about %10 body fat now, plus my head is shaved, I have dark eyes and honestly, its surprising anyone talks to me now.
-Lastly, I have a knife. Honestly dont think I would ever use it, I would have a hard time justifying using it in canada, considering my size and training, so were talking absolutely last ditch, well not last, but right in front of the rifle in my truck.
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Good thread. For me, situational awareness is paramount. When I am out in the woods, I am well aware of the fact that I am just another part of the food chain. The potential dangers, in order of importance for me, are #1 - Dope Growers, #2 - Mountain Lions, #3 Pit Bulls belonging to Growers, #4 - Bears, #5 - Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, and Black Widow spiders. I am ALWAYS armed when in the woods. At a minimum, I carry a titanium Smith and Wesson .357 revolver. At a maximum, well, I could hold off a small company of soldiers for a while. I have had the good fortune to grow up hunting so I am very familiar with firearms and through my work to have trained under some exceptional firearms instructors. After 46 years I have never had to shoot anything in self-defense, and I sincerely hope I can keep that record clean. That being said, I would if I had to.
myright
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I hadn't considered using mothballs before. Thanks for the idea!
There are a few spots in central and northern Ontario where I like to camp and fish, and while black bears are a concern, a more common problem is inquisitive rodents that set their sights on my trail mix. I think that I will bring some ziplocs with mothballs next time.
All the best,
- Mike
There are a few spots in central and northern Ontario where I like to camp and fish, and while black bears are a concern, a more common problem is inquisitive rodents that set their sights on my trail mix. I think that I will bring some ziplocs with mothballs next time.
All the best,
- Mike