Just like a data plate, you can't keep a good roll of duct tape down!

I must admit, I get pretty lazy when it comes to bear prevention in camp. I usually don't camp in Grizzly country but am aware that Black Bears can be just as destructive. I make a habbit of not keeping food, toothepaste, gum, etc. in the plane and have every intention to store food 100yards from camp and in a tree, but have never quite executed that part of the plan. We've scared bears off the strip before landing but so far the worst intrusion into camp has been the crazy doe that ran off with our bag of sandwich rolls in the middle of the night! We got them back with slobber all over the bag, but her frequent night visits almost drove me to insanity! I also keep a minimum of three weapons in the tent with me at all times

Here's to keeping my fingers crossed

CW

Hanging food, toothpaste, etc in a bag in a tree seems to work pretty well as long as bag is far enough from trunk or limb strong enough to support a bear.

Now raccoons are a totally different matter. Those guys are smart and agile. If they live around a campground they have figured out most every way around what you can think of to defeat them.. Camped on Cumberland Island, GA and was amazed how much smarter than us they were.

TD

During the April to November time frame, if I camp it is always with my food in a bear resistant container. Usually one of the Garcia Machine plastic ones, or if it is a big camp, a steel drum, 15 gal.

But I am a bear safety guy for a living...and I spend a lot of time out there...

We used to have one of the steel Coleman ice chests with the steel twist latches. A bear can bat it around...no problem.. The bear only has a problem when...my mother comes out of the tent...beans the black bear square on the snout with a tennis shoe..... Shouts at the bear as it runs off...it stops...does an about face and sits down....wrong thing to do.... She charges toward it chucking her second shoe.... Bear hit the woods at a full run...

silflexer wrote:I use a drybag and hang it from a tree away from my camp.

hahahaa! watch this

Bears can be and generally VERY persistent, particularly those who've gotten a "treat" before. Also, food odors are not really necessary......note the tires on that duct taped Cub. I've had a bear bite a Zodiac (all compartments), one of the tundra tires on a Cub, and several other rubber items. No food involved.....they do like rubber stuff though. A friend who was a helicopter pilot for NOAA had the floats on his Huey bit by bears as well.

We found that electric fences are a great resource for discouraging bears from messing with stuff, along with good food storage discipline. Small backpack friendly electric fences are readily available and easy to set up and take down. I highly recommend them if you're camping in bear country or parking your plane in bear country.

The little buggers can be a PITA, but a little preparation and discipline provides all sorts of insurance.

MTV

clippwagon wrote:I must admit, I get pretty lazy when it comes to bear prevention in camp. I usually don't camp in Grizzly country but am aware that Black Bears can be just as destructive. I make a habbit of not keeping food, toothepaste, gum, etc. in the plane and have every intention to store food 100yards from camp and in a tree, but have never quite executed that part of the plan. We've scared bears off the strip before landing but so far the worst intrusion into camp has been the crazy doe that ran off with our bag of sandwich rolls in the middle of the night! We got them back with slobber all over the bag, but her frequent night visits almost drove me to insanity! I also keep a minimum of three weapons in the tent with me at all times

Here's to keeping my fingers crossed

CW

I didn't want to admit it, but this pretty much describes me. I think it makes a difference though if you are camping in a remote place versus a campsite where bears equate humans with snack foods. Once in my life I've had to chase a black bear out of camp and I've definitely logged a few hundred nights in bear country. The deer seem to be more of a problem if they get it in their heads that something you have is edible. My wife's crazy hot Franks chicken wings, for example. Never did figure that one out but the deer went crazy for that stuff.

In grizzly country I will move my food a hundred yards from camp, and hoist the light stuff. Definitely nothing in the tent.

In my experience, the best bear deterrent is a valid hunting tag. They seem to have an uncanny knack of staying out of my way when I'm carrying one.

I take one of my buddies with me. Both he and his dad have been bitten by bears, so I figure they must taste good. The bear will go after them first and I'll get away. Haha.

Just make sure at least one of the people you go camping with runs slower than you do. If they're all fleet of foot, a good kick in the shins can work wonders.