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Smarter than the average bear |
With the two recent bear stories, one with happy ending and one without, I've been thinking about how people handle food in bear territory. I know the "rules" on hanging food out of bears' reach, and away from the campsight, or at least the tents. What I'm wondering about is eating, and clean up after eating. Do you eat where you keep the food and not near where you sleep? Even if so, what about the smell of food on your body or on your clothes. Assuming a bear isn't going to be looking at humans as a primary food source, it seems almost impossible not to have something in your tent that smells enticing to the very sensitive nose of the bears. | ||
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Member |
I A. It's not only food. Creams, ointments ,lotions, powders You name it anything with a scent will bring bears, racoons, possum and god knows what all. They don't have to be starving or desperate. Talk to a ranger in person they deal with this all da every week. Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency. Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first | |||
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Just for the hell of it ![]() |
This is my experience and how I have done things in black bear country. Brown bear territory is another story. I cook and eat at the campsite but not right next to my tent but often within 20' of my tent. I will hang my food away from camp. I've encountered black bears maybe 6-8 times when out hiking. Not counting the times you see them driving and such. Every single time I have encountered a black bear or bears they have run away. Had them run through my camp early one morning but it seemed like they were being chased by hunting dogs. The only time I ever had a second thought of crap with a black bear was on a backpacking trip with my nephew. Two cubs appeared on the trail about 30' in front of us. My nephew was in the lead. My worry at that time was because I didn't see mommy bear and I did not want us to have ended up between mom and cubs. Cubs ran away after a few seconds and all was fine. _____________________________________ Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain. Jack Kerouac | |||
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Member |
Here, is a link to an article sponsored by Mountain House on bears and food. In my view it’s good and practical information. When in near country never eat, store food, do dishes, brush teeth any where near the tent. Hang your trash with the food. As in an earlier post, check with the local forest service or park office. Silent | |||
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Ugly Bag of Mostly Water ![]() |
I learned, and use, a triangle method. Your campsite is one corner of the triangle, your food should be stashed/hung about 150' away in one direction, and you eat in a third location. Bendable is correct about other items that have a scent. In fact, I store my toothpaste and toothbrush with my food. Endowment Life Member, NRA • Member of FPC, GOA, 2AF & Arizona Citizens Defense League | |||
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Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated ![]() |
We hung the cakes/balls used to keep months out of your closet around our camps in Alaska. We stored the food in water proof bags hung up in trees away from camp. Never had a bear in or around camp that we knew of. They do not like the smell of the moth balls. This was recommended by some experts when we researched how to stay safe up there. "Someday I hope to be half the man my bird-dog thinks I am." looking forward to 4 years of TRUMP! | |||
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Member |
Good practice is to keep your tent separate or away from your common-communal areas. Most homes, the bedroom, kitchen and dining room aren't next to each other, same thing in a campsite. As for bears and other critters, just keep a clean camp. Police up and dispose of your garbage, clean-up your dishes, secure it all and store your food in a bear canister or, hang it if you're able to. Some black bears are agile enough, and desperate to get all the way out on that branch ![]() | |||
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