Sleeping peacefully in griz country

[dragginwood]

Being from Australia, I have no knowledge of Grizzlies. So forgive me if this sounds a bit ridiculous. But what about using some of that bear deterrent spray on the ground, forming a circle around camp at say 50 yards out. Freshening up the dose every night before bed time ? Just a thought from afar.

Interesting thought but everything I’ve read on bear spray says to vacate the area after discharge because as the spray dissipates the fragrance becomes appealing or attractant to bears. Based on that I wouldn’t recommend this strategy.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Being from Australia, I have no knowledge of Grizzlies. So forgive me if this sounds a bit ridiculous. But what about using some of that bear deterrent spray on the ground, forming a circle around camp at say 50 yards out. Freshening up the dose every night before bed time ? Just a thought from afar.

Bear spray is essentially a pepper / chemical spray which really shocks the respiratory system and irritates eyes and nasal passages. In order for it to do so during a bear encounter, the bear must move through / into the cloud of spray which hopefully you have dispersed out from you at about the same level as the bear's eyes, mouth, and nose. Once the particles of the spray settle to the ground the spray is inert and ineffective. As stated previously, some of the sprays even contain pepper and chemicals which may produce an odor attractive to wildlife, an odor perceived as a potential food or perhaps just a point of curiosity.

So, no it's not like a spray you might employ to detract insects due to the odor. Bear spray is meant to deter due to the respiratory distress and the irritations imposed.

 

[Sytes]

Elk Hunt in Grizz Country Advice

I am preparing for my first elk hunt in areas that are known for the grizz. I am going solo. I have confidence in staying grizz-free in camp and hiking/scouting around, but I keep getting hung up on the idea of quartering/butchering an elk (if I am lucky enough) without a watch out. My plan...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[C Bow]

Make sure my rifle has a round in chamber,crawl in my sleeping bag and go to sleep

 

[BearFoot]

There was a guy, Charlie Vandergaw who fed bears and made a bunch of friends. He would put electric fence around his planes for protection, but had no need for anything else.




Vandergaw, a former bear hunter, has confessed to having close calls with bears

 

[Sytes]

This came up in a prior thread, linked above: Anyone seen the Myth Busters episode where they loaded a mini van with heaps of donuts, scented garbage, etc...
Brought in a bear and tried various deterrents placed around the mini van?

None worked... The bear always got to the treats, except cayenne pepper. Things that make you go, "hmmm"...

MythBusters Episode 211: Car Chase Chaos / Animal Antics

The MythBusters try to drive a car from the passenger seat and switch seats with the driver. They also test various ways to repel cats, snakes, and bears.

mythresults.com

Cayenne pepper deters bears.

CONFIRMED

To the Build Team’s astonishment, the bear was so repulsed by the cayenne pepper that rather than go near the minivan, he found his way through the hot wire and tried to walk off into the woods before being corralled by his handler.

I brought up a friend who frequently hunts in bear country (The Bob) and he mentioned their party sprays the bushes surrounding the game that can not pack out on the first trek.
On occasion, they've seen tracks in the general area though none ever disturbed their meat.

After sharing this, Ben Long reached out to a friend within Counter Assault he received the same info as I had however, I was also told by both a bit more than Ben was informed (or shared).

1.) In my query with both Counter Assault and UDAP, both informed me no scientific testing has been conducted to confirm or deny bear spray on the bushes will deter therefore they err on the side of caution from sharing anything to suggest it may deter a bear. I asked if that was for liability sake and both companies shared absolutely... Certainly understandable.

Back to the Myth Busters episode... Interesting. Not something I've tried as I've been content with simply hoisting or, location dependant, leaving it in the shade or snow and returning with caution.

It's an interesting thought about the use of cayenne pepper.

 

[Straight Arrow]

"It's an interesting thought about the use of cayenne pepper."

Perhaps it warrants aerial spraying of backcountry campsites with a mixture of cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce.
Suddenly the wilderness backpacking experience seems less appealing as cayenne pepper potentially permeates the previously pristine landscape.

 

[Sytes]

Haha! With the airstrips permitted in the Wilderness Act exceptions it's, "Plausible"...

 

[Gunner46]

Take 4 antihistamines. You'll sleep extremely peacefully. If a griz comes in, you'll never know !!

 

[lodgepoleJoe]

Can't say for sure but you guys probably talked Bluejeep into going turkey huntin instead.

 

[Bluejeep]

Can't say for sure but you guys probably talked Bluejeep into going turkey huntin instead.

LoL

I've spent a few nights out since this post, and I was surprised how well I actually slept (except for one cold, wet, windy night). I did take extra precautions. Such as making sure I ate dinner and had my food bag back up in the tree before dark (I did keep glassing until complete darkness, I just wanted to cook and eat while I could still see), making lots of noise on my way back to camp, and sleeping with my headlamp on my head instead of beside me. I also skipped the earplugs on the windy night, although I don't think I would of been able to hear less had I put them in on account of all the noise from the nearby burned trees cracking and coming down.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

I will probably post this again at some point, because I think it's a thought provoking, objective look at food management in beary places. Food for thought: https://andrewskurka.com/argument-against-hanging-bear-bag/
Odds are good Andrew Skurka has hiked more miles than anyone that any of us will ever know. Anyway, something to consider for those who are interested.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I will probably post this again at some point, because I think it's a thought provoking, objective look at food management in beary places. Food for thought: https://andrewskurka.com/argument-against-hanging-bear-bag/
Odds are good Andrew Skurka has hiked more miles than anyone that any of us will ever know. Anyway, something to consider for those who are interested.

Such a love/hate with that guy... that's a thoughtful discuss nevertheless

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Such a love/hate with that guy... that's a thoughtful discuss nevertheless

Yeah I'm with you, I do not find him very likable; nor do I agree with him across the board.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Lazy or ingenious... I will let you be the judge... and yeah we did have bears in camp so I know this setup was actually effective.

 

[WyoDoug]

Biggest thing is no food whatsoever near tent. Hang all food high and at least 20-30 feet from camp. Any snacks in your backpack will also draw bears.

 

[COEngineer]

Lazy or ingenious...

Neither, but I can't see dragging that down the trail or trying to fit it in my backpack.

 

[nmaggy84]

Just curious about what other backpackers are doing in griz country as far as sleeping at night. This will be my first year hunting in griz country and normally I just sleep under a tarp if anything, usually just bag ontop of pad and call it good enough. but I have a 2 people tell me now I should sleep in an enclosed tent. The idea being the bear would just sniff around and then leave as opposed to maybe seeing me move my head or arms and figuring I was an easy meal.

I know that a piece of paper thin fabric won't stop much of anything, but I was just curious what other backpackers do.

10 mm pistol, bear spray, some sort of sleep aid

 

[DontTemptFate]

As far as I know there has never been a person attacked in a tent by a grizzly.

What I do worry about is one destroying my camp when I'm out hunting, or running into one while hiking.

I don't leave any food, fuel or cook in my tent, and if I can, hang my stuff in a tree away from the tent. Bears like vinyl, rubber and petroleum products.

 

[DontTemptFate]

As far as I know there has never been a person attacked in a tent by a grizzly.

What I do worry about is one destroying my camp when I'm out hunting, or running into one while hiking.

I don't leave any food, fuel or cook in my tent, and if I can, hang my stuff in a tree away from the tent. Bears like vinyl, rubber and petroleum products.

Dude. You have to be kidding me. Just a few that come to mind; everyone of these folks minded (most) given precautions, followed protocols, respected generally-accepted bear-proofing. All attacked in tents.

Brigitta Fredenhagen: Pelican Trail & Astringent region of Yellowstone. Tent ripped into & girl's body pulled with frightening tidiness right out of her tent sleeping bag. Partially consumed.

Leah David Lokan: attacked in her tent in the backyard of Library/Museum in downtown Ovando, Montana. Bear-spray can emptied. Tent wrecked, mauled to death.

Doug Inglis, Jenny Gusse & their dog: Banff Nat'l. Park. Killed once in tent for the night. Shoes were off. Consumed in their pajamas & socked feet.

... And then there's good ole' Colin McLelland, logger in the Waughs who was inside an RV camper & a bear ripped the door right off & ate the guy even after getting shot.

But "as far as you know" a tent's always been a barrier? Again. Please be careful w/ your words; we don't want statements like "As far as I know there has never been a person attacked in a tent by a grizzly," which is reckless and irresponsibly false, to get spread about. A grizz who's hungry & committed isn't gonna respect a thin piece of cloth or tarp. Let's be careful about what we say on here.

And, respectfully, everyone on here who's saying things like, "I sleep fine in grizz country, I've never had a problem" is also being irresponsible because they're just lucky a bear hasn't gotten 'em yet. It's not cuz they're so tough that they get the credit for not gotten eaten alive yet; they just haven't had the wrong bear come their way, plain and simple. You can sleep w/ your spray in one hand and gun in the other & you might not get a shot of either off before a bear gets you. Or you might get a shot of both off & a bear can still maul ya.

Let's please be careful with our language on here. Younger campers are already ridiculously arrogant and foolhardy, not disciplined & often think they're invincible. Ain't none of us invincible in grizz country. Even the best shot or the most experienced outdoorsman. If a grizz wants us, we're gone. We spend time in their habitat only at high risk. If we win the roulette a few times let's not pretend that's our doing. Yes, precautions help, but people been killed even with extremely sensible precautions. Okay i'm done just wanted to say that.