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  1. #21
    Senior Member fuzzie's Avatar
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    A 22 short should do it....think not...read on.

    My personal favorite defense gun has always been a Beretta Jetfire in 22 short. Over all the years I've been hiking I never leave without it in my pocket. Of course we all know too the first rule when hiking in the wilderness is to use the "Buddy System." For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this it means you NEVER hike alone. You bring a friend or companion, even an in-law, that way if something happens there is someone to go get help. I remember one time hiking with my brother-in-law in northern Alberta. Out of nowhere came this huge brown bear and man was she mad. We must have been near one of her cubs. Anyway, if I had not had my little Jetfire I'd sure not be here today. Just one shot to my brother-in-law's knee cap and I was able to escape by just walking at a brisk pace.
    :P

  2. #22
    Senior Member Desiel's Avatar
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    Lol Nice fuzzie... I carry either a Beretta .40 or Glock .45 everyday in the woods or not.
    Desiel®
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  3. #23
    Senior Member Callahan's Avatar
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    I am not sure about the general temperment and behaviour of black bears further south, but we treat them with a very healthy respect in northern B.C. This event occured just a few hours north of where I live when I was in my early twenties.

    http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/anim...wo_in_Brit.htm

    I've had friends working in the bush run into black bears that weren't at all afraid of them, and had a scary run in with an agressive black bear while fishing on a beaver dam with my brother about 10 years ago.

    Due to the nature of my work, I spend a fair bit of time in the bush, quite often by myself in pretty remote areas. My rule of thumb is, always cook and store food and toiletries like toothpaste at least 100 yards downwind of camp. I currently use an ursack, and always carry bear spray while hiking and working in the bush.

    HYOH

  4. #24
    Senior Member Desiel's Avatar
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    Ya'll keep saying down wind but don't the wind change directions?
    Desiel®
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    "If you can't change it, don't worry about it."
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    “All you need is 20 seconds and insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.”

  5. #25
    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Desiel View Post
    Ok so I have read a few different threads that mentioned different things to do in Black Bear country. A few questions I have.

    1. People eat away from their camp, Why afraid of dropping food on the ground for critters to smell?

    2. Why not just cook right at the camp fire or if no camp fire under your tarp on an alchly stove?

    3. How high do you hang your bear bag and how far away?

    That's my three main questions. I understand it's good to be careful but sometime people seem to go too far lol.
    The northwestern corner of NJ has the highest bear density of anywhere in the US, so bears are always a concern for me.

    1. I cook and eat in camp, mostly for convenience. A bear can pickup the food smells that remain on my clothes and backpack anyway.

    2. See #1.

    3. I always bear bag using the PCT method. Downwind. Out of camp.

    Additional info:
    -For black bears mace is supposed to be sufficient (no need to carry those giant, heavy bear sprays in the east)
    -Black bears kill more people in North America than brown bears.
    -A study of deaths by black bear revealed that the getting between mother and cub attack isn't the main concern (though it is for brown bears). Most people killed by black bears were stalked as prey. Bear got tired of eating berries and shrubs.
    Knotty
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  6. #26
    Senior Member USMCStang's Avatar
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    I won't cook or eat in my hammock or under my tarp (except for boiling water/ coffee). I generally use the fire area as my kitchen, since as others have stated, it's already got lingering smells. I am guilty of setting my hammock up pretty close to the fire ring (usually within 50 feet) though.

    I do hang my food at least 12 feet in the air, using a ratsack. The Great Smokies campsites are notorious for thier acrobatic mice, so I feel the ratsack is a must there. I've just grown to habitually take it with me on every trip now: RatSack

    I also hang my pack (without food in it) off of a tree, throw the rain cover on it, and open all of the pockets, zippers, pouches, etc. I figure if camp mice are going to investigate it, I would rather have them freely enter the pack rather than chewing through it.

    I've had 4 bear encounters while backpacking. 3 of those times, as soon as the bear noticed me, it turned around and hurried away. With the other sighting, the bear huffed at me and pawed. He was about 30 yards away. I stopped, put my arms in the air, and yelled "hey bear" in a stern voice while clicking my hiking poles together. It immediately ran away.

    Your best option is to have BearChaser on your hang with you...he has that name for a reason
    Mike, Backcountry Mentor
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  7. #27
    Senior Member wisenber's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hawk-eye View Post
    Best advice I've read based on my experience in NC ... of course we don't have browns, grizzlies or polars ...
    Maybe not polars, but here are many bipolars and they do not care how high you hang your food.

  8. #28
    Senior Member Hawk-eye's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wisenber View Post
    Maybe not polars, but here are many bipolars and they do not care how high you hang your food.
    OK first thing this morning I nearly choked on coffee from Hickery's post on LG.net ... so thankfully I wasn't in mid swallow when I read this pal! But that's funny stuff right thar!

    WARNING: Will discuss Rhurbarb Strawberry Pie and Livermush at random.


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  9. #29
    Senior Member Desiel's Avatar
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    Thanks for the info folks. Now to go buy me some stuff sacks for seperating things in my pack.
    Desiel®
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    “All you need is 20 seconds and insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.”

  10. #30
    Senior Member Cali's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the great bear info, and the belly aching laughing I did at some of these posts this morning.
    "No whining in the woods"

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