What if you were on the fringes of grizz country? I know I'm kinda hijacking the thread, but I'll be on the south half of the Wyoming Range.
To hang bear bags or not to hang bear bags when backcountry hunting.
- Thread starter dannyb278
- Start date
perma
Well-known member
Honestly I just use dry bags. Not proud of it, but my budget can only go so far, and that’s where I cut corners.
theat
Well-known member
I just use cheap lightweight dry bags.
95tigerbill
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2016
- Messages
- 59
Same - we always use a large dry bag to put food in.
yakimanoob
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2021
- Messages
- 256
Hanging bear bags is rarely worthwhile or effective.
andrewskurka.com
www.backpacker.com
I use an Ursack when I'm in territory where I think bears may have been habituated to people's food (pretty much anywhere on the PCT or similarly-popular trails, etc), or any time I'm in grizzly country. Otherwise, I just keep food in the tent with me. Always in a waterproof and/or odourproof bag to keep rodents at bay.
Ineffective & outdated: Six reasons to not hang a bear bag
Bear hangs are less effective, less foolproof, less reliable, less efficient, and less safe than other modern options. Please stop doing it.
andrewskurka.com
Is It Time to Retire the Bear Hang for Good?
For years, backpackers hung their food to keep hungry bruins at bay. But with trails getting more crowded—and bears wising up to our tricks—many experts say it's time to ditch the bear hang once and for all.
www.backpacker.com
I use an Ursack when I'm in territory where I think bears may have been habituated to people's food (pretty much anywhere on the PCT or similarly-popular trails, etc), or any time I'm in grizzly country. Otherwise, I just keep food in the tent with me. Always in a waterproof and/or odourproof bag to keep rodents at bay.
That’s interesting, never heard of bear bags.Hanging bear bags is rarely worthwhile or effective.
Ineffective & outdated: Six reasons to not hang a bear bag
Bear hangs are less effective, less foolproof, less reliable, less efficient, and less safe than other modern options. Please stop doing it.Is It Time to Retire the Bear Hang for Good?
For years, backpackers hung their food to keep hungry bruins at bay. But with trails getting more crowded—and bears wising up to our tricks—many experts say it's time to ditch the bear hang once and for all.
I use an Ursack when I'm in territory where I think bears may have been habituated to people's food (pretty much anywhere on the PCT or similarly-popular trails, etc), or any time I'm in grizzly country. Otherwise, I just keep food in the tent with me. Always in a waterproof and/or odourproof bag to keep rodents at bay.
I am horrible about hanging food. I will keep it all in one food bag and hang it off the ground to keep away from mice and such at night but have never gone through the effort to hang it up high besides philmont when it was required. I’ve never had an issue.
Hunting in griz country this year though and will be taking the necessary precautions. I like the idea of the bag though.
If you are going to hang a bear bag, be sure to do it so that it is effective. I've seen so many (mine included) hangs that wouldn't have stopped a bear if it had no legs. In some areas it is also difficult to find trees that are appropriate. A lot of southern Wyoming burned a few years ago, so it may be hard to find a suitable tree. Other option is to bring a canister, which a bear may not get into, but he may move it quite a distance while trying to. Oftentimes, I'm less concerned about bears, but mice and other rodents. I've always just used a dry bag - the idea is that the bear can't access it. I shouldn't need a bear proof bag if the bear can't get to it in the first place...
Carl 9.3x62
Well-known member
I'd be more concerned.
Straight Arrow
Well-known member
We lash our canister to a tree with paracord in such a fashion that it's tight and even difficult to untie or cut (with claws or teeth).
But it's odorless, so no animal is attracted to it.
Like everyone else is saying, I'd hang anything I don't want chewed on even in a place where there's zero bears of any kind. I don't want any critters, big or small, making a snack of my food and sending me packing early.
I lost an entire bag of tortillas by setting them on the ground and turning my back to hang my bear bag. First of a four night backpacking trip in Glacier. Chewed up and gone in less than a minute. On another Glacier trip there were reports of marmots chewing through tents to steal people's socks and t-shirts that they'd laid out to let the sweat dry. I've had big chunks of cork chewed off of trekking pole handles while I fished for a few hours. Those rodents don't frick around.
Here's my method. Works well in burn areas and anywhere else that doesn't have a perfectly long overhanging branch to fling a rope over. I just use cheapo Coleman roll top dry bags.
I lost an entire bag of tortillas by setting them on the ground and turning my back to hang my bear bag. First of a four night backpacking trip in Glacier. Chewed up and gone in less than a minute. On another Glacier trip there were reports of marmots chewing through tents to steal people's socks and t-shirts that they'd laid out to let the sweat dry. I've had big chunks of cork chewed off of trekking pole handles while I fished for a few hours. Those rodents don't frick around.
Here's my method. Works well in burn areas and anywhere else that doesn't have a perfectly long overhanging branch to fling a rope over. I just use cheapo Coleman roll top dry bags.
Last edited:
Straight Arrow
Well-known member
No kidding! They are relentless too. Whenever possible we rinse the salty sweat off everything.
Flatbrimmer
Well-known member
Yeah I’ve never hung my food either.I'm surprised to see that every single person here hangs their food every time no matter what. I never do and have never had any hint of an issue but
When forkyfinder and I were out, we didn’t either… left the grill out and everything, we were camped at a trailhead but we were the only ones there, and there is def griz in there!
if I get that spooky feeling, or see a ton of bear sign, I’d probably hang it…
Hate to end up like that lady in Ovando
Forkyfinder
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2023
- Messages
- 2,530
Lol yeah - we were right by the truck and trailhead tooYeah I’ve never hung my food either.
When forkyfinder and I were out, we didn’t either… left the grill out and everything, we were camped at a trailhead but we were the only ones there, and there is def griz in there!
if I get that spooky feeling, or see a ton of bear sign, I’d probably hang it…
Hate to end up like that lady in Ovando
The bigger concern should always be where you cook your food. If you hang your food and then bring it to your tent to cook and eat it and cover your camp in food smell is far worse than the packaged and sealed food. IMO this all only really applies to bears that are conditioned to people. If a bear who rarely encounters people catches a wiff of your human odor and smells human piss he is going to turn away.
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
The articles you posted are just saying that hanging doesn't work as well as cannisters. There is no doubt that bear bags are inferior to cannisters, which is why areas with frequent bear issues are increasingly mandating the cannisters, but that's a far cry from putting food in the tent with you. That's just a bad idea for you, your gear and the bears. Even in areas with low bear-human interactions, you're rolling the dice.Hanging bear bags is rarely worthwhile or effective.
Ineffective & outdated: Six reasons to not hang a bear bag
Bear hangs are less effective, less foolproof, less reliable, less efficient, and less safe than other modern options. Please stop doing it.Is It Time to Retire the Bear Hang for Good?
For years, backpackers hung their food to keep hungry bruins at bay. But with trails getting more crowded—and bears wising up to our tricks—many experts say it's time to ditch the bear hang once and for all.
I use an Ursack when I'm in territory where I think bears may have been habituated to people's food (pretty much anywhere on the PCT or similarly-popular trails, etc), or any time I'm in grizzly country. Otherwise, I just keep food in the tent with me. Always in a waterproof and/or odourproof bag to keep rodents at bay.
I wouldn't store food in the tent and don't camping. Bears are common where I live and most don't bother humans. However, some have gotten used to a easy meal and get smart. They even figure out how to open or pry open the bear resistant trash bins the DNR puts out to keep them from finding food in the wildlife management areas. Those bins are 1/4 inch or so thick steel with the hidden latches.
This is an interesting thread. I'm considering the weight of a canister. Tree limbs are easy to find in the east. Evergreen pines and spruce is something I haven't hung a bag in yet. I may try to practice and let my experience help with the decision. I would love to hear about other's experience with the evergreen trees.
yakimanoob
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2021
- Messages
- 256
The argument isn't that they work less well, it's that they don't work. No doubt, if you have the trees like the image Beinet posted, maybe it's simply less effective than canisters but still effective.
Rolling the dice is an apt metaphor: we're always playing probability games with any risk. You don't have to keep food in your tent, but every time you eat near your tent, wear deodorant, or keep the clothes you ate in in the tent with you, you're "rolling the dice" because there's always a nonzero chance of a bear coming to get you.
We evaluate the risks we're presented with and make the best choices we can. I'm not telling you to keep food in your tent when I do. But I am telling you that unless you do a perfect job hanging your food, you're not actually reducing the risks of the bear getting to it.
Benfromalbuquerque
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Messages
- 1,621
If I bear hang it’s usually quick and easy, done with flinging a nalgene over a branch. Though for heavy loads with enough rope this Skilman style is tits. The knotted section grabs the branch for anchor point and two carabiners create a mechanical advantage.
That's a pretty nifty way to go about it!!
Similar threads
