Proper Black Bear country procedures?

[Miguel]

1. I don't. With very few exceptions, I've always cooked in camp. There have been times when there are reports of 'problem' bears that I've cooked away from camp, but I can probably count those times on one hand. Certainly does not mean I'm correct in doing so and I understand the perceived risks.

2. Usually exactly what I do. I don't worry about it at all when I'm using an established campsite with a fire-pit or ring. I figure the area is saturated with food smells from the hundreds that have come before me so my instant mashed potatoes with jerky and cheese isn't going to be anything new.

3. Get an Ursack and be done with it. Forget about the bears, it's the squirrels and mice that will do the most damage to your food stores. Ursacks keep everything safe, even if Yogi does manage to wander into my camp.

Black bears aren't my concern. Going into Brown bear country...rules change very quickly for me.

+1 on the Ursack. It's a bit heavier than a conventional bear hanging bag but soooo much less hassle. We put EVERYTHING that smells in it at night with their super smell-proof ziplock bags and hang it a hundred yards up/down the trail from where we camp. We hiked the Shenandoahs last summer which has large population of bears...never had a problem. I plan on using it this summer on our 1000 miler.

Miguel

[Desiel]

Thanks for the info folks. In my immediate area there's not many bear but I was thinking if my wife ends up enjoying this backpacking thing we'll go to the AT eventually.

[Roadrunnr72]

Rules for hiking/camping in bear country:
Always hike with someone slower then you:-)
Bring extra food for the bears, that way they don't mess with your food.
And finally if you happen upon a bear, invite them to dinner, that shows that your just a friendly camper, and not out to make them mad by hanging a pinata that they can't even reach.

[gunner76]

A frind of mine had a skunk tear open his backpack in the Linnville Gorge back in the 70's. He had some food in the pack and the skunk decded to help him self. When my friend asked what do, we told him what every he did, he need to let us get out of range of the skunk first.

[Desiel]

Now that's funny

[SilvrSurfr]

I hang the bear bag at least 100 yards from camp, though I am guilty of cooking and eating at my campsite.

Threads like these make me want to start carrying my machete on the trail again - I abandoned it for weight savings. Growing up in Alabama, I always carried a machete when hiking. If a rattlesnake, moccasin or copperhead surprised me, he was dead with one fell swoop.

Nowadays I don't kill anything except for rats and mice - if I find a spider in my house that's bothering me I politely escort him outdoors (unless it's winter, in which case he's allowed to stay).

I know a black bear is a formidable creature, but I think I could slow him down considerably with a machete.

[Desiel]

I carry a gun and a 9" blade if it has to come to that but I hope it don't.

[SilvrSurfr]

I carry a gun and a 9" blade if it has to come to that but I hope it don't.

I think the bear might just get pissed off with the 9" blade, and you better get a good shot to the head or heart with the gun. Whereas, with a machete I might be able to take out a leg and outrun him!

[BillyBob58]

Black bears aren't my concern. Going into Brown bear country...rules change very quickly for me.

What? Eating in the vicinity of Ursus Horribilis gives you pause? An animal whose scientific name is horrible bear causes you to quickly change rules? Can't imagine why.

[SmokeBait]

I hate bear baggin', never could find the perfect tree so I now carry a bear vault in bear country. Doubles as a stool...

Now that black bears have moved into Central Missouri, I usually take a bear vault if out for more than a night or two. As he said, makes a great stool. On one or two night trips I just use a bear bag with it 8-10 feet off the ground and probably 6-8' out on a limb. The bears here are small so that should be sufficient. Haven't seen anything but scat yet and that is fine by me.