LuketheDog
Well-known member
I usually don't give a second thought to black bears, but if I know it's an area with higher than average bear activity I'll hang my food in a bear bag...
Backpack hunting newbie
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I usually don't give a second thought to black bears, but if I know it's an area with higher than average bear activity I'll hang my food in a bear bag...
Maybe i'm the only one, but i never worried much about black bears, grizzlies is a different story
I use Onx maps even on my backpacking trips and the wilderness does not seem daunting using that. You quickly realize there has not been one piece of dirt on the lower 48 a human has not touched. p.s. just so happens i'm doing a short PCT jaunt up at Kennedy Meadows this Saturday
Just keep your food up between 2 trees and keep a clean camp Black bears in general are not an issue Ive ben as close as 5 feet once and he was just curious granted I wasnt planning on being that close.
Thank you for your thoughts on this, I’m taking everything into consideration and using a little bit of everyone’s advice. Thanks again.
D
Deleted member 16014
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My best advice is don't freak yourself out, being really nervous all the time doesn't make it safer. Being cautious and aware is beneficial. I do not personally hang food, and use other IGBC approved food storage methods + common sense. If I had to guess what percentage of bear-hangs out there are actually bear proof it would be extremely low.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
90% of the places you go aren't going to be an issue. I've both hung food and just kept it away from camp. However, if you're in a high density bear area (i.e. Olympics in WA, or anywhere along the west side of the cascade crest) I would definitely take the time to hang. That requirement gets amplified if you're camping in designated areas where others are frequently camping. Other people are slobs and leave food around which habituates bears to the area. I would echo what Snowy says, don't freak yourself out, if hanging your food makes you feel better then do it. I've simply made it part of my routine unless I'm either way above treeline, or in an area with very few bears.
Where are you located?
I’m located in southeast Michigan
Do you want to BACKPACK hunt, or ELK hunt?
I ask this question because it is by far not required to backpack hunt. In fact, I have done both and found for most elk hunts, I am better off NOT backpacking so I can be more mobile. Backpacking makes you committed to a particular location. If you backpack into the wrong spot, you waste a ton of time. Elk can also move very far, very quickly, in terrain that will take you all day to cover.
Backpack hunting is great when you know where elk will be and, barring exceptional circumstances, won't be leaving. This is unlikely to be the case for your first several elk hunts, and can change within the season due to pressure or yearly due to mother nature.
I ask this question because it is by far not required to backpack hunt. In fact, I have done both and found for most elk hunts, I am better off NOT backpacking so I can be more mobile. Backpacking makes you committed to a particular location. If you backpack into the wrong spot, you waste a ton of time. Elk can also move very far, very quickly, in terrain that will take you all day to cover.
Backpack hunting is great when you know where elk will be and, barring exceptional circumstances, won't be leaving. This is unlikely to be the case for your first several elk hunts, and can change within the season due to pressure or yearly due to mother nature.
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